I sat down with my dear friend Barbara about her most recent four-week trip to Italy. Barbara grew up in San Francisco and is an experienced traveler, having visited Italy every year to be with family since she was a child. A recent recipient of an Italian passport and fluent in the language, Barbara is, in my opinion, the queen of all things related to travel in Italy. This most recent trip, was work-related, as she is the founder of the creative wine agency, Apri-la, but it started with a few solo days in the beautiful city of Verona. Below, she shares tips and recommendations regarding the incredible Italian city of Verona.
L+V: You mentioned this was your first time traveling solo. I find dining out is the biggest challenge when traveling by myself. How did you navigate dining out or feeling lonely? Did you bring a book, scroll social media, or chat with strangers?
B: I was really nervous because I was completely on my own for the first three days; I wasn’t sure how it was going to go. I don’t really eat out by myself very much, even at home. So, I thought it was going to feel really weird. But I loved every second of it! Italy is so communal; even though I wasn’t eating with anyone, it didn’t feel lonely because there was chatter and warm hospitality all around. I did bring a book, but only read about one page. I think part of it is that speaking Italian brings me so much joy. There is so much energy behind the language, specifically in Italian culture; communication is what they do. We don’t say things the same way in English and there seems to be more brevity. If you take a sentence in English and translate it to Italian, it’ll probably be at least 25% longer. So, it brings so much joy just to hear people speak the language and understand what they’re saying. It is so beautiful, like listening to a song.
L+V: Tell us more about Verona. What is the city like?
B: Verona is very bustling, but it’s not super big. It’s a must-see if you love wine or work in the wine industry. Verona is the center of the wine business in Italy, so it feels very multi-regional. You’re within one hour to some of the top wine-producing regions in the world. Within 20 minutes of the city, you can drive to Valpolicella, where they make Amarone; Within one hour, you can drive to Franciacorta, where they make beautiful sparkling wine, from a local grape variety you will not find anywhere else in the world; You’re close to Soave, a beautiful white wine-producing area; You’re about 40 minutes from Venice; One hour from the Alps and the Dolomites. It’s really centrally located. The city itself is very small and very walkable. There were always people out walking, and it’s well-lit at night. It’s like Florence in that it’s built along a river. I love Verona so much. I highly recommend it.
L+V: Did you stay at a hotel or apartment? Would you stay there again?
B: I stayed at the Butterfly Suites and would absolutely stay there again. It’s similar to an apartment building. It has five or six rooms and every room is different. This is a new hotel model in Italy for sure. The hotel has guest suites, but there’s no concierge operating a front desk like a traditional hotel. They give you a code to enter the building like an Airbnb, but you have the confidence knowing that there is still a reputable company associated with it who is subject to the standards of operating a hotel. Their remote concierge arranged a car for me and asked if I needed any recommendations in the area, which was really nice.
L+V: Let’s talk the unavoidable beast… Jet lag! How do you combat this on your trips?
B: First, I don’t drink wine on the airplane, it dehydrates you. I’ve gotten to the point now that even though I love a good glass of wine, I know I want to feel good when I get there. I’ll usually get up super early on a flight day, so I’m beat and can fall asleep right away when I get on the plane. When I arrive at my destination, I try to go for a run. My husband thinks I’m crazy, but the endorphin rush makes me feel so much better! It also helps me understand my surroundings and note where cute restaurants and shops are. I also drink a lot of water after arriving. Moving your body and drinking water is key.
L+V: As a woman, it’s really important to highlight safety. How did you manage this, and do you
have any tips?
B: On my trip I didn’t have any fear surrounding safety at any point. I feel like growing up in a big city helped with this. I have a keen sense of my surroundings and basic street smarts. I’m always very aware of my personal belongings. But in all my years of going to Italy, I have never encountered a dangerous situation or had anything stolen, so it’s basically the same street smarts you would apply anywhere. I think it’s generally safe to walk the streets by yourself at night because it’s such a walking culture. There are usually many people out late who would be willing to help if needed.
L+V: I’m always curious to know how people pack. How did you pack for four weeks in Italy knowing you would be attending client dinners, meetings, and presentations, along with packing running shoes and high heels?
B: I brought two suitcases; one was a carry-on size and one was slightly larger. Considering it was cool in Verona and 80 degrees in Sicily, where I finished my trip, I had to pack accordingly. I think the number one tip is plan out specific outfits. Also, bring things you can easily hand wash and hang dry if needed. On this trip, I actually brought a lot of shoes, like seven or eight pairs, so I had to watch out for suitcase real estate. When I travel in summer, it’s a lot easier because the shoes are smaller. I like to pack a pair of boots which take up space. Nothing is worse than going somewhere and feeling underdressed because you forgot the right shoes. But then again, you must also pack those comfortable walking shoes because you will likely walk 30k steps in a day. So, it’s a balance.
L+V: Finally, I know Italy will always have your heart but are there any other trips on the horizon or any bucket list places you want to visit?
B: I will be in Italy in April for work, but afterward we are headed to France, to Dordogne, which is farther inland from Bordeaux. I’m very excited. As much as I love Italy and it does have my heart, I’m usually the group leader whenever we visit because I speak the language and know the culture. It’s nice to visit other areas where I’m not the lead. Dan, my husband, has been dying to go there for so long, so I’m excited to hear him speak French and explore the area.
L+V: Thank you so much for sharing with us Barbara! We can’t wait to see where your travels take you next!
For amazing Italian wine recommendations check out Apri-la on Instagram. Barbara’s wine consulting business has it’s finger on the pulse when it come to the wine industry, both in the US and Italy!
