About Me...

The first time I arrived in Italy, I was with my husband and four children, the youngest still in preschool. I had decided that my dream of visiting Italy could wait no longer, regardless of the ages of my children or - gulp - the cost of the six-person trip.

After a transatlantic flight and a long layover in Copenhagen, we landed at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport nearly a day later, just before 9 p.m. Our driver navigated from the airport to the autostrada, then up Via Cristoforo Colombo, past the Baths of Caracalla, and around Piazza del Colosseo. As we entered the labyrinthine streets of the Monti district, his side mirror became a casualty of a tight turn onto Via Boschetto. The kids remained asleep, but I was wide-eyed with wonder. The Colosseum came into view—a massive stone monolith lit like something out of a fairytale and it took my breath away. Everything is more beautiful here, I thought. And I’m not sure I’ve caught my breath since.

What began as a once-in-a-lifetime trip became a decade-long love affair with Italy.

Bella Cultura—which means “beautiful culture”—was born from this journey through time. Like any love story, it has had its moments of both joy and challenge: connecting with Italian relatives, the bittersweet end to an apartment search in Rome, the pride of learning to speak Italian, and the emotional rollercoaster of pursuing citizenship.

Italy is more than pasta and wine, more than ancient ruins and stunning coastlines. It is a country of contrasts and contradictions—a place where ancient brutality shares space with the heart of Christianity, where every visit invites not just a cultural education, but a deeper understanding of yourself. Traveling to Italy is like stepping into another world, another time, and sometimes, discovering another version of you.

Bella Cultura is the product of my deep passion for all things Italian. It marries my love for education, my background in the arts, and a lifelong curiosity for culture and connection. I believe in travel that’s meaningful and memorable—full of fun, adventure, learning, and those rare, vivid “snapshot moments” that stay with you, imprinted in your memory and on your heart.

My goal is to help you experience Italy not just as a destination, but as a journey that leaves a lasting imprint. If you’re ready to explore your Italy, it would be my pleasure to help guide the way.