"After twenty years of marriage and against my better judgment, I finally convinced David to use his virgin passport and frequent flyer miles to celebrate a special anniversary in the country of cypress-fringed roads and blood-orange sunsets.

As soon as he agreed, however, my heart began fluttering with anticipation--but not for the reason you might expect. It wasn't that I was already daydreaming of a tangled Tuscan romance in a country villa. Instead, I was struck by the thought of David trying to pack his clothes for his first trip abroad."

"A delightful guide for the Italophile armchair traveler."

- Giuliano Hazan, author of The Classic Pasta Cookbook and Every Night Italian

"A delightful taste of 'Italian nectar' . . . Darlene Marwitz celebrates la dolce vita on every page."

- Michael J. Gelb, author of How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: 7 Steps to Genius Every Day and The How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci Workbook

© 1999-2006 Villa Texas, Inc.
All rights reserved worldwide.

From the jacket . . .

She had first traveled to Italy as a graduate student in architecture. She captured images of Roman ruins and historic Renaissance buildings and absorbed the sensuous landscape of rural Italy. And that's when it happened--the beginning of her love affair with a foreign country.

 

Now, more than ten years later, Darlene Marwitz renews her post-forty spirit by following a passion and indulging in engaging (and often humorous) ways to feed her Italy fever. She shares old and new ideas and humble experiences to help readers discover, interpret, and incorporate "pieces" of Italy into their own lives. Her favorite Web sites, books, and movies are eclectic gems.

 

From talking to a map of Italy on her walls to learning finger counting in Italian, from collecting old postcards of Venice and Rome to sampling gelato combinations and calling it "research," from craving the music of Andrea Bocelli to overdosing on Verdi and Puccini, from stalking used bookstores for Italy-looking and -sounding titles to marathon movie weekends via video--she is smitten, even obsessed, with all things Italian.

 

Home / About the Book / About Darlene Marwitz and Studio Portico / Table of Contents and Chapter Excerpts / Resources & Links / FREE Newsletter / View Newsletters / Contact Us