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Passion for Italy Podcast Episode 8: Words from Our PFI Director Gemma Green Close

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Hi welcome to Episode 8 of our Passion for Italy podcasts.
I am Gemma Green Close, the director and founder of Passion for Italy Travel. I hope you are enjoying our podcasts bought to you by our wonderful PFI consultants that live over three different continents, servicing our clients online all over the world.

I am Australian and work between two offices – one in Brisbane, Australia and the other in Pozzuoli, Italy. The only disadvantage with this, is the 35 hour travel between the two countries. The Italians think I am crazy to do that flight not once but now over 32 times but hey – when you love something you will travel the earth to see it!

I fell in love with Italy the first time I stepped off the plane from Australia in Rome in 1987 with my husband and pregnant with my third son. I immediately felt like I had come home. I loved everything about it and Rome is still my favourite city in the world. There is nothing like turning the corner and seeing the Pantheon for the first time. It takes your breath away with its majesty. It is my sacred place – every year I always go and visit it when I first arrive in Roma. It is the first place I head for and it is the last place I pay homage to before I leave. It is such a magical place particularly when it rains with the open dome – the showers filter down like snowflakes through the tall center, falling gently upon the marble flooring which contains little holes through which the water drains.

I remember that first trip being stunned by the handsome looking, stylish men and women in Rome walking along Via Condotti- the street with all the famous shops like Gucci and Valentino -their clothes were just so classy, that I myself tried to copy their style and I bought a pink, cashmere cable jumper with a matching hounds tooth pink and black blazer, hoping that it would fit me after the baby was born. I wore that beautiful jumper for many winters until one day the drycleaner shrunk it to baby size and I was devastated but thereafter my then four year old continued to wear it until she grew out of it. Quality never fades.

Unfortunately today I am bit disappointed now by the fashion walking down Via Condotti one of my favourite areas, which I always visit when in Rome – it seems now to be only jeans, giubbinos- plastic coats and sandshoes – which is the standard uniform of all the Italian young people in the winter. However occasionally one can see a long haired stunner striding, along in her boots and expensive dress or a man dressed well in a gorgeous jacket matched to his beautiful leather shoes.

I love shopping in Rome because of the on-street shopping and the beautifully decorated windows. It is where I buy most of my clothes for the year. Window dressing used to be so much more magnificent thirty years ago; almost an art piece but one can still see the creatively decorated window designs, particularly in Milan and Florence in the exclusive areas. You don’t even have to buy, as it is a joy just to view the shop window; particularly at night when they are closed, due to the perfect lighting. Italians, I think, are the best in the world at lighting!

I remember once in Rome standing for a long time in front of a window trying to work out what type of shop it was, as in the front room and window, the only thing present, was a beautiful fur coat and a fountain. It turned out to be a hairdresser. Speaking of hairdressors….well that is another story…

I have continued to love everything about Italy from the first time until today. Sometimes I struggle with the chaos particularly when catching trains but that too is another story that we can help you with . I am passionate about all things Italian (hence the name of our business Passion for Italy) – the people and their language, the history, the incredible art, the majestic architecture of all variety and ranging from over 2500 years to the present day – the archaeology and of course the food and wine.

It was frustrating on my first trip not being able to speak Italian but it was not until my second trip to Italy and a tragic event that occurred that changed my life forever. I was once again pregnant and we had just touched down from Australia and I began to feel very sick. I thought initially that it was the effects of jet lag but then I had to race to the Venice hospital of St. Giovanni and Paolo, where I miscarried my fourth baby which at four months gestation, was a very traumatic experience. Afterwards, I was put into a shared ward with heavily pregnant women, no one could speak English and I could not speak Italian so I did not understand what was going on… I felt so confused, bereft and distraught. I vowed there and then, that the next time I returned to Italy, that I would be able to speak Italian to be able make myself understood. And learn I did, studying at Italian lessons and university and I am still studying the language, trying to improve my grammar and will be for the rest of my life.

The Italian language I think, is the most beautiful language in the world to listen to. It is made for poetry. There are words in Italian that one cannot translate into English. It expresses the language of the soul, of beauty, romance and love. And when I hear it beautifully spoken, it is like music to my ears and I become like Jamie Curtis in that movie “A Fish Called Wanda” well not quite, but you get my drift ha ha!

