Hi there!
I’m a woman in my fifties, living in Italy partly by choice… and partly by accident.
After years spent in Poland, Greece, Cyprus and Scotland, I ended up in Apulia with Mauro — my Italian partner.
I love off-the-beaten-path places, mountains, nature, good food (not so much cooking it), and discovering the real Italy — beautiful, chaotic, sometimes absurd, always fascinating.
I only write about places I’ve actually visited. No sugarcoating, no pretending.
If you enjoy Italy Off Path, you’re in the right place.
Latest posts
La Moline Osteria Bologna: Open All Day Lunch & Honest Review
Walking around Bologna can make you hungry; at least it made us. The restaurant recommended by one of Mauro’s local friends had already closed its kitchen when we got there; however, its owner nicely suggested a nearby place which is open all day. Answering my question whether food is good there, he stated ‘pasta for sure, we make it for them’. Hungry and not having much choice at that hour, we decided to give La Moline Osteria a try.
A Day in Trieste, where it’s pretty good to be fat
I never thought I’d regret not being plump. But I did – in Trieste, a city famous for its crazy bora, a strong wind which sometimes blows at speeds of 170 km/h. If you’re slim, well… you’re Mary Poppins flying around without an umbrella. Average people like me have to dig their feet into the pavement, trying not to be moved in a weird direction
A Bat Room With No Bats and Other Surprises: An Improvised Day in Abruzzo
I started the 3rd day of our Abruzzo in December trip stating that my knee was in the lovely shape of a small balloon (pity, it wasn’t colourful). Annoying, and not great to climb, but I still could walk. And I did walk; we just had to modify our ‘to do’ list.
Off-Season Travel in Abruzzo – part 2: Blue Lakes, Bleached Churches and Wrong Turns
The next day of our off-season travel in Abruzzo, we started by visiting two churches and the castle in Bominaco. Driving there, I was looking at the mountains and thinking that Abruzzo in winter would be better with more snow, but on the other hand, many roads would be closed. And we saw it later on.
Weekend in Abruzzo – Day 1: Sulmona, Confetti and an Annoying Cafe
I believe I’ve already stated that I love Abruzzo. I’m sure I have, but I’ll do it again: for me, Abruzzo is no 1 in Italy. No wonder I happily jumped when we were going there again, hoping to see some snow. There was no snow; there were nice towns, confetti in the shape of everything, a closed road to Campo Imperatore, very good soup, and other surprises.
Calici nel Borgo Antico Bisceglie – Wine Festival in Puglia
Have you ever imagined tasting 16 different brands of wine in 3–4 hours? Well, neither I have imagined, but I did taste. And I actually liked it, survived, and didn’t have a hangover. Incredible. If you tend to splash out, you could certainly go to a restaurant and order 16 bottles of wine. I’m sure the restaurant owner would be thrilled and love you.
Molise in January: How to Spend 2 Winter Days in Italy’s Smallest Region
Who visits Molise in January? Almost no one. And that’s a mistake. In just two days, I found mountains without crowds, waterfalls glowing turquoise against bare winter trees, and villages that look like fairytales—or ghost towns. Here’s what 2 days in January looked like.
Off the Beaten Path in Abruzzo: From Fara San Martino to Grotta del Cavallone
I’ve probably mentioned a hundred times that I love Abruzzo, so I was really happy to be back on another trip there. This time it was short – just two days — but still better than nothing. We stayed in a huge apartment in Fara San Martino.
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