Every day like clockwork I check my instagram feed.  And every day like clockwork I smile and then immediately am filled with heartache for not being able to travel to my home-away-from-home, my beloved Orvieto.  I never imagined a place would capture my heart and bring me such joy.  Cancelling travel this year was the hardest thing to do, if only because it meant I would have to wait even longer to return to Orvieto.

Have you ever felt this kind of calm in another place?  For me it starts when I’m on the train.  Those last 20 minutes traveling from Rome I just can’t stop grinning.  Knowing that soon I’ll be on the funicular up to those cobblestone streets, walking toward the Istituto San Lodovico, passing through the familiar neighborhood saying “Ciao”  and reuniting with mia famiglia!

Over the course of time hosting retreats with Adventures in Italy, I have become an honorary member of the community.  Maybe your home town is small and you always see someone you know whenever you go out.  It’s like that here.  Exactly how you’d picture a small Italian village with lots of people passing on the street and stopping to chat.  No one is in a rush.  It’s the ebb and flow of time here.

Every time I visit I take the same pictures.  The majestic Duomo. My favorite flower box.  The view from the edge of town.  The enormous umbrella tree.  The rooftops, most beautiful at sunset.  It fills my soul and brings me peace until I can return.

Fino alla prossima volta, Orvieto.  Ti amo.

For more about Orvieto, read these!

Civita di Bagnoregio

The View from Here

The Majestic Duomo of Orvieto

Michelle Logue leads cultural and creative adventures in Orvieto, Italy. With a mandate to provide "travel that transforms", Adventures in Italy gives guests an immersive experience. After more than 15 years of return trips, Orvieto has become a welcoming home base surpassing the typical Italian vacation. Adventures in Italy operates trips in May and September, with two options: Artistic Enrichment nurtures creative expression, while Discover Orvieto invites visitors to focus on the history and culture of Orvieto and live as locals. Find out more about tours and special offers by following Adventures in Italy on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and visit www.adventuresinitaly.ca Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.