The Gift of Italy
Trips to Italy Make Great Gifts
I am so over stuff. And if I’m judging my social media feeds correctly, so are a lot of other people. My favorite accounts at the moment feature women (they are always women) who go thrifting, and find things like crystal bowls, casserole dishes and cookie jars and then fill them up with homemade goodies. Some of the cards even suggest that the recipient should pay it forward and feel free to ‘re-gift’ the dish with their own goodies in the future. It’s a win/win on so many levels.
All this to say: this is not going to be another holiday shopping list.
But if I don’t want more stuff, then that means I have to be a bit more creative when it comes to Domenico’s presents because his stuff end's up being my stuff. I admit to buying him at least one item to unwrap, but it has to be practical and replace something that has fallen apart (like that black cashmere sweater with the gaping hole in the armpit that he thinks no one can see.)
One thing I’ve landed on for Domenico for the last few years is the gift of an adventure, either together or on his own. Sometimes it’s a big present for both of us, like a trip to South Africa or a winter weekend away in Venice. Other times it’s just for him, like the series of ceramic lessons I got him last year. It’s much more fun gifting him/us an experience that we will enjoy and remember, rather than just another object I can’t find space for.
I don’t think I’m alone in this line of thinking since this is the time of year we are asked by guests to prepare gift cards for trips with us. Sometimes it’s a spouse or partner, but just as often for a relative or friend.
If you’re looking for the perfect (extremely generous) gift for someone might I suggest a trip to Italy? And even though I’ve been talking about gifting things to other people, maybe you just want to treat yourself? (about half of every trip we host is usually people traveling on their own).
If you’d like one of our gift cards to land in someone’s inbox just let us know!
We still have a few spots left on each of these tours this spring:
We’ll make sure to send you a lovely gift card that you can print out:
I hope this helps with your shopping! Now I’m off to buy me Domenico a trip to Tuscany.
x,Elizabeth
"I am so over stuff" - This x1000000000
A trip to Italy is always a gift. A gift for your tastebuds, a gift for your senses and ultimately a gift for something nestled deep within your soul. Walking through the narrow alleyways, stepping over ancient cobblestone streets, taking random paths through one via or another you've never seen before, is always a visual treat and a random act of discovery that will stay with you forever. Biting into a freshly made cornetto in a crowded morning coffee bar, feeling the foam of a cappuccino on your tongue, drawing in a long strand of the most perfect al dente spaghetti coated in the most magnificent sauce of cacio e pepe is utterly sublime. Taking life at a slower pace, eating lunch in the late afternoon, walking, indulging, and grabbing dinner in the late evening amongst locals and with friends is greatest gift you could ever give yourself.