Kimberly's Italy Kimberly Holcombe

This island deserved the honor of being named the Italian Capitol of Culture in 2022. They could have added Hospitality, Generosity, Kindness and Happiness to the title in my opinion!
We had the most perfect stay with the striking views from our terraces, the colorful palette of the island's architecture and the sound of fishing boats leaving the harbor at first light. The friendly locals and the seafood cuisine were yet even more perks to an island that I want to describe as, perfectly idyllic.
Even during a very busy travel season, you can still escape the crowds here if you know where to do just that. You can also walk the entire island, stopping at each little inlet for a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Procida's big sister of Ischia is a short boat ride away, yet another bonus this teeny island has to offer.

Arriving to the village of Amalfi by boat, allows you to see the majestic beauty of the entire Amalfi Coastline. Once we arrived to our sweet accommodations, a glass of wine on the terrazza was just what we needed to confirm that this is indeed one of the most stunning landscapes on the planet.
As one should do, we ate pizza under lemon trees, sipped on limoncello like you've never had before (unless you have already been to Amalfi) and swam in the sea, in late October no less.
Then onto Pompeii with a uniquely charming and friendly driver, where we were completely absorbed in a 2 hour tour of Pompeii, by yet another friendly and insightful tour guide.
The Amalfi Coast offers so much, you just need to know where, when and how to savor it.

The most intoxicating part about Capri for me, is the geography. The jagged coastline and grottos formed by the sea and time, make for a stunning landscape. Yet, in addition there is tropical flora, cactus, azure water and the bluest of skies, which all makes for a captivating visual treat. In this episode we talk about 2 of the 7 main hiking trails on the island, and why they are such a treasure, for both the history and a feast for the eyes. Capri has inspired poet, painters and writers for hundreds of years, so perhaps you should join crowd, but preferably not at the height of the season.

If you can only visit Capri during the high season, you can still find quiet places to stay and stroll the piazzetta at night, when the day trippers are long gone. However, if you can go the end of October, do so! We were the only tourists in the restaurants, shared the beach at Marina Piccola with five Italians, and had the Arco Naturale hiking path to ourselves. The tropical foliage and the island's dramatic cliffs combine to make it one of the most visually stunning places on earth. It was Capri at it's finest, and my favorite visit yet.

We have received multiple requests for another pasta recipe, which we promised to do over a year ago! To make it up to you, we are sharing Sugo di Roma, a very tasty tomato based sauce from a friend of a friend in Rome, via Milano. This happens to be (one of) Tommaso's favorite sauces, due to the distinct taste that results from the yummy combination of ingredients that simmer on the stove top for hours. It is a definite commitment to make according to our instructions, but you can make an afternoon out of it... listen to music, drink some wine and invite some friends over to share this labor of love. Buon Apetito!!!
Links:
New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/19/world/europe/milan-italy-duomo-cathedral.html
Sugo de Roma Recipe
https://www.kimberlysitaly.com/sugo-di-roma/

This episode details the last few days of our time in Milano during our three week trip to Copenhagen and Italy over the holidays. We were thrilled to see the exhibition in Milano that highlighted the history of the patronage of the arts in Italy, from the Renaissance to 20th century. We also went back to the “scene of the crime” where Tommaso ordered a second cappuccino at the most iconic of all coffee bars in the city, Camparino. Milano holds a special place in my heart and I was so very happy to be back there with my fellow art and history lover, Tommaso.