Podcasts about Lake Garda

Beppe, a native Italian, started his journey in active travel over two decades ago and, with the help of his wife Heather, co-founded Tourissimo, one of the top adventure travel companies in Italy. With years of expertise designing cycling and adventure tours across all 20 regions of Italy, Beppe and Heather have the inside scoop on the most authentic and unforgettable experiences Italy has to offer.So grab your espresso (or a glass of vino Italiano), and let's explore Italy region by region!Northern Italy: Adventure, Culture, and Alpine BeautyLombardy (Lombardia)Running along the Swiss border, Lombardy is Italy's largest and wealthiest region—a land of striking contrasts and cultural riches. Home to nearly 10 million people, Lombardy contains 12 of Italy's largest cities: Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Mantua, Pavia, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Monza, Sondrio, and Varese. The region blends modern sophistication with old-world charm, from the fashion capital and bustling metropolis of Milan to the serene, postcard-perfect landscapes of Lake Como.Lombardy is dotted with some of Italy's most beloved lakes, including Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Iseo, Lake Idro, and many more. Picturesque villages like Bellagio offer sun-drenched escapes along Lake Como's shores, while the medieval towns of Bergamo and Mantova enchant visitors with cobblestone streets, sweeping views, and centuries of history.Culinary lovers will be spoiled for choice with Lombardy's 60 Michelin-starred restaurants—3 with three stars, 6 with two stars, and 51 with one star. Be sure to savor the region's iconic Risotto alla Milanese, a creamy saffron-infused dish that's a local staple. Wine enthusiasts won't want to miss a glass of Franciacorta, Italy's sparkling answer to Champagne.November is a wonderful time to visit, with cooler temperatures and fewer tourists. It's also the perfect season to explore Lombardy's slice of the Alps, where charming mountain towns await nestled among the peaks. For an unforgettable adventure, consider attending the 2025 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo!Tourissimo Tip– If you are flying into Milan, select the correct airport because Milan has two airports! For info, check out the following Tourissimo blog: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/avoid-this-common-travel-mistake-know-milans-two-airportsVenetoVeneto, the birthplace of Prosecco, Polenta, and the iconic Spritz, is a region rich in charm, culture, and culinary delights. Stretching from the Italian Riviera to the Venetian Pre-Alps and the stunning Dolomites, Veneto is home to both natural beauty and historic towns. Its capital, the enchanting floating city of Venice, is world-famous for its canals, gondolas, labyrinthine streets, and undeniable romance.Each of Venice's islands offers something special: admire the colorful houses of Burano, renowned for its lace-making traditions; visit Murano, celebrated for its centuries-old glassblowing artistry; and soak up the peaceful atmosphere of Torcello. Exploring these islands by vaporetto (water bus) offers a quieter, more authentic glimpse into Venetian life. Tourissimo Tip–For a few more suggestions, check out Tourissimo's blog on the Venetian Lagoon: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/our-favorite-destinations-in-the-venetian-lagoonBeyond Venice, Veneto boasts a treasure trove of picturesque towns. Verona, Padua, Vicenza, and Asolo each offer their own distinct history and beauty. Visit Castelfranco Veneto for a charming escape or head to Bardolino to enjoy a boat ride on Italy's largest lake, Lago di Garda. Stroll the waterfront in Castelletto sul Garda or circle the freshwater moat of Cittadella, a red-brick medieval town full of character.In the countryside, the hills of Prosecco promise stunning vineyard views, while the medieval town of Montagnana offers a taste of the past. Nature lovers can visit the volcanic Euganean Hills in Este, and cheese lovers shouldn't miss the small town of Asiago, home to one of Italy's most famous cheeses.Veneto's culinary scene shines with 34 Michelin-starred restaurants—2 with three stars, 3 with two stars, and 29 with one star. Indulge in local specialties like Bigoli in Salsa, a hearty Venetian pasta with anchovy sauce, and toast with a glass of Prosecco, Grappa, or the regional favorite, the Select Spritz. And don't forget—Venetians love to celebrate, so let loose and join the party!Tourissimo Tips–Another fun suggestion is Veneto Marostica, the City of Chess, where they do a living chess match with hundreds of people dressed in medieval costumes every two years: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/marostica-the-city-of-chessPiedmont (Piemonte)Nestled at the foot of the Alps and bordered on three sides by the Mediterranean Sea, Piedmont is one of Italy's most underrated gems. With a diverse landscape that offers adventure and beauty year-round, this region is perfect for both winter skiing and summer hiking and biking, thanks to its stunning Alpine scenery.But Piedmont isn't just about breathtaking views—it's steeped in rich history and cultural significance. As the first capital of Italy, it boasts grand palaces, remarkable art, and sacred relics like the famed Shroud of Turin. The capital city of Turin is a vibrant hub, home to Europe's largest outdoor food market and the monthly Gran Balon flea market, a haven for vintage and antique lovers.Venture beyond the city and you'll discover a region bursting with charm and flavor. Tour the Langhe Hills, a paradise for vineyard visits, and sample Bagna Cauda, a warm anchovy and garlic dip beloved by locals. Wander the lakeside town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore, or stroll the cobbled streets of Neive, where views of rolling hills and storybook cottages create an unforgettable setting. In Asti, you can witness the September medieval horse races and visit the majestic Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e San Gottardo. For a true fairy-tale escape, head to Macugnaga in the valley of Monte Rosa, a perfect base for both skiing and hiking. And just outside of Turin lies the hidden gem of Lake Orta, a peaceful retreat away from the crowds.Piedmont's culinary scene is just as spectacular. With 35 Michelin-starred restaurants—2 with three stars, 3 with two stars, and 30 with one star—the region is a paradise for food lovers. Dine in Alba during white truffle season (September to January), and savor iconic regional dishes like Agnolotti del Plin and Coniglio Arrosto. Wine enthusiasts will be in heaven here—Piedmont is the land of Barolo, the "king of wines," and Barbaresco, two of Italy's most prestigious reds.Tourissimo Tips:Piedmont is home to the Slow Food movement: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/why-piedmont-is-renowned-for-its-slow-foodTourissimo Tip–Check out this blog for a guide to a day of eating in Turin: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/a-day-of-eating-in-turinTourissimo Tip–One of the Best Meals of Your Life will be at the Piazza Duomo in Alba!Emilia-RomagnaLocated in central Italy along the Adriatic coast, Emilia-Romagna is a vibrant and diverse region known for its perfect blend of “slow food” and “fast cars.” This area is considered both the culinary and automotive capital of Italy, offering rich traditions, warm hospitality, and unforgettable experiences.Food lovers will be in heaven here. Emilia-Romagna is the birthplace of iconic Italian delicacies such as Mortadella, Tortellini in Brodo, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, traditional Balsamic Vinegar, Lambrusco, and egg-based fresh pastas like lasagna, tortellini, and tagliatelle. A visit to Parma lets you savor authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano and world-class Prosciutto, as well as enjoy the elegant Teatro Regio opera house.The region also has a need for speed—it's home to legendary automotive brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati. For car enthusiasts, the Ferrari Museum in Modena is a must-see. Emilia-Romagna even has a dedicated cycling tourism office, and in summer 2023, it played host to several stages of the Tour de France, which began in nearby Florence.Beyond the food and cars, Emilia-Romagna offers a range of enchanting destinations. The capital city of Bologna is known for its Piazza Maggiore, the Two Towers, and the scenic Santuario Madonna di San Luca. In Ravenna, marvel at the dazzling, colorful mosaics and the historic San Vitale Basilica. Along the coast, vibrant seaside resorts like Cervia, Cesenatico, and Rimini create a lively, carnival-like party atmosphere from late May through September. For a more peaceful experience, explore the medieval gem of Brisighella, a lesser-known treasure full of charm.When it comes to fine dining, Emilia-Romagna doesn't disappoint. The region boasts 24 Michelin-starred restaurants, including one three-star, three two-star, and twenty one-star establishments. Visitors are often struck by the warmth and generosity of the locals—some of the most hospitable people in Italy—who express their love through exceptional food and outstanding service.Tourissimo Tips:Did you know that there is a whole other country within Emilia Romagna? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/san-marino-the-other-small-country-within-italyTourissimo Tip–Pietra di Bismantova was an inspiration for Dante: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/pietra-di-bismantova-the-inspiration-for-dantes-purgatoryTourissimo Tip–You can cross the Rubicon: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/crossing-the-rubiconTrentino-South TyrolNestled along Italy's northern border with Switzerland, Trentino–South Tyrol is a stunning mountainous region that blends Italian and Austrian influences, making it a top destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. With its striking Alpine scenery, exceptional cuisine, and rich cultural duality, this region offers the best of both worlds.The South Tyrol capital, Bolzano, is renowned for having the highest quality of life in Italy, combining the clean, efficient infrastructure often associated with Germany with the flavorful food and spirited lifestyle of Italian culture.Outdoor adventurers will be captivated by the Dolomites, with their dramatic limestone peaks—ideal for hiking, skiing, and breathtaking vistas. Don't miss the Alpe di Siusi, Europe's largest Alpine meadow, which is especially stunning in spring and summer. Explore shimmering Lake Garda and uncover the region's medieval past through spectacular castles like Schloss Tirol, Castel Roncolo, and Castel d'Appiano.Tourissimo Tip–An off-the-beaten-path outdoor paradise can be found in the Alps of Trentino. Check out the Val di Sole. This is one of the areas that Beppe and Heather regularly go to on their personal vacations in Italy: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-wild-dolomitesThe culinary offerings here reflect the region's unique blend of cultures. Traditional dishes range from Bratwurst and Goulash to Italian-style pastas with hearty meats like deer. Foodies should try Speck, a savory smoked ham, perfectly paired with a glass of Gewürztraminer, a fragrant white wine native to the area. The region also produces excellent white wines and lighter reds that pair beautifully with its alpine cuisine.When it comes to fine dining, Trentino–South Tyrol excels with 33 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three three-star, five two-star, and twenty-five one-star establishments, making it one of Italy's most impressive gourmet regions.LiguriaLocated along Italy's rugged northwestern coastline, Liguria—also known as the Italian Riviera—boasts dramatic cliffs, colorful seaside villages, and incredible culinary traditions. The region is best known for the five picturesque villages of Cinque Terre, as well as the glamorous resort towns of Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure.Tourissimo Tip– If you visit the Cinque Terre, don't forget to look up, and hike up away from the crowds to see the heroic vineyards: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-heroic-winemaking-of-the-cinque-terreBecause of the narrow, winding roads with steep drop-offs, many travelers prefer to explore the region via the local train or by public or private boat. If you're planning to hike the famous trails, be aware that entrance permits are now required due to landslides and overtourism.In the regional capital of Genoa, dive into maritime history, visit the iconic San Lorenzo Cathedral, and wander the city's old port area. Just outside Genoa, discover the secluded San Fruttuoso Abbey, accessible only by boat or footpath. In Vernazza, one of the Cinque Terre towns, visit the Doria Castle and the beautiful Santa Margherita Church.Liguria is also a celebrity hotspot, and its cuisine is just as impressive as its scenery. Known as the birthplace of pesto, the region is famous for Pesto alla Genovese, made with a special local basil. Be sure to try the region's olive oil, garlic, cheeses, and exceptional seafood, especially the anchovies. Other regional specialties include Focaccia di Recco, a cheese-filled flatbread, and lighter olive oils that perfectly complement Ligurian dishes.For fine dining, Liguria is home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants, all with one star, offering refined cuisine rooted in the region's coastal and agricultural traditions.Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Friuli)Tucked between Veneto, Austria, and Slovenia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is a lesser-known gem that offers a unique blend of Alpine landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and coastal charm. The region features part of the Dolomites, ideal for hiking, skiing, and capturing breathtaking scenery.The capital, Trieste, is a refined port city with a fascinating blend of Italian, Austro-Hungarian, and Slavic influences. Don't miss the Miramare Castle, perched over the sea with stunning views. In Cividale del Friuli, stroll through cobbled streets and sample Frico, a savory, crispy dish made of cheese and potatoes, best enjoyed with a glass of Schioppettino, a bold red wine native to the region.For outdoor adventures and relaxation, spend a beach day at Lignano Sabbiadoro, camp in Sistiana, bike the trails around Grado, or explore the ancient Roman ruins in Aquileia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to visit the enormous Grotta Gigante (Giant Cave), stroll through Unity of Italy Square, and tour the Revoltella Museum for modern art.Friuli-Venezia Giulia is also home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants, including two two-star establishments and five one-star venues, reflecting the region's quiet but impressive culinary scene.Tourissimo Tip– A hotel that Heather and Beppe love in Cormons is La Subida. It's a unique, high-end, and rustic property nestled in nature that boasts a 1-Michelin star restaurant: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/hotels-we-love-la-subidaAosta ValleyNestled in the northwestern tip of Italy, where it borders Switzerland and France, the Aosta Valley is Italy's smallest and highest region—a true mountain paradise. This alpine jewel is renowned for its dramatic snowcapped peaks, storybook castles, and a unique blend of French and Italian culture, as both languages are spoken here.The region is home to Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco), Europe's highest peak, which straddles the borders of Italy, France, and Switzerland. While the summit lies on the French side, visitors on the Italian side can experience the Skyway Monte Bianco, a breathtaking cable car ride offering panoramic views of the Alps.Key landmarks include the striking Matterhorn, the impressive Fénis and Savoy Castles, and the Bard Fortress, one of the largest and most remarkable fortifications in the Alps. After a day in the mountains, relax in one of the region's thermal spas, and indulge in Fonduta, a rich, velvety cheese fondue perfect for chilly alpine evenings.Wine lovers should sample the region's distinctive red mountain wines, especially Enfer d'Arvier, known for its bold flavor and high-altitude character.Tourissimo Tip–A fun tradition is the Friendship Cup, a communal cup of coffee: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-friendship-cup-of-valle-daostaCentral Italy: History, Art, and Rolling HillsTuscany (Toscana)Tuscany, the heart of the Renaissance, is a captivating region of rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, vineyards, and timeless art and architecture. Located just below Italy's northern regions, it's a haven for art lovers, history buffs, and food and wine enthusiasts alike. From Chianti to Brunello di Montalcino, the region offers a wide variety of world-class wines.The regional capital, Florence, is one of Italy's most walkable and safe major cities, making it ideal for solo travelers. Admire its architectural wonders while sipping on Chianti Classico and indulging in a local favorite—Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Must-see landmarks in Florence include the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Galleria dell'Accademia, home to Michelangelo's David. For iconic views, head to Piazzale Michelangelo.Beyond Florence, explore the historic cities of Siena, Lucca, and San Gimignano, each offering its own charm. Don't miss the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Siena Cathedral, and spend time in the picturesque public squares like Piazza del Campo, Piazza della Signoria, and Piazza del Duomo.For off-the-beaten-path adventures, discover medieval hilltop villages such as Sorano, or head to the Maremma coast for scenic beaches and bold wines. Tuscany also shines in its culinary excellence, boasting 41 Michelin-starred restaurants—including 1 three-star, 5 two-star, and 35 one-star establishments.Tourissimo Tip–3 places in Tuscany you didn't know existed: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/three-places-in-tuscany-you-did-not-know-existedUmbriaUmbria, often called the "Green Heart of Italy," is the country's only completely landlocked region, nestled between Tuscany, Lazio, and Le Marche. Though it lacks large cities, Umbria more than makes up for it with breathtaking natural beauty, medieval towns, and a rich culinary tradition.One of Umbria's most impressive sights is the Cascata delle Marmore (Marmore Falls)—the second tallest waterfall in Europe. Nature lovers and photographers alike will be amazed by its dramatic 165-meter drop. The region is also home to Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, one of Italy's most revered saints, and a major pilgrimage destination.Food lovers will delight in Umbria's hearty, earthy cuisine, featuring lentils, mushroom-based dishes, cured meats, and the prized black truffle (Tartufo Nero di Norcia). Pair these specialties with a glass of Sagrantino di Montefalco, a robust red wine unique to the region.Umbria's culinary excellence is further reflected in its four Michelin-starred restaurants: Casa Vissani, Vespasia, Ada, and Elementi. Each holds one Michelin star, offering refined takes on the region's rustic flavors.Tourissimo Tip–Norcia is definitely one of Italy's culinary gems: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/norcia-one-of-italys-culinary-gemsMarcheLocated in central Italy on the Adriatic side, Marche is a beautiful region with a population of 1 million people, known for its charming towns, rich history, and welcoming, hardworking culture. The region offers stunning destinations like Urbino and Ancona, along with pristine beaches such as Spiaggia della Due Sorelle, Parco Naturale Monte San Bartolo, Mezzavalle, and the Riviera del Conero, not to mention many picturesque nature reserves.Must-see landmarks include Castello di Gradara, Palazzo Ducale di Urbino, the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto, Cattedrale di San Ciriaco, Tempio del Valadier, and the breathtaking underground Frasassi Caves. Marche's favorite cities and nearby towns also include Gubbio, Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, and Cascia.For those drawn to religious history, highlights include the Papal Basilica of Saint Francis, the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis, Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli, and Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi, as