Ciao! I’m Kate Portanova, your host, Tuscany Travel Guide & Slow Italy Trip Planner, and lifelong lover of all things Florence. This podcast is your ticket to discovering the authentic side of Florence and Italy—one story, one dish, and one piazza at a time. Whether you’re dreaming of sipping espresso in a bustling café, wandering cobblestone streets filled with history, or connecting with locals to experience la vera Italia, you’re in the right place. Join me as I share our journey of returning to Italy in the near future. Return to Italy has begun!
What if one of the best ways to experience Italy isn't finding somewhere new—but going back?
When I think about the years I lived in Florence, some of the places that meant the most to me weren't famous landmarks. They were the places I returned to again and again—the same pub, the same tiny panino shop, the same familiar faces who eventually knew my name.
And years later, Stefano and I felt that same thing beginning to happen in the tiny Tuscan village of Radicondoli.
In this episode, I'm talking about why connection takes time, why being a good guest doesn't mean pretending to “live like a local,” and what can happen when you stop searching for the next best place and simply return to somewhere you already loved.
Maybe we're asking for connection without giving it enough time to happen.
Keep following my road back to Tuscany:
Subscribe to Rooted in Tuscany (https://substack.com/@rootedintuscany), where I write about belonging, village life, slowing down, and our journey back to Italy.
Stay longer. Rush less. Connect more.
See less. Feel more.
10 Sept 2026
How Many Days Do You Really Need in Tuscany?
How many days do you really need in Tuscany?
Three days? Five? A full week?
If you want my quick answer, I’d give Tuscany 5–7 days if you can. But I think there’s a much more important question to ask: What kind of experience do you want to have with the time you have?
In this episode of Florence & Me, I’m talking about one of the biggest mistakes I see people make when planning a trip to Tuscany—treating an entire region like one more stop on an Italy itinerary.
We’ll talk about what 3, 5, 7, 10, or even 14 days in Tuscany can look like, how many home bases you actually need, Florence vs. the Tuscan countryside, and why changing hotels every couple of days can turn your vacation into a whole lot of logistics.
I’ll also share why seven days is my personal sweet spot—and why an empty afternoon might be one of the best things you can put on your Tuscany itinerary.
Because experiencing Tuscany isn't about how many villages, wineries, and famous sights you can squeeze into your trip.
It's about giving yourself enough time to actually be there.
To return to the same bar. Have the two-hour lunch. Take the passeggiata after dinner. Talk to someone you wouldn't have met if you were rushing to your next reservation.
Stay longer. Rush less. Connect more. See less. Feel more.
🌿 Planning your first slow trip to Tuscany? Download my free Slow Tuscany Starter Kit. (https://www.trulyitaly.tours/slow-tuscany-starter-kit)
🇮🇹 Already have an Italy itinerary? My Italy Itinerary Review (https://www.trulyitaly.tours/slow-italy-trip-planning) gives you a second set of eyes before your trip. I'll personally review your route, timing, home bases, experiences, and logistics, then we'll spend 60 minutes together figuring out what works—and where you might want a little more breathing room.
Find both at Truly Italy.
27 Aug 2026
Slow Travel in Italy: Why Seeing Less Makes a Better Trip
Florence. Rome. Venice. Tuscany. Cinque Terre. Amalfi.
When you're planning a trip to Italy—especially one you've dreamed about for years—it's easy to feel like you need to see as much as possible. But somewhere between packing, changing hotels, catching trains and racing to the next reservation, your dream vacation can start to feel like another productivity exercise.
In this episode of Florence & Me, I'm talking about why we feel so much pressure to "make the most" of our time in Italy—and what might happen if we stopped trying to see everything.
I share stories from my everyday life in Florence, our recent stay in the Tuscan village of Radicondoli, and the simple moments I still remember years later: familiar faces, long lunches, conversations, aperitivo and returning to the same places again and again.
Because experiencing Italy deeply isn't necessarily about seeing more.
Sometimes, it's about giving one place enough time to become personal.
See less. Feel more.
In This Episode
We talk about:
Why Italy itineraries become overpacked so easily
The pressure to "make it worth it" when you've spent years dreaming about Italy
What my everyday routines in Florence taught me about belonging
Why returning to the same café, bar or restaurant can completely change your experience
What Stefano and I discovered by slowing down in Radicondoli
Why an intentionally empty afternoon isn't wasted vacation time
The difference between visiting a Tuscan village and experiencing village life
Why a two-hour Italian lunch is absolutely okay
How fewer home bases can create a richer trip
Why some of the people you meet may become more memorable than the landmarks
What slow travel in Italy has taught me about being present in everyday life
I also share one of my favorite reflections from a past Truly Italy guest, Skip, who described Tuscany as not only a "feast for your eyes," but a "feast of people"—the warmth, caring and pride he experienced through the people, food, wine and countryside.
If you're dreaming about Tuscany but don't want your trip to become a checklist of towns and attractions, start with my free Slow Tuscany Starter Kit.
It's designed to help you plan Tuscany with fewer places, more breathing room and more meaningful connection to where you are.
→ Get the Free Slow Tuscany Starter Kit (https://www.trulyitaly.tours/slow-tuscany-starter-kit)
Already have an itinerary but wondering if you're trying to fit too much into it? I also offer personal itinerary help and custom Italy trip planning through Truly Italy.
→ Explore Italy Trip Planning with Truly Italy (https://www.trulyitaly.tours/slow-italy-trip-planning)
As you're planning your trip, try asking yourself:
What would happen if I left this afternoon empty?
You won't know the answer until you're there.
And that might be the point.
Stay longer. Rush less. Connect more.
See less. Feel more.
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6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 70 / 100
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YouTube
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Engagement
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