Benvenuto! Welcome!

Twenty-five years ago, I fell in love for the first time. Off the airplane I stepped onto Italian soil and the smell of espresso bloomed my senses immediately. Walking through the airport corridors, I remarked the sign “Benvenuto a Roma” and proceeded, wide-eyed, through the airport following other travelers, herd-ishly recuperating my luggage at baggage claim, and then on through customs and finally to the airport sliding exit doors. The doors slammed open and there I was: confronted with the unknown, just me and my suitcase, in Italy. In that moment, unbeknownst to me, I was forever changed; an intricate piece of my heart remaining in Italy no matter where I went.

American novelist Erica Jong once wrote, “What is the fatal charm of Italy? What do we find there that can be found nowhere else? I believe it is a certain permission to be human, which other places, other countries, lost long ago.”

The ability, the “permission,” to be inextricably human. Is it the slow pace of life, the ability to safely indulge, the value for quality over quantity, the focus on simplicity, or the beauty of the landscape? Is it our ability to overlook Italy’s flaws in virtue of a culture so deeply rooted in grace?

In Italy, there is an unspoken culture to making each experience liberating, welcoming, and full of gratitude. The small chocolate served alongside your cappuccino, greeting others when you enter a store and thanking the proprietor upon your departure, a family of 5 riding one scooter through Naples, slowly hanging your clothes to dry while sipping an espresso on your balcony, and sitting for hours at dinnertime in conversation with loved ones. To each individual who has been touched by this special place, you are reading this because you, too, are fascinated with finding that irreplaceable piece of your soul that you’re searching for or that you’ve left behind.

Azzurro Dream Travel is a love story; not only between two people, but also between two people and a place. We have created this blog to share authentic Italian experiences with our readers no matter where they are in the world because we hope to share this love with you, and to inspire fascination. Whether you need travel advice and a solid itinerary for your upcoming trip to Italy, want to check out the latest unique travel deals to Tuscany, or are searching for the perfect family vacation property along the Amalfi Coast, we plan to create a one-stop-shop to connect you, the independent traveler, to the best Italy has to offer.

So today, wake up and dream a little. Benvenuto a te! You are welcome here; your joy, your heartbreak, your words, all of you.

Permission to be human granted.

Safe travels,