well as the Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia. History lovers should visit Rocca Paolina, Piazza IV Novembre, Fontana Maggiore, Piazza del Comune, and Grotta di Monte Cucco, while museums like Narni Sotterranea, the National Gallery, and Nobile Collegio del Cambio offer rich cultural experiences.This region is famous for its culinary tradition, especially its mastery of seafood, and is home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants — including Uliassi in Senigallia, proudly holding three Michelin stars, along with one two-star and five one-star establishments. No visit would be complete without tasting Olive all'Ascolana, fried stuffed olives that perfectly capture Marche's local flavor. All of this, combined with the region's natural beauty and warm, fun, and friendly locals, makes Marche a truly unforgettable destination in the heart of Italy.Tourissimo Tip–Ascoli Piceno, the town where the Ascoli olive is from, is beautiful, especially at night when it appears to glow: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/ascoli-piceno-the-italian-town-that-glows-at-nightLazioLazio, one of Italy's central regions, though often considered a southern region by Italians, is a place rich with history, iconic landmarks, and hidden gems. At its heart is the capital city of Rome, a destination overflowing with opportunities for exploration. Essential sites include the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and countless other remarkable attractions. No visit to Rome is complete without savoring its famous dishes, including Cacio e Pepe — a creamy cheese and pepper pasta — along with local favorites like Spaghetti alla Gricia, Pasta all'Amatriciana, and Pasta Carbonara, best enjoyed with a glass of crisp Frascati wine while taking in views of the Colosseum. Lazio as a whole has 107 two-star Michelin restaurants and 105 one-star restaurants. If you find yourself in the Trastevere neighborhood, there are many wonderful popular restaurants, including La Scaletta and Le Mani in Pasta.Another must-see is Vatican City, home to the Vatican and its world-renowned religious and artistic treasures. In December 2025, Rome will host the Jubilee, or Holy Year — a significant Catholic Church event focused on forgiveness, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal, held only once every 25 years and drawing pilgrims from across the globe.Beyond Rome, Lazio offers a beautiful coastline and peaceful countryside, perfect for travelers seeking quieter escapes. Among its hidden gems is Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman city that once served as the bustling port of Rome, located at the mouth of the Tiber River. With its blend of legendary landmarks, culinary traditions, religious significance, and off-the-beaten-path treasures, Lazio is a captivating region waiting to be explored.Tourissimo Tip–There's a wonderful project underway to create a cycle path around the perimeter of Rome: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/cycling-in-rome-grab-a-bike-and-bike-the-grabAbruzzoAbruzzo, known as Italy's green region, lies in the central-eastern part of the country and boasts a stunning combination of mountains, coastline, and unspoiled nature. Along the beautiful Trabocchi Coast, visitors can admire the historic trabocchi — ingenious wooden fishing structures built by fishermen centuries ago to safely fish the Adriatic waters, many of which have now been converted into charming seaside restaurants where you can dine on fresh seafood while suspended above the waves with sunsets as your backdrop. When it comes to dining, Abruzzo currently boasts four Michelin-starred restaurants; there are three 1-star restaurants and one 3-star restaurant. Food lovers shouldn't miss Arrosticini, the region's famous grilled lamb skewers, or a glass of bold Montepulciano d'Abruzzo red wine. Outdoor enthusiasts have countless opportunities for adventure, from swimming at the Stiffe Caves and strolling the Ponte del Mare to relaxing on the beaches of Riserva Naturale Guidata Punta Aderci and hiking to the iconic Rocca Calascio. Lakeside escapes await at Lago di Scanno and Lago di Barrea, while the towering Gran Sasso d'Italia and the expansive Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, and Lazio e Molise offer breathtaking scenery and pristine trails. The region is home to many national parks — Abruzzo, Lazio, Molise National Park, Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park, and Maiella National Park — perfect for hiking, biking, trail running, and spotting the highest peaks of the Apennine Mountain Range. Cyclists can enjoy the Bike to Coast cycle path, a 131 km (81.4 mile) route running along the Adriatic coast from Pescara to Vasto. History and architecture lovers will appreciate sites like Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio, Centro Storico di Sulmona, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, and the Medieval Village of Pacentro. For a uniquely tranquil experience, visit the enchanting Gardens of Ninfa. Abruzzo is also a fabulous winter skiing destination and keeps traditions alive with events like Transumanza, the seasonal migration of livestock, primarily sheep, between the high-altitude pastures of the region. With its mountain majesty, historic villages, flavorful cuisine, and coastal charm, Abruzzo offers something unforgettable for every traveler.Tourissimo Tips:More info on the trabocchi coast: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/abruzzos-trabocchi-coastAbruzzo Bike to Coast is a beautiful bike path along the coast: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/cycling-along-abruzzos-coastMoliseOne of Italy's most untouched and lesser-known regions, Molise is famously nicknamed “the region that doesn't exist,” though it's rich in history, traditions, and natural beauty. This quiet region offers a mix of beaches and mountains, including part of the National Park of Abruzzo within the Apennines mountain range, filled with abundant wildlife, hiking trails, and winter ski opportunities. Tourissimo Tip–The Region That Doesn't Exist: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-italian-region-that-doesnt-existThe capital city, Campobasso, is home to notable sites like Monforte Castle and several Romanesque churches, while the charming coastal town of Termoli draws visitors for its beaches, trabucchi (historic fishing huts now serving fresh seafood), and local specialties like brodetto, a traditional seafood stew. Along the Molise coast in Termoli, dining at a trabucchi offers fresh catches with a side of Adriatic views. History buffs should visit the Samnite ruins in the Pietrabbondante archaeological area, the well-preserved Saepinum Archaeological Area, and landmarks like Lago di Castel San Vincenzo, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Purification, Monforte Castle, and the Basilica of Saint Mary of Sorrow. A must-see is the Marinelli Bell Foundry, founded in 1339. It's the oldest continuously operating bell foundry in the world, Italy's oldest family business, and the official provider of bells to the Vatican. Food lovers can sample Cavatelli, a local pasta specialty, paired with Tintilia, a rare red wine unique to Molise. The region is also home to seven one-star Michelin restaurants and several local food tours that showcase its rustic culinary traditions. While Molise's quiet charm and untouched landscapes make it a special destination, visitors should note that English is not widely spoken, making it a truly authentic Italian experience for those eager to explore one of the country's hidden gems.Southern Italy: Sun, Sea, and Ancient WondersCampania The birthplace of Neapolitan pizza, the Mediterranean Diet, and Mozzarella di Bufala, Campania is one of Italy's most vibrant and culturally rich regions. Home to the bustling regional capital Naples (Napoli), it boasts some of the country's most iconic destinations, including Pompeii, the stunning Amalfi Coast, and the tranquil Cilento Coast.Along the sparkling, deep-blue waters of the Golfo di Napoli, you'll find must-visit coastal towns like Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, as well as the famous islands of Ischia, Capri, and the colorful Procida. Visitors can hike the breathtaking Path of the Gods, explore the hauntingly preserved ruins of Archaeological Pompeii, forever shadowed by the gray cone of Mt. Vesuvius, and savor the region's culinary gems like ultra-fresh seafood and crisp Falanghina wine.History and culture lovers shouldn't miss Sansevero Chapel Museum, San Carlo Theatre, the Catacombs of San Gennaro, and the lush Villa Cimbrone Gardens. Campania also impresses with its historic castles, including the Royal Palace of Caserta, Ovo Castle, and Castello Aragonese d'Ischia. Wine enthusiasts should head to the province of Avellino, known for producing some of the best wines in southern Italy.Tourissimo Tip–Wine is also grown inland on the Amalfi Coast, and there are some vines that are 250 years old (pre-phylloxera): https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/old-vines-on-the-amalfi-coastNature lovers will be drawn to the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Alburni National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its biodiversity, dramatic landscapes, and cultural heritage, featuring ancient ruins like Paestum and Velia, the majestic Padula Charterhouse, and idyllic coastal villages.Campania is also a paradise for food lovers, home to 51 Michelin-starred restaurants, including one three-star, eight two-star, and forty-two one-star establishments. From world-famous landmarks to hidden treasures, Campania offers an irresistible blend of history, nature, food, and coastal charm.CalabriaWith its rugged coastlines, dramatic landscapes, and hidden treasures, Calabria is a must-visit region in southern Italy. Known for its bold flavors and rich culinary traditions, visitors should sample 'Nduja, a spicy, spreadable sausage paste, and the region's famous Calabrian chiles. The local cuisine embraces cucina povera, a tradition of simple, hearty dishes featuring handmade pasta made with just flour and water. Calabria offers a growing fine dining scene with six one-star Michelin restaurants. For nature lovers, Calabria is home to three stunning national parks — Sila, Aspromonte, and Pollino — ideal for hiking, wildlife spotting, and immersing in untouched landscapes. Along the coast, Capo Vaticano stands out as one of the world's most beautiful beaches, offering breathtaking views and crystal-clear waters. History buffs and castle enthusiasts can explore impressive fortresses like Castello Ruffo di Scilla, Castello Murat, Castello di Le Castella, and Castello Aragonese. Don't miss charming towns and villages such as Tropea, famous for its clifftop views and beaches, as well as Scilla, Pentedattilo, and Le Castella. With its authentic culture, stunning coastlines, flavorful cuisine, and rich history, Calabria remains one of Italy's most captivating yet underrated regions.Tourissimo Tip–Way off the beaten path, lies a  unique museum in Mammola, Calabria https://calabriastraordinaria.it/en/news/visit-to-musaba-the-sistine-chapel-of-calabriaPugliaKnown as the Maldives of Italy, Puglia is a sun-drenched region celebrated for its whitewashed hill towns, ancient olive groves, and miles of stunning coastline. With a dry Mediterranean climate and scenery that often feels more Greek than Italian, Puglia is famed for its beaches in Salento, crystal-clear waters, and charming seaside towns. One of its most iconic sights is the fairytale-like trulli houses of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This region is also a food lover's paradise, offering specialties like Orecchiette pasta with turnip greens, the classic Fave e Cicoria (fava bean purée with wild chicory), and fresh seafood paired with crisp vegetables. Wine lovers can savor Primitivo, a bold local red. For fine dining, the region boasts nine one-star Michelin restaurants, blending rustic flavors with refined culinary creativity.Puglia is dotted with unique cities and towns worth exploring, including Locorotondo, Otranto, Lecce, Monopoli, Ostuni, Gallipoli, Bari, Alberobello, and Polignano a Mare. Nature and history enthusiasts will enjoy visiting extraordinary sites like the Grotte di Castellana, the dramatic Cave of Poetry, the ancient Basilica San Nicola, and the scenic Gargano Peninsula. With its thousand-year-old olive trees, Puglia is the largest olive oil producer in the world, known for its strong, spicy oils. The locals here are famously warm and welcoming, going out of their way to make visitors feel at home.Puglia's blend of natural beauty, rich tradition, and heartfelt hospitality makes it one of Italy's most captivating and underrated destinations.Tourissimo Tip–Here are some of the gems of Puglia: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/some-of-the-gems-of-pugliaBasilicataBasilicata, a remote yet captivating region with a population of just 500,000, offers a wealth of unique experiences despite its secluded location. Among its most intriguing destinations are the ghost town of Craco and the ancient cave city of Matera, both steeped in history and cinematic charm. Other towns worth visiting include Maratea and Palombaroa, each offering its own cultural and scenic appeal.Tourissimo Tip–Matera is magical! https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/destination-highlight-matera-the-city-of-stonesThe region is rich in historical and religious landmarks, such as the Crypt of Original Sin with its remarkable frescoes, and the medieval Melfi Castle. Don't miss the towering Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Maratea, a striking monument that overlooks the Tyrrhenian coast.For a taste of local flavor, try Peperoni Cruschi—crispy, sun-dried peppers that are a beloved regional delicacy. Basilicata is also known for its exceptional wines, especially the bold, full-bodied reds of Aglianico del Vulture DOC, made primarily from the Aglianico grape. White wine lovers will appreciate the region's Greco di Tufo and Fiano varietals as well. Basilicata also has a total of 14 one-star Michelin restaurants. Adventurers can experience an adrenaline rush on The Angel's Flight, a giant zip line that offers stunning views and a thrilling ride through the Lucanian landscape.SicilySicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, is a world of its own, offering a diverse landscape of coastlines, mountains, and magical towns such as Cefalù, Palermo, Taormina, Catania, Noto, Agrigento, and Syracuse. Palermo serves as the cultural and diplomatic capital of the region, while Catania stands as its business hub.A volcanic island and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sicily boasts a rich collection of cultural and natural treasures. Highlights include the awe-inspiring Valley of the Temples, the active volcano Mount Etna, the stunning Duomo di Cefalù, and the picturesque islands of Stromboli, Bella, and Ortigia. The region is also home to the renowned Baroque Triangle in the Val di Noto region of southeastern Sicily, where the eight towns of Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa, and Scicli have been recognized by UNESCO for their outstanding examples of late Baroque architecture.Sicily's culinary scene is just as impressive. Indulge in traditional Sicilian cannoli, filled with sheep's milk ricotta cheese and always stuffed fresh to order. Take a street food tour to savor local favorites like arancini, and don't miss sipping on a glass of Nero d'Avola, one of Sicily's most famous wines. The region is also internationally celebrated for its top-tier agriculture and winemaking.For a taste of authentic Italian charm beyond the tourist trail, explore the towns featured in I Borghi Più Belli d'Italia—Italy's list of its most beautiful hidden gems. Tourissimo Tip–This is a great tip for all 20 regions of Italy. Find out more here: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-most-beautiful-small-towns-in-italyFood lovers will be delighted to know that Sicily is also home to 23 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three two-star establishments and twenty with one star.Tourissimo Tip–If you visit Corleone, you should definitely learn about the legacy of the Mafia. We in North America tend to have a romanticized view of the mafia, but for the locals, the history is more brutal. See some photos and learn more here: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/letizia-battaglia-groundbreaking-photojournalist-who-fearlessly-documented-the-mafia-in-her-native-sicilySardiniaSardinia, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily, is a rugged, rural paradise known for its natural beauty, deep-rooted traditions, and ancient history. The island is home to features like the Apennine Coast, the Adriatic Coast, and the Apennine Mountains. Most of Sardinia's population lives in the capital region of Cagliari, but much of the island remains untouched, offering visitors a glimpse into authentic Italian island life.One of Sardinia's most fascinating distinctions is that the Barbagia region is recognized as a Blue Zone—an area with an unusually high number of centenarians. This longevity is attributed to the region's healthy diet, active lifestyle, and strong sense of community. For outdoor enthusiasts, inland Sardinia offers some of the best biking and hiking experiences in all of Italy.Tourissimo Tip–What is a Blue Zone? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/blue-zoneThe island's coastlines are just as enticing. Costa Smeralda is often described as paradise on earth, with stunning beaches like Spiaggia di Tuerredda, Cala Goloritzé, and Spiaggia di Porto Giunco perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Don't miss the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park (Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena), a protected area with crystal-clear waters and pristine landscapes.Charming towns such as Alghero, Bosa, and Cagliari add to the island's appeal. Many of Sardinia's towns are nestled in the mountains located in the island's center, offering a peaceful and scenic escape.Cultural and historical attractions abound. Must-see sites include the Nora Archaeological Park, Bastione di Saint Remy, Parco Archeologico Naturalistico di Santa Cristina, and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari. For an unforgettable natural wonder, venture into the Frecce delle grotte srl and Neptune's Grotto, stunning sea caves accessible by boat or stairs carved into cliffs.Sardinia is also home to a unique ancient civilization. Scattered across the island are over 7,000 nuraghe—megalithic stone structures built during the Nuragic Age (c. 1900–730 BC). These mysterious, tower-like buildings are the island's most iconic symbol, and some scholars believe there were once over 10,000 nuraghe structures in total.Religious architecture also impresses, with highlights like the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e Santa Cecilia, the Church of the Holy Trinity of Saccargia, and the Basilica di San Simplicio showcasing Sardinia's spiritual and artistic heritage.Sardinian cuisine reflects its mountainous geography. Surprisingly, for an island, the diet leans more toward land-based ingredients than seafood. Signature dishes include Porceddu (roast pig), Fregola (a traditional Sardinian pasta), and the adventurous Casu marzu—a sheep's milk cheese intentionally infested with live maggots and considered a local delicacy. Sardinia also holds 16 one-star Michelin restaurants.To accompany these flavors, try a glass of Cannonau red wine, known for its high polyphenol content and potential health benefits, or the refreshing Vermentino white wine, perfect for warm Mediterranean days.Tourissimo Tip–Magic Trick or Pasta Making? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/magic-trick-or-pasta-making From the Alps to the Mediterranean, each Italian region is a world of its own. Want to see it all? Check out Tourissimo's amazing trip planning and Italian information at tourissimo.travel! Buon viaggio!From the Alps to the Mediterranean, each Italian region is a world of its own. Want to see it all? Check out Tourissimo's amazing trip planning and Italian information at tourissimo.travel! Buon viaggio! 