People often ask me what is my favourite part of Italy. I can truly say that I adore all of it. I have travelled to 18 of the 21 regions inspecting our Passion for Italy hotels to check them out for you our clients. Each region of Italy has its special magic. The six largest cities – Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice, Milan and Turin all have their magnificent sites. The food and wine regions the stunning seaside villages – all of them have their own flavour and specialty dishes. We want to tell you about them all. I love my home village of Pozzuoli on the sea near Naples, where I live for a couple of months each year. I consider Naples perhaps the most fascinating city as I discover it more and more.

Everyone loves Venice of course as it is the most romantic and unique city not just in Italy but in the whole world – a world run on boats, not cars, buildings constructed hundreds of years ago on wooden pylons under the water. Which artist or musician would not want to live there but for the huge crowds of tourists that now flood the small calle – the little streets. I am hoping that the large cruise ships will not be allowed to return to Venice after this Covid time so that the city and the waterways can once again return to the city it once was.

I have so many stories to tell you about my travels in Italy and our wonderful Passion for Italy Travel boutique hotels and day tours. You can see them all on pfitravel.com, Instagram @Passion_for_Italy_Travel,

please like our Facebook page, Passion for Italy to keep tuned to our podcasts or subscribe to them in your favourite podcast app.

Ciao For now.

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Making Memories in Italy; The Moments We Live For

Memories in Italy are the most valuable souvenirs we can bring home.

I had a client return from Italy a few weeks ago. She and her husband had taken a special anniversary trip, and neither of them had ever been before. As we discussed the places they went and the people they met along the way, I heard something new in her voice and recognized it immediately. The joy that fills your heart after experiencing something new with the one you love.

When clients come to us, we spend a good bit of time getting to know each other. My favorite part of what I do is hearing that familiar joy as they tell me what they discovered and experienced along the way. The people they met, the things that made them laugh, their favorite meal, and the memories they’ll always cherish.

October is a hard month for me. I lost my mom four Octobers ago to cancer. As she took her last breath, I stood at her bedside with two of my best friends, who happened to be two of her favorite students as well, reminiscing about our time in Italy together. The few grey hairs we gave her, and the many special times we shared.

Mom had the courage to take a bunch of teenagers and introduce them to a world of wonder. The lives she changed in the process are too many to count. There is something so special about experiencing new things together. It can strengthen the strongest relationships and create lasting bonds in only a few days.

During our first trip to Italy, Mom witnessed me change from a shy, miserable kid to a passionate, determined person. In just a few days I discovered the smell of jasmine, a culture I felt a part of, that art in situ brought tears to my eyes, and that Italy had melted my heart completely, and forever. Less than two weeks in Italy, and I was never the same.

Neither was she. She decided to go back to Italy the year she began her battle with cancer. It was her turn to be insecure as she fought with her wig but refused to let her students see her without it. Then, Capri to the rescue! When she leaned back in the boat to squeeze into the blue grotto, the wig fell in the water. She panicked and then laughed. Her students laughed with her as they helped her fish it out of the brilliant blue sea. It was her first moment of freedom. She never wore it again.

How many times she referenced that moment, and the fact that Capri always made her feel free, and strong. Now in the hardest moments, I look back on those memories and they strengthen me. Memories are the most cherished souvenirs.

When clients ask me about bringing their children to Italy, I catch myself almost jumping out of my chair. Tears well up in my eyes as I tell them, “Yes! Take them! Go!” It was the best gift my parents ever gave me. Not only for the experiences we had then, but for the great gift of being able to go back to those moments in my mind years later.

Last September standing in front of Pietro Bernini’s Fontana della Barcaccia, I had to laugh as I remembered Mom trying to touch the water and almost falling in. It was her favorite place in Rome, and so many years later, I can still feel her presence there next to Keats’ house at the foot of the Spanish Steps.

We tend to think of vacations as fun, and without a doubt, they are. A vacation to Italy, however, is more than fun. You can come home with a million treasures, but the most special cannot be bought: the light in your loved ones’ eyes as they see and experience Italy for the first time.

Your daughter the first time someone calls her beautiful. Your son picturing himself as a gladiator on the Colosseum floor. Your spouse squeezing your hand as a musician on the street happens to play your song.

