When you talk about gay travel in Italy, you must begin the conversation with the Puglia region. It’s the top gay summer destination for Italy’s gay community, and furthermore, it’s recognized as one of Europe’s top 5 gay destinations. So what draws LGBTQ visitors to Puglia, and for that matter, why would anyone want to go to this remote corner of Italy, not often on the tourist map? In this episode of my Fatal Charm of Italy podcast, I spoke with Scott Maxwell. He’s from the...

When you talk about gay travel in Italy, you must begin the conversation with the Puglia region. It’s the top gay summer destination for Italy’s gay community, and furthermore, it’s recognised as one of Europe’s top 5 gay destinations. So what draws LGBTQ visitors to Puglia, and for that matter, why would anyone want to go to this more remote corner in Italy, not often on the tourist map? In this episode of my Fatal Charm of Italy podcast, I spoke with Scott Maxwell. He's from the Big Gay...

Back in mid-March of 2020, when the pandemic hadn’t quite reached the U.S. yet but was devastating Italy, I interviewed five friends who were suffering through those early days of fear and panic. One of those friends was Judy Witts Francini, who lives in Tuscany, midway between Florence and Siena. I guess I might describe her as an “Italian Food Concierge,” because she seems to be involved in every aspect of regional Italian cuisine; from shopping at the local markets, to cooking...

On this episode I'm joined by Judy Witts Francini, who lives in Tuscany, midway between Florence and Siena. I guess I might describe her as an “Italian Food Concierge,” because she seems to be involved in every aspect of regional Italian cuisine; from shopping at the local markets, to cooking classes, to creating unique foodie experiences for curious travelers.

We're visiting Venice with Monica Cesarato, blogger, chef, food tour leader, and an unofficial ambassador for the city. We talk about the current state of tourism in the post-pandemic era, and she tells us about a few sites that aren't on the typical tourist itinerary. Ciao! (and yes, that's a Venetian word)

It’s October, and every year I find myself reflecting—and maybe scratching my head a little bit—about the connection between Columbus and Italian Heritage Month. At first glance, the connection seems obvious enough. But it’s my contention that if we dive a little deeper into this discussion, the relationship gets cloudier. Rick Zullo · Columbus and Italian Heritage Month – FCI 046 These thoughts first occurred to me several years ago when I was passing through Genova,...

Evert October I find myself reflecting—and maybe scratching my head a little bit—about the connection between Columbus and Italian Heritage Month. At first glance, the connection seems obvious enough. But it’s my contention that if we dive a little deeper into this discussion, the relationship gets cloudier.

My Cheap Italian Home … I first discovered this resource on Instagram and I knew right away that I needed to interview the two women responsible on my podcast. After being holed-up in my Florida townhouse for the last 14+ months due to the coronavirus, my dreams of returning to Italy grow more vivid every day.Today I’m speaking with Michelle and Kristina from My Cheap Italian Home. So what makes my (and YOUR) dreams even more exciting, is that their website, Instagram, and most of all,...

My Cheap Italian Home is a house hunting platform for expats dreaming of the beautiful life in Italy. Great deals to be found!

As this pandemic grinds on, many of us italophiles grow increasingly anxious about our inability to travel freely to and from Italy. We look for various alternatives to keep the connection alive and vibrant: we practice our language lessons, we try out regional recipes in our own kitchens, and we watch enviously as Stanley Tucci gorges his way through the peninsula.I discovered another Italian indulgence to add to the list: Mozzafiato.What is Mozzafiato, you ask? Simply put, it’s an online...

The Italian approach to wellness and beauty is rooted in traditions and generational knowledge. Craftmanship and a commitment to quality. Today I speak about these ideas with Amy Parsons from Mozzafiato.

Fascism and Feminism in Italy may not strike you as related ideas. Indeed, they are often more opposed than aligned. However, like much of Italy’s history, it’s more complicated than initially meets the eye.The topics of this post could not be timelier. March is Women's History Month, and March 8th, specifically, is International Women’s Day. And unfortunately, the concept of Fascism has reared its ugly head again in recent years. I discuss this more in depth during the conversation with my...

Fascism and Feminism in Italy under Mussolini can find some scary comparison today. Just in time for International Women's Day.

There’s a strange paradox when it comes to eating healthy while traveling in Italy. The variety of incredible food is so enticing that you must wonder how Italians stay so trim. As for the traveler, if you’re only visiting for a week or two, there’s a powerful temptation to overindulge in all the delicious abundance. But still, given all that, you often hear of people returning from a trip to Italy actually having lost 5-10 pounds. What gives? It's a lot to unpack, and...

Eating healthy while traveling in Italy present some odd challenges. Surrounded by all the abundance, how do you make smart choices?

The Fasting Mimicking Diet was conceived by the “Guru of Longevity,” Dr. Valter Longo. He is internationally recognized as a leader in the field of aging studies and related diseases. He’s come up with a program that “mimics” fasting without causing undue hardship.

To date, I’ve resisted weighing-in on the coronavirus crisis in Italy on my blog. For one reason, the situation changes significantly on a daily basis. So anything written today might be totally irrelevant (not to mention inaccurate) by next week. But also, I’m not living there at the moment, so I don’t feel that I have the first-hand experience to make any credible commentary (although it now seems I will have first-hand experience soon enough).So instead, what I thought I’d do is to speak...

The coronavirus crisis in Italy is getting worse, and having an effect on everyone, especially in the tourism industry, even if they're not infected.

On the podcast today, I talked with my friend Victoria De Maio about how to plan a trip to Italy. We discuss four general types of travel: Large Groups, Small Groups, Custom Tours, and “Do It Yourself,” and we compare the pros and cons of each. Afterwards, I reflected on my very first vacation to Italy in 1999 (bring back the Lira, per favore!), which wound up being a combination of these types. For part of the trip, I had tagged along with a large group that was hosted by a friend of mine. I...

Diverse options for traveling to Italy, from large tour groups to independent travel, we discuss the pros and cons of different ways to tour Italy.

Here’s the thing about Rome that everybody should understand and accept:  you will NEVER see it all. Doesn’t matter if you’re on a long vacation, living in the city as a resident expat, or even a native Roman. There is simply too much for one lifetime. Non basta una vita, as the Romans say...Beyond that, I’ll say that even the most famous sites never cease to amaze. I can’t tell you how many times I've walked past the Pantheon, and yet it still takes my breath away. Every. Single. Time. You...

Top Sites to See in Rome with Elyssa Bernard on The Fatal Charm of Italy Podcast. Elyssa tells us what to see after we've seen the Vatican and Colosseum.

​I mean, everybody wants to move to Italy, right? (Or in any case, if you’re reading my blog, I assume that you’ve at least entertained the idea.) But hold on a second. While it's a tempting and romantic dream to sell all of your possessions and buy a crumbling farmhouse in Tuscany, you might want to listen to the voice of reason first. Damien O’Farrell is that voice of reason. And he’s got both good news and bad news for you.The good news. It CAN be done. A person who is willing to commit to...