Another year around the sun
Some reflections on my birthday
Today is my birthday and besides celebrating with my favorite dish, spaghetti alle vongole, I decided to pause for a few minutes and reflect on the things that truly matter to me.
First of all, relationships.
They are at the heart of everything I do. I want to work for people and with people. Guests who join on tours, of course, but also the farmers, artisans, and makers who open their doors and share their vision with me.
With farmers and artisans I want to support their vision for their life and their craft.
With travelers, I know I can’t control what they’ll retain or what moments will stay with them but I want every journey to offer something meaningful, something that can be felt long after returning home.
I value beauty, but especially beauty with stories.
Beautiful landscapes are everywhere. You don’t need to travel far to find them. I actually believe there’s nothing more democratic than beauty. It exist everywhere, if you train your eyes and your mind to notice it.
What makes a place unforgettable are the people who inhabit it and the stories intertwined with their land. Without those stories, a destination becomes an empty container, a pretty object on a museum shelf. It’s there but it lacks context. With them, it becomes alive.
Home, whatever that means.
After 15 years of living abroad, I’ve finally accepted that “home” isn’t a fixed point on the map.
It’s an ensemble of relationships: my family in Italy, my friends spread across Europe, and the family I’m building with my husband here in Oregon. I usually feel that sense of home most intensely in the space in-between, on a plane, flying from or to Europe. It’s a magical space where I can process and have perspective on things.
I value traditions.
The ones I grew up with, the ones I’m creating now for myself and my family, and the ones I encounter around the world. Not traditions as rigid boxes, but as inspirations, ways to slow down, be mindful, and remember what matters.
And I value journeys, especially the ones still ahead.
I’m building my own tour operator to connect curious travelers with Italy beyond the beaten path, not just Tuscany, but the overlooked corners filled with food, craft, and people. As the brilliant Elisabetta said, 75% of travelers visit only 5% of Italy.
I want to open the door to the other 95%, so people can feel the layers of richness, uniqueness, and humanity found behind the doors of crafters’ workshops and producers’ homes.
So here’s to another year of exploring and creating. Cheers to another year around the sun!
P.S: If you’d like to send a birthday wish, the most meaningful gift is to share this newsletter with a friend who loves Italy, follow along on Instagram or Facebook, or leave a review. Thank you for being here, your presence on this journey means a lot!