Happy New Year !

My best childhood friend lived on Rome’s Isola Tiberina and accordingly, much of my early teenage years were spent in her home looking out from its balcony imagining the history of Rome flowing past us on the Tiber.  My first cat was born on the Island, one of nine kittens; we found her and her siblings under a mattress in the piazza outside my friend’s front door.

Following my decades-long tradition, I walk over to the Island on a warm December afternoon and consider once more the four-headed Janus that stands guard on the north bridge, the oldest extant bridge in Rome, of 62 BC.

The Hermes, despite features rounded soft by weathering, seem as handsome as ever, ever-present and on the job.  My teenage self had a crush on them, and some part of my older self does still, appreciating, now as I did not then, Janus’s nature of looking both forward and back—memories of the past and dreams of what might be.

Many of you were in Italy this year on travels that we planned; it was a joy for us to return to work, and I know that for you too, a joy to be in Italy.

As we greet 2023, please consider planning sooner rather than later, as this will be an exceptionally active year for travels in Italy.  For those of you who can freely chose their travel times, please do consider the wonders of winter travel — our favorite time to be here !  All of these images are December in Italy.

In fact, Insider’s Italy travelers are at this moment in all of these places, enjoying extraordinary tailor-made travels and experiences made possible by my 34 years of planning experience.

And please don’t put travels off. Italy is too wonderful to be delayed.

We are always here and eager to hear from you.

www.insidersitaly.com

Auguri e Buon Anno !

Marjorie