191.  Ischia, Italy: Discovering This Island Paradise!

191. Ischia, Italy: Discovering This Island Paradise!

Author: Kimberly Holcombe July 9, 2025 Duration: 25:27
Please Follow us on: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook  Kimberly and Tommaso share their experiences on the island of Ischia, near Napoli, Italy. They discuss Ischia’s geography, history, cuisine, beaches and the island’s appeal. Key Points: Initial Impressions of Ischia: Kimberly revisits Ischia after 30 years since her last visit, noting its idyllic scenery and vibrant colors. Tommaso recalls having the best pizza of his life upon arrival. Ischia is relatively small, about 46 square kilometers, yet offers diverse landscapes. Geography and Driving Challenges: The island has one main ring road, making travel slow due to curves and narrow roads. Driving can be difficult due to log jams caused by buses and parked cars. Kimberly and Tommaso canceled their rental car after one day due to the intense driving conditions. Historical and Geographical Makeup: Ischia is a volcanic island with fertile soil, home to diverse Mediterranean plants. The island was first inhabited by Greeks in the 8th century B.C. The Aragonese castle, built in 474 B.C., is a significant historical site. Tourism and Local Life: Ischia has a population of 60,000 residents and attracts 6 million tourists annually. The island offers a variety of accommodations from resorts to hotels in condensed villages. The cuisine is seafood-heavy, with excellent pizza and salads. Beaches and Weather: Ischia boasts sandy beaches, a unique feature compared to other islands like Capri. The island’s beaches are a major draw for mainland Italians. Tommaso provides a weather update, noting the extreme heat in Italy and warmer-than-usual Mediterranean temperatures. They advise listeners to stay hydrated and prepared for the heat. Next Episode: Kimberly and Tommaso will share the challenging but funny driving experience, as well their very interesting visit to the Aragonese Castle and luxurious day at a beach club.

There's a particular magic to Italy that goes far beyond its famous landmarks, a rhythm of life that you only really start to feel once you've lingered in a local piazza or navigated a bustling market. Kimberly's Italy Travel is an invitation into that deeper experience, guided by Kimberly Holcombe, whose own story began with a life-changing move to Milan years ago. That journey didn't just create memories; it reshaped her perspective, and she shares that genuine, lived-in understanding in every episode. You'll hear personal stories from her travels, often punctuated by the kind of comical, real-world lessons that no standard guidebook ever mentions. This podcast serves as a rich audio companion, weaving together passionate discussions about regional cuisine, layers of local history, and the vibrant arts that define Italy's culture. It’s about the sensory details-the taste of a perfectly simple dish, the echo in an ancient alleyway, the warmth of a conversation with a new friend. Listeners gain practical, invaluable travel tips born from direct experience, all while feeling like they're sharing a coffee and a laugh with a knowledgeable guide. Through these conversations and reflections, the aim is to transport you, offering not just a list of destinations, but a feeling for the places and people that make Italy endlessly captivating.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Kimberly's Italy Travel
Podcast Episodes
146. Diving deep into Verona with a guide (and a Jeep!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:10
It was Tommaso’s first visit to this history rich city, therefore we hired a private tour guide who made our visit perfetto! No matter how much you research and read about a destination, you will never learn as much as w…
145. Two Venetian Legends in One Day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:24
The legendary trattoria on the island of Burano was the perfect way to start our second day in Venezia. It’s one of those family run restaurants that you will remember for years to come. Delicious food, engaging and atte…
144. Our Happy and Upbeat Take on Day 2 in Venice! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:46
Episode Summary: In this heartfelt episode, we unpack the bittersweet feelings of returning home after an enchanting trip to Italy. We dive into the complexities of “reentry stress” juxtaposed with their deep longing for…
143.  Just Back from Venice…What You Need to Know! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:11
After 6 days in Venezia, we thought we would share with you how to take in the full beauty and magic of this dramatic city despite the crowds, and it’s not even full tourist season yet! Getting away from the masses aroun…
142. Introducing Lago di Garda! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:22
Everyone as heard of Lake Como, but it’s bigger cousin to the east is a beauty and should probably be added to your list of dream vacations in bel’italia. We will dedicate a few episodes to Garda when we get back to our…
141. Back in Italy! via Copenhagen and Palma! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:32
We recorded this episode upon our arrival in Lake Garda after a busy week of planes, trains and automobiles….well, to be honest we took a metro instead of a train! We share a few travel tips on Apple Air Tags, what to do…
140. : The City of Genova: Pesto, Palaces and Blue Jeans! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
The busy and vibrant port city of Genova is steeped in Maritime history, yet also lays claim to being the birthplace of both Christopher Columbus and the modern-day architect Renzo Piano. Our journey through Genova would…
139. Be the Visitor Italians Will Appreciate (or Admire & Respect!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:55
We decided to share with our listeners the suggestions Kimberly gives her clients while traveling in Italy. Whether it’s your first time or your 10th visit to this amazing country, common courtesies go a long way, and ma…