Author Archives: Sergio & Molly Murer

Exploring The Enchanting Blue Grotto Of Capri, Italy

Discover the mesmerizing allure of Capri’s Blue Grotto and embark on a breathtaking adventure through its fabled waters. Uncover the mysteries and be captivated by its ethereal charm.

A Comprehensive Guide To Getting Around Capri, Italy

Our comprehensive guide to exploring the best transportation options available in Capri, Italy

Beyond the Ordinary: Discover the Allure of Capri, Italy

Explore the captivating allure of Capri, Italy, with its Blue Grotto, charming towns, and exquisite cuisine. Plan your dream trip to this enchanting island and experience a world beyond the ordinary.

Stairway to Heaven: Where is the Path of the Gods in Italy’s Amalfi Coast?

Get ready to discover the divine Path of the Gods on Italy’s enchanting Amalfi Coast. Enjoy breathtaking views, steep yourself in history, and savor local delights while embarking on a journey worthy of the gods themselves. Uncover the secrets of this celestial trek with Not Your Mama’s Italy.

Positano’s Private Beach Club Scene: Uncover the Luxury and Charm

Discover the luxurious and charming world of Positano’s private beach clubs with our ultimate guide. Uncover the best spots, learn about Blue Flag beaches, and prepare for the perfect beach day on the Amalfi Coast.

Beyond Airbnb: Unique Vacation Villas in Positano You’ve Never Heard Of

Discover the secret to finding the perfect vacation villa in Positano, Italy. Learn how to navigate beyond Airbnb and VRBO, explore our favorite hidden gems, and get insider tips for an unforgettable Italian getaway.

Amalfi Coast Confidential: A Savvy Guide to Reaching Positano

Positano is beautiful, but getting there is tricky. Here are our top trips for travel to Positano!

Driving the Amalfi Coast: A Day Trip Full of Coastal Charm and Culinary Delights

Escape the crowds of Positano and embark on a day trip along the Amalfi Coast, exploring charming towns, indulging in local cuisine, and uncovering hidden gems in this beautiful part of Italy

Top 10 Things to Do in Positano: Exploring Undiscovered Italy

Discover the hidden gems of Positano, Italy, with our top 10 recommendations for unique experiences, including shopping, dining, and scenic adventures.

Italy Uncovered: Timing is Everything for La Dolce Vita!

Discover the magic of Italy’s shoulder seasons, early May and late September, as the perfect time to explore the country’s hidden charms, authentic experiences, and wine country traditions, while avoiding the tourist crowds and saving on travel expenses.

Finding Paradise on Capri: Undiscovered Italy

I can’t wait to share with you all about Capri, a little island in Italy that has so much more to offer than what meets the eye. Many tourists come to visit the island and stay just for a day, but I have been lucky enough to discover its hidden treasures, and let me tellContinue reading “Finding Paradise on Capri: Undiscovered Italy”

48 Hours in Rome, Italy

Experience the beauty and history of Rome in just 48 hours. Follow our comprehensive guide to the top tourist attractions and local gems that you can’t miss.

Discovering San Remo, Italy: An Off-the-Beaten-Path Destination

Looking for a new, unexpected travel destination in Italy? Look no further than San Remo, the picturesque coastal town on the Mediterranean Sea on the Italian Riviera. This gem of a city is steeped in history and boasts a charming city center, stunning scenery, and proximity to France, making it the perfect place to escapeContinue reading “Discovering San Remo, Italy: An Off-the-Beaten-Path Destination”

Discover the Beauty of Veneto in a Week: An Unforgettable Italian Adventure

Explore the iconic cities and breathtaking landscapes of Veneto, Italy. Learn what to see, do and experience in a week-long itinerary filled with culture, history and scenic beauty. Start planning your adventure today!

Exploring the Dolomites in Italy by Bike: From Rails-to-Trails to Challenging Tours

There is much more to the Dolomite mountains north of Venice than just Winter sports. Yes, the chairlifts and cable cars from the SuperSki area open the mountains to hikers at all levels of ability, but cycling amidst the jagged summits cannot be beaten. From slow, steady inclines on rails-to-trails for casual day trippers toContinue reading “Exploring the Dolomites in Italy by Bike: From Rails-to-Trails to Challenging Tours”

Uncovering Bellagio’s Charm:  A 5-Day Itinerary Exploring Italy’s Lesser-Know Gem and Savoring Its Delicious Cuisine

Our recommendations for 5 days spent in Bellagio, Italy

Italy Off The Beaten Path: Getting Around…via a French Auto Lease

While traveling between Rome, Florence and Venice is easy by train, wandering farther afield can be tricky. Tools like Rome2Rio make planning a trip from point A to point B a breeze using planes, trains, and automobiles. These travel tools leave little room for serendipity. A rental car is an obvious choice, but that comes with complexities,Continue reading “Italy Off The Beaten Path: Getting Around…via a French Auto Lease”

10 Things to Do in Radda in Chianti

The 10 best things to do in Radda in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy! Radda in Chianti is the heart and soul of the Chianti area in Southeast Tuscany, with just 1,461 inhabitants.  This is the perfect place to slow down and enjoy Tuscany, Italy. While the area has been inhabited since 2000 years before Christ, youContinue reading “10 Things to Do in Radda in Chianti”

The road less traveled…

In the old days before Google Maps, navigating on secondary roads in Italy could be a challenge – or an adventure depending on your perspective.  More often than not the autostrade (green signs, think large interstates highways) or superstrade (blue signs, think 4 lane state highways) offer the path of least resistance from point AContinue reading “The road less traveled…”

A Secret Tuscan Island

This place outshines Positano, but the tourists haven’t discovered it quite yet… Island?  Peninsula?  Both?  The most beautiful place in Italy that you have never heard of…Monte Argentario Drinking a sunset aperitivo poolside, on a cliff overlooking Tyrrhenian Sea with views of the islands, I am left to wonder: Why isn’t this place overrun withContinue reading “A Secret Tuscan Island”

2 Weeks in Italy: where to go and what to do

Over lunch at Yanni’s Gyros, friends mentioned their upcoming trip to Italy.  With two weeks of vacation set-aside and plane tickets in hand, they were ready to decide where in Italy they would visit.  We talked about the Grand Tour that so many take, visiting Rome, Florence and Venice.  Anyone with a passion for artContinue reading “2 Weeks in Italy: where to go and what to do”

Oh no, my long-lost cousin is in the news about sunbathing nude in Venice!

Read for yourself in this CNN article! In the Dolomite mountains, just two hours north of Venice, sits the church that my great grandfather helped build on the eve of his departure for America.  The small village of Falcade sits near the San Pellegrino pass and was a resting spot for wayfarers over the centuries. Continue reading “Oh no, my long-lost cousin is in the news about sunbathing nude in Venice!”

The Scooter Centurion

“They will have to pry it out of my hands, even when I turn 100.” With a big night ahead of us, a seven course dinner and wine pairings, our group decided that a bit of “exercise” was in order.  We took taxis to the top of the hill above Cortona for a few minutesContinue reading “The Scooter Centurion”

Giro di Gelato – Biking for Gelato

A bike tour in Tuscany, in search of the perfect scoop of gelato… Many have heard of the Giro d’Italia, Italy’s version of cycling’s Tour de France, but few have ridden Giro di Gelato in Tuscany.  Admittedly, this competition is not about the bike.  It is all about the gelato.  One of my friends likesContinue reading “Giro di Gelato – Biking for Gelato”

Becoming an Italian Citizen (in addition to being an American Citizen)

How and why to become an Italian Citizen, when you are already an American Citizen. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Top 5 Places to Stay in Italy (Lodging, Hotels, etc.)

“In America, one must be something, but in Italy, one can simply be.” – Pietros Maneos The Grand Tour, Rome, Florence and Venice, is one way to experience Italy.  An alternative is to stray from the beaten path, far from the tour buses.  Taking time away from the big cities is sure to give aContinue reading “Top 5 Places to Stay in Italy (Lodging, Hotels, etc.)”

Fontanini, Italian art in the truest form

“We keep what is sacred.” Alice came from Atlanta to our small B&B in the mountains north of Lucca in Northern Tuscany.  Her choices seemed odd.   Without explanation or apparent means of transportation she arrived with little baggage.  It was unfathomable being in a remote valley between Bagni di Lucca and Barga without aContinue reading “Fontanini, Italian art in the truest form”

When eaten in Italy, Gelato doesn’t have calories

Our top 5 places for gelato (gelaterie) Just a bit softer than ice cream, and so much creamier… Is it the eggs in gelato?  Is it the natural flavoring?  Perhaps it is the dense texture of gelato that gives the rich, wonderful taste.  Whatever it is, it is delicious.  Oddly, I always lose weight onContinue reading “When eaten in Italy, Gelato doesn’t have calories”

A convent, a monastery…Consider staying somewhere other than a hotel in Italy

“Be back by 11:00, or you will be locked out for the night!” Navigating the streets of Rome in a nine passenger oversized van was daunting.  The relentless  late afternoon traffic coupled with spotty GPS left us frazzled.  Pulling through the narrow gate of the convent tested our nerves, as cars parked on the narrowContinue reading “A convent, a monastery…Consider staying somewhere other than a hotel in Italy”

Recycling the Roman way … from trash to triumph

Every tour of the Roman Colosseum includes a history lesson on recycling.  As someone that struggles to properly sort modern recyclables, I am left with horror and admiration upon learning of the Coliseum’s Travertine marble facade being stripped away for use at St. Peter’s in Vatican City (around 1462).  The marble and stone from theContinue reading “Recycling the Roman way … from trash to triumph”

Thanksgiving, Italy Style

Is it a sin to have Halloween decorations up on Thanksgiving day? My Italian friend Diana (@naturallyitalian) asked me to explain America’s Thanksgiving holiday.  We didn’t get very far, before I was scrambling to explain the differences between the pilgrims of Plymouth and those pilgrims (pelligrini) that have walked across Italy for two millennia.  Continue reading “Thanksgiving, Italy Style”

How to create the best Italian travel itinerary

How to create the best Italian travel itinerary And why you shouldn’t follow it             Have you ever returned from a trip only to learn that you were steps away from an amazing, unmarked site?  Only a few more steps would have led to an amazing experience featured on countless YouTube channels; yet, it wasContinue reading “How to create the best Italian travel itinerary”

Why learn Italian when Google Translate can do all the work?

“To speak another language is to possess another soul.”  — Charlemagne I was having a glass of wine at a sleepy bar in the seaside town of Scilla, at the toe of the boot in Italy.  After a long day at sea, a group of fishermen gathered at the table next to me, their boatsContinue reading “Why learn Italian when Google Translate can do all the work?”