Yesterday, Today, And Tomorrow, Italy Is Romanticism
I’ve been told many times that France is the country of love and romance.
But for me—since the first time I watched “Roman Holiday” as a kid—it’s always been Italy. I promised myself that, when I grew up, I’d go to Rome with my fiancé, whizzing through its streets by Vespa…
My first visit came a bit sooner than expected. I was 15 years old—accompanied by my parents, three siblings, and family friends…
No Vespa.
No Gregory Peck.
Still, everything about Rome was magic. At every turn, a piece of history. Every wall and building was a piece of art.
Years later, when I started dating Arnaud, I got closer to that childhood dream. Arnaud is from Nice… which is close to the Italian border and, in fact, belonged to Italy several times over the course of history. Even today, Nice’s culture and way of life feels closer to la dolce vita.
On one of our first outings over the border, Arnaud took me to the village of Dolceacqua (literally “sweet water”) up in the hills with its own bell tower and many village houses built out of the local stone. And that was just the beginning of our Italian escapes…
In Florence, I was struck once again by art and history. No need to join the queues outside the city’s museums—the whole city is an exhibition… with the added temptation of excellent espresso cafés and the chance to eat a slice of pizza at 10 a.m.
We’ve also skied in Limone Piemonte. It’s rare to find a ski resort that offers enjoyment for those who don’t love the slopes, but this is a place where you could enjoy a weekend sans skis. When we finished our last descent of the day, we were happy to wind down in the village…
What I love about Italy is its many faces. One day, you feel you know the country… then you visit a new city or region and discover a whole new history, vocabulary, and local dish…
This is a country where you can—among its parts—enjoy the beach (and swim in warm water), ski in winter, witness the latest fashion trends, hike an active volcano, see some of the oldest architectural sites of Europe… and, everywhere you go, enjoy the finest food…
Abruzzo is a region that I’m looking forward to exploring this Oct. 17–19 at our first-ever Live and Invest in Italy Conference. Fronted by Adriatic beaches and backdropped by the Apenines, it’s possible to ski in Abruzzo in the morning… and take a stroll along its beaches in the afternoon.
Our Live and Invest in Italy Conference is a one-of-a-kind program designed to help you to experience Italy, not as a tourist, but with the help of long-time residents… while, at the same time, making every connection and contact you’ll need to make your own Italy dreams come true...
From the Alps to the Mediterranean coast, from country villages to mountain hideaways, we’ll introduce you to the real Italy—the good, the bad, the ugly, and the workarounds. No place is perfect… even in Italy (though, from what my colleagues tell me, Abruzzo does come close).
If you’d like to see it for yourself… and be among our guests in October… I urge you to book your seat this week.
Our Early Bird Discount expires this Friday, Aug. 24, at midnight…
I hope you’ll join us on this “Abruzzo Holiday”…
Valentine Fouché
