“The Duomo Of Milan” A Must See If Your Visiting This Amazing City! The Most Exquisite Work Of Art, So Awe-Inspiring!”
“Loved This Vintage Fiat, Couldn’t Resist This Photo Opportunity! This Is The Perfect Italian Souvenir ❤️
“The Duomo’s Artwork Contrasted Against Incredible Blue Skies! So Lovely! Milan’s Crowning Jewel”
“Bellagio’s Finest Shop For Silk Scarves, Cashmere Shawls & Men’s Ties. Exquisite Selection! “Azalea Silk Of Como”
“Lavender Covered Bicycle, Looking Adorable In The Town Square Of Menaggio. We Stayed Here During Our Visit To Lake Como”
“These Tranquil Gardens Were Set On The Edge Of Lake Como In The Town Of Varenna. Make Sure You Find Your Way To The Villa Monastero Garden Tour, Definitely A Little Taste Of Heaven!”
“You Can’t Fully Experience Italy Without Indulging In Some “Torrone Nougat Candy”. This Photo Shows A Colorful Assortmet Of Pistachio, Lemon, Strawberry & Chocolate. Delizioso!”
“The Light Is Constantly Changing, The Color Of The Marble, Of The Duomo Di Milano. Not To Be Missed At Night, Even More Beautiful If That’s Possible!”
“I Love Hats, For Me They Are Works Of Art! This Dreamy Creation Was Discovered In Bellagio At A One Of A Kind Boutique, I Still Dream About!! ❤️
“I Was Mesmerized By The Beauty Of This Gorgeous Framed Tapestry Inside “The Duomo” in Milan. You Can See The Reflections Of The People Gazing At Her Beauty!”
“Dreams Come True On This Street!! This Is My Little Peice Of Heaven! The Family We Befriended Has Two Lovely Shops On This Very Popular Street In Bellagio. Bellisimo!
“Love Painted Murals! I Found This Loveliness On A Cathedral In Menaggio. This Artwork Is Enchanting!”
“The Details Of This Window And Mix Of Colors Were So Eye Catching, And The Sun Was Casting Such A Radiant Glow At That Moment! Hard To Resist The Beauty!”
“Peeking Through This Greenery At Lake Como, Was Like Discovering A Special Seceret That Day. It Was Especially Peaceful & Calm, And It Reminded Me Of A Dream! I Will Return ❤️
“I Was Very Attracted To This Colorful Painted Tile That Was Set Into The Wall, In Menaggio. There Was A Very Old Looking Sink & Faucet Set Just Below It, That Was Quite Charming” So Much To Love In Italy!”
“Our First Lunch In Menaggio, What A Colorful Array Of Italian Classics! Prosciutto & Melone, Cheeses With Polenta & Honey, Insalata Mista. Perfecto!”
“Spiritual Art In Menaggio, Loved The Details And Soft Colors”
“Views From The Waters Edge Of Lake Como. One Of The Many Small Towns, That Make You Want To Stop For Some Gelato And Soak It All Up!”
“Inspirational Architecture And Cheerful Colors, Make Me Want To Give My Home A Makeover!”
“Treasures Around Every Corner, As You Explore The Quaint Town Of Menaggio. So Ethereal ❤️
“Classic Italian Details That Captured My Attention. I Really Need To Paint Something Mustard Yellow, Now That I’m Home!”
“One Of My Favorite Photos, Taken On My Favorite Street In Bellagio. Loved The Way The Light & Shadows Was Falling Across This Wall Of Sculpture Peices And The Curve Of The Iron Gate Was Framing Everything So Nicely!”
“Villa Monastero Looking Gracious & Welcoming! This Is A Must See! You Can Tour The Interior And Enjoy Strolling Through The Peaceful Gardens Overlooking Lake Como”
“Bellinis For Brunch, Overlooking The Magnificent Lake Como, This Was One Of The Highlights Of My Trip!”
“Exquisite Statuary In The Gardens Of Villa Monastero, In The Town Of Varenna. Not To Be Missed!”
Bonjourno to my readers! I know I went missing for awhile, but I have returned to talk about my Love for a country, that first started 16 years ago and was recently reignited during my vacation there last month.
I’m excited to share with all of you, some of my favorite personal photos, that I feel truly touch at the Heart of what makes this part of Italy special. I was so inspired visually by the Beauty of my surroundings, which is a wonderful gift to take home!
Lake Como is easy to Love, with it’s breathtaking views, you will see charming little towns with Sun baked Villas, contrasted against the deep blue waters of Exquisite Lake Como. Everywhere you look there is Beauty to behold, it’s almost surreal, because there is such a sense of Tranquility.
Bellagio is the Gem of Lake Como, with it’s quaint, Boutique lined streets. This is shopping at it’s finest! Cobbled streets lead you on a treasure hunt of the best custom made leather goods and the most exquisite silk scarfs, cashmere shawls, and many other fashionable boutiques, some of which have been family run businesses for over 50 years!
My husband and I with our son, who was only five years old at the time, first visited Bellagio 16 years ago. The highlight of our trip there, was getting to know a family, who has a Lovely Shop in town, “Azalea, Silk of Como”. One of the best parts of visiting another country, is getting to know the people that live there. My husband and I will never forget our last night in Bellagio, all those years ago, because of the kindness of that family and the generosity they showed towards us. They invited us to a wonderful family dinner, at a restaurant that had incredible views of Lake Como. The food was “Delizioso”, and we lost count of the many courses that were served! My son Griffin or “Griffone” as they would call him in Italian, was very taken with the Daughter of the Family that owned the shop. Elena was her name, and she was the sweetest, demure young woman at 21 years of age, and quite lovely too.
I believe my son was quite unaware, that she was 16 years his senior! He was so enamoured by her, that throughout most of the dinner, he continued to ask my husband and I, if he could sit on her lap, at the table. We tried to ignore him, but he wasn’t going to let that get in his way! After much persistence, we told him, you need to ask her fiancé for his permission, so that’s exactly what he did!
Elena’s fiancé listened carefully to his request, and there was a long pause, as he sat there appearing to think about it. He looked at my son, and answered in a serious sounding voice “Yes, you can as long as you keep your hands on the table”. I must admit, that response was so unexpected and forever will be remembered by all three of us, as long as we live! As you can imagine, Griffin was in heaven! He didn’t need a toy or any sweets to make him happy, he just wanted to be close to his Sweet “Elena”!
We corresponded with Elena for a few years after that trip, and she would always call Griffin (her boyfriend) in the notes she wrote. We will always Treasure those memories!
We were so fortunate to return to our Favorite town of “Bellagio” on this recent visit in September. Our family definitely had a full circle moment, when we were reunited with Elena and her parents. It was something I will never forget, they were so surprised to see all of us, after so many years! Griffin is 21 years old now, so it was quite the emotional experience to be there, all these years later!
Italy definitely holds a very special place in my heart.
I have many fond memories, that go beyond these photos, that I’m posting here, that’s why I decided to share a very personal story with all of you, because I thought you would enjoy it and it would give you insight, into why I Love Italy so much! ❤️
Until Next Time,
Stay Whim Inspired!
Arrivederci,
Kimberly