The showstopping square in Italy’s Cittaducale
On a recent visit to Rieti with my younger son, we decided to explore the nearby town of Cittaducale. Just 8 km east of Rieti, Cittaducale is an impressive example of a late medieval fortress town. Perched on a strategic hilltop location and surrounded by mountains, this town is a pleasant place to wander. Although…
Read MoreBook review: I leoni di Sicilia
We all know the old adage that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But when lockdown ended in Rome and I could walk around and visit bookshops (!!) when they were one of the first non-essential businesses to be allowed to open, I couldn’t resist the stunning cover of I leoni di Sicilia.…
Read MoreWandering the silent, medieval streets of Toffia
I’ve driven by Toffia many times on my drives from Rome to Rieti, but never made time to visit. On a recent weekend trip to Rieti, my son and I decided to take a little detour from the Via Salaria to visit this picturesque, medieval town. We were in Toffia on a perfect summer day.…
Read More2020 Booker Prize Longlist announced
Readers, this one’s for you. The Booker Prize 2020 has announced its longlist. Congratulations to the thirteen novelists who made this first round of selection. A lot of these novels and novelists are new to me, so I look forward to exploring these selections. You can see the full longlist here. Have any of you…
Read MoreA breath of fresh (sea) air in Sperlonga
I’ve already written about our post-lockdown travel. After months of lockdown during what was an absolutely perfect, gorgeous Rome spring, it’s not that surprising to note that the first trip out of Rome my family and I decided to take was to the seaside. We travelled to the beautiful beach town of Sperlonga on the…
Read MoreLockdown reading
I’ve always been an avid reader, but this passion became even more important during our time of severe lockdown in Rome. During that time, we were expected to mostly stay in our home, with rare excursions out, and no more than 200 meters from your residence. I was teleworking, and Rome was experiencing a perfect…
Read MoreFeeling like royalty in a nobleman’s hunting palace
I’m often up in the Italian town of Rieti, in northern Lazio. My youngest son is a runner, and joined the competitive track and field team here, although his daily training is (thankfully) in Rome. His involvement with the team means I’ve had plenty of chances to explore this pretty medieval town about 90 minutes…
Read MoreFlying the friendly skies in the age of Corona virus
I used to be a seasoned traveler, but in the age of Corona virus, all bets are off. I took my first trans-Atlantic fight since this pandemic broke out, and it felt odd to be back in then skies. My first leg was a European flight within Shengen. The Rome airport was eerily empty, and…
Read MorePost-lockdown travel
As I come to grips with our post-pandemic life and beginning my travel blog once again, I’ve written in recent weeks about pre-lockdown travel and exploring Rome under the lockdown. This leads to the moment in June that (finally!) travel restrictions ended, and we could travel once again – first in our region, and then…
Read MoreDiscovering ancient literature & 18th century opera online
During lockdown, I found myself with a lot more time on my hands. I was teleworking, but with an inability to go out to take part in activities I usually enjoy, I was looking for something different to keep me busy and mentally active. Perhaps I’m late to the game, but I was pleased to…
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