Slow Travel in Tuscany & Italy
Village weeks, guides, and 1:1 trip planning with Katie Portanova
Truly Italy helps thoughtful travelers trade rushed Italy checklists for slow, village‑based trips. Through small group weeks in Tuscany, digital guides, and 1:1 itinerary reviews, we design journeys that feel grounded, spacious, and deeply connected to local life.
"We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls."
Anais Nin
Taking you along the road less traveled through...
authentic Italy
Three ways to experience Truly Italy
A 7‑day village‑based itinerary & planning guide to design your own calm week in Tuscany
Plan your own calm, village‑based week in Tuscany with a complete 7‑day itinerary, “go slower” options, and simple tips on where to stay, eat, and wander.
A 60‑minute 1:1 session to turn your scattered ideas into a slower, realistic itinerary.
Bring your ideas or draft itinerary and, in 60 minutes, we’ll reshape them into a slower, more realistic Italy trip based on one or two smart bases instead of a rushed checklist.
A small, village‑based week in Tuscany for 8 guests, planned for June 2027.
Spend one week living in a small Tuscan village with a tiny group of 8 guests, sharing slow days, simple outings, and long dinners together in June 2027.
Do you want to experience Italy slowly, with real Italians, in real places?
Truly Italy is for travelers who are done with checklist tourism and want to feel what everyday life in Tuscany and beyond is actually like. I give you intimate knowledge, insight, and on‑the‑ground experience so you can move through the local corners of Italy without feeling lost or rushed.
Travel helps you step out of your comfort zone and into the beauty of the present moment. In Italy, life isn’t always easy, but there is deep pride in the work, stories, and history you’ll come to know. Maybe that looks like learning to make the pasta you’ll later eat, gazing up at the Duomo, or watching how local artisans still pour time and love into their craft.
This is not sightseeing.
When you travel with Truly Italy – through small village‑based weeks, digital guides, or 1:1 planning – you’re invited into a slower, more immersive experience. From simple, authentic meals to places you won’t find on a top‑10 list, my goal is to help you design travel that actually feeds your soul, not just your camera roll.
If you’re already planning an Italy trip and your itinerary is starting to feel like a race, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
You can book a 60‑minute Slow Italy Trip Planning Session with me here to turn your scattered ideas into a calm, realistic itinerary that actually feels like you.
If you’re planning your own trip, my Slow Week in Tuscany guide is a good place to start. Slow Week in Tuscany guide
Italian travel experiences & trip planning that are...
Intimate ~ Authentic ~ Stress-Free
Meet Katie, your slow travel guide to Tuscany & Italy
I’m an Italian‑American with a deep love and reverence for everyday Italian life, not just the sights.
I’ve spent over 20 years living part‑time in Florence, including in 2009 I lived as a full time resident for 4.5 years. In that time I became fluent in Italian and dedicated myself to understanding local culture and finding the small places that really reflect the people and the land.
In 2013, I moved back home to the Chicago area with my Florentine husband, Stefano, knowing we eventually wanted to share Italy as we know it with others.
In 2026, I obtained Italian citizenship, and over the next two years we’re planning our move back to Tuscany. That means even more time on the ground, deeper roots with locals, and trips, guides, and planning support that come from real everyday life here, not from afar.
Connect with Kate & truly Italy on Instagram
Imagine...
..crafting pasta from scratch, the rich aromas of local wine filling the air, and the breathtaking view of the Tuscan Hills at sunset. Join me on an enchanting voyage to Italy's most extraordinary locations!
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