Colnago has launched the V5Rs, claimed to be the lightest bike it has ever made. The new bike is the replacement for the V4Rs, which has just had an enviable send-off at the 2025 Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix under Tadej Pogačar. In this bonus podcast episode, digital editor Jack Luke sits down with road tech lead Ashley Quinlan to discuss Ash's early impressions of the new bike from a press event on Lake Garda, Italy. Of course, it's lighter and faster on paper, but is that enough to satisfy these two tech nerds?  Read the V5Rs news story here:  https://www.bikeradar.com/news/colnago-v5rs Read Ash's first-ride review here:  https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bike-reviews/colnago-v5rs-first-ride  Find out why Ash thinks Colnago might have missed an opportunity to be bolder here: https://www.bikeradar.com/features/opinion/the-colnago-v5rs-has-left-me-feeling-cold  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Caterers – have you used one lately or thought of opening your own catering company? Linda Gassenheimer talks with Bill Hansen, one of the top caterers in the US and author of Plating for Profit. He has advice for us. Jacqueline Coleman talks about her trip to Vinitaly in Verona, multi-vintage wines, and the white wines of Lugana on Lake Garda.

Lake Garda, Italy's largest and most picturesque lake, is not just a scenic marvel but also a hub of exceptional wines. Thanks to its unique microclimate and diverse soil composition, this region produces some of Italy's most distinctive and celebrated wines. From refreshing whites to complex reds, Lake Garda's wines offer something for every palate. One of the best ways to visit the enormous Lake Garda and its wineries is to ferry hop from one lakeside town to another. Nestled on the western shores of Lake Garda, the Valtènesi wine region is an enchanting destination for wine lovers looking to discover something truly special. This area, with its stunning landscapes and rich winemaking history, remains relatively unknown outside of Italy, but that is changing—thanks to ambitious winemakers like the dynamic duo behind Conti Thun Winery. This is a re-release of a 2021 episode that digs even deeper into the Valtènesi and Lake Garda wines.  

Italy's largest lake is surrounded by vines and three different wine regions. The variety of wine styles, grapes, and scenery - paired with fascinating history - is where we are quenching our thirst this week as we embark on the penultimate episode of Glass in Session®'s season dedicated to wine from regions impacted by lakes. Resources from this episode: Books:  The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023) Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013) Websites:  Britannica: Lake Garda (27 February 2025) https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Garda Decanter: Garda DOC - Wineries to visit and wines to seek out, Lane, S. (9 August 2022) https://www.decanter.com/wine-travel/garda-doc-wineries-to-visit-and-wines-to-seek-out-484506/ Decanter: Lake Garda for Wine Lovers, Finetti, M. (4 July 2019) https://www.decanter.com/wine-travel/italy/lake-garda-travel-wine-lovers-419712/ Italian Wine Central: https://italianwinecentral.com/region-province/ Italian Wine Guide: Region - Trentino Alto Adige https://italianwine.guide/regions-en-gb/trentino-alto-adige-en-gb/ Italy Magazine: In Italy's Val di Non, Saving a Rare Mountain Wine, Donati, S. (3 September 2021) https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/italys-val-di-non-saving-rare-mountain-wine Lago di Garda Tourism: History of Lake Garda https://www.lago-di-garda-tourism.com/en/history-of-lake-garda.html Lake Garda Travel: Lake Garda Wine and Vineyards - A centuries old tradition (n.d.) https://lakegardatravel.net/lake-garda-wine-and-vineyards/ Live Lago de Garda: Lake Garda Wines - The most famous, area by area, Michele (8 January 2023) https://www.livelagodigarda.it/en/lake-garda-wines/ Quattro Calici: Groppello Gentile https://www.quattrocalici.com/wine-grapes/groppello-gentile/ Trento Doc: Wines from Trentino, the Mark of the Territory https://www.trentodoc.com/en/territory-and-denomination/ Wine Enthusiast: Discover Lugana, Italy's Lesser Known White Wine, O'Keefe, K. (5 May 2023) https://lakegardatravel.net/lake-garda-wine-and-vineyards/ Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode:   S1E3: Rosato - Wading into the (Italian) Pink https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s1e3-rosato-wading-into-the-italian-pink S2E2: Behind Botrytis - Beautiful Wines from Ugly Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e2-behind-botrytis-beautiful-wines-from-ugly-grapes S2E5: Hello Vino Novello https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e5-hello-vino-novello S3E4: Wine from Dried Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e4-wine-from-dried-grapes S4E2: Valpolicella-Palooza https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s4e2-valpolicella-palooza S9E5: Swiss Wine, Sweet Stories https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s9e5-swiss-wine-sweet-stories S18E4: Lake Constance: One Lake, Wine from Three Countries https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/lake-constance-one-lake-wine-from-three-countries-s18e4   Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session   Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC. Music: “Write Your Story” by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

In this special New Year's Eve episode of “Kimberly's Italy,” Kimberly and Tommaso are broadcasting from the picturesque setting of Lake Garda. Sipping on a 2019 Brunello wine, they recount their recent Italian adventures, providing insights and recommendations for fellow travelers. Episode Highlights: Travel Reflections: The hosts detail their journey through various Italian locations including Tuscany, Abruzzo, Modena, Bergamo, and the Dolomites. Transportation Tales: A comparison of train travel versus driving in Italy is explored, highlighting a car accident incident that led to a hospital visit, fortunately without severe outcomes. Cultural and Culinary Experiences: Noteworthy experiences include a visit to the Ferrari museum, dining with their friend Luisa in Bergamo, and eating tiramisu in it's birthplace of Treviso. In the Dolomites, they relished the solitude and scenic beauty of the hikes they took, and a day trip to a festive Christmas market close to the Austrian border. Holiday Celebration and Future Plans: The episode concludes with their journey to Copenhagen for a family Christmas celebration, and Kimberly and Tommaso wish listeners a Happy New Year! Join Kimberly and Tommaso as they navigate the joys and challenges of travel, offering a unique perspective on the beauty and charm of Italy. Follow us on Social Media Instagram Facebook 

Summary In this episode, Brian and Anthony reconnect after a six-month hiatus, diving into their recent travels in Italy. They explore the theme of 'traveling well' and share highlights from their adventures, including visits to less-traveled regions and cultural insights from coastal experiences. The conversation touches on the challenges of accessing hidden gems in Italy, the allure of Abruzzo, and the discovery of new destinations like lakes. The hosts emphasize the importance of understanding local culture and the unique experiences that come from venturing off the beaten path. In this episode, Brian and Anthony also discuss the importance of balancing relaxation and exploration while traveling in Italy. They explore various destinations, including Lake Garda and the Dolomites, highlighting their unique experiences and attractions. The conversation also touches on lesser-known towns like Matera and Volterra, emphasizing the value of authentic experiences away from tourist hotspots. They conclude by discussing the unpredictability of travel seasons and the need for careful planning to ensure enjoyable trips. Takeaways The importance of reconnecting with listeners after a break. Traveling well is a recurring theme in their discussions. Exploring less-traveled regions can lead to unique experiences. Cultural insights can enhance travel experiences. Accessing hidden gems in Italy can be challenging. Abruzzo has significant potential for tourism. Local culture plays a crucial role in travel enjoyment. Travel itineraries should consider accessibility to destinations. The hosts share personal anecdotes from their travels. Understanding local preferences can enhance the travel experience. Traveling well involves balancing rest and exploration. Finding respite in places like Bracciano can enhance your experience. Understanding your travel temperament is key to enjoyment. Lake Garda offers a more local experience compared to Lake Como. The Dolomites provide stunning natural beauty and rich history. Matera and Volterra are hidden gems worth exploring. Authentic experiences can be found off the beaten path. Planning is essential for a successful trip to Italy. Travel seasons can be unpredictable; stay informed. Engaging with local culture enhances the travel experience.

This week, it's our Thanksgiving in Italy special featuring Sandro Bottega, Owner and Managing Director of Bottega Winery, Veneto, Italy. We had a wide-ranging chat about Prosecco and his role in propelling the sparkling wine onto the modern sparkling wine stage. Marco Martini, Director/General Manager, MGM Mondo del Vino, joins us with stories and wines from Sicily to Emilia Romagna. Then we're off to Tuscany and Brunello di Montalcino with winemaker Arber Shabani of Ridolfi in Montalcino. We complete our special Thanksgiving in Italy show in the Lugana region on Lake Garda with Christian Ridolfi, winemaker for Veneto legend Bolla Wines and Santi.

Alessandro José Tomasi is an Italian pro wing foil racer. He joins us from his home on Lake Garda in Italy to talk about:His debut into wind and the early IQ foil racing days His new passion for wing foil racing, early success and teaching on Lake GardaHis sponsors His hair care routineHis future aspirations of studying engineering in order to be able to design wings, foils, and boards in the future.How living on Lake Garda allows him to enjoy both water sports and mountain activities.And Much More! Visit: https://www.instagram.com/ale__tomasi/ This episode is brought to you by the Wing Foil Expedition in La Ventana, Baja California Sur. Are you looking for an all-inclusive wing foiling adventure this January with oceanfront accommodations? Visit https://winglifepodcast.com/wing-foil-trips to learn more. ★ Support this podcast ★

Michael's back from his holiday and talking about Murder on Lake Garda by Tom Hindle, while Bert's giving a sneak preview of The Examiner by Janice Hallett!

Join us as we get you caught up our recent ultra marathon training and our incredible trip to Italy, with a week-long running excursion through the Dolomites, Lake Garda, and our brief visit to Venice. We share the highs and lows, the magic of vulnerability, and the joy of digital detox. We also reflect on the lessons learned from the world's top athletes during the Olympics. 00:00 Introduction 01:21 Italy Recap 02:19 Trail Running Adventure in the Dolomites 04:04 Post-Trip Reflections and Digital Detox 04:41 Bonding with the Group 08:43 Unexpected Challenges and Synchronicities 17:34 Exploring Lake Garda and Venice 25:25 Business Reflections and Future Plans 29:21 Personal Reflections and Coaching Challenges 30:24 The Importance of Client/Coach Communication 32:14 Balancing Business Growth and Personal Goals 33:14 The Reality of Running a Business 37:44 Training and Consistency in Fitness 48:47 Nutrition and Healthy Habits 56:12 Final Thoughts 00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Banter 01:21 European Vacation Recap 02:19 Trail Running Adventure in the Dolomites 04:04 Post-Trip Reflections and Digital Detox 04:41 Bonding with the Group 08:43 Unexpected Challenges and Synchronicities 17:34 Exploring Lake Garda and Venice 25:25 Business Reflections and Future Plans 29:21 Personal Reflections and Coaching Challenges 30:24 The Importance of Client Communication 32:14 Balancing Business Growth and Personal Goals 33:14 The Reality of Running a Business 37:44 Training and Consistency in Fitness 48:47 Nutrition and Healthy Habits 56:12 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

On this episode, Heather is back in the good ol' US of A after an epic two-week trip to Italia. This will be a two part episode of everything she got into while on vacation. We start with week one, landing in Milan, visiting Lake Garda and then headed to Villa Yeppa to film some exciting things with her ATL Italians (and a few new characters). While she thrived living La Dolce Vita, the gastro issues started back up as soon as she sat down in Delta One. Episode Sponsors:Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase at drinkAG1.com/absolutely.Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code ABSOLUTELY15 at LumeDeodorant.com!Get 50% off your first box of fresh, healthy food at TheFarmersDog.com/ABSOLUTELY. Plus, you get FREE shipping!Visit DelolaLife.com to buy Delola Cocktails now and use code absolutely for $5 off your first bottle.If you visit Carawayhome.com/ABSOLUTELY you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase.Don't miss the season premiere of The Serpent Queen, July 12th only on STARZ and the STARZ app.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join us as we embark on a picturesque journey to Riva del Garda, situated on the stunning Lake Garda. In this episode, we delve into the region's rich sailing culture, its natural beauty, and the profound impact of travel planning. Key Highlights: Riva del Garda - A Sailor's Paradise: Discover why Lake Garda is a renowned hotspot for sailing activities such as windsurfing, wind foiling, and kite surfing. Contrast between traditional windsurfing and modern sailing trends. The unique winds generated by the Dolomites make Lake Garda an ideal location for sailing enthusiasts. Importance of Meticulous Travel Planning: Anecdote highlighting the value of detailed travel planning through a client's praise for a well-organized trip to Italy. Tips on how personalized travel advice can enhance the travel experience. Social Media's Impact on Tourist Destinations: Example of Varenna on Lake Como becoming overcrowded due to its popularity on social media. Discussion on how this trend affects the authenticity and enjoyment of travel spots. Exploring Riva del Garda: The charm of Riva del Garda's Centro Storico with its preserved buildings, diverse architecture, and car-free streets. Outdoor dining experiences and the local shopping scene. Historical landmarks such as the old clock tower and sailing schools with skilled windsurfers. Venturing Beyond Riva del Garda: Visits to Malcesina, featuring a medieval castle and a cable car ride to Montebaldo. Exploration of Bartolino, celebrated for its sailing clubs and water sports activities. Scenic Walks and Architectural Contrasts: A leisurely walk along Lungo Lago in Bardolino showcasing scenic views and architectural differences compared to Riva. Culinary Delights at Desenzano: A stop at the Eseilunga grocery store in Desenzano, highlighting the variety and quality of Italian products. Purchase of ingredients for a late-night pasta meal, celebrating the rich flavors of Italian cuisine. Reflecting on Lake Garda's Allure: Deep appreciation for the region's beauty and the possibility of making Garda a future home. Tune in to this episode to experience the magic of Lake Garda through vivid storytelling and insightful reflections. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip, you'll find plenty of inspiration and practical tips for your next adventure. Follow us on Social Media Instagram Facebook 

BEN PASTOR chats to Paul about her new literary historical crime novel THE VENUS OF SALÒ, Martin Bora, Totalitarianism, Rome, writing in English, growing up in a divided world, Shaun the Sheep.    THE VENUS OF SALÒ October 1944, in the Republic of Salò, a German puppet state in the north of Italy and the last fascist stronghold in the country. After months of ferocious fighting on the Gothic Line, Colonel Martin Bora of the Wehrmacht is handed a new, red-hot case. Transferred to the town of Salò on the shore of Lake Garda, he must investigate the theft of a precious painting of Venus by Titian, stolen with uncanny ease from a local residence. While Bora's inquiry proceeds among many difficulties, discovering three dead bodies throws an even more sinister light on the scene. The victims are female, very beautiful, apparently dead by their own hand but in fact, elegantly murdered. Is it the work of a serial killer, or are the homicides somehow related to the stolen Venus? Why were intriguing clues left behind for Bora to find? And why is there an official attempt to make the investigator himself appear as the culprit? Caught in an unforeseeable web of events, hounded by the Gestapo (for years at his heels on the charge of anti-Nazi activities), hopelessly in love with an enigmatic, real-flesh “Venus,” Bora must resort to all his courage and ability – not only to solve the mystery and expose the perpetrator, but also, in a breathtaking crescendo, to try to save himself from the firing squad and secure an unlikely way out...Ben Pastor, born in Italy, lived for thirty years in the United States, working as a university professor in Vermont and has since returned to her native country. She is the author of the Martin Bora series and other novels, including The Water Thief and The Fire Waker (set in Roman times and published to high acclaim in the US by St. Martin's Press), and is considered one of the most talented writers in the field of historical fiction. In 2008 she won the prestigious Premio Zaragoza for best historical fiction. She writes in English.Recommendations Walden Henry David ThoreauMoby Dick Hermen MelvillePaul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network. He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2023. An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in 2025.Music courtesy of  Guy Hale KILLING ME SOFTLY - MIKE ZITO featuring Kid Anderson. GUY HALE Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023& Newcastle Noir 20232024 Slaughterfest, National Crime Reading Month, CWA Daggers

Main Theme: Explore the enchanting region of Lake Garda through our immersive travel experiences, historical insights, appreciation of cultural richness, and our personal anecdotes. Episode Highlights: Road Trips Around Lake Garda: Activities include sailing, biking, hiking, and camping. Emphasis on discovering hidden gems and local adventures. Camping at Lake Garda: Thera are a multitude of local campsites. Architectural and Scenic Marvels: Visit to a Romanesque church offering breathtaking views of Lake Garda. In-depth look at the striking architectural features of the church. Journey to Limone Sul Garda: Challenges of finding parking in a popular tourist spot. Observations on the village's lemon-themed branding and its charm. Admiration of the beautiful waterfront and a humorous encounter with a soccer field near an old convent. Listener Engagement: We encourage listener feedback and participation through reviews and social media interactions. We appreciate audience engagement, fostering a community of Italy enthusiasts. Future Explorations: Teasers about upcoming adventures around Lago di Garda, promising more hidden spots and unique experiences. Conclusion: Join us as we weave through Italy's picturesque landscapes, sharing stories that capture the heart of Italian culture, history, and everyday wonders. Whether you're planning your own trip or simply love the idea of Italy, this podcast promises to transport you to the enchanting shores of Lake Garda. Ciao! Ciao!