Italy has an incredible ability to make you feel like moments were created just for you. If you fall in love with Italy, it has a way of assuring you the feeling is mutual.

My husband and I met studying Italian in college. We had both spent quite a bit of time in Italy, but it took us several years to save and plan before we could go together.

He had studied in Milan and never made it to Rome, though its history had fascinated him for years. As our taxi from Termini whirled around the streets, I poked him and pointed out the window as I watched his face. There was the Vittorio Emanuele II monument, regal as ever. His eyes lit up, jaw dropped, and those are the moments I live for.

We dropped our bags and immediately headed to climb the steps of the monument, walk around to the Campidoglio, and catch our first glimpse over the edge. The Forum emerged like a pop-up book and the Colosseum beckoned in the background. Again, that face. The face that says, “I’ve waited my whole life for this. And it’s better than I dreamt.”

What makes Italy so special is that there is constantly something to discover. Always someone wonderful to meet, who takes a moment out of their day to make you feel welcome. A sunrise to take your breath away. A splashing fountain that makes you feel like a child again. The tremolo of a mandolin. A sense of wonder that will captivate you for the rest of your life.

If you are considering a trip to Italy, remember to give yourselves time to make memories. To bask in the sunlight. To sit for hours at a table, talking with each other, with your waiter, with the couple at the next table. Sip a great wine together, eat a delicious meal, and experience every moment. Focus on the ones you’re with, as well as the beauty around you, and you are sure to have an experience you will always treasure.

Contact us to plan your trip

Lindsay Sinko

PFI Travel, Tampa Office, USA

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Travel Italy – The Sounds of Italy

There are some Sounds of Italy you can never forget, never quite get over. Laughter is among the top for me. By Lindsay Sinko PFI USA Florida Office.

My husband and I were at the beach a few weeks ago and at the sound of a family’s laughter he and I shot each other a glance. “They’re from Italy!” We didn’t even have to ask each other. We knew. Without hearing a single word, only their laughter.

There are some sounds of Italy you can never forget, never quite get over. Laughter is among the top for me.

Even before I spoke a word of Italian except an incorrectly pronounced, “grazie” and the odd, “ciao”, I could pick out Italian laughter. There was this infectious internal joy that somehow came through even in a laugh.

We couldn’t help introducing ourselves to the family, who did indeed turn out to be from Italy. And for a few minutes in Florida, speaking Italian with them warmed our hearts. Why? What is it about these sounds that just instantly takes us there? There are so many sounds that remind me of Italy and make my heart jump for joy.

A moving train’s clickity clack, clickety clack. Surely, the window offers views of a Tuscan hillside or an ancient aqueduct! The unmistakable clinking of wine glasses followed by an audible sigh of relaxation and bliss. I can almost taste the Brunello!

Our very own Moka machine, steaming up an afternoon shot of espresso. May it be half as good as Sant’Eustachio! Deafening church bells at noon. Where is Giotto’s campanile in pink, white and green?

Fountains bubbling away playfully. Did Bernini design this one, or add a few turtles at least! But, above all, the sound of Italy to me is music. Not only the knock-your-socks-off voice of Andrea Bocelli, but the street musicians. Melodies that welcome you out into the piazza and yank at your heart strings.

An accordion playing “Funiculi Funicula” or “That’s Amore”. A violin that looks too tiny to be real managing to play a very recognizable, “Con Te Partiro`”.

A chef happily singing, “Volare” in his kitchen. “Nel blu dipinto di blu, felice di stare quaggiu`…”

The quintessential mandolin bringing a passion to, “O Sole Mio” that only the sound of tremolo can. Go out at night in the states and you’re likely to hear a lot of things. Booming bass, screaming engines, sirens, and honking horns, to name a few.

But when is the last time you took a walk after dinner and were greeted by the sounds of conversation and laughter, instruments and fountains? The sounds of Italy stay with us forever. Thankfully, a few of them make their way into our homes and take us back, if only in memory, every time the nostalgia comes calling.

My favorite memento is a beautiful music box decorated in wooden inlay by the hand of an artist in Sorrento. It plays, “Torna a Surriento”, and as sure as I open it, my heart does indeed return to the sun-soaked lemon groves of the coastal town. Limoncello anyone?

