The Italian Capital Within Arm’s Reach

Good news: all roads lead to Rome and, in some cases, will take you back to your starting point before the end of the day!

I experienced this two or three times last summer. After an early morning swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea, I hopped on a train, spent the day in Rome – combining business with pleasure, – and returned to my Mediterranean seaside just in time for the sunset extravaganza.

Continue Reading →

The Special Instagram Magic

It is no secret among my friends that I am a little old-fashioned when it comes to communicating via social media. I still get on the blower a great deal (the smart version) and am more likely to send emails than text messages through Facebook or Twitter. In fact, if you happen to be one of our Trust & Travel clients and partners, you may have noticed that our Twitter account has evaporated – I could never quite get the hang of it!

Continue Reading →

Proper Italian Usage and Civilities

“And that is how Italians are. So terribly physically all over one another. They pour themselves one over the other like so much melted butter over parsnips. They catch each other under the chin, with a tender caress of the hand, and they smile with sunny melting tenderness into each other’s face…”

Continue Reading →

ZTL: No Driving In The Center Of Historical Towns In Italy

Last week I got a telephone call from my friend Jessica in New York, who had holidayed in one of our Trust & Travel villas in the spring of 2014:

“You won’t believe this, Katharina: I have just received a traffic violation ticket from my Italian car rental company. It says: “Unauthorized access to a ZTL area”. That was last year in Siena, a year ago! How can this be possible?
– I’m afraid it is, Jessica. A year’s delay is not unusual.
– And I’ve looked up “ZTL” on the web and guess what I’ve found: Zone Teatrali Libere, Free Theatre Zones! What is this? Did I inadvertently drive through a theatrical performance?”

Continue Reading →

The Right Move at the Right Time

I am so excited about our new Trust&Travel Paris offices that I thought I’d tell you a little bit about them in this week’s article. Continue Reading →

Italian state museums: a wind of change

I used to get a little confused with the thousands of museums and archaeological sites which Italy can boast, particularly with their policies concerning entrance fees, opening hours and memberships. Now, thanks to recent changes in the country’s political landscape, it has become a lot easier to find one’s way through Italy’s cultural cornucopia. Continue Reading →

The Highly Picturesque Palio of Siena

The sanguine enthusiast who was sitting next to me in the stands clapped his hands in a burst of joy and glanced at me briefly:

“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle, he exclaimed. Don’t you agree?

– Well… yes, maybe, I modestly replied.

– Winston Churchill said that, not me. Is it the first time you’re attending this horse race, young lady?” Continue Reading →

The Art of Cooking Pasta

“No man is lonely eating spaghetti: it requires so much attention!”

I could easily appropriate these words by Christopher Morley, an American writer and journalist (1890-1957). Pasta do require attention. Well, some.

Continue Reading →

Emergency in Tuscany

Sunday morning. I’m having a lie-in and am sleeping like a log. Sheer bliss.

My mobile phone, on my bedside table, rings. I wake up with a start and answer the call.

“ Hello? Continue Reading →



NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to Katharina´s Italy

Enjoy monthly highlights of the best posts...
Sign up here
© 2012 Katharina´s Italy | Privacy Policy
Site design by InfinVision