tiny newsletter #170: italy side quests

hi hi!

this'll be the last letter about italy, i promise. but i thought you should know about 3 half or whole day adventures we loved near major cities, in case you're planning a trip.

when in rome (lol), i rec considering...

✨ from rome: the tarot garden 🔮 a 1.5 hr drive away, this magical sculpture garden by french-american artist niki de saint phalle juts out of the hillside in what feels like the middle of nowhere. includes a mirrored apt, lettered sidewalks, and 10/10 water park design inspo. 

🕰️ from siena: arezzo antiques fair 🛍️ 1 hr away is this medieval city's excellent monthly street market. we found many gems at v fair prices - furniture, art, home goods. it's on every “first sunday and preceding saturday of the month", a confusing way to say “most weekends”. 

🧀 from bologna: parm + balsamic factory tour 🍷 this one's easy, they pick you up in the city and drive ~45 mins to modena. our guide riccardo was an endearing character - a cultural anthropologist who hates tourists, but clearly loves this job. relatable! come hungry.

💌 and that's the tiny letter! thank you for reading, xo aud