Join My Bella Vita Travel for our guide to planning your next adventure in Calabria, from must-visit sites to culinary delights you shouldn’t miss! Read more…Read More
It’s that time of year again! We are making our list, and checking it twice, as we go on the hunt for the perfect gift for our friends and family. If, by chance, one of these important people on your list loves everything Italian, well, we’ve got some great gift ideas that will certainly help...Read More
Easter in Italy is one of the most important religious periods of the year, even more so than Christmas. So, as you can probably imagine, it’s kind of a big deal. And like all festivals and celebrations in Italy, there are traditions that have been passed on through generations that are still very much present...Read More
As much as the Christmas tree has become a universal symbol of Christmas, but here in Italy, the Presepe (Nativity Scene) is still very much the star of this festive season! Now that the Immaculate Conception has passed, it will be tough to find an Italian home that doesn’t have a presepe set up somewhere...Read More
I’m gearing up for my first Calabrian Easter celebration with my new bambino. Yes, my husband and I have done the traditional American Easter Basket vs. Italian Chocolate Egg thing in the past and we’re planning on continuing our Easter traditions, plus one. The weather is warming up and if it holds, we’ll spend an...Read More
Last week we discussed a few Christmas and Holiday greetings that are commonly used in Italy but as anyone who has ever been in the bel paese at “the most wonderful time of the year” will tell you, there is always more to learn. Here are five more Italian Christmas words you will see during...Read More
Many street corners, alleys and pathways in Calabria hold a unique find, an ancient artifact … a centuries-old secret. Just strolling through one of the many Medieval, Byzantine or Baroque towns in the region will give you a glimpse into its former life and nowhere is this more true than in the villages’ churches. With...Read More
As I’ve mentioned over the last few weeks, I’m missing my traditional Texas-style Christmas this year and will be celebrating a Calabrian Christmas for the first time since moving to the bel paese. A few years ago I wrote a four-part series on Calabrian Christmas traditions and since I’m most looking forward to Il Cenone...Read More
It’s that time of year when salespeople and signposts scream “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays” from every street corner, crook and cranny throughout the US. Here in Italy, we have our own holidays greetings and soon enough they’ll be strung across our streets and whispered among friends. If you want to get into the Italian...Read More
It’s Black Friday and nothing says Christmas like leftover turkey sandwiches, shopping lists and Christmas-season bargains … yes, even here in southern Italy. No, no, our Thanksgiving was quiet this year … just a small lunch with a couple of friends, and with any luck by the time you read this post, I’ll be at...Read More
