lakeside

Stresa Offers Lakeside Calm Away From Tourist Crowds

Stresa, a town situated on the shores of Lake Maggiore, offers more than just access to the famed Borromean Islands. While the islands with their baroque architecture and botanical gardens are a significant draw, Stresa itself provides a delightful experience. You can arrive in Stresa as part of a tour that also explores Switzerland, with previous stops including Lake Como, another Italian gem, and Lugano in Switzerland. Stresa sits at an altitude of 200 meters, but its atmosphere evokes that

Ascona: Switzerland’s Italian-Flavored Alpine Lakeside Town

Ascona sits on the northern edge of Lake Maggiore, a place where the mountains of Switzerland meet the Italian lakes. It’s a town that feels quite special, almost like a secret place you’ve stumbled upon. The air here is fresh, and the pace of life is wonderfully relaxed. It’s easy to see why it’s compared to Como, but Ascona offers a different kind of beauty, more understated and perhaps more peaceful, especially when you consider how busy Como can get.

Lake Como’s Best Lakeside Villas and Gardens

Italy’s Lake Como is a place that truly lives up to its reputation, offering a stunning blend of natural beauty, rich history, and authentic Italian life. From the shimmering waters to the dramatic mountain backdrops, this region provides an unforgettable escape. Whether you’re seeking relaxation or adventure, there’s something here for everyone. Discovering Lake Como’s Delights Sipping and Savoring Local Flavors My visit to Lake Como wouldn’t have been complete without exploring its diverse culinary and beverage scene. For craft

Emily
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A Morning With Florence’s Artisans in Oltrarno

On Via della Chiesa 29R in the Oltrarno, Ginevra Gemmi works in the studio where she was born — handcrafting jewelry without moulds or reproductions, in gold, silver, bronze, and natural stones, on a street she grew up on. That kind of continuity isn’t rare in this district. Bottega Conti has been producing traditional paper marbling since 1786. Some furniture restorers on Via Maggio work in the same rooms their grandparents occupied decades earlier. The Oltrarno’s artisan identity didn’t develop to serve tourists — it predates the tourism industry entirely, and that sequence matters for understanding what you’re actually

A Morning With Florence’s Artisans in Oltrarno

On Via della Chiesa 29R in the Oltrarno, Ginevra Gemmi works in the studio where she was born — handcrafting jewelry without moulds or reproductions, in gold, silver, bronze, and natural stones, on a street she grew up on. That kind of continuity isn’t rare in this district. Bottega Conti has been producing traditional paper marbling since 1786. Some furniture restorers on Via Maggio work in the same rooms their grandparents occupied decades earlier. The Oltrarno’s artisan identity didn’t develop to serve tourists — it predates the tourism industry entirely, and that sequence matters for understanding what you’re actually

Milan’s Hidden Vintage Boutiques That Rival Any Fashion Week Find

Walk into Cavalli e Nastri on a Tuesday morning in Brera and you’re surrounded by silk Pucci prints from the 1960s and Versace jersey from the 1980s, each piece tagged and documented. This isn’t a thrift store in the conventional sense — it’s a deliberate archive, and the price tags make that obvious. What separates Milan’s vintage scene from most European cities is that access to fashion-industry supply chains is built into the city’s fabric. According to Milan Tourism, fashion houses regularly pass samples and archive pieces to dealers they’ve worked with for years, while wealthy Milanese residents direct

Furore’s Fjord Beach Hides Below a Bridge Most Drivers Never Stop For

I was driving the SS163 Amalfitana, the road that snakes along the coast between Positano and Amalfi, when I passed a bridge and caught a flash of blue below. I pulled over where I could, walked back, and looked down — a narrow gorge dropped straight into the sea, with a tiny pebble beach at the bottom. That’s how I found Furore’s fjord, a place I’d read about but wasn’t prepared for the scale of it. The SS163 bridge crosses 30 metres above the water — and most people drive right over it without stopping. – thewomtravel.com Emily’s Take

Skip Positano’s Crowds and Swim at Fornillo Before Sunrise Instead

I stood on the pebbles of Fornillo Beach at 5:45 AM, the sun not yet over the cliffs, and watched the water turn from grey to gold. No one else was there except a fisherman checking his boat. That moment alone made the early alarm worth it. Fornillo is Positano’s second beach, reachable by a 300-meter cliffside path, and it’s about 30% less crowded than the main Spiaggia Grande, according to local guides. If you’re looking for a way to enjoy Positano’s coastline without the chaos, this is it. Fornillo Beach sees roughly 30% fewer visitors than Positano’s main

Cetara Still Smells Like Anchovies and That’s Exactly the Point

I stepped off the bus onto the SS163 and the first thing I registered was the smell. Not the floral perfume of lemons that hangs over most of the Amalfi Coast. Something saltier. Sharper. Anchovies. Cetara makes no apologies for what it is — a working fishing village where colatura di alici has been pressed from fermented anchovies for centuries. In 2020, that amber liquid earned EU protected designation of origin status, legally tying it to this single stretch of coastline. Colatura di alici di Cetara is the liquid from fermenting salted anchovies in wooden barrels (terzigni), legally protected