Speaking of Travel® With Marilyn Ball
Founded in 2013, Speaking of Travel is a media platform dedicated to meaningful, responsible travel storytelling. Through conversations with global explorers, conservation leaders, cultural visionaries, world-changers, musicians, historians, conservationists, industry leaders, and everyday adventurers, we explore how travel connects people, preserves culture, and protects the planet.
After a decade of global change, including a pandemic and climate-driven disruptions, Speaking of Travel continues to lead the conversation on travel as a force for good.
Listen in, dream big, and let’s explore the world together. Because remember, life is short. Don't postpone joy!
Subscribe now and let the journey change you. 🌍✈️
Speaking of Travel® With Marilyn Ball
Experience Italy Through The Eyes Of Those Who Call It Home 🇮🇹
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Some places capture your imagination. Italy captures your heart. If you've ever dreamed of experiencing Italy beyond the guidebooks, this is the journey you've been waiting for.
Join Becky and Marcello Simone of Viaggi Italiani, together with Anne Robichaud, your expert guide to the hidden treasures of Umbria, on an unforgettable 10-day Fall 2026 Small Group Art & Cultural Tour through the heart of Italy. Carefully designed for travelers who value authentic experiences, meaningful connections, and the joy of slowing down, this experience is an invitation to experience Italy as a welcomed guest.
You'll enjoy exclusive experiences that include private guided walks, cooking alongside local chefs, wine tastings at family-owned wineries, visits with artisans, hidden villages, Renaissance masterpieces, and extraordinary meals that celebrate the flavors and traditions of Italy. You'll even be part of the historic 800th anniversary commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi, a once-in-a-generation celebration filled with cultural and spiritual events.
Adding another extraordinary dimension to the journey is Jane Adams, President and CEO of Artemisia Gold, whose work restoring the forgotten masterpieces of Renaissance women artists has inspired an international movement. Throughout the tour, you'll discover the remarkable legacy of Plautilla Nelli, the first known woman painter of Florence, while helping support the preservation of these priceless works of art.
Becky, Marcello, Anne, and Jane share the stories behind this remarkable journey and why they created it. And find out what makes it so different from traditional tours and why 2026 is an extraordinary time to experience Italy.
This isn't about rushing from one famous landmark to another. This amazing tour is about wandering medieval streets, sharing meals with new friends, discovering hidden artistic treasures, meeting the people who keep Italy's traditions alive, and returning home with memories that will stay with you forever.
Space is intentionally limited to create an intimate, personalized experience and reservations are now open.
If Italy has been calling your name...
This is your invitation.
Listen to the episode then reserve your place on this extraordinary Fall 2026 journey with Becky, Marcello, Anne, and Jane for the journey of a lifetime.
Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.