We’ve Moved!

Please join us at our new blogging home at:

http://bellavitaitalia.com/blog/

See you there!!!

Isn’t She Pretty?!

Our brand new web site has just launched!  We’re still figuring out a few kinks, but we think it looks fab!  We’ve really extended our services so there is a whole lots of fun options to choose from:

Tailor-made Vacations - our 100% customized trip packages

Hosted Tours - Unique food & wine adventures in lesser known areas of Italy

Excursions - Fun, educational tours & activities throughout the boot

Trip Consulting - Perfect for the more independent traveler looking for a little direction

Rentals - Lovely self-catering accommodations in Liguria, Tuscany, Puglia, Umbria, Sicily and Beyond (still a work in progress!)

www.bellavitaitalia.com

We hope you like what you see as much as we do!

***Many thanks to Rob & Kate for their creativity, passion and ability to make teh web world seem a little less overwhelming.

Where to go in Italy in 2012?

It is a question I’ve been asked a lot lately.  It seems there is a break-away from “the big three” (Venice, Florence and Rome) and a new emphasis on finding the hidden gems of this bel paese, at least in terms of our repeat clients and new requests.  So I been asking around to friends and colleagues about what they are hearing is well. Here is a short “hot list” of places to go in Italy in 2012:

Le Marche

Some are calling this the “new Tuscany”.  One can visit such "art rich” towns towns as Urbino and Ascoli Piceno, but also enjoy some seaside time in such resorts as Numana, Fano and Porto Recananti or delve into the fine wines (over 13 varieties of D.O.C.) of its rolling green hills.

Puglia

This one has been on the rise for a few years now, and one can certainly understand.  Over 700 miles of white sand and terraced rock beaches, a beautiful mixture of east meets west meets south cultural and architect, endless (and I do mean endless) acres of olive trees, some dating back 2,000 years, delicious and somewhat exotic cuisine and an overall friendliness that one feel at home.  Our personal favorite destinations: Ostuni, Lecce and Martina Franca.

Riviera Ponente, Liguria

From the French border to Genova with Piemonte hovering just above, once overlooked as the more built-up side of the Italian Riviera, Ponente is making a come back.  Doting its coastline are some very charming villages such as Finale Ligure, Noli and Bordighera.  Go just a tad inland and you have Dolceacqua and Pigna.  It also tends to be a bit less expensive than its sister Riviera Levante.

The Veneto

Arguably the best wines in Italy come from this region (Amarone, Soave, Prosecco, YUM!) plus you have lovely towns to visit such as Treviso and Verona, the east banks of beautiful Lake Garda and the Dolomites adding to a nearly sublime backdrop.

The Dolomites

A mix of Italian and Austrian delight, literally the best of both worlds.  For an fun alpine adventure consider visits to Ortisei, Kastelrotto and Merano, but don’t forget the lovely city of Bolzano, one of Italy’s wealthiest and cleanest mini-metropolises.

Would love to hear from you all are your picks for 2012.  There are so many to choose, which just makes travelers come back for more and more!

A presto...