The Bittersweet Life

We talk (and talk and talk) about Americans living in Italy. But what about Italians who live in the US? What happens when the shoe is on the other foot? 

Today we sit down with Rosanna Staffa, an It…

Tiffany has been complaining about the criminal way in which Romans park since nearly the dawn of her now-dormant blog back in 2010. And becoming a Roman driver herself has not cooled her resentment …

This month, Tiffany took her first solo (non-work-related) trip since becoming a mom almost 8 years ago! (What took her so long?)

We reflect on the thoughts and realizations that came to her during t…

Planning a visit to the Vatican Museums this season? Forewarned is forearmed!

Today we hear from three Vatican tour guides who dish the dirt on what it's really like inside the Vatican Museums, from …

What's it like to be in the Vatican Museums in the middle of the night? Not just during evening hours, but long after they close...

Journalist Cullen Murphy got a chance to do just that and he writes…

On Monday's episode we explored the music that we grew up listening to and loving—as well as how we discovered and acquired that music. (Call-in radio request, anyone?)

Today, Katy digs up some old …

A question from a listener sparks today's conversation: What music do we love and listen to on a daily basis? Have our tastes changed and matured over the years or do we still love the same music we …

Fries, chocolate, canals, art, gabled houses... what's not to love? 

Fresh off a long weekend in Ghent, Tiffany sings the glories of one of her favorite European towns, and explains why Belgium is Eu…

Looking for the perfect summer read, something light yet introspective and thoughtful that takes place in Rome? You're in luck! This week we are joined by nationally bestselling, award-winning author…

School's almost out! Hooray for summer! Aurelio stops by to tell as about his summer plans, and why summer vacation for Italian kids is not quite as freeing as it is for their American counterparts.

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Do you ever have days when everything just lines up perfectly? When you couldn't have planned your day to work out in a more ideal if you had had it under your own control?

Those days are rare when y…

What makes a place magical? A lot of factors can go into it, but one of them is certainly, as author Jess Walter puts it, when "history connects with the experience you're having." In this case, he's…

Today we're joined by Marti Buckley, an author, cook, and journalist living in San Sebastián, Spain. Her award-winning cookbook is called Basque Country, and her second book, The Pintxo Book, will be…

One of the most fascinating places in Rome by far, the one that packs the most layers (literally!) of history into a single site, is without a doubt the Basilica of San Celemente and the archeologica…

What is the deal with the story within the story device? When reading 19th century literature, you're very likely to come across this technique, also known as a "frame story." And if you're like Tiff…

There's nothing quite like being told a story. Whether you're a child whose parent or babysitter is telling you a fairytale to help you fall asleep, a camper sitting in the magical glow of a campfire…

What's it like to move in with a family you've never met, in a foreign city you've never been to, to take care of children that are not your own?

Turns out it can vary vastly, from finding your "seco…

We've all heard the term "hidden gems" when it comes to going off the beaten track in popular tourist locations. Everyone wants to find that truly secret masterpiece that their fellow tourists miss. 

Today we are making our biggest (and most exciting) announcement ever. 

We are organizing an exclusive trip to Rome this October for just TEN of our listeners and their guests. Come to Rome with us! …

Today we bring you a story of passion, perseverence, and loss—an adventure on the high seas (really!).

Listener Jordan sent us an extraordinary letter, about a bittersweet decision he had to make rec…