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Idyllic Guesthouse Near Rome’s Piazza di Spagna

Discover one of our favorite places to stay in the Eternal City, an Idyllic Guesthouse Near Rome’s Piazza di Spagna.

Isn’t it a dream, to turn the key and walk inside your historic home just steps from Piazza di Spagna?

We can help that dream come true when we book for you this elegant guesthouse, a minute’s walk from the Spanish Steps.

When you check in, the welcoming host already makes you feel at home.

Before seeing your room, you are first introduced to the kitchenette, refrigerator, and sitting area, much like you would be if staying with a friend.

From the time you walk in, the feeling is that of a home, not a hotel.  You get to experience the sense of living in this eternal city.

Davide, always a gracious and friendly host, will personally show you to your room and point out the family paintings and furnishings that enhance the charm here.

Be sure to ask him for a great restaurant recommendation!

Staying in the heart of Rome, there are many fantastic places to eat, but also plenty of tourist traps.

He will give you his personal recommendation, where the food is delicious and authentically Roman.

Inside the room, it’s quiet and peaceful; a relaxing retreat after a long day of touring.

Colors are soft, furnishings are elegant and tasteful, and the bathrooms offer a spa-like quality.

Open the door, and Rome bursts to life on the street.

In just a few seconds, the bubbling Fontana della Barcaccia, invites you to join the joyful atmosphere in Piazza di Spagna.

This is a special part of the city, one that has attracted artists and authors through the centuries.  John Keats once called this area home, and now you can too during your stay in Rome.

You are in the heart of the city, and it comes alive in a whole new way in the evening.

Staying here allows you soak in the vivacious personality of Rome in its piazzas, and easily pop in and out if you’d like to freshen up before your passeggiata with the locals.

When it’s time to rest, the beds comfort and wrap you in luxury linens.  Here, you are assured a comfortable and quiet night of sleep.

Pamper yourself with the L’Occitane toiletries provided, and you’re refreshed.  Ready to take on the city once more!

Rome is full of hotels and apartments, but special places like this one will transform your vacation into a true experience of Roman life.

Contact us to book your stay!

Lindsay Sinko,

PFI Travel, USA

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Bringing Ancient Rome to Life

Think of Ancient Rome and one monument immediately comes to mind conjuring images of gladiators and exotic creatures, emperors and a roaring crowd.

The Colosseum is a place everyone should see in Rome, but to really grasp all that happened there and in the Roman Forum, you need the expertise and enthusiasm of an excellent guide.

A special guided tour is now available for those fortunate enough to get tickets, offering a glimpse into life as a gladiator: the underground areas of the Colosseum.

On a recent trip to Rome, I was excited to be able to experience this myself, so I could tell our clients about it in person and see if it is worthwhile.  Is it ever!

We met our guide, Cristina, just outside the Colosseum and before the tour ever started we were amazed.

One of the most incredible parts of Rome to me has always been its accessibility.  It has a way of giving gifts just when you need them.

We were about to purchase a new bottle of water when Cristina told us it wasn’t necessary.  There is a fountain providing free and delicious water just behind us, natural or sparkling!

Hydrated and ready, we began what became the most educational and fascinating Ancient Rome tour I have experienced in 16 years of travel there.

She pointed out the numbers on the archways, numbered like this for organized entry, just like our stadiums are today.

During the underground access portion of the tour, only a Colosseum guide may speak.  Ours was Francesca and she, too, was fantastic.

Descending into the underground area is a special way to gain understanding of how intelligent the Romans were, and just how terrifying it would have been to be a gladiator.

Exotic animals were kept in cages, still visible.  With a system of winches and trap doors, the animals would be raised up and the door would fling open, releasing a new threat to the gladiator on the floor.

Always a surprise, never knowing where the next threat was coming from, the fear would have been immense.

Because of the proximity of the emperor to the action, guards had to be stationed to protect him if things got out of hand.

Meeting up with Cristina again, she showed us intimate details of the building, where metal rods had been removed and melted down, and marble had been stripped to cover churches like St. Peter’s.

Among the most incredible features, were awnings stretched out to provide shade.  They were operated by skilled sailors. Interestingly, this was called the velarium, and the Italian word for sail is vela.

Leaving the Colosseum, she paused to tell us that on this very street Mussolini and Hitler paraded into town.

A quick stop to explain the Arch of Constantine, and we were on our way to the Forum.

