Every week, no matter where I am in the world, I ponder what I should write about in the weekly Ciao Italy Newsletter. Most weeks, the ideas flow freely and I can’t wait to get the words out because it’s something I’m really excited to share with you. Occasionally though, I sit staring at the screen until inspiration strikes. Easy for my brother, who writes for a living, but writing is not one of my natural talents.

Over two years ago, thanks to a suggestion (more like insistence) from my very smart son, I committed to writing around 1,000 words every week. I’m so glad I did. Anyone who knows me understands my burning passion and love affair with Italy that has never left me since I arrived in Rome in September 2009.

You can only imagine the experiences, places and people I have met all these years with everyone who has travelled with me on a Ciao Italy tour. It brings me great joy to continue to share all that I know about Italy because I strongly believe that a little bit of knowledge about culture, language, etiquette, places and travel tips makes planning your travel adventure more exciting; prepares you better and enhances your total experience.

As soon as you arrive in Italy, it is my job to tell you wonderful stories that bring history alive; introduce you to the locals; take you to the places where Italians eat; show you secret Italy and walk the less explored streets, paths and villages. The plan has always been to show you Italy through the eyes of a local.

There is a lot that I have written about the in the last two years, which is really helpful if you are travelling to Italy in 2026. To save you endless scrolling, there are five main categories of information. Below I have listed four. Next week in Part 2, you will have a resource of almost fifty places in Italy. All you have to do is go to ‘Search’ on ciaoitaly.tours and type in whichever topic jumps out to revisit a newsletter you may have read a while back, or perhaps missed.

The sexy vespa (13/2/24)

Understanding Italy (16/4/24)

The Palio - It’s not just a horse race, it’s life (30/4/24)

Trains Ferries and Buses - where I went wrong (28/5/24)

Accolades for Italy - another UNESCO World Heritage Site (6/8/24)

How not to offend an Italian (3/9/24)

Fashion is in the blood of the Italians (10/12/24)

8 Italian traditions - some that may surprise you (17/12/24)

A one euro home in Italy - too good to be true? (11/2/25)

Made in Italy (6/5/25)

Spoilt for choice - Italy explained (19/8/25)

Handmade in Italy (23/9/25)

Italian News (30/9/25)

The perfect imperfection that is Italy (11/11/25)

How to live a long life (2/12/25)

Clever packing - less is more (30/1/24)

If it makes your soul stir . . . GO! (30/7/24)

Be a traveller, not a tourist - what does that even mean? (13/8/24)

Travel to Europe - there are new rules (1/10/24)

Five best travel tips before touchdown (5/11/24)

Your Italian adventure awaits . . . (7/1/25)

The Pareto Principle - apply it to everything in life (21/1/25)

Packing for Italy - best tips (4/2/25)

Your next trip of a lifetime - it has to be Italy (11/7/25)

Travel Fit - it makes a world of difference (29/7/25)

Low season in Italy (25/11/25)

Buon appetito - food, glorious food (27/2/24)

Cook pasta like an Italian (12/3/24)

Italy’s oldest restaurants and cafes (7/5/24)

Gelato - how to spot exceptional from ordinary (21/5/24)

Passionate about Italian food (10/9/24)

Ristorante Da Adolfo - the secret that got out (19/11/24)

Italy is the answer - for the best food on the planet (3/12/24)

Liquid Gold - the cornerstone of Italian cuisine (4/3/25)

Dining out in Italy - how to spot the touristy places (1/4/25)

Delicious Tuscany - food you will want to try (8/4/25)

Everyone needs a great fruttivendolo (15/4/25)

Food always tastes better in Italy - it’s all about seasonality (20/5/25)

Pineapple pizza does exist in Italy (16/9/25)

Can’t resist a pasticceria (14/10/25)

Never have a bad meal in Italy (9/12/25)

Inspirational Italian women who changed Italy (2/4/24)

Caesar, Antony, Augustus, Tiberius - a web of intrigue (26/11/24)

The Mafia (18/3/25)

Leonardo (22/7/25)

Michelangelo - an all-round genius (26/8/25)

I’m hoping a little bit of reading will inspire you to make your Italy dream come true in 2026! I have saved the fifth category, PLACES, for next week as it is the biggest category with almost 50 places to use as a valuable resource.

Ci vediamo la prossima settimana.

Deb