186. The village of Castelrotto in the Dolomite mountains
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In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso recount their visit to the Italian Dolomites, specifically the village of Castelrotto, during the quiet period before Christmas. They detail the unique architecture, culinary experiences, and a memorable hike to Chiesa San Valentino.
Key Points:
Introduction to Castelrotto: A picturesque mountain village with colorful buildings and unique architecture reflecting Austro-Hungarian influences.
Travel Timing: The benefits of visiting in mid-December, before the Christmas rush.
Architectural and Cultural Highlights:
Unique Architecture: Discussion of onion-shaped domes on church steeples and ornamental de-signs on buildings.
Car-Free Village: The convenience and charm of Castelrotto’s car-free environment.
Culinary Experience:
Memorable Dinner: Details of a three-course meal at a local hotel, featuring risotto, trout, and flan.
Emphasis on local cuisine and presentation.
The Hike to Chiesa San Valentino:
Destination: A walk to the Church of St. Valentine (Chiesa San Valentino) in Alpe di Siusi.
Landscape: Description of the stunning Alpine meadow and the church’s idyllic setting.
Solitude: The experience of visiting the church with no other tourists around
Final Thoughts:
Recommendation to visit Castelrotto in mid-December for a quiet, crowd-free experience.
Teaser for the next episode, which will also focus on the Dolomite mountains.
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In this episode, Tommaso discusses how to manage cyber and personal security risks while traveling, particularly in tourist hotspots. He shares practical tips to protect against scams and pickpockets, ensuring a safer travel experience.
Key Points:
Cybersecurity Risks:
Travelers are prime targets for cybercriminals due to their reliance on public Wi-Fi and charging stations.
Skimming devices and compromised Wi-Fi routers are common methods used to steal personal data.
Criminals are getting more sophisticated with phishing and vishing schemes
Personal Safety:
Pickpocketing is prevalent in popular tourist destinations like Rome and Venice.
Organized criminal groups operate strategically, often with women performing thefts and men watching for law enforcement.
Large crowds and momentary distractions provide ideal cover for these activities.
Episode Highlights:
Cybersecurity Tips:
Avoid using public USB charging stations due to the risk of juice jacking.
Use a portable charging brick and a backpack with an external charging port.
Use cellular data or an eSIM instead of public Wi-Fi whenever possible.
Use a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic, especially on public Wi-Fi.
Only use ATMs inside banks to avoid skimming devices and shoulder surfing.
Personal Safety Tips:
Be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas.
Use money belts and hotel safes to protect valuables.
Avoid showing off expensive items like jewelry.
Keep wallets in front zipped pockets.
Resources and Links:
This is the link that will help you extend your phones batter life while traveling.
Save Battery
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23:19
184. Bergamo’s Citta Bassa, A Northern Italian Treasure
Kimberly and Tommaso share their experiences in Città Bassa, the lower city of Bergamo. They highlight the area’s unique piazzas, shopping streets, and cultural landmarks. They also touch on Bergamo’s sister city relationship with Greenville, South Carolina.
Key Points:
Introduction to Città Bassa: Unlike Città Alta, Città Bassa is the working part of the city, with wide, tree-lined streets.
The Funicular Ride: Quick and easy access from Città Alta, offering views of the city and landscape.
Piazza Pontida:
Historical Significance: Originally referred to as Cinque Vie, a convergence point of five streets where merchants would sell their goods.
Architectural Features: Porticos and arcades dating back to the 15th century.
Modern Charm: Now a piazza with shops, cafes, and trattorias.
Borgo Palazzo Neighborhood:
Parrucchieri Paradise: Numerous hair salons (Parruchieri in Italian), nail salons, and other beauty treatments are located on Via Borgo Palazzo.
Tommaso humorously suggests renaming the street Via Parrucchieri.
Culinary Experience at Caprizza Bergamo:
Pizza Recommendation: Despite nonchalant staff, the Napolitana style pizza was excellent.
Menu Highlights: Kimberly enjoyed buffalo mozzarella with yellow cherry tomatoes and Parmigiano-Reggiano, while Tommaso had a Parma ham and mozzarella pizza.
Via Pignolo:
Street Details: Hand-laid bricks and cut stone designs on the sidewalks and streets.
Craftsmanship Appreciation: Noticing and appreciating the craftsmanship in every street and sidewalk.
Venetian Walls and Viale della Mura:
Ancient Walls: Built in the mid-1500s and remarkably well-maintained.
Scenic Views: Walking along Viale della Mura, offering views of the city.
Bergamo and Greenville, South Carolina: Sister Cities
Primary Goal: To promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation.
Commonalities Between Bergamo and Greenville:
Textile Industry: Historical professional and personal relationships.