I have never encountered such a knowledgeable or passionate guide about these areas.

With every word she spoke, every expression on her face, her knowledge was infused with passion and the stories astounded us time and again.

We entered the Forum from the way she thought best, and of course it was.  There was no line at all.

An archaeological dig was going on, and we were able to see their freshly uncovered finds.

No matter how much Roman history you know and have studied, without a guide, the Forum is a confusing maze of ruins.

With a guide like Cristina, Ancient Rome comes to life before your eyes.

Every building has a purpose, each column has a story.

You learn not only what happened here, but about who these people were, and how they have influenced culture and art over thousands of years.

Again, with the accessibility of this city, most of these ruins are not roped off and untouchable.  You can walk right up to them and feel the cool stones, touched by emperors and citizens long ago.

This year, a particularly charming area has been opened, the house of the Vestal Virgins.  It is such a pretty sight, draped in flowers with a pond of fish among the columns.

Cristina showed us government buildings and temples, even the place where Julius Caesar was cremated.

When we said our goodbyes, she had spent more than a half hour of extra time with us to point out every spell binding remnant of history.

A guide like that, with such knowledge alone would be enough to amaze guests, but her passion for this history and for visitors’ understanding of it makes this tour the opportunity of a lifetime.

Contact us to book your tour!
Lindsay Sinko,
PFI Travel, USA

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Where Location Meets Charm in Florence

Where Location meets Charm in Florence:  Florence, the city of art, fashion, and Dante Alighieri, never ceases to enamor her visitors.  Stay in a centrally located medieval tower for the best introduction to the city’s charms.

Most visitors to Florence arrive by train, and from the station in about 10 minutes a taxi will deliver you to the door of this beautiful hotel.

The city beckons, but don’t miss the opportunity to take the elevator up and see the views before you go exploring!  Maybe even enjoy a cocktail from the stunning rooftop terrace!

Staying central in Florence is the key to falling in love with the city, without becoming overwhelmed.

Walk inside this hotel, and you’re already being welcomed to a place that just feels special.

Find your room and open the curtains.  The Duomo, the Arno, the medieval towers and churches, all there to say Benvenuto a Firenze!

The rooms themselves are comfortable, and spacious, stylishly Florentine, with some of the nicest bathrooms we have found in Italy!

Open your letter, personally signed by the manager, at once a welcome and an invitation to enjoy the free wi-fi and free smart phone as your personal assistant in the city! A nice touch!

Comfortable beds assure a great night’s sleep, but here you don’t want to sleep in!  The breakfast and views from the dining area are irresistible!

Be sure to take the opportunity for dinner in the hotel’s restaurant one night.  After checking into the hotel, it will be no surprise that the service is fantastic and friendly.  But the food is incredible too!

If you want a steak, theirs will thrill you!  But even for the vegetarians like me, there is something special.  My meal that night was Gnudi, made of potato, spinach and cheese, covered in sage and butter… it was among my favorite meals in Italy, and so different!

While you enjoy the local flavors, soak in the sparkling views of the city lights.  All the stunning monuments twinkle in the streets.

As with many Italian cities, Florence comes to life at night.  Music is everywhere, friends are out chatting, and history stands and smiles as if it’s just one of the locals.

Giotto, Brunelleschi, Dante, you, and me… all just hanging out in the piazzas with a cup of gelato.  Spectacular!

Touring the hotel the morning we left, Maria Rita lovingly showed us all of the suites, specially designed to comfort visitors with different needs.

She took special care to show me the suite that had been designed to accommodate a handicapped family, saying that they want to be sure everyone is able to be comfortable in Florence.

Naturally, our conversation turned from beautiful colors to the historic tower, and Maria Rita casually mentioned that it is quite a historic building indeed. Beloved Dante put the family in hell!  Usurers!

I’ve always been fascinated by Dante, so I looked it up.  Sure enough, Canto XVII: “And as I looking came among them, I saw upon a yellow purse azure that had the face bearing of a lion.”  This is the family crest of the Gianfigliazzi family, who once owned this palace.

Firenze e` cosi…  Dozens of medieval towers, of prominent Florentine families, of stories from the past, still very much alive today!

Contact us to book your stay!

Lindsay Sinko,

Passion for Italy Travel, USA

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