About Robert McDuffie Robert McDuffie (Bobby) is an internationally renowned violinist who has played with just about every major orchestra in the world. He's originally from Macon, Georgia and his musical background is a fusion of southern rock'n'roll, church music and Bobby’s ten years of study with a Hungarian refugee who’d studied at the Liszt...
Culture & Lifestyle
Italy travel update for travel to Italy this summer 2021
There are two things everybody has been asking about... The first question is all about travel restrictions Last week the European Union finally agreed to open up its borders to travelers from low risk Covid countries who are fully vaccinated, or provide a negative test result from a Molecular RT-PCR Covid swab test, taken within...
The 5 best places in Italy to buy Italian hand-painted ceramics
There are five amazing places in Italy to find gorgeous hand-painted Italian ceramics, each of them quite different from one another. If you're interested in purchasing beautiful hand-painted Italian ceramics then these are the places that are a MUST to visit. About Liz Brewster Architect, Urban Planner & Restorer Liz Brewster shared her insight and...
Vatican Museum Art Access for Blind & Deaf Visitors
Although Rome’s hilly terrain and cobblestone streets make it a complicated city for visitors with disabilities to navigate this is in many ways offset by the accessibility afforded at Rome’s major tourist attractions, hotels and restaurants. Particularly so at the Vatican Museums where art access is available to blind and partially sighted visitors, and other...
Puglia Stories - Podcast Episode 50
Holly Grabow has been charming me for years with her delightful Puglia Stories mostly centered around the ordinary life of her wonderful in-laws. About Holly Grabow Holly moved to Italy as a young woman and has been living here for almost 3 decades. She started off her Italian life in Gioia del Colle in Puglia...
Six surprising Trevi Fountain facts you didn't know - Podcast Episode 48
I don’t think there’s a single visitor to Rome who doesn’t have the Trevi Fountain on their bucket list, but there are six surprising facts about the Trevi Fountain you’ve never heard before. In today’s podcast episode Elyssa Bernard from Romewise and I discuss these unusual and little known facts about the Trevi Fountain and...
Chewing the Fat - Podcast Episodes 46 and 47
Chewing the Fat, an Oral History of Italian Foodways from Fascism to Dolce Vitaby Karima Moyer-Nocchi delves into an exploration of the Italian culinary landscape during the fascist era that represents a departure from the romantic vision of Italian cuisine that many people believe has always existed. During the fascist period food was scarce. Most...
Italian Balsamic Vinegar - the real deal - Podcast Episode 36
One of the favorite and most used condiments in Italy and abroad is Italian balsamic vinegar. It’s used to dress salads, as an ingredient in many dishes and to drizzle on top of foods like strawberries and Parmesan cheese. In this episode Michele Di Pietro and I chat all about balsamic vinegar. Listen to this...
Luxury Italian Shoe Designer Alessio Spinelli - Podcast Episode 32
When people think of Italy what comes to mind is fabulous art, monuments, amazing food and beautiful designer luxury goods - especially Italian shoes. In this podcast episode I chatted with luxury Italian shoe designer Alessio Spinelli about his life as a luxury shoe designer in Italy, and the path that led him to become...
Rome Opera House - Teatro dell'Opera di Roma - Podcast Episode 27
The Rome Opera House is fast becoming the cultural pride of the City of Rome, thanks to prudent management under Managing Director Carlo Fuortes, ex-director of Rome’s Parco della Musica. This coupled with innovative programs aimed at bringing opera to wider audiences (Opera Camion), and to younger audiences (Fabbrica Young Artists Program, and Rush to...
Italian extra-virgin olive oil - 2020 Gambero Rosso Guide, plus an award-winning producer in Puglia - Podcast Episode 20
If you have a passion for the very best of Italian extra-virgin olive oils, and especially organic extra virgin olive oils you won't want to miss this chat with the mother and son owners of the generations old Erredi Perrone organic olive oil producer in Puglia. It's the first year the Erredi Perrone olive oil...
Best Beaches & Surf Spots in Italy - Podcast Episode 18
In today’s podcast episode I chatted with Steve Brenner, co-owner of The Beehive in Rome, and surfer who describes himself as a surfer who never gets to surf. If you want to learn about the best beaches and surf spots in Italy then don't miss this episode. Steve lays out some of Italy‘s best surf...