Science and Education: Bergamo Science Festival and Greenville’s Imagine STEAM event.
Music: Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo and the Greenville Symphony.
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28:30
183. Bergamo’s Best, The Stunning Citta Alta
In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso share their travel experiences in Bergamo, Italy, focusing on Città Alta. They recount funny driving challenges and highlight the area’s rich history and architecture.
Key Points:
Driving Adventures in Città Alta:
Kimberly and Tommaso describe their memorable drive up to Città Alta.
Automatic car was helpful on the steep inclines and narrow streets.
They joke about capturing these experiences on video for YouTube.
Exploring Piazza Vecchio and Piazza Duomo:
The hosts discuss the beauty and history of Piazza Vecchio and Piazza Duomo.
Palazzo Nuovo was designed to mirror Michelangelo’s Palazzo dei Conservatori in Rome.
Palazzo della Ragione, one of Italy’s first municipal buildings, features a unique covered walkway.
Capella Colioni’s facade is incredibly intricate.
Aperitivo Experience:
Kimberly and Tommaso acknowledge the fact that all the locals knew to go early for an aperitivo at the coveted outdoor tables in Piazza Vecchio.
Yet they were very happy with an indoor aperitivo at small but refined bar, where they had a parmigiano lollipop!
Meeting Luisa and Bebo:
Kimberly and Tommaso meet Luisa, an Italian teacher, and her partner Bebo, an actor and comedian, for dinner.
The restaurant offered authentic Bergamaschi cuisine.
Tommaso enjoyed Casconcelli alla Bergamasca, while Kimberly and Luisa had polenta con formaggio e funghi.
Visiting Roca di Bergamo:
The hosts walked up to Roca di Bergamo, a fortress with 360-degree views.
They explored Parco della Rimembranze, a park with memorials and tributes to various wars.
The park features artifacts representing each military division.
Next Week’s Episode:
Kimberly and Tommaso will discuss Città Basso, the lower city of Bergamo, in the next episode.
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28:37
182. Modena in Emilia-Romagna, Tasty Balsamic to Sexy Ferrari's !
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In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso recount their visit to
Modena in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. They describe the city’s attractions, from balsamic vinegar to Ferrari. They also discuss travel safety tips and the upcoming changes to the podcast schedule.
Key Points:
Podcast Schedule Update:
Beginning the first Wednesday of April, the podcast will switch to two episodes per month for a few months.
This change is due to scheduling constraints.
Travel Safety Advice:
Travelers to the Napoli area should be aware of recent earthquake activity.
Visitors should note the location of their country’s consulate.
A grab-and-go bag with essential documents is recommended.
Recent heavy rains caused flooding in Florence, Pisa, Lucca, and parts of Emilia-Romagna.
Modena’s Centro Storico:
Kimberly and Tommaso visited Modena, known for its balsamic vinegar and Ferrari.
Kimberly recalls fond memories of buying balsamic vinegar during her time in Milan.
The city was decorated for Christmas, with a unique style of lighting the streets.
The hosts admired the lack of crowds in Piazza Grande.
Modena was originally a Roman colony called Mutina.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
Modena has three UNESCO-recognized architectural masterpieces.
The Duomo is a Romanesque building that took 220 years to build.
The Bell Tower of the Duomo is known as Ghirlandina.
The Piazza Grande is the third UNESCO site.
Famous Modenese Figures:
Luciano Pavarotti, the famous tenor, was from Modena.
His home slightly outside the city is now a museum.
Chef Massimo Bottura, who runs Osteria Francescana, is also from Modena.
Giuseppe Giusti Balsamic Vinegar:
The Giusti family has been producing balsamic vinegar since 1605.
The shop on Piazza Grande has a very alluring interior.
Kimberly and Tommaso tasted and purchased various vinegars.
They paired the vinegar with parmigiano and Brunello upon returning home.
Ferrari Museum:
The museum focuses on the life and work of Enzo Ferrari.
The museum showcases noteworthy Ferrari automobiles.
The design and color of the cars, as well as the devotion to each car, stood out.
The exit features a quote from Enzo Ferrari: “The best Ferrari ever built, is the next one.”
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Welcome to Kimberly's Italy, a travel podcast focused on all things Italian. My love affair with Italy started with a move to Milan many years ago, and the enriching experience became part of my DNA. Our episodes highlight some of our own travels and the comical lessons we learned along the way. You can be the beneficiary of invaluable travel tips, and at the same time enjoy a few laughs. We share our passion of the Italian cuisine, history, art, architecture, and the welcoming nature of the Italian people, whom define this incredible country. You can reach me at: Kimberlysitaly.com
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