Der liebe Andreas ist gesund und munter von seiner Reise an den Gardasee zurückgekehrt, ihr Lieben! Mit ganz tollen Eindrücken von den wunderschönen Orten und Landschaften rund um Italiens größten See - und jeder Menge Extra-Kilos auf den Hüften! Ernährungsmäßig ist jetzt erst mal Diät angesagt, musikalisch geht Euer Gastgeber heute, am 15. Mai 2024, aber wieder in die Vollen, denn diese 415. Episode von "XtraChill" ist alles andere als Schonkost für Eure Ohren. Acht Ambient-, House- und Lo-Fi-Electronica-Tracks warten darauf, von Euch Hörern entdeckt zu werden. Viel Spaß dabei! Dear Andreas has returned safe and sound from his trip to Lake Garda, dear ones! With great impressions of the beautiful places and landscapes around Italy's largest lake - and lots of extra kilos on his hips! In terms of nutrition, it's now time to go on a diet, but musically your host is going all out again today, on May 15th, 2024, because this 415th episode of "XtraChill" is anything but light food for your ears. Eight ambient, house and lo-fi electronica tracks are waiting to be discovered by you listeners. Have lots of fun with it!

Der Wonnemonat startet mit einer neuen Ausgabe von "XtraChill" - und der liebe Andreas aalt sich hoffentlich bei bestem Wetter am Gardasee in Norditalien! Damit ihr am heutigen Maifeiertag nicht auf Eure frische Dosis podsafer Electronica verzichten müßt, wurde diese 414. Episode (erneut) eine knappe Woche im Voraus produziert - mit einem kleinen Schwerpunkt auf Dub und Minimal Techno. Genießt diesen "Tanz in den Mai" der etwas anderen Art! The merry month of May starts with a new edition of "XtraChill" - and dear Andreas is hopefully basking in the best weather at Lake Garda in northern Italy! So that you don't have to go without your fresh dose of podsafe electronica on May Day, this 414th episode was (again) produced almost a week in advance - with a small focus on dub and minimal techno. Enjoy this “May Dance” of a different kind!

We recorded this episode upon our arrival in Lake Garda after a busy week of planes, trains and automobiles….well, to be honest we took a metro instead of a train! We share a few travel tips on Apple Air Tags, what to do with a long layover in a different city and how to make sure a specific Airbnb is right for you. We flew from Palma, Mallorca to Milano, picked up a rental car with 5 minutes to spare before they closed for the evening, got onto the highway in the pouring rain and within 20 minutes were in the best AutoGrill (highway rest stop) and took advantage of their 50% off sale on wine!   Another travel tip might be to suggest to not arrive in Italy the night before Easter, since just about everything is closed for both Sunday and Monday, which I now know is called Pasqueta, meaning little Easter. Link to my Apple Air Tag Page on our website! Follow us on Social Media Instagram Facebook 

We have more travel news and updates for 2024 and we also want to share some cautionary advice regarding the misinformation which is rampant online. There are thousands of self-proclaimed Italian Travel Experts and Influencers out there who are not as knowledgeable as they try to appear, yet they do look good in a bathing suit! There are new rules being implemented in various parts of Italy and we want you to be aware of them, so you don't get fined. We assume our listeners don't fall into the category of Disrespectful Tourists, but you should know what not to do in Lake Garda just in case!   Follow us!  Instagram Facebook 

“No one wakes up a horrible person. It's something that takes hold over time. It's about worldview, formative experiences, and what you were told growing up as a kid. And I try very hard to think about that stuff because… you can feel it.” - Tom Hindle In the idyllic setting of Italy's largest lake, Lake Garda, the illustrious Heywood family gather for a wedding when horror strikes. Someone has been murdered… but who is the killer? And will they strike again? Tom Hindle is making quite the name for himself in the whodunit genre, with the releases of  A Fatal Crossing, The Murder Game and now Murder on Lake Garda. Meshing the pacey excitement of a detective novel with the gritty realism of well fleshed out characters, his books have a hint of thriller, and his latest is no different.  Tune in as Tom tells us about the rotten Heywood family and their unsavoury past, how he came to set a murder mystery in such a place of serene beauty, and why the beat “People lie, facts don't” runs so consistently throughout his novel. In this episode you will learn: Why you should think of your scenes as elastic bands if tension is your goal How to avoid creating 2-dimensional characters. That everyone is the hero of their own story, and believes what they're doing is right. Find out more about Tom here. Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey production, and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up to the newsletter here. You can buy copies of our anthology series here.  You can view the full transcript here. Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk

As we spent the year looking back on the last 20 years celebrating the birth of Crosstown Rebels, we wanted to close the year with a very special Mix Show that highlighted one of our biggest inspirations. Daniele Baldelli set the tone for the future of djing with his unique, innovative style of putting records together that were way ahead of the rest. His legendary sets at the Cosmic Club on Lake Garda in Italy are the stuff of legend and to close the year with a special podcast, we present to you an exclusive never heard before mix from the master, recorded live at the club in 1982 and now remastered

In this special bonus episode, join us for a captivating journey through the top ten tips everyone should know when traversing the stunning landscapes of Italy. Reflecting on Season 1, which chronicled our adventures from the sun-soaked streets of Naples to the serene shores of Lake Garda, we've compiled the ultimate guide to enhance your Italian escapades. Tune in as we unravel the secrets of navigating Italy's private and regional trains, perfecting the art of packing light for a seamless travel experience. Learn the ins and outs of checking into your hotel, including mastering the city tax and ensuring you have enough cash on hand. Discover the wisdom of embracing a fanny pack for safety while navigating local scams, and delve into the world of mosquito warfare with essential tips on sprays, plugs, nets, and rackets. Uncover the power of tipping locals for insider itineraries, with a special nod to bartenders as the true maestros of travel advice. Embark on a cultural exploration as we guide you through the art of avoiding pricey pints in the land of fine wines, steering you towards the hidden gems of dive bars with their own unique charm. And, of course, learn the nuances of language to truly immerse yourself in the heart of Italy. Join us for this grand finale bonus episode, where each tip is a golden nugget of wisdom, ensuring your Italian adventures are not just memorable but practically flawless. "Ciao Bella!" awaits, as we bid a fond farewell to Season 1 with a flourish of travel expertise! SEASON ONE SCOREBOARD Salerno: 98 Florence: 88 Naples: 88 Ischia: 85.5 Lake Garda: 85.5 Rome: 85 Siena: 84 La Spezia: 79.5 Venice: 76 Lake Como: 74.5 Sorrento: 67   ABOUT SEASON ONE Irish Expats Cormac and Jane discuss their highs and lows of travel. Season one follows their journey across Italy. Topics include remote working, realistic travel budgets, top tips, and what it's really like to work and live abroad. In season one, each episode will focus on a region or city they visited on their six-week holiday from Southern Naples to Lake Garda in the North. ABOUT US Cormac is a professional Irish bartender having worked in the hotel and bar industry for 8 years. Originally from Leitrim, he studied Hotel Management and Business at GMIT. He was working in Galway in the bar trade for 5 years before he decided to move abroad. His original plan was to work on a vineyard in Northern Italy using WWOOF.  Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices. Find out more: https://wwoof.net Jane is a communications consultant working in the culture and energy sectors. She has previously produced and promoted international organisations including Web Summit, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and European Capital of Culture projects. After 10+ years of working in Communications & Events, Jane has transitioned to fully remote consulting work. Although regularly travelling back to Ireland for work, she is now based in Florence with Cormac.   DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE (FREE) Here is our day by day excel sheet of our 6 week summer trip across Italy. It includes the following categories: Dates, Transport Methods, Accommodation Links, Fun (Tours, Bars & Excursions), Food and Tips for the following cities: Naples Salerno Sorrento Rome Siena Florence La Spezia (and Riomaggiore) Venice Desenzano del Garda Sirmione Malcesine Riva del Garda Download the travel guide for free at: https://www.altlivin.com/shop FOLLOW US Website: www.altlivin.com Instagram: @altlivin TikTok: @altlivin Youtube: /Altlivin 

In today's episode we'll be covering the Island of Ischia. We'll be chatting about: Why we went to Ischia Where to stay? Ischia Porto, Ponte or Forio? Transport, accommodation, food and fun The value for money and some overall tips from Italian residents if you're planning on visiting Italy SEASON ONE SCOREBOARD Salerno: 98 Florence: 88 Naples: 88 Ischia: 85.5 Lake Garda: 85.5 Rome: 85 Siena: 84 La Spezia: 79.5 Venice: 76 Lake Como: 74.5 Sorrento: 67   FUN FACTS ABOUT ISCHIA Ischia is well known for its thermal water and thermal gardens used since ancient times. Its volcanic nature makes Ischia one of the largest spas in Europe. It also has ancient vinyards with some of Cormac's favourite wines in the world. Procide (an island close by) is where parts of the film Il Postino was filmed The typical representative dish of the island is “Rabbit all'ischitana" a rabbit stew. TRANSPORT Transport: Naples Airport - Taxis, Bus, Metro to Molo Beverello Port (behind Castel Nuovo) Boats - We got the Hydrofoil Ischia - Busses and Taxis - 50 euro for 5 of us across the island from Ischia Porte to Forio It took 20 minutes to walk from Ischia Porte to Ischia Ponte Ebikes & Car Rentals - You can rent an ebike for a day for 25 euro (9am to 6pm) but a car for almost the same price for 24 hours Accommodation:  We rented an Airbnb in Ischia Porte as we had a large group and had several activities planned, although there are some beautiful hotels around Ischia Ponte. Food:  RIP OFF: Trattoriva (Sapori Ischitani) Amazing chicken at Antico Girarrosto Ischitano Pizza Village: Cheap and cheerful Ristorante Pizzeria Fratelli La Bufala by Giardini di Enzo FUN:  Beach - Ischia Porte - 5 euro for 66cl beers Procida - Boat Tour - get your guide - 79 euro Castle Castello aragonese - top tip - get the lift Bar beside the castello.- amazing value for good cocktails - Ristorante Bar da Coco'  Archangelo Michael Festival - Patron Saint Festival in September Poseidon Thermal Pools - 37 euro for 1/2 day RIP OFF:  Porto51 for cocktails Bar del Porto dal 1963 - cheap place for drinks U' MUORZ - another pub in Ischia Porte Honourable mention - China Tempto for amazing vinyard tours and wine tastings ABOUT SEASON ONE Irish Expats Cormac and Jane discuss their highs and lows of travel. Season one follows their journey across Italy. Topics include remote working, realistic travel budgets, top tips, and what it's really like to work and live abroad. In season one, each episode will focus on a region or city they visited on their six-week holiday from Southern Naples to Lake Garda in the North. ABOUT US Cormac is a professional Irish bartender having worked in the hotel and bar industry for 8 years. Originally from Leitrim, he studied Hotel Management and Business at GMIT. He was working in Galway in the bar trade for 5 years before he decided to move abroad. His original plan was to work on a vineyard in Northern Italy using WWOOF.  Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices. Find out more: https://wwoof.net Jane is a communications consultant working in the culture and energy sectors. She has previously produced and promoted international organisations including Web Summit, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and European Capital of Culture projects. After 10+ years of working in Communications & Events, Jane has transitioned to fully remote consulting work. Although regularly travelling back to Ireland for work, she is now based in Florence with Cormac.   DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE (FREE) Here is our day by day excel sheet of our 6 week summer trip across Italy. It includes the following categories: Dates, Transport Methods, Accommodation Links, Fun (Tours, Bars & Excursions), Food and Tips for the following cities: Naples Salerno Sorrento Rome Siena Florence La Spezia (and Riomaggiore) Venice Desenzano del Garda Sirmione Malcesine Riva del Garda Download the travel guide for free at: https://www.altlivin.com/shop FOLLOW US Website: www.altlivin.com Instagram: @altlivin TikTok: @altlivin Youtube: /Altlivin   

In today's bonus episode we'll be covering Lake Como. We'll be chatting about: Why we went to Lake Como Transport, accommodation, food and fun The value for money Some overall tips from Italian residents if you're planning on visiting Italy SCOREBOARD Salerno: 98 Florence: 88 Naples: 88 Lake Garda: 85.5 Rome: 85 Siena: 84 La Spezia: 79.5 Venice: 76 Lake Como 74.5   FUN FACTS Lake Como supposedly has its very own lake monster, Lario!  Mussolini was executed on its shores in 1945. Lake Como is the capital of Italy's silk production. A-listers, such as George Clooney, Madonna, Richard Branson, Sylvester Stallone, Gianni Versace, and soccer legend Ronaldinho, own or have owned villas around the shores of Lake Como. TRANSPORT Train from Florence to Milan. 1 hour from Milan. We transferred in Monza. Boats are similar to Lake Garda. Ferries are divided between the North and South with a handful of fast boats covering the entire lake each day. You can find the ferry timetable here. There are ferries that run between the central towns. Getting from Lake Como to Lake Garda. Our friends ended up hiring a car. ACCOMMODATION We stayed just beside the santa maria cathedral in Piazza Cavour. We stayed in June and booked last minute - €265 for 2 nights. However, it did turn out to be a bit of a scam. FOOD Ox Pub and Grill Middle East Platea Ristorante FUN Bar Como A visit to Varenna Explore the castle/park at Tremazzena/Bellagio Boat Hires   We're Jane and Cormac. Our next episode is the official final episode of Season 1 all about the island of Ischia. If you liked our podcast then please subscribe, and please give us a 5 star review, it's free and takes just a couple of seconds.    ABOUT SEASON ONE Irish Expats Cormac and Jane discuss their highs and lows of travel. Season one follows their journey across Italy. Topics include remote working, realistic travel budgets, top tips, and what it's really like to work and live abroad. In season one, each episode will focus on a region or city they visited on their six-week holiday from Southern Naples to Lake Garda in the North.   ABOUT US Cormac is a professional Irish bartender having worked in the hotel and bar industry for 8 years. Originally from Leitrim, he studied Hotel Management and Business at GMIT. He was working in Galway in the bar trade for 5 years before he decided to move abroad. His original plan was to work on a vineyard in Northern Italy using WWOOF.  Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices. Find out more: https://wwoof.net Jane is a communications consultant working in the culture and energy sectors. She has previously produced and promoted international organisations including Web Summit, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and European Capital of Culture projects. After 10+ years of working in Communications & Events, Jane has transitioned to fully remote consulting work. Although regularly travelling back to Ireland for work, she is now based in Florence with Cormac.   DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE (FREE) Here is our day by day excel sheet of our 6 week summer trip across Italy. It includes the following categories: Dates, Transport Methods, Accommodation Links, Fun (Tours, Bars & Excursions), Food and Tips for the following cities: Naples Salerno Sorrento Rome Siena Florence La Spezia (and Riomaggiore) Venice Desenzano del Garda Sirmione Malcesine Riva del Garda Download the travel guide for free at: https://www.altlivin.com/shop   FOLLOW US Website: www.altlivin.com Instagram: @altlivin TikTok: @altlivin  

