Ciao Mondo Bello - Travel blog dedicated to travel in Italy, Europe, and everywhere else in this "mondo bello"

5 Gorgeous Charcuterie Board Ideas

ciaomondobello October 20, 2019October 20, 2019 Food/drink

Who doesn’t love a gorgeous charcuterie board? They are a feast for the eyes and delicious too! Charcuterie boards are great for special occasions, particularly because they can be prepared ahead of time. They are also great for those nights...

5 Italian Fall Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss

ciaomondobello October 5, 2019October 5, 2019 Italy autumn, chesnuts, fall, festivals, Italy, pumpkins, truffles, wine

5 Italian Fall Festivals You Don't Want to Miss

Guide to 10 Kinds of Classic Italian Cheese You Must Try

ciaomondobello September 20, 2019October 18, 2019 Food/drink cheese, Italian

Cheese Challenge As some of you may know, my family and I recently moved to Bra, Italy. Bra (pronounced more like “Brah” with a rolled /r/, so as not to confuse it with a lady’s undergarment), is a town of...

5 Reasons Why You Should Rent a Boat in Italy

ciaomondobello September 17, 2019October 17, 2019 Italy boat rental

Cruising alongside 200 million dollar yachts and spotting Dolce & Gabbana’s mansion perched at the top of a hill. These are just a few of the experiences my family and I encountered the other day when we rented a boat...

9 surprising facts about gelato and how to spot the best gelato

9 Surprising Facts about Italian Gelato

ciaomondobello August 12, 2019October 16, 2019 Food/drink gelato

I have a confession to make. I am currently on the sixth day of my five day Italian gelato streak. Maybe I am making up for the last time I visited Italy and I …gasp!…did not eat any gelato! I...

Should we move to Italy?

ciaomondobello February 17, 2019October 16, 2019 Italy, Uncategorized Italy, living abroad

What to consider before making the big move Moving to another country is a big decision and usually takes years of planning. However, as I sit in my home situated in the suburbs of a large Midwest city, I find...

Happy New Year! Buon Anno!

ciaomondobello January 1, 2019January 20, 2019 Uncategorized

Right now as I’m sitting in my living room, enjoying a freshly made coffee while our travel-inspired Christmas tree lights up the room, I’m relishing the quietness. Incredibly both children are asleep. As they’ve both been recovering from terrible colds,...

The Truth about Traveling with a Toddler

ciaomondobello August 9, 2017September 15, 2019 Uncategorized

In some ways I have a very relaxed style of parenting. My 2-year old son has never followed a strict schedule when it comes to his eating and sleeping habits. In other ways, I am the super anxious mom that...

Swimming in Paradise: A Guide to San Fruttuoso, Italy

ciaomondobello August 8, 2017October 15, 2019 Italy Italian Riviera, Portofino Peninsula, San Fruttuoso, swimming

My Favorite Swimming Spot I’ve always dreamed of swimming in one of those one-of-a-kind places like I’ve seen in travel magazines. I still haven’t come across a swimming hole in the middle of a jungle (to be honest, I haven’t...

A Visit to Cancale, the “Oyster Capital of France”

ciaomondobello June 16, 2017October 11, 2019 France

Basic Facts about Cancale Oysters! Oysters! And more oysters! It’s all about the almighty king of shellfish in Cancale, considered the “Oyster Capital of France”. Cancale is a charming seaside town of approximately 5500 inhabitatants situated on the Bay of...