Susan Nelson

  During her vacation to Italy, Susan takes us around hidden places, experiencing a variety of food and culture.   If the best things in life come in small packages, then Ventotene is a perfect example. Just a tiny island …

Nestled in the heart of Chianti Classico lies the veritable Castello di Verrazzano. Surrounding Renaissance gardens give way to a late Romanesque tower that served as a lookout over the Greve valley to control the trade between Florence and Siena. …

My road trip along the Ligurian coastline  brought me to Portovenere, where I explored its remarkable landmarks overlooking the sea. Panoramic vistas bordered by turquoise waters gave an exotic backdrop to this cliff-side paradise. Portovenere was a place where I …

High above the steep rock walls of Capri stands a lone figure. Rays of sunlight dance and shimmer along the golden embroidery of the garments covering his large, well-built frame. Obsidian eyes search the green-blue sea laid out before him, …

Buried underground and nearly invisible to the eye, the Antinori’s new Cantina just north of Florence is introducing a new wave of architecture by using a design that merges delicately with nature. Every act in the building process of this …

My first authentic taste of Puglia was at Masseria Provenzani, located north of Lecce in Casalabate. A masseria is a fortified farmhouse in the country that offers lodging. Masseria Provenzani was once a 16th century stronghold that was part of …

Way down south in the heel of the boot that is Puglia lies the old baroque-inspired seaside village of Gallipoli. Surrounded by the Ionian Sea on the Salentina Peninsula, Gallipoli sits quietly under the warmth of the sun. Tourists are …

The year is 115 AD, with Imperial Rome at the height of its power. The Commissatio is just beginning. Banquets were commonly hosted by an upper  class couple in their villa, with several guests invited to partake of delectable feasting …

Polignano a Mare, known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, is perched atop a slice of erosion scarred limestone above the Adriatic Sea in Puglia. At 25 meters tall, it is the perfect location for the International Red Bull Cliff …

A leisurely walk through Rome is one of my favorite things to do while spending time in the Eternal City. History has always fascinated me, and here there are endless traces of it.   While spending time exploring the Pantheon …