Italy Inside Out

Marzia Caputo grew up in the Veneto town of Vicenza. Her mother and father met in Vicenza when her mother left Calabria to begin a business in a less Mafia dominated region. Marzia describes her favorite sites in her town and the surrounding region and shares stories of growing up in Vicenza, meeting an American who became her husband and her transition to life in the USA.
The antique poem Marzia recited:
Veneziani gran signori
Padovani gran dottori
Veronesi tutti matti
Vicentini magna gatti

Marzia's email: [email protected]
Northwest Italian Radio Show: https://1150kknw.com/show/italian-radio-show/
Podcast Sponsor: Travel in Italia, leading small group tours on the mainland and islands of Italy, http://www.travelinitalia.com, [email protected] or [email protected]

Giuseppe Muziarelli tells us about the history of his hometown, Contignano, located in the iconic area of Tuscany, known as the Val d'Orcia. His family has farmed this land for several generations and he and his wife Paola have converted unused farmhouses into lodging in order to turn the property into the lovely agriturismo, La Montalla. Giuseppe traces the history of his town to the middle ages as a stop on the pilgrim's route to Rome and the Holy Lands. He describes the crops grown on his organic farm and the resulting products of pasta and olive oil.
The agriturismo, La Montalla: lamontalla.com
Giuseppe's email: [email protected]
Podcast Sponsor: Travel in Italia, leading small group tours on the mainland and islands of Italy, http://www.travelinitalia.com, [email protected]

Caterina Nardin was born in England but moved back to Venice with her parents because her father missed his hometown. Caterina describes the challenges facing this city built of islands and accessible only by water. From its apex as a maritime and commercial power in the middle ages to the present day, this place has drawn the rich and famous and the creative and adventurous. Because Venice is so beautiful and unique, it draws flocks of visitors, creating problems of sustainable tourism. This coupled with the rising water levels in the canals and lagoon has produced a need for inventive solutions.
Caterina's email: [email protected]
Tour company website: http://www.venicewithaguide.com
Podcast Sponsor: Travel in Italia, leading small group tours on the mainland and islands of Italy, http://www.travelinitalia.com, [email protected]

Episode 2. Francesca Raspanti is an Italian guide with a full range of credentials to offer her groups, most importantly, a passion for the land where she lives and the town in which she was born. Francesca joins me from Montepulciano, Italy and discusses many subjects, including how her family, community and country have dealt with the covid-19 crisis, the stringent courses and testing required to become a licensed Italian tourist guide and some of the differences between Italian and non-Italians who take her tours.

Francesca's contact information: [email protected] http://[email protected]
Podcast Sponsor: Travel in Italia, leading small group tours on the mainland and islands of Italy, http://www.travelinitalia.com, [email protected]

When Sandra Schmidig and her husband, Ulisse, left Switzerland to search for a warm place to produce organic food, they were told to look in the Val d'Orcia area of Tuscany. In this picturesque area they found a farmer ready to retire who had 200 acres to sell at a price they could afford. With his mentoring and their hard work, the farm grew from one chicken and one sheep into an amazing agricultural endeavor that includes a restaurant, olive groves, vineyards, many farm animals and fields of ancient grain. They produce honey, olive oil, wine, pasta, goat and sheep milk cheeses. They also offer cooking classes, truffle hunts and camping accommodations. The latest project is a cookbook soon available for sale on the website.
Podere il Casale: https://podereilcasale.com/en/Podcast Sponsor: Travel in Italia, leading small group tours on the mainland and islands of Italy, http://www.travelinitalia.com, [email protected] or [email protected]