In today's episode we'll be covering the incredible towns of Lake Garda. We'll be chatting about: Why we went to Lake Garda The towns of Densenzano, Sirmione, Malcesine, Riva & Limone Transport, accommodation, food and fun The value for money and some overall tips if you're planning on visiting Italy Make sure you're subscribed and if you like this episode then please give us a five star rating. You can find us on instagram and tiktok at @altlivin and find out more about us on altlivin.com SEASON SCOREBOARD Salerno: 98 Florence: 88 Naples: 88 Lake Garda: 85.5 Rome: 85 Siena: 84 La Spezia: 79.5 Venice: 76 FUN FACTS The lake is divided between the North and South. Mount Baldo is fantastic for skiing in winter and beautiful hikes in the summer summer. Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake Freshwater lake. It's extremely popular with Irish Tourists. Transport:  How to get to Lake Garda? Fly into Venice, Verona or Milan. Get the train to Densenzano - 1 hour from Milan, 2hr30 from Florence Ferries are divided between the North and South with a handful of fast boats covering the entire lake each day. You can find the ferry timetable here. Get a cable cart up to Mount Baldo. Be sure to book in advance! You can book tickets here. Accommodation: Hotels are your best option in Lake Garda Best hotel we stayed in Liomone was the Hotel Splendid Palace Riva del Garda we stayed in Casa Canarino   Food:  Densenzano: Trattoria Pizzeria Enoteca Alessi - great carraffes and good beef dishes Sirmone: Caffè Pizza Margherita Gorgeous breakfast in: Bar La Vinessa Malcesine: watch the sunset at Caffé San Marco Limone: Hotel Splendid Palace - all inclusive Riva: Friggitoria al porto Fun:  Densenzano - paddle boats and cheap sun bed hire   Mount baldo in Malcesine - you can see the dolomites and swiss alps   Riva - Windsurfing, sailing, parasailing   Gardaland is also nearby   ABOUT SEASON ONE Irish Expats Cormac and Jane discuss their highs and lows of travel. Season one follows their journey across Italy. Topics include remote working, realistic travel budgets, top tips, and what it's really like to work and live abroad. In season one, each episode will focus on a region or city they visited on their six-week holiday from Southern Naples to Lake Garda in the North.   ABOUT US Cormac is a professional Irish bartender having worked in the hotel and bar industry for 8 years. Originally from Leitrim, he studied Hotel Management and Business at GMIT. He was working in Galway in the bar trade for 5 years before he decided to move abroad. His original plan was to work on a vineyard in Northern Italy using WWOOF.  Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices. Find out more: https://wwoof.net Jane is a communications consultant working in the culture and energy sectors. She has previously produced and promoted international organisations including Web Summit, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and European Capital of Culture projects. After 10+ years of working in Communications & Events, Jane has transitioned to fully remote consulting work. Although regularly travelling back to Ireland for work, she is now based in Florence with Cormac.   DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE (FREE) Here is our day by day excel sheet of our 6 week summer trip across Italy. It includes the following categories: Dates, Transport Methods, Accommodation Links, Fun (Tours, Bars & Excursions), Food and Tips for the following cities: Naples Salerno Sorrento Rome Siena Florence La Spezia (and Riomaggiore) Venice Desenzano del Garda Sirmione Malcesine Riva del Garda Download the travel guide for free at: https://www.altlivin.com/shop   FOLLOW US Website: www.altlivin.com Instagram: @altlivin TikTok: @altlivin  

In today's bonus episode we'll be covering the city of Venice. We'll be chatting about: Why we explored Venice? Our best tips for Transport, accommodation, food and fun The value for money Some overall tips from Italian residents if you're planning on visiting Italy SEASON SCOREBOARD Salerno: 98 Florence: 88 Naples: 88 Lake Garda: 85.5 Rome: 85 Siena: 84 La Spezia: 79.5 Venice: 76 TRANSPORT High speed italo train - you can also get the bus, fly into the airport or catch a waterbus (vaporetti) The Venice People Mover is an elevated shuttle train from the mainland to the island We got the train into Piazzale Roma and walked everywhere Gondolas - From 1st November 2023 the rates will be €90.00 for a 30-minute tour; after 07:00 pm (until 3:00 am) €110.00 for a 35-minute tour. They'll be trialing a 5 euro entry fee for day trippers across 30 dates in 2024  Google maps doesn't work ACCOMMODATION City Tax: 1 and 5 euros per person per night, and varies according to the time of year   We used https://www.bed-and-breakfast.it/ and stayed in the san polo island near santa croce FUN Bicchiere - look up the word for glass in italian - really cheap bars - Bacareto da Lele Al Fortino - Kiosk bar - super cheap with a view of cool bridges Irish Pub Santa Lucia Piazza San Marco Lots of islands -Murano and Burano - avoid the day trips  Rialto Bridge ABOUT SEASON ONE In this season, we, Cormac and Jane, share our travel highs and lows, providing insights into remote working, realistic travel budgets, top tips, and the realities of working and living abroad. Each episode focuses on a different region or city we explored during our six-week journey across Italy, from Southern Naples to Lake Garda in the North. ABOUT US Cormac is an experienced Irish bartender with a background in Hotel Management and Business. Originally from Leitrim, he ventured abroad with the intention of working on a vineyard in Northern Italy using WWOOF. Jane, a communications consultant with expertise in culture and energy sectors, has previously worked on international projects including Web Summit, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and European Capital of Culture initiatives. After over a decade in Communications & Events, Jane transitioned to fully remote consulting work and now resides in Florence with Cormac. DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE (FREE) For a detailed breakdown of our 6-week summer trip across Italy, including dates, transport methods, accommodation links, fun activities, food recommendations, and tips for various cities, download our free travel guide at altlivin.com/shop. FOLLOW US Website: www.altlivin.com Instagram: @altlivin TikTok: @altlivin YouTube: /Altlivin  

Ahead of his debut album The Heart Of It, Jelani Blackman tells me about the epiphony he had at Lake Garda, the meaning of work, greenlights and collaboration. Tell us your favourite work story, WhatsApp a voice note or message at 07904243 101. Learn your favourite song and download AMPOLLO - the FREE app that lets you practice at home with songs, using its AI stem-removing super smart tech: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1659856412?pt=125376217&ct=Giles&mt=8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you in need of some inspiration for your next kayaking trip? Check out these recommendations from Kayaking Nation for an adventure in Europe. Learn more at https://kayakingnation.com/10-best-kayaking-trips-in-europe Kayaking Nation City: Austin Address: 16238 Highway 620 N. Suite F-104 Austin, TX 78717 Website https://kayakingnation.com/ Phone +1 888 831 0492 Email info@kayakingnation.com

In today's episode, we're taking you on a journey to the enchanting coastal town of La Spezia and the picturesque Cinque Terre. Here's what we'll be discussing: Why We Explored La Spezia and Cinque Terre: Discover the reasons that led us to this stunning Italian destination and what makes it so special. Transport, Accommodation, Food, and Fun: Get practical tips on getting around La Spezia and Cinque Terre, where to stay (hint: Airbnb is a top choice), the best places to savor delicious Italian cuisine, and the most exciting activities to enjoy in the area. Value for Money: We'll dive into the cost-effectiveness of visiting La Spezia and Cinque Terre, helping you make the most of your travel budget. Overall Tips: As an Irish couple who've been living in Italy for the past year, we've gathered invaluable insights that will enhance your visit to this coastal gem. Fun Facts Cinque Terre's Colorful Homes: The five villages of Cinque Terre are famous for their colorful homes, which create a stunning visual contrast against the rugged coastline. Each village has its unique charm and hue. UNESCO World Heritage: Cinque Terre and its surrounding area, including La Spezia, have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. This recognition is due to their exceptional cultural and natural significance, preserving the centuries-old traditions of the region. Ligurian Cuisine: La Spezia and Cinque Terre are renowned for their delicious Ligurian cuisine. Pesto alla Genovese, a famous basil-based sauce, originates from this region. Be sure to savor local seafood dishes, such as anchovies and fresh catches from the Ligurian Sea. Transport We got the train from Florence to La Spezia and took a day trip to Riomaggiore. We would recommend staying in Genoa and visiting the Nothern towns of the Cinque Terre for a day or two. Here are the Cinque Terre villages from North to South: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.  Restaurant & Bar Recommendations Maia e Battiston Bar e Vini a Pié de Ma The Waterfront Top Experiences Levanto: Pesto-Making Class: https://gyg.me/P867oQWn From Florence: Seaside Beauty Day Trip to Cinque Terre:  https://gyg.me/lMkxo9XT From Levanto: E-bike Through the Cinque Terre to Vernazza: https://gyg.me/WLANrWr3 *We earn a small commission if you use the links above to book an experience SEASON SCOREBOARD Salerno: 98 Florence: 88 Naples: 88 Rome: 85 Siena: 84 La Spezia: 79.5 ABOUT SEASON ONE In this season, we, Cormac and Jane, share our travel highs and lows, providing insights into remote working, realistic travel budgets, top tips, and the realities of working and living abroad. Each episode focuses on a different region or city we explored during our six-week journey across Italy, from Southern Naples to Lake Garda in the North. ABOUT US Cormac is an experienced Irish bartender with a background in Hotel Management and Business. Originally from Leitrim, he ventured abroad with the intention of working on a vineyard in Northern Italy using WWOOF. Jane, a communications consultant with expertise in culture and energy sectors, has previously worked on international projects including Web Summit, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and European Capital of Culture initiatives. After over a decade in Communications & Events, Jane transitioned to fully remote consulting work and now resides in Florence with Cormac. DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE (FREE) For a detailed breakdown of our 6-week summer trip across Italy, including dates, transport methods, accommodation links, fun activities, food recommendations, and tips for various cities, download our free travel guide at altlivin.com/shop. JOIN OUR EVENTS: The Irish Pub Tour (Florence) Join us, Cormac and Jane, for an unforgettable tour of the best Irish pubs in Florence. Learn about the history of Irish whiskeys and gins, perfect the art of pouring Guinness, and make new friends on a delightful drinking adventure through the captivating city of Florence. The tour includes visits to four bars and at least 4 drinks. Learn more at airbnb.ie/experiences/4177857. FOLLOW US Website: www.altlivin.com Instagram: @altlivin TikTok: @altlivin YouTube: /Altlivin Plan your trip to La Spezia and Cinque Terre with our insights, and get ready for an unforgettable Italian adventure. Stay tuned for more exciting destinations in our travel podcast series!

Italy, a mesmerizing country nestled in southern Europe, boasts a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty that has captivated the world for centuries. Italy is a land of diverse landscapes, from the snow-capped peaks of the Alps in the north to the sun-drenched coasts of the Mediterranean in the south. Renowned for its exquisite cuisine, Italy tantalizes the taste buds with its pasta, pizza, and fine wines. Italy's warm hospitality, passionate people, and timeless allure make it a must-visit destination for travelers seeking a blend of history, art, and natural splendor. So grab your passport, pack a bag and let's journey across the Atlantic to Italy. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. 1. Milan Historic Milan Tour with Skip-the-line Last Supper Ticket We recommend that you stay in Bergamo and spend at least a day there. 2. Cinque Terre Tours to Cinque Terre from the port city of Livorno (if you are on a cruise) 3. Tuscany Tour to Tuscany from Livorno - Wine Tasting & Tuscany Coutryside, San Gimignano & Volterra 4. Rome Walk on the Appian Way Visit the Catacombs Keyhole of the Knights of Malta Trevi Fountain & Spanish Steps (go early in the morning for less crowds) Book a Tour for the Collosseum & Roman Forum - we recommend the Underground One Vatican Early Morning Tour to be one of the first ones in the Sistine Chapel to avoid the crowds Check out the Rome by Golf Cart Tours 5. Pompeii Rick Steves Pompeii Self Guided Audio Tour (all tours in Italy link - Pompeii is at the bottom) Tours of Pompeii 6. Amalfi Coast We hired a driver to take us to the Amalfi Coast from Naples for the day. You can also take the day trip from Sorrento, which is where we would stay and what we would do if we did it again. We would also recommend a Amalfi Coast tour by boat. We would do this next time. 7. Torre Pellice (near Turin) Our recommendation is to find a smaller town (like Torre Pellice) in Italy and stay in a guesthouse or a room in someone's home and spend some time getting to know a family and more about the local culture. You may be able to eat meals in their home or at least find out their favorite local places. What's on our Italy Bucket List: The Dolomites, Venice, Florence, Sicily, Lake Garda & Lake Como, Capri, Sardina, an extended in Tuscany, & spend a few days and nights in Cinque Terre Packing Tips for Italy: Take your camera, Good Walking Shoes for the Cobblestone Streets, Be sure to cover shoulders and knees for going into churches, swimsuit for swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, pack light and use one of our favorite Ebags backpacks (see all our favorite travel things) Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on Facebook Follow our travels on Instagram here and here Save our travel ideas on Pinterest See our travel videos on You Tube Music Credit Music by OYStudio from Pixabay

Published 1 October 2023This week we focus on the Windsurfer LT World Champs to be held at South Perth Yacht Club in Western Australia late December to early January. We talk to Nick Bez, winner of the all-round World Championships at Lake Garda in 2019, (and class president in Australia for the last 6 years - of easily the fastest growing sailing class in the World) about the event, the racing, the boards and the venue. It is a fantastic discussion. Enjoy!#windsurferclass #we_are_windsurfer #iwca_official_windsurfer_world #vaikobi #vaikobisail  #radixnutrition  #barkarate #sailingpodcast #barkaratesailorslarger #barkarateconversations #worldsailingofficial #sailing #boat #ocean #sport #voile #sail #sea #offshore #sailors #sailingworld #extremesailing #foils #yacht #yachts #saillife #instayacht #sailingblog #instasail 

Quiz #185 - Get ready to test your general knowledge with 10 challenging quiz questions in this week's Pub Quiz. Questions including "Lake Como and Lake Garda are both located in which European country?" and "On what date is Independence Day in the USA?" Send me a message on Twitter if you'd like a shout out or have a burning trivia question you'd like me to ask. Don't forget to follow me on social media and spread the podcast goodness by sharing it with your friends and family. Cheers! Pete  If you have an Alexa say, "Alexa, Play Pub Quiz" If you have a Google Assistant say, "Hey Google, Talk to Pub Quiz" Subscribe to Pete's Pub Quiz for 20 more questions every week for even more entertainment! Subscribe to Pete's Pub Quiz for 20 more questions every week for even more entertainment!Don't forget to enter our Golden Question competition for your chance to win £100! ⁠⁠https://hugo.fm/pub-quiz-golden-questions⁠⁠

Our weekly travel slot continues and this week, Lake Garda in Italy is the topic of conversation. Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joined The Last Word. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Published 23 July 2023A busy episode. We chat to Hattie Rogers. A superstar of the future. Born into a sailing family, she lives and breathes the sport. Plus she was a lot of fun to chat to.We also dive into the Fastnet, all the World Champs on Lake Garda and SailGP. Enjoy.For 10% off of your first order of Radix Nutrition use the code BARKARATE#hats.sailing #paulgibbinsphotography #waszpsailing #waszp #rolexfastnetracecherbourg #sailgp  #barkarate #sailingpodcast #barkaratesailorslarger #barkarateconversations #worldsailingofficial #sailing #boat #ocean #sport #voile #sail #sea #offshore #sailors #sailingworld #extremesailing #foils #yacht #yachts #saillife #instayacht #sailingblog #instasail #radixnutrition

Hear about travel to Lake Garda and the Verona Countryside as the Amateur Traveler talks to Valeria Biasi from Verona Tours about the region she calls home.

So if you've been following the channel you will know we decided to follow Michele Becker through his first FULL season on the PWA. We the first even is over and guess what... he finished 5th!!!! Lets hear what he has to say...

In today's episode we'll be covering the wonderful city of Florence We'll be chatting about: Why we went to Florence Why we moved to Florence Transport, accommodation, food and fun The value for money and some overall tips if you're planning on visiting Florence from an Irish couple who've been living in the city for the last 8 months SEASON SCOREBOARD   Salerno 98 Florence 88 Naples 88 Rome 85 Siena 84   Transport: Within the city:  Ride Movi bicycle and scooters Bird Scooters Download App Taxi Busses from Santa Maria Novella and St Marco's Piazza Easy Day Trips: Milan: 2 hours by train Bologna: 38 minutes by train Pisa: 1 hour by train Cinque Terre: 2 hours 40 mins by train Venice: 2 hours by train Rome: 2 hours by train Other fantastic day trips include Lucca, Livorno and Siena. Accommodation: We recommend staying in an Airbnb. Do NOT stay at the Hotel Royal. Our favourite hostel (with got a private room) was Hostel Archi Rossi. Food:   Trattoria San Lorenzo Trattoria Sabatino Centrale Market foodcourt (upstairs) and downstairs for groceries Antica Porchetteria Granieri 1916 Antica Trattoria da Tito Trattoria Zà Zà Crown of India New Dehli Trattoria Dell'Orto Wild buns bakery   Fun:  The Excelsior Hotel for coffee or sunset Piazze Michelangelo Finnegan's Pub Cuban bar (Antica Panineria SMN) Santo Spirito and market Fiesole The Irish Pub Tour The Florentine - Great guide to events in Florence  Tourist Guide Ponte vecchio Sante Croce Uffizi The Academia Pitti palace/Boboli Gardens Duomo & Tower Wine Tours - Out of the Box (high end) and Get your Guide (cheap alternative)   ABOUT SEASON ONE Irish Expats Cormac and Jane discuss their highs and lows of travel. Season one follows their journey across Italy. Topics include remote working, realistic travel budgets, top tips, and what it's really like to work and live abroad. In season one, each episode will focus on a region or city they visited on their six-week holiday from Southern Naples to Lake Garda in the North.   ABOUT US Cormac is a professional Irish bartender having worked in the hotel and bar industry for 8 years. Originally from Leitrim, he studied Hotel Management and Business at GMIT. He was working in Galway in the bar trade for 5 years before he decided to move abroad. His original plan was to work on a vineyard in Northern Italy using WWOOF.  Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices. Find out more: https://wwoof.net Jane is a communications consultant working in the culture and energy sectors. She has previously produced and promoted international organisations including Web Summit, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and European Capital of Culture projects. After 10+ years of working in Communications & Events, Jane has transitioned to fully remote consulting work. Although regularly travelling back to Ireland for work, she is now based in Florence with Cormac.   DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE (FREE) Here is our day by day excel sheet of our 6 week summer trip across Italy. It includes the following categories: Dates, Transport Methods, Accommodation Links, Fun (Tours, Bars & Excursions), Food and Tips for the following cities: Naples Salerno Sorrento Rome Siena Florence La Spezia (and Riomaggiore) Venice Desenzano del Garda Sirmione Malcesine Riva del Garda Download the travel guide for free at: https://www.altlivin.com/shop   JOIN OUR EVENTS: The Irish Pub Tour (Florence) Join Cormac and Jane for a tour of the best Irish pubs in Florence. Learn about the history of Irish whiskeys and gins, how to pull the perfect pint of Guinness and make new friends on a drinking adventure across the beautiful city of Florence. The group travels to four bars across the city. 4+ Drinks included. Learn more: https://www.airbnb.ie/experiences/4177857 FOLLOW US Website: www.altlivin.com Instagram: @altlivin TikTok: @altlivin Youtube: /Altlivin 

Lake Garda in northern Italy has less water this spring than ever before. As the country's largest freshwater reservoir, this could have serious consequences for local agriculture and energy supply.

This week we sit down with Bovine Classic founder, Bryan Yates to learn more about the 2023 event. Run out of the central California town of Atascadero, the event highlights this unique part of California with its combination of wineries, rolling hills and views of the Pacific Ocean. Bovine Classic  Support the Podcast Join The Ridership  Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos: [00:00:00] Craig Dalton: Hello, and welcome to the gravel ride podcast, where we go deep on the sport of gravel cycling through in-depth interviews with product designers, event organizers and athletes. Who are pioneering the sport I'm your host, Craig Dalton, a lifelong cyclist who discovered gravel cycling back in 2016 and made all the mistakes you don't need to make. I approach each episode as a beginner down, unlock all the knowledge you need to become a great gravel cyclist. This week on the show. We welcome Brian Yates, the founder of the bovine classic gravel event in California. Brian. And I got connected last year, which was the inaugural year of the bovine classic. And I was super excited about his concept. Super excited about the location of the event. Down there in the mid section of California by Morro bay and San Luis Obispo, being that closest major city to the event in arrest the Darrow. As you'll hear Brian has put together a course that highlights the rolling Hills, the larger climbs. The vineyards, the breweries, the single track. Everything you'd want to touch in that region. And packaged it all together for a great weekend for family and writers alike. As you'll hear the event has a couple of warm-up rides and shakedown rides in the days approaching it. And then four options of routes to explore the area, depending on how big of an appetite you have for gravel in that given weekend. The event happens in October. And I encourage you to check it out and I encourage you to listen to the conversation. I'm going to apologize in advance for a few technical hiccups we had during recording. I did my best to edit it down, but certainly didn't want to lose this conversation and wanted to make sure, obviously that everybody is familiar with the bovine classic. Before we jump in, I did need to thank this week. Sponsor hammerhead. And the hammer had Caru to computer. The hammer had crew two is the most advanced GPS cycling computer available today with industry leading mapping navigation and routing capabilities that set it apart from other GPS options. As Brian describes the course later in this podcast. I couldn't help, but think about. The climber with predictive path technology feature that hammer had rolled out last year. This is the type of feature that'll let you know. Are you facing, what are those 45 minute long climbs ahead of you? Or is it some of the punchy stuff that Brian will describe? I found that invaluable when going on routes that I hadn't been on before, because it just gave me, uh, the right mindset for approaching a longer climb or potentially trying to push a little bit. If I knew it was. Are rolling climb. That's just one of the many features I enjoy on the hammerhead. Kuru to hammerhead software updates and new feature releases allow your crew to, to evolve and improve. Ensuring that the device you get today will be even better tomorrow. I've got my personal device connected to both Strava and ride with GPS. I can import routes directly to the device. I can export routes. I can do everything that you'd want to do. I also just became aware since I'm borrowing an e-bike right now. That the crew too has a new e-bike integration that delivers detailed battery usage rights to your display. So I need to set that up. If I'm going to be hanging onto this e-bike for a little while. Right now our listeners can get a free heart rate monitor with the purchase of a hammerhead kuru two. Visit hammerhead IO. Oh right now. And use the promo code, the gravel ride at checkout to get yours today. This is an exclusive offer. So don't forget to use the promo code, the gravel ride. You'll get a free heart rate monitor with your purchase of the Karoo to computer. Just visit hammerhead. Dot IO today. Add both items to your card. Use that promo code and boom. The heart rate monitor price will disappear. With that said let's jump right in to my conversation. Brian, welcome to the show. [00:04:15] Bryan Yates: Craig. Thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here. [00:04:17] Craig Dalton: Yeah, it's good to finally get you on the podcast to record and see you face-to-face. I know we first connected about a year ago, and it was gonna be the first year of the Bovine Classic, and there was a lot of unknowns. You hadn't done it before, so great to finally have you. [00:04:34] Bryan Yates: Yeah, it's great to actually earn my spot in the seat this time, [00:04:38] Craig Dalton: I'm sometimes sheepish about bringing first year events on that haven't actually happened yet because it's so much of an unknown. Um, not that I had those fears for you because I know in talking to you and just seeing the materials around the bovine classic, you were putting a lot of energy and intention. On making the event a success, but at least now we have 2022 behind us and we can talk about it in real terms and we can talk about what's changing and why people should be excited for 2023. [00:05:09] Bryan Yates: Well, let's be clear, I'm still PT baring this thing, right? It's still a lot of smoke and mirrors and a lot of just my enthusiasm. [00:05:16] Craig Dalton: Yeah, I mean, it seems like the first five years of any event, there's just a lot of learning that goes. Oh, [00:05:21] Bryan Yates: for sure. Yeah, for sure. I mean, we learned a lot. So [00:05:23] Craig Dalton: let's start off by setting the stage a little bit, Brian. Yeah, for sure. Let's set the stage where, where are you in California? Just to set the stage for the listener. [00:05:33] Bryan Yates: All right. I am exactly halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, so it is exactly the midpoint. We are about 17 miles inland from the coast, so. Cambria. Moro Bay is out on the coast, but those are our neighbor, neighbor towns. We're on the inland side where things look ranchy farming and Tuscan. And we're also, so our nearest big city is San Louis Obispo. [00:06:08] Craig Dalton: Got it. So stepping back for a second, how did you get involved with the idea of creating events? How did you get into cycling? I know there's a lot to this question, but I think it's important as so much of event organizing and course design is sort of a love letter to where you've been riding. So how did you arrive at this point and how did you get into gravel cycling? [00:06:30] Bryan Yates: Oh man, I love that question. That's like one of my favorite questions. So I, I was a really avid cyclist as a teenager. I was the kid who had, you know, spent all of his allowance on in the eighties, the $3,000 Italian bike. Right. And then, Uh, and then I, I, I left the sport behind for a lot of bad habits for a while, and came back. Came back, you know, like a lot of us do. I kind of popped my head up in my late thirties. What have I been doing? What have, and I came back to cycling, came back to racing. Uh, Racing, uh, cause I'm not very good at it. Right? Completely, uh, completely just above average. So I came back to that and then I'd been coaching, I started really coaching cyclists for about 10, 12 years. And had been deeply involved with a pediatric and pediatric cancer ride that I'd been the team director and Cocha for many years called PAB Bluff across America. And I'd been living in Los Angeles for, you know, a long time. And about four years ago, uh, my wife and I decided that. We were done with Los Angeles and that our careers were portable enough that we were looking for a place to move, and we ended up in this town called Atascadero, which is just below, uh, pastor Robles California. For those of you who know that, you know, basically what we're known for here is. It's essentially like the frontier land of Disney. It's sort of a flyover town. We have the mental hos state mental hospital and uh, it's an emerging, it's an up and coming emerging town. But we moved here and we were. Really welcomed by the community super fast, and I took a gap year that first year. Ended up riding my bike everywhere, riding all the time. In fact, we moved here and I dropped my bags and. I was taking a group of cyclists to New Zealand to go ride and I dropped my bags and said, I gotta go train cuz I'm gonna be riding like hundreds of miles per week for the next, you know, three weeks. And my wife's like, great, get outta here. I don't want you actually putting anything away. She was like, go ride. Went to New Zealand, then came back, came back and was riding a bunch here. It was like, it's 2019 and it, we had a lot of rain that year as well and everything was super green and I end up all of these places. You know, writing in a new place is a lot like learning a new language. I think it rewires your brain in a different way because you have to sort of get lost intentionally and find this new persona. Yeah. And find your way around. And I started discovering all these things like this is every bit as good and all of these things I was doing in New Zealand, this is stunning. And I'd ridden through here a bunch, taking the Pablo crew, but I'd never gone deep. So let's fast forward a little bit. I'm a big Yuri household and I, I have been friends for a million years and I'm a big fan of his Bantam Classic race. It's this little underground race. Can I say that, Yuri? I hope so. It's his, uh, I, it's a little less underground now, and I, I love it. It's up in Petaluma. It's not a gravel race, but it is, you know, as we talked about Sonoma Road. So come with fat tires. And I kind of thought I got down here, I was like, you know, maybe I'll do a, a fall answer to that, something really cheeky, and we'll call it the bovine Classic, and then I put it away. And I had been working out of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, had my office there for a little bit and was checking out cuz my home office was built. And at the time I was going off to go work with a bunch of the executive athletes that I was coaching and the president of, uh, the Chamber of Commerce said, oh, what are you doing? I said, this is what we're doing. Gonna go ride a bunch. He said, anywhere Interesting. I was like, yeah. Here, here, here, here. As a complete aside, this was a complete throwaway comment, like I didn't think twice about it. I said, and we have world class cycling here and nobody's talking about it. Nobody's telling that story. And said, do you wanna do an event? I was like, absolutely not. So what we ended up doing is I've done a bunch of work. Yeah. I've done a bunch of work with Peloton Magazine in the past as a consulting brand manager and digital manager, and also have had written a bunch for Peloton. I thought, why don't we bring my crew down and we'll do a full on. Like year long, tell the story of what's going on here and really market it as a, as a cycling destination, as kind of like a Lake Garda minus the lake for cycling. Well, here's the thing. Anyone who's gonna give you money for that wants an immediate return. And so what I quickly found was the only way anyone was gonna do anything is if we were putting heads in. So the idea of Yeah, that makes sense. Taking Yeah, the idea of taking the slow approach wasn't gonna work. And so all my internal resistance was futile. So we, I, we pivoted and we, I hate that term. We, we, we changed directions and put together a really great story. Um, and a, you know, a long time ago I used to be a, a, a producer at Disney. And so, you know, you can take the boy outta Disney, but you can't take the Disney out of the boy. And so it was all about the story and started creating this great story and started getting local buy-in. And once I got local buy-in, it was like, crap, we have to do this thing now. That's the long story for our, and now we have to do it. [00:12:20] Craig Dalton: Yeah, I love that. You know, it's so interesting the different welcoming reception you get from a smaller community that can benefit from 400 more people coming into the community. And that can have a really significant impact on the livelihood of the hoteliers, the, you know, the, the restaurants, et cetera. And everybody can get stoked. Versus in larger communities, there's a resistance to bringing anybody else in. [00:12:48] Bryan Yates: I don't think we could have done this in San Lu Obispo, I don't think. We certainly couldn't have done anything like this in Los Angeles. It, it, it had to be somewhere small and it had to tell a story where people were going, oh, hey, that's interesting. You know, it's so funny. That's why I, I presented in front of. The tourism board here in Atascadero and like the former mayors on the board, he's like, okay, I want you to come over a Friday and we're gonna have, we're gonna have drinks and dinner with the mayors of San, of, of Pastor Robles and Atascadero. You're gonna tell, because I love your story. We're gonna, so you know, the next thing I know, I'm like sitting there having, having, having happy hour with the mayors, which is just so. [00:13:32] Craig Dalton: I love that. It's probably a l I suppose, in the, in the, again, in these like rural markets, like you do get that kind of reception and the event organizers are kind of brought in in a collaborative fashion, which I imagine just sort of opens up a lot of doors for you, whether it's. You know, going through ranch private learn ranch land, and just getting the right introductions to allow access to some of these areas that may not push through in, you know, non race day. [00:13:59] Bryan Yates: That's really a great, a great question and point, and it's absolutely true. You can get things done a lot more quickly, uh, in these smaller communities when they're receptive. Um, you know, atascadero in some ways. It is in the heart of the Pa Robles wine region, which is arguably one of the most beautiful regions in the world. And by the way, I, I wanna come back to that just a moment on a, from a cycling standpoint, and yet most people don't know about Atascadero. So some of the work that we had to do was, is around the marketing of saying we, this is the wine region. It's not just the town of Paso Robles. And I think. There might have been a little resistance from, say, the Paso Hotel Ice, which have more money than a Tascadero a hotel ice. Like, why are we doing this even though you're not gonna be here? So cuz we're selling the whole region and people are gonna stay with you, and we're. Pitching that, and the, the downstream effect is that people are gonna come to your resorts and stay with you when they're not here at the race. So, yeah. And, but it, it's definitely, it takes a little bit of work. But, you know, we, at one of the meetings with the Paso people, the, the city's, um, deputy manager or economic development director has seen my pitch, seen my pitch a couple times. He piped in, he was like, yeah, let's give this thing money. And frankly, I'm absolutely ecstatic and delighted to know that our dirt roads are actually a luxury item that we can, that we can market. So when you're telling a story to people that they're not used to hearing, that also goes a long way. [00:15:42] Craig Dalton: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. You talked a little bit earlier about how you fell in love with the area through all the riding and exploration you were doing. As you started to think about specifics for the bovine classic, based on the terrain you had available, kinda where did you net out? Like what was your philosophy going in? A lot of races have mixed terrain. A lot of races now have single track in it. How did you net out in expressing like, what's the. The area has to offer. [00:16:12] Bryan Yates: So the first thing that I want to come back to, and I'm gonna get into this cuz it's related, is that if you look at the Paso Robs wine region, that total mass is about two thirds the size of the land. Mass. Mass. If you've put Sonoma and Napa together. But, so we're about two-thirds of that size, so we're huge, but we have one-tenth of the population. So the easy story there is that what happens is that you, I can go out on a five hour bike ride and see 15 cars. So from a cycling standpoint, it's like, this is what happens if, uh, you know, Disneyland creates bicycle land. Right. And the other thing that, that we really had while moved here is that a couple of bonds came, came due, and there's been a ton of investment just in the actual. Roads themselves. So the tarmac is, the roads themselves are, are a joy to ride on. So the way it went netted out is that we have some public roads that include, uh, that include these dirt roads that are all just marvelous and they cut through different climates within the Paso region. So, you know, east Paso is very different than what happens to West on on the West Paso. And there are a lot of little surprises that happened on these public roads, just like visual surprises. And uh, we wanted to showcase those. And, you know, there are other rides that have gone through here and done this. And we haven't done anything incredibly unique with the course. We just let the course be for this year, for last year, and this year as it is. I mean, one thing we did want to add is that because we were coming back into a task at Arrow, pardon? What we wanted to do is that we have, uh, lawn Branch Saloon was one of our, is one of our sponsors, and they're out in, uh, the town of Creston, which is about 15 miles east of Paso. And we do a pre ride out of there on Fridays called The Fried Pickle Ride cuz it's known for their fried pickles. Uh, but it also has this amazing single track and probably one of the most beautiful that ends up on one of the most beautiful dirt farm roads I know. In the county. I was like, well, we gotta, we have to find a way to put that in. And it was really, we wanted, there's no way you could do a hundred miles of straight gravel here. Right? I just don't know that that exists in most of California. But what we could do was, Was a course that I sometimes like to call the Estrada Bryon, and it was this combination of dirt to asphalt, to dirt, to asphalt. And you know, when people come, when riders come off onto the asphalt, they're greeted with beautiful asphalt, with twisty, windy roads. So everything was gonna be. Part of the experience. And then we wanted to hit some wineries along the way. Like we have, we had one winery that opened up doors and they said, yeah, cut through, we'll let you cut through our vineyards to skip this thing. And I mean, I think it freaked some people out a little bit cuz it had a really hairy descent. But for the ones who were at the front, I was like, yeah, this is great. I love it. Others were, you know, sliding about. That's one of the things that we're also working on is, you know, this is getting that trust that you alluded to, um, down the road. Like one of our mission pillars is to. Make friends with the, uh, ranching community so that we can change our course up and so that we can do different things to get access to areas that others don't have access to. And so, you know, right now we start with getting small, segmented at. Access to, to vineyards cuz there's all these awesome roads that go through vineyards, dirt roads. So we get access to that and then hopefully just keep earning trust and keep expanding and earning trust and expanding. And, you know, down the road maybe we will get lucky and be able to turn this into something like Rebecca's the, you know, Rebecca's, uh, stage race. And so we have multiple days of official rides. That would be, that would be the dream. Amazing. [00:20:31] Craig Dalton: So where did you net out on sort of the available course distances and course options for riders [00:20:39] Bryan Yates: for this year or last year? [00:20:40] Craig Dalton: Uh, if you want to contextualize it with last year, but let's, yeah. We can talk about this year as well. [00:20:45] Bryan Yates: Yeah. We had, uh, three courses last year. We had the big bovine, which was about 97 miles and 9,000 feet of climbing. So, you know, I call us America's fourth hardest Cal themed gravel ride in a California wine country in America. Partially cuz we're cheeky. But I think the other part is that it's no joke. I mean, you know, 9,000 feet and 97 miles is no joke of riding. And we're very serious about that. We want it to be a challenge. So we had the big bovine and then we had, uh, the happy bovine, which was. 65 miles and 6,000 feet of climbing. We had the baby bovine, which was 42 miles and 2,800 feet of climbing This year. This year we have the big bovine again. I keep wanting to add this river section that's as a last segment That is right. That skirts a tascadero. But we pulled it out last year cuz it seemed kind of unduly cruel at the end of the ride. And we thought, okay, we're gonna put it in this year. And now that whole section has been decimated by all of the rain. So I'm still not sure that we could, like we said, we'll put it in, but I don't know that it's gonna be worth it to go in. But assuming we can, the big bow vine goes up to 101 miles. And just over 9,000 feet of climbing. Then there's the feisty bovine, which is about 76 miles, and we've added a fourth course, which is the new new happy bovine course, which. Gis, a couple of climb, but it's still like 70 miles and that goes out on some single track. So that cuts off a different part of the course. And then we have the happy bovine, which is pretty much the same as last year. [00:22:46] Craig Dalton: On the, longest course, how is that climbing accumulated? Are we, we talking about, you know, a thousand foot long climbs or 25 different a hundred foot climb? [00:22:57] Bryan Yates: That's a, it's, it's just a proper mix. You know, the funny thing is, okay, when I moved up here from Los Angeles, I used to be a pretty binary rider, cuz that's how the climbing was. You go up and you come down and you go, and here it is way more Belgian, right? There's so many rollers. Just so, so many rollers. And, uh, you know, those rollers can. Pitch up at 17%. It's no joke. Right? So you accumulate a lot of a rolling and this is a, this is a great question that I should go back and look at the specific percentages, but then we have several long climbs. There's Kyler Canyon is a five mile ish climb, and so you probably gain 900 feet. Cyprus is. A good 45 minute climb. And so that's probably another, another 900, 900 feet or more. And then Santa Rita Road will probably get, what is that, 1300 feet of climbing and then, And then the single track out on Rocky Canyon is about a mile or so. So you don't get that much climbing, but you get some tech. It's technical, so, and it comes at mile 72, so it hits you when you're hot and fatigued at that point. For sure. But again, that's all, all that stuff is punctuated with a lot of that, a lot of the rollers. [00:24:20] Craig Dalton: How long do you think it takes? The bulk of people to finish that. Is this like a, a 10 hour day at that point? [00:24:27] Bryan Yates: You know, I think our final rider actually, we took off at 8:00 AM last year. And I think our fi, our lantern moge came in at four o'clock. But I mean, he just got sidetracked by something. Um, it wasn't really anything. So I think he came in at four or four 30, was our final rider last year. So yeah, it's a long day, but I don't think it was a 10 hour day. I mean, I've definitely, um, you know, I was kind of slow last year and actually I was really slow last year and I sat out and did it myself one day to just as a little empathy check for our riders. And I think it took me seven and a half, eight hours to do it. [00:25:05] Craig Dalton: Yeah, I was gonna ask about aid stations and what your philosophy was there. [00:25:10] Bryan Yates: Great. I love that. So our f. Philosophy. You know, we did well in some parts of our aid stations last year, and we did less well in others. The overall philosophy is that I want them to be expressions of what's cool about the area. And we have a lot of businesses doing a lot of boutique stuff. I mean, it's a wine region, right? So people are inherently doing creative storytelling through wine and distilleries and products. So our first aid station is a beautiful winery and they were excited to have us, and it came at about mile 20, and it was kind of a bummer that a lot of people skipped it. Uh, their thing was they were serving hand ups of homegrown home cured homemade prosciutto. So, uh, like stuff that they had grown from, grown and made from their farm was like, here you go. And they were serving it with these apples that the, that the pigs had been fed on. They're like, oh no, you have to taste it with the apples. So, uh, so we want it to be those kinds of things. And then STR did an amazing aid station out. Top of one of these mountains where people get up, they're exhausted, they're pissed off at me, and slams up there throwing a party, and then people go, wait, that's the Pacific Ocean. Holy cow. They, we have these great bakeries. And so what Ram did last year was basically created a bake shop. They went and bought all of these amazing pa uh, pastries and people get up there or just chow out on locally made pastries. And then our third aid station needed needs some tlc. We need to put some paninis and things like that in. Then I want people to be, you know, I sort of want people to, to go back to the finish line, you know, heavier than when they left. And if that means they also get a case of like type two diabetes from good food, then that's, I'm okay with that too. Um, and then our fourth aid stop was out at Long Branch Saloon and. It's so funny. They're like, what should we do? I was like, fried pickles. Give 'em fried pickles, give 'em fried pickles. And so they were serving up fried pickles and that was, you know, people were stopping and, uh, I'm not supposed to tout this for liability, but people were stopping and ordering b ordering burgers and beer at mile 80, hanging out at the a, at hating it out at Long Branch and then, you know, poodle their way back the last 20 miles. So it's all about showcasing what's cool and what's the character of the place and what makes it special. And I think there was also someone who hopped in. Did an unofficial aid station where, uh, you know, they were serving beverages that they shouldn't have been serving, but they did it in the middle of nowhere. They, we love, we loved that they were there, but at the same time it was like, Ugh, I don't wanna own that liability. [00:28:04] Craig Dalton: may have to check in with that Lantern Rouge winner and see if they ordered a burger at the brewery and, and stopped for libations at mile 80. , given the, the course you've laid out, what type of equipment are you recommending riders arrive with in terms of like tires, for example? [00:28:23] Bryan Yates: So I think it's gonna be a little early to tell, because I don't know what the turf is going to be. I will tell you what my standard tire is and then y'all can make decisions what however you want based on this. But we will get a little, we'll get more to it as we get closer. So generally, I will run, um, The Pathfinder 40 twos because I'm old and lazy and like a plush or the Pelli Cido ages because there's a lot of, there's a lot of, of terrain of asphalt and. And I don't want you to be bummed out by the asphalt. It's actually super exciting. People get so stoked on those descends because it turns into like roller coasters. So the centra h uh, I mean, during the winter I've been running the rmba, the specialized rambus up front and a pathfinder in back. But it's gonna depend on what kind of trail work gets done on Rocky Canyon, which is our single. It's going to depend on what happens to some of the dirt roads that we go on because we've had some, some of the dirt roads that y'all road last year have basically fallen into the ravine cuz they've just been so saturated. So the county's been really great about getting in there and fixing stuff. But let's wait until we get a little bit closer. But right now, you know, the, the Pathfinder's a pretty solid choice. It rolls beautifully. It holds the road beautifully, and you know, it actually for like a 42 seat tire has a relatively low rolling resistance, which makes it fast and fun. [00:30:03] Craig Dalton: Yeah, I think that's so much fun when, I mean, you wanna hate your bike or your tires at least once during an an event to sort of push you and force a decision one way or the other. Where do you want comfort? Do you want speed? At some point there's gonna be a trade off. [00:30:17] Bryan Yates: It's gonna be true if I talk to, uh, I mean a lot. The guy who ends up in a lot of our Instagram photos, this is my usual ride buddy. And, you know, he's leaps and bounds stronger than I am and he is talking about riding 32 c Pathfinders for next year is like, you be you, dude. That's, if that's what you wanna do, go for it. It's definitely rideable. You know, I would ask someone after we have Yuri and Allison out, I'd get their feedback and see what they want. But I think that, you know, I think that on the long course we're not gonna see a lot of improvement on the Rocky Canyon single track, which has turned into a proper mountain biking climb. So that's that, uh, for me says stick with, stick with a wider pathfinder and just go cuz of where it lands in the course. [00:31:07] Craig Dalton: Yep. Got it. There's a couple other things I wanted to point out about the event. As we were talking about offline, you know, there's many rides and events that people roll into that day, do it and go home. It really seems like the way you're orienting this event, With activities several days before. You expect and have experienced that people are staying in the region for a few days. Can you talk about the sort of notion of planning a long weekend down there and what the riders might experience? [00:31:36] Bryan Yates: Oh God, I, I can talk about this all day on all night. I didn't know that when I grew up, I was gonna end up being a tourism guy by accident. Yeah, I think so. I, I think, let's, there are some challenges here for the Sprinter set. All right. Slow County is relatively strict about what it can, what it deems as public outdoor camping. Uh, in fact, they, it, the county has technically made it illegal to even RV camp on someone's property. It's un unpleasable, basically. So I would just say, you know, if you're coming down with a sprinter, call me and let's put, let's hook you up with some, some place where you can park that. But like as far as events go, come down with your family. Like there's so much. To do. It doesn't just have to be about wine. I mean, it's a beautiful place to tour. Uh, there is south of here a really fun zip line tour, for example, that is over, that goes over a vineyard. And so that's really fun to take kids to. You can go out to the coast and, I mean, it's a 30 minute drive to the coast and hang out at the beach, go to Cambria or Bay. So there's all of that. I know. We have one of your, you're in Marin and we know, I know one of your, your Marin crew is coming down. We've got about a crew of 15 of yours who will be coming down and kind of staying together. And one of the things that we've done is, Set them up with a private in-house wine tasting from a, a well-known winemaker who doesn't happen to have a tasting room, but really wants to show up. So, you know, you know, there's sorts of things that we can do. Like you can get introductions to say, wine winemakers who are doing interesting things where you may not actually figure, find out where they are. Um, and there's, you know, there's great restaurants. Like one of the things we did last year that was a little, that was different than other rides is we don't do t-shirts. Mostly cuz we find like 40% of the people want t-shirts and 60% saying no, I'm just gonna clean the chain with it anyways. So in our rider bags last year we really tried to keep it with local products and there's a company that makes beautiful, fresh and dried pastas and so our rider bags were had. Pasta had local, locally made granola bars from a bakery. And so we try to keep it with local goods and kind of give people a bag that's like, here's a taste of pasta, or there was locally made jams. So we, that's sort of the approach is really all about showcasing the cool stuff that's being made here. [00:34:14] Craig Dalton: And what about riding before the event? Do you have pre rides organized? What does that look? [00:34:20] Bryan Yates: I should have picked up on that question before you. Thanks for teeing me up. So, Thursday night we will have, uh, Thursday evening we'll have a little ride out of Pastor Robles and that, you know, last year we were totally, we were surprised as heck by our, our pre rides last year. Um, on Thursday we did one. We'll do one out Paso. You know, we had 20 people show up for that, which was fantastic. And uh, canyon was there. And I Canyon, if you're listening, I certainly hope that you'll be there again. Uh, canyon was there. They, they hosted that ride and we did, you know, 20 miles that Thursday evening, Friday we met out at Long Branch Saloon, where the fried pickles are and. We did a pre ride out of there and it was so funny, like none of us expected what we got. Like we were there, we figured, oh, we'll have 25, 30 people. Uh, we had 70 people show up for that pre ride. It was so it was, you know, people were full on, ready to come out and play, and then everyone stuck around and had had lunch and beers at the saloon afterwards. We did another pre ride that day. Um, vole the local kit maker. Which is made and manufactured down in, um, in Pismo Beach. So about 30 minutes from here. They hosted a pre ride out of Atascadero in the afternoon for late comers. I don't think we're going to do a third one this year. It's just a lot to juggle. I think we'll focus on the two Thursday and Friday, and then we have the packet pickup party on Friday evening, and we had 80% of our people picking up the packets the night before, which I think was a reversal. What bike monkey usually experiences, and I do wanna say this is a bike monkey production, like this couldn't happen without them. And we're really incredibly grateful to be part of their, their network of rides. So that's a, it's a special thing to do a bike monkey event. Yeah, [00:36:18] Craig Dalton: absolutely. And for those, listen. Listening if you did not hear my interview with Carlos a few episodes back with respect to Truckee Gravel, we do talk about Bike Monkey as a production entity and some of the other great events that Carlos has been working with the last decade. So certainly a top class organization to have behind you and provides a lot of confidence. I also wanted to make a personal note about the region you're talking about. I've had the pleasure of riding down there a little bit, and I remember when you announced the event last. I was so enthusiastic about it because I totally agree that it's this gem that's within good driving distance of both LA and San Francisco, where you can get down there and have a completely different experience than you're having to the north or to the south of [00:37:06] Bryan Yates: that area. It is such a unique experience for sure. I, I, I still, after four years, I still get up and I will end up at certain sections of this, of the, the region is go, I, I, I can't believe, I can't believe I have this, this is phenomenal. [00:37:23] Craig Dalton: What's, the cycle camp? What's the story behind that? [00:37:26] Bryan Yates: Yeah, so, uh, this'll be our third. We have a camp coming up in at the end of April, and this is the third annual one that we've done. It usually brings about seven to 10 riders and people just get here and, you know, for a lot of them it's their opportunity to. This year we have a lot of new riders, but in general it's like for people to come together and just enjoy some different, the course sliced up in different ways over four days. So, you know, we have it coming back up again in a couple, in a couple of weeks, and everyone's, you know, The, uh, the ribbing has already started and people are already talking about their favorite segments that they're looking forward to. And so, um, you know, and they get, they, they all come back and like, this is great. I love coming here. This is, is amazing. And I forget that it's, you know, three hours from LA and three hours from the Bay Area. [00:38:15] Craig Dalton: Love it. A couple other things I wanted to mention and a final question for you. I, I did note in your materials that you have discounts for groups, which is amazing. So if you're listening and you want to go down there, whether you're three people, five people, or eight people, they provide discounts, which as we all know, these events are more fun when you go down with your crew. And then the final thing I wanted to just ask you about and give an opportunity for you to talk about is you've always had a charity component for the event as well. So could you talk about that charity and why it means [00:38:44] Bryan Yates: something to you? Yeah, this is really, this is really special to me. You know, just because our theme has been all about the local, we found a local charity that's doing really important national work. It's called Operations Surf. There is a, uh, movie on them on Netflix, and then there's been a, a, a piece that's done on them on E S P N, and it is an organization that creates surf camps and surfing and ocean education for injured returning veterans. As, uh, as, as a gateway to, to a pathway to recovery. And working through P T S D and really, you know, helping save people's lives. And I got a chance to do that. I go to one of those camps last year as a volunteer and it's absolutely touching and powerful. So what we have done is we have created, it costs $5,000 to send a vet to one of those week long camps. And so last year we created the mor Mariah Will Wilson ride, like Moe. Operations surf scholarship to raise $5,000 to send one female veteran to a camp. And thankfully, you know, we hit that $5,000 last year and that felt really great. And if. We got to send two female veterans to a camp this year. That would be so, such an impressive legacy for, for mo. And you know, we thought that surfing, surfing communities and gravel communities, there was a lot of interesting overlap in the two of those, and we felt like, They're both strong about the community. They're both strong about sense of place. They're both strong and so many about being connected through outdoors in a way that a lot of other sports aren't. So that's So Operations surf, check 'em out. It's operations surf.org. We're really, really fortunate to have them as charity partners. [00:40:43] Craig Dalton: Yeah, that's awesome. So good that you were able to kind of cross that threshold of getting at least one person to attend, another veteran to attend that camp. And hopefully we can get to this year, I'll make sure to put links to the event, which is the last weekend of October this year so people know how to register. And I'll also share a link to that operations surf so everybody knows how to get in touch with that and familiarize themselves with the importance of that charitable organiz. [00:41:10] Bryan Yates: I appreciate it. I know they will too. It's absolutely lovely. . [00:41:13] Craig Dalton: Brian, thanks so much for all the time. Thanks for the efforts in putting together an event in this region. I'd love to see it and I look forward to seeing it firsthand this year. [00:41:24] Bryan Yates: Thanks so much for having to me on. We love talking about the event. We love talking about it with passionate people and I love what you're doing with the podcast, Craig, so thanks so much. [00:41:37] Craig Dalton: That's going to do it for this week's edition of the gravel ride podcast. Big, thanks to Brian from the bovine classic for joining us. Make sure to check out the bovine classic. You can just search for it, or you can find the URL in my show notes. Continued. Thanks and appreciation goes out to our friends at hammerhead and the hammerhead kuru to computer. We very much appreciate your support of the show. And if you're interested in that free heart rate monitor, just visit hammerhead.io, but a heart rate monitor in your cart with a crew to computer. Use the code, the gravel ride, and that heart rate monitor is all yours. If you're interested in connecting with me, please visit the ridership that's www.theridership.com. That's a free global cycling community where you can connect with other gravel and adventure athletes from all around the world. If you have a moment, ratings and reviews are hugely appreciated. And until next time. Here's to finding some dirt under your wheels.    

In today's episode we'll be covering our first Tuscan city, Siena We'll be chatting about: Why we went to Siena The Palio di Siena Transport, accommodation, food and fun The value for money and some overall tips if you're planning on visiting Siena SEASON SCOREBOARD   Salerno 98 Naples 88 Rome 85 Siena 84 Sorrento 67   Siena has a total of 17 districts, famously known as contradas, which come together twice a year on July and 16th August, to compete against each other. We stayed in Giraffe district. Transport: Train from Rome to Florence and then got a train to Siena Accommodation: Airbnb Food:  Wild Boar at Il Masgalano Ristorante Pizzeria Fun: Early Market every Wednesday Palio di Siena (Horse Racing) Weed and Love Bar San Paolo Pub   ABOUT SEASON ONE Irish Expats Cormac and Jane discuss their highs and lows of travel. Season one follows their journey across Italy. Topics include remote working, realistic travel budgets, top tips, and what it's really like to work and live abroad. In season one, each episode will focus on a region or city they visited on their six-week holiday from Southern Naples to Lake Garda in the North.   ABOUT US Cormac is a professional Irish bartender having worked in the hotel and bar industry for 8 years. Originally from Leitrim, he studied Hotel Management and Business at GMIT. He was working in Galway in the bar trade for 5 years before he decided to move abroad. His original plan was to work on a vineyard in Northern Italy using WWOOF.  Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices. Find out more: https://wwoof.net Jane is a communications consultant working in the culture and energy sectors. She has previously produced and promoted international organisations including Web Summit, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and European Capital of Culture projects. After 10+ years of working in Communications & Events, Jane has transitioned to fully remote consulting work. Although regularly travelling back to Ireland for work, she is now based in Florence with Cormac.   DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE (FREE) Here is our day by day excel sheet of our 6 week summer trip across Italy. It includes the following categories: Dates, Transport Methods, Accommodation Links, Fun (Tours, Bars & Excursions), Food and Tips for the following cities: Naples Salerno Sorrento Rome Siena Florence La Spezia (and Riomaggiore) Venice Desenzano del Garda Sirmione Malcesine Riva del Garda Download the travel guide for free at: https://www.altlivin.com/shop   JOIN OUR EVENTS: The Irish Pub Tour (Florence) Join Cormac and Jane for a tour of the best Irish pubs in Florence. Learn about the history of Irish whiskeys and gins, how to pull the perfect pint of Guinness and make new friends on a drinking adventure across the beautiful city of Florence. The group travels to four bars across the city. 4+ Drinks included. Learn more: https://www.airbnb.ie/experiences/4177857 FOLLOW US Website: www.altlivin.com Instagram: @altlivin TikTok: @altlivin Youtube: /Altlivin 

Welcome to Episode 1334 in which Marc Millon interviews Sandro Boscaini, Chairman/Co-Managing Director, Masi Agricola Spa More about Masi Agricola: Representing the sixth generation of family ownership and management, Sandro Boscaini heads Masi Agricola today, one of the most important vignerons and winemakers in Valpolicella. The historic Masi headquarters are in the center of Valpolicella, a lovely hilly area between Lake Garda and Verona. Differentiating the winery from others is the Boscaini family's careful selection of specific vineyard sites, their use of indigenous grape varietals, and their respect for historic winemaking techniques from the region, which are constantly updated by Masi Technical Group. Coordinated by Raffaele Boscaini, Masi Technical Group is made up of experts from different disciplines — including agronomists, oenologists, and experts in quality control, marketing, and sales – and works with national and international institutions and universities. Some of its most important projects include innovations in the appassimento technique, which has been used to create a modern style of Amarone and has achieved international success. Appassimento is the traditional method used in the Veneto region to concentrate aromas and flavors in wine. Before vinification, grapes are laid out on bamboo racks in drying lofts over the winter, an ancient technique used for centuries in the region. Passed down through generations in the Boscaini family, this craft has been modified innovatively by the Masi Technical Group and is used today to make fresh and lively wines from dried grapes, notably Amarone. The APPAXXIMENTO® symbol signifies Masi's expertise in appassimento in the 21st century and guarantees the authenticity and quality of Masi wines. To learn more about the company visit: https://www.masi.it/en More about the host Marc Millon: Marc Millon, VIA Italian Wine Ambassador 2021, has been travelling, eating, drinking, learning and writing about wine, food and travel for nearly 40 years. Born in Mexico, with a mother from Hawaii via Korea and an anthropologist father from New York via Paris, he was weaned on exotic and delicious foods. Marc and his photographer wife Kim are the authors of 14 books including a pioneering series of illustrated wine-food-travel books: The Wine Roads of Europe, The Wine Roads of France, The Wine Roads of Italy (Premio Barbi Colombini), and The Wine Roads of Spain. Other titles include The Wine and Food of Europe, The Food Lovers' Companion Italy, The Food Lovers' Companion France, Wine, a global history. Marc regularly lectures and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy and France with Martin Randall Travel, the UK's leading cultural travel specialist. He is soon to begin a regular series on Italian Wine Podcast, ‘Wine, food and travel with Marc Millon'. When not on the road Marc lives on the River Exe in Devon, England To learn more visit: quaypress.uk/ marcmillon.co.uk vino.co.uk quaypress.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624 Twitter: @Marc_Millon Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram @italianwinepodcast Facebook @ItalianWinePodcast Twitter @itawinepodcast Tiktok @MammaJumboShrimp LinkedIn @ItalianWinePodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin!

In today's episode we'll be covering Italy's capital city, Rome. Cormac and Jane have been on the road for six months travelling the length and breadth of Italy. Each week the pair discuss travel tips, realistic budgets, and share what it's really like for a bartender and an arts worker to move abroad. Now living in Florence, this podcast honestly documents their move away from Ireland. You can find out more at www.altlivin.com In this podcast we'll be chatting about: Why we went to Rome The Vatican and other tours Transport, accommodation, food and fun The value for money and some overall tips if you're planning on visiting Rome Transport: Trains, Ridemovi, scooters, Lime bikes, Taxi's, uber, free now, bus, metro   Food:  Ristorante Pizzeria Al Fagianetto - The best pesto pasta in the world Prosciutteria Cantina dei Papi - Trevi - An incredible Sandwich Antico Forno Roscioli - Our top Pizza experience in Italy   Fun:  Guided Tour of the Capuchin Crypts Trevi Fountain Jazz Bar Vatican Museums with Sistine Chapel and Vatican Basilica Walked around Tratesvere Big Bus Tour The Abbey Theatre Irish Bar   Overall Score: 85   ABOUT SEASON ONE Irish Expats Cormac and Jane discuss their highs and lows of travel. Season one follows their journey across Italy. Topics include remote working, realistic travel budgets, top tips, and what it's really like to work and live abroad. In season one, each episode will focus on a region or city they visited on their six-week holiday from Southern Naples to Lake Garda in the North.   ABOUT US Cormac is a professional Irish bartender having worked in the hotel and bar industry for 8 years. Originally from Leitrim, he studied Hotel Management and Business at GMIT. He was working in Galway in the bar trade for 5 years before he decided to move abroad. His original plan was to work on a vineyard in Northern Italy using WWOOF.  Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices. Find out more: https://wwoof.net Jane is a communications consultant working in the culture and energy sectors. She has previously produced and promoted international organisations including Web Summit, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and European Capital of Culture projects. After 10+ years of working in Communications & Events, Jane has transitioned to fully remote consulting work. Although regularly travelling back to Ireland for work, she is now based in Florence with Cormac.   DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE (FREE) Here is our day by day excel sheet of our 6 week summer trip across Italy. It includes the following categories: Dates, Transport Methods, Accommodation Links, Fun (Tours, Bars & Excursions), Food and Tips for the following cities: Naples Salerno Sorrento Rome Siena Florence La Spezia (and Riomaggiore) Venice Desenzano del Garda Sirmione Malcesine Riva del Garda Download the travel guide for free at: https://www.altlivin.com/shop   JOIN OUR EVENTS: The Irish Pub Tour (Florence) Join Cormac and Jane for a tour of the best Irish pubs in Florence. Learn about the history of Irish whiskeys and gins, how to pull the perfect pint of Guinness and make new friends on a drinking adventure across the beautiful city of Florence. The group travels to four bars across the city. 4+ Drinks included. Learn more: https://www.airbnb.ie/experiences/4177857 FOLLOW US Website: www.altlivin.com Instagram: @altlivin TikTok: @altlivin Youtube: /Altlivin 

Join me as I speak with Alice Lancini, the sales and marketing manager at the Grand Hotel Fasano.  The Grand Hotel Fasano a 5 stars luxury hotel perched on Lake Garda and set within a 12,000 sm lake-front park. Located on the edge of the Dolomites, halfway between Venice and Milan, the iconic property has welcomed guests with exceptional service since 1888. Once a splendid residence that served as a hunting lodge of the Austrian royal family, the hotel now offers a family-run oasis for travelers in an exotic setting. Tradition and modernity are combined harmoniously within the resort.https://www.ghf.it/homeIG: https://www.instagram.com/grandhotelfasano/@grandhotelfasanohttps://www.instagram.com/leadinghotelsoftheworldNetflix: The Empress https://www.netflix.com/title/81222923Black Dog Luxury Travel Website: https://blackdogluxurytravel.com/ Want to connect?  I'd love to hear from you!  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/blackdogluxurytravel/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/blackdogluxurytravel LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/blackdogluxurytravel/Black Dog Luxury Travel Website: https://blackdogluxurytravel.com/Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackdogluxurytravel/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackdogluxurytravelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blackdogluxurytravel/

Today we're heading to the far north of Italy to the Dolomites and Lake Garda. This magical region is full of craggy spires, sheer cliff faces, verdant valleys, and gorgeous lakes. No wonder it's recognized by UNESCO, will be the home of the next Winter Olympics, and inspires travelers from around the world.  My guest today is my partner in the region, Agustina Lagos Marmol. Before starting her company, Agustina was an intrepid mountain guide - taking guests climbing all over the world. Her love for the Dolomites in particular always kept her coming back and she's now cycled, hiked, or skied almost every inch of the region.  We discuss everything from the ancient Ladin culture, to World War I history, to incredible mountain adventures finished off with gourmet meals and fabulous wine. Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn  

We're getting pigs! An update on their arrival and the winter weather along with water cooler talk about what everyone's talking about in Piobbbico…!! We take a little getaway to Lake Garda and visit Verona for the European Outdoor Show. There's a short break in the podcast when Gaggi calls for an update on the weather and then promptly tells us we must be wrong!  An update on our energy bill and a disgusting story about country living and a major bullet dodged! Plus listen to the end to find out our new exciting hobby…! Thanks for listening!

Davide Giardini is originally from Lake Garda, Italy, a multisport heaven for cycling, skiing, wind sports, and climbing in the heart of the Italian Alps. He moved to the USA over 15 years ago as a foreign exchange high school student and has been in the country ever since. While competing at the highest level of sport, Davide has always maintained a foot on the "other side" of the business sports, in sales & marketing roles. Being an active, personable, respected, and highly skilled professional in the communities he serves has given Davide a front-row seat in understanding and leveraging the trends, needs, and wants of athletes. In this episode, Cole and Davide discuss the relationship between brands and retail, the importance of the human element of the retail shopping experience, the athlete-to-brand relationship, and much more! You can catch up with Davide here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enduranceproguides/ This podcast is brought to you by Port Side Productions. If you work at a brand or agency in the outdoor industry that needs help bringing a video project to life, head over to portsidepro.com and send us an email. We'd love to help!

Happy New Year! We are back and apologize for taking so long to release a new episode. Moving forward, we will strive to have one episode a month to share our travels and tips, as we continue to each put more time into our respective websites. But first, Tamara has a big announcement and that is that she is hosting a women-only small group trip to Iceland in September 2023! You can get all the information on YourTimetoFly.com and she really hopes that some listeners will be able to join! Note that there is a discount of 15,000 ISK if you register by January 15, 2023. Next Tamara tells us all about her two-week trip to Northern Italy! Some highlights include: 5 Days in Piedmont full of wine tasting, truffle hunting, and great food Her stay at La Villa Hotel in Piedmont A wine tour with Piedmont Food and Wine Tours Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como 2 days in Milan (highlights walking tour with LivTours) Hired DayTrips to visit Bergamo, Brescia, Sirmione on Lake Garda, and Borgo sul Mincio 2 days in Verona (mentioned Love in the Villa and Letters to Juliet movies), ½ day walking tour with LivTours 2 days in Bologna Cooking class in Bologna with Cesarine 2 days in Parma Day trip with Food Valley Travel Return to Milan

The Giro made its way towards Aprica for what many have dubbed this year's Queen Stage. Having set out from the western shore of Lake Garda, the peloton would scale the Mortirolo & the Valico di Santa Cristina - to name just two of the climbs on today's route - before finishing in Aprica, the scene of many a famous Giro exploit.  We hear from Valerio Piva, who helped steer Jan Hirt to a surprise stage win, & Pavel Sivakov, who helped steer Richard Carapaz through a stage that solidified his position in the maglia rosa. There's also talk of citrons, Sforzato, pizzoccheri & - again - of local hero the Trout of Gavardo. AMARATERRA Amaraterra provide our theme song, Cozze, and other music for The Cycling Podcast's coverage of the Giro d'Italia. Their Bandcamp page is here: https://amaraterra.bandcamp.com/ Giro dei Vini To order the Selezione Simpatica, head to DVine Cellars. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. See supersapiens.com Science in Sport For 25% off all your SiS products, go to scienceinsport.com and enter the code SISCP25 at the checkout. Noom If you want to transform your diet, undo some bad eating habits or just get a better handle on the amount and types of food you are eating, like Lionel, you might want to try Noom. It's the psychological approach to losing weight in a healthy, sustained way. Go to noom.com/cycle to get started today. MAAP The Cycling Podcast has a new collaboration with MAAP. We will be launching a MAAp + The Cycling Podcast jersey later in the summer but before we reveal the details of that see: maap.cc Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

The Giro pauses for its third rest-day and Daniel Friebe and Brian Nygaard have traveled from the Valle d'Aosta to Lake Garda, where the race will resume with Richard Carapaz in the pink jersey on Tuesday.  We hear from Brian on the fine art of choreographing real Grand Tour press conferences, before fielding questions sent in by listeners. We also hear the accounts of the second week of the Giro d'Italia from our three diarists in the peloton – Pavel Sivakov of Ineos Grenadiers, James Knox of Quick Step and Ben Zwiehoff of Bora-Hansgrohe. Our Giro d'Italia coverage resumes with stage 16 on Tuesday. AMARATERRA Amaraterra provide our theme song, Cozze, and other music for The Cycling Podcast's coverage of the Giro d'Italia. Their Bandcamp page is here: https://amaraterra.bandcamp.com/ Giro dei Vini To order the Selezione Simpatica, head to DVine Cellars. The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. Supersapiens Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. See supersapiens.com Science in Sport For 25% off all your SiS products, go to scienceinsport.com and enter the code SISCP25 at the checkout. Noom If you want to transform your diet, undo some bad eating habits or just get a better handle on the amount and types of food you are eating, like Lionel, you might want to try Noom. It's the psychological approach to losing weight in a healthy, sustained way. Go to noom.com/cycle to get started today. MAAP The Cycling Podcast has a new collaboration with MAAP. We will be launching a MAAp + The Cycling Podcast jersey later in the summer but before we reveal the details of that see: maap.cc Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to more than 60 exclusive episodes. The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

The Giro's third rest day in Salò on Monday gives us pause to consider the curious intersection of the Lake Garda resort's notorious history, one of the more scandalous films of the 20th century – and why the Corsa Rosa is as much epic journey as bike race. What happened in Salò? Who was Pier Paolo Pasolini? And do the Giro riders of 2022 consider themselves adventures and explorers or just racers? Featuring interviews with Giro director Mauro Vegni, Chris Juul-Jensen, Guillaume Martin and others. Today's Kilometre 0 ponders all of this and the allure of perhaps cycling's greatest road trip, in the country they call Il Bel Paese. Kilometre 0 by The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens. Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. See supersapiens.com The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.