👵🏻 