My friend Susan Van Allen is passionate about Italy. Raised in New Jersey by her Italian-American family, she first fell in love with all things Italy through her family’s weekly Sunday dinners. She also became fascinated by the culture and people from postcards that arrived in the mail from relatives who traveled back to the old country. Before entering college, Susan took a gap year and traveled solo to Italy, where she fell head-over-heels in love with everything about Italy. A go-to source for many years of where to go, eat, and stay in Italy, Susan wrote the book 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, and soon after began bringing women on trips to Italy, which has now turned into her “Golden Weeks in Italy: For Women Only” tours that typically sell out 1 year in advance. Susan’s knowledge and passion for Italy is contagious and inspiring.
Click on the above link to listen to the interview or listen on “Mixtape Travels” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!
Meet Susan Van Allen
Susan Van Allen, inspired by her Italian American heritage, is a writer, traveler, and storyteller. Her first writing success was the critically acclaimed one-woman play, Jersey Girls, in which she portrayed 5 characters in an Italian-American family. She later wrote for Everybody Loves Raymond, penning the beloved episode “Marie’s Meatballs.”
Blending her passions for writing and Italian travel, she authored 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go and several other bestselling books. Her work has been featured in major publications, on radio, and in Tastes of Italia magazine, earning her an international following.
Susan brings Italy to life through her Golden Weeks in Italy: For Women Only tours and as a Travel Expert for National Geographic Expeditions.
Live in the SF Bay Area?
Susan will be at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA on Sunday, March 23rd at 4:00pm. Susan will be celebrating the 5th edition of her book, 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, and sharing all of her insights and advice about traveling to Italy. If you go, be sure to tell her that Shannon of The Gomes Guide sent you!
You can learn more about Susan and her Golden Weeks in Italy: For Women Only tours by visiting her website: https://www.susanvanallen.com.
As she mentions in the podcast, there are still spots available for her tours to Sicily and Ischia this fall. You can also subscribe to Susan’s Substack focused on Italy (see below) and follow her on Instagram @susanvanallen.
Thank you so much Susan for sharing your expertise and passion for Italy with all of us! Grazie Mille!
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