Valerie Fortney Schneider

Valerie Fortney Schneider

Valerie Fortney-Schneider, IL Italy Correspondent, returned to her roots in the southern Italy region of Basilicata where she is a freelance writer, professional genealogist, and cappuccino addict. Valerie and her husband, Bryan, decided to ditch the hamster wheel lifestyle and actually get a life, moving to a hilltop hamlet to enjoy the Italian dolce vita. When not tapping away at her keyboard, she can be found sipping cappuccino, participating in grape harvests, or shooting with breeze with her fellow paesani (villagers).

Comacchio: The Mini-Venice Nobody Knows About

Comacchio: The Mini-Venice Nobody Knows About

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I hopscotched across several canals by way of footbridges—each one different from the next—and strolled alongside the glittering waterways without any crowds jostling me. In fact, I marveled at having the place practically to myself on a sunny day in late June. Next, I clambered into a flat-bottomed boat called a batana for a placid glide along the canals...

The Best of Affordable Italy: Tranquil Beaches, Cultured Cities, and Homes From $58,400 Part One

The Best of Affordable Italy: Tranquil Beaches, Cultured Cities, and Homes From $58,400 Part One

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Sipping Aperol spritz at an outdoor café while watching the high-fashion parade of the evening passaggiata unfold along marble-lined promenades…or lazing on the terrace of a centuries-old stone farmhouse as the heat haze shimmers on a vista of cypress trees and olive groves… Everyone has their own personal dream of Italy...