This is the Untold Italy travel podcast and you are listening to episode number 176.

Ciao at all and benvenuti to Untold Italy, the travel podcast where you go to the towns and villages, mountains and lakes, hills and coastlines of Bella Italia.

Each week your host, Katie Clark, takes you on a journey in search of magical landscapes, history, culture, wine, gelato, and of course, a whole lot of pasta.

If you're dreaming of Italy and planning future

adventures there, you've come to the right place.

O'Donno friends, welcome to your weekly escape to Italy. And this episode is one I'm

especially thrilled to share with you, as today we chat with some of our lovely guests that

joined our recent Untold Italy tour of Tuscany. But first, let's start with some background.

When I started this podcast and our website and community, I had no intention of

starting a tour company. Apart from anything else, it seemed pretty impossible to do that from Australia.

And anyway, I wanted to focus on helping independent travellers plan their own incredible journeys

in Italy. But as I spoke to more people across the 20 regions of Italy,

something sparked in me and an idea to share my passion for Italy's hidden spots and unique

experiences was born. I wanted more people to enjoy the incredible hospitality and generosity

of the Italian people in the way that I had. To sit over a long lunch and hear

stories of their land and their commitment to preserving long-held traditions, to enjoy music and

wine, and to feel like you've completely escaped to another world where time moves slower

and in rhythm with the seasons. I haven't always travelled that way, but as our family reflected on the

experiences we enjoyed the most on our trips, it was those moments that stayed with us the most.

So while I'll always be in wonder and awe of the incredible monuments and art that you find

in Italy's major tourist areas, it's those intimate moments sharing a laugh with new friends over a glass of wine

or wandering through a secret garden that we seek out the most. Our tours are called tours because

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