My Bella Vita Travel

07/06/2026

Zucchini flowers are one of those summer ingredients that feel almost too pretty to eat. Almost. In Calabria the most common way to prepare them is battered and fried until golden and crispy, and fair warning, they are extremely addictive.

The full recipe is on the blog. Have you ever tried them?

You can be certain that summer is here when you start to see these incredibly vibrant and bright yellow flowers at your local supermarket, fruit vendor or in your neighbor’s garden. But, what can you do with these delightful flowers? Well, zucchini flowers are a summer-time favorite in many parts ...

06/06/2026

Sheepdog herding is one of those traditions that has been woven into Irish rural life for centuries. The relationship between a farmer and his dog is built on trust, training and a language of whistles and commands that takes years to master.

Watching a demo up close, you realise very quickly that the dog is absolutely the one in charge. Cherrye grabbed the shepherd's staff and looked every bit the part. As for how she did...we'll let you decide.

05/06/2026

The roll-don't-fold method. Shoes that work with at least two outfits. Scarves instead of a second coat. These are the kinds of packing rules that make the difference between breezing through check-in and paying overage fees.

Plus, nobody wants to wrestle a giant suitcase down the cobblestone streets of a southern Italian village. We covered all of our favorites on the blog. What is the one packing tip you swear by?

Ahhh … remember the good ole days when we could over-stuff two full-sized suitcases and an overflowing carry on and be waved onto the plane with a smile? Sure you remember. It was last month. But things aren’t going to be so easy from now on, especially for those of you flying domestically withi...

05/06/2026

When in Ireland, a beer tasting is non-negotiable. But this one came with a story we were not expecting.

Tom Crean was a Kerry man who enlisted in the Royal Navy at 15 and went on to become one of Ireland's greatest Antarctic explorers, surviving three expeditions to the South Pole alongside some of the most legendary polar explorers in history. After retiring, he came home to County Kerry and opened a pub called the South Pole Inn. Today, his granddaughter Aileen runs the Tom Crean Brewery in Kenmare, brewing craft beers that carry his spirit of adventure in every pint.

The beer is excellent on its own, but the backstory makes it taste even better.

04/06/2026

Happy National Cheese Day! And we are celebrating with one of our absolute favorites from Calabria...Caciocavallo Silano.

That distinctive oblong shape is not just for looks. Caciocavallo is a pasta filata, a stretched curd cheese that is tied and hung in pairs to age, which is actually where the name comes from, cacio a cavallo, cheese on horseback. The longer it ages the sharper and more intense the flavour gets.

It is one of those cheeses that once you taste it in Calabria, nothing else quite compares.

What is your favorite Italian cheese? Tell us in the comments!

03/06/2026

Ballyseede Castle in County Kerry dates back to the 16th century and sits within 30 acres of woodland that are nothing short of magical. Lush, green and like something out of the pages of your favorite fairytale. Cherrye was enchanted by the charm of these woods...she went in for a walk. Swipe all the way to the end to see what happened to Cherrye!

03/06/2026

Grazie is fine. But only saying grazie is a little like showing up to Sunday lunch with a store-bought cake. Technically acceptable. But why not immerse yourself a little further?

Maria from Italian Spoken breaks down 5 ways to express gratitude the way locals actually do, warm, natural, and far more interesting than a phrasebook.

As a native English speaker raised in an Italian family, Maria has a gift for spotting exactly where learners sound a little stiff and showing you how to loosen it up. This one is simple, practical, and genuinely useful whether you are ordering a coffee or being welcomed into someone's home.

🎥 Watch the video and get ready to bring a little something more to your conversations.

YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcCoPFuX44c

Visit her website italianspoken.com and start speaking with more Italian flair.

Don't Say Grazie (Say This Instead)! If "Grazie" is the only way you know how to say thank you in Italian, you might sound robotic. Today, I’m showing you ...

02/06/2026

Buried under volcanic ash on the morning of October 24, 79 AD, Pompeii was frozen in time for nearly 1,700 years. What the eruption of Vesuvius destroyed, it also preserved. Streets, homes, bakeries, temples, theatres and the everyday lives of the people who lived there, all waiting to be uncovered. Walking through the Parco Archeologico di Pompei is one of the most extraordinary experiences Southern Italy has to offer.

Step into Pompeii's story:
The scale of the site takes a moment to absorb. This was a real, thriving city of around 11,000 people. You walk the same paved streets they walked, past the Forum where they gathered, the baths where they socialised, the bakeries where the bread was still in the ovens when excavators arrived. The plaster casts of those who did not escape are among the most haunting and humanising things you will ever see. Pompeii is not just a ruin. It is a city that never quite stopped existing.

Travel Tip:
Booking in advance is essential, not optional. Pompeii now has a daily limit of 20,000 visitors and tickets are nominative, meaning each ticket carries the visitor's name and you will need to show ID at entry. During peak season, from mid-March to mid-October, morning slots fill up fast. Book through the official site at pompeiisites.org, where tickets are purchased via vivaticket.com. Go early, wear comfortable shoes and give yourself at least half a day.

Have you ever walked the ancient streets of Pompeii?

01/06/2026

Not every great pasta dish needs hours in the kitchen. This tomato and pesto spaghetti from Peppe's kitchen is the kind of recipe you make on a Tuesday night when you want something good without the fuss. Five ingredients and it is on the table.

Recipe is on the blog. What is your favorite quick Italian pasta?

I went to sleep last night and it was January, I woke up in June. How is it possible we are already in the sixth month of 2008? With the sweet scent of gardenias and the chit chat of fluttering birds, I am not surprised summer is here, and with that we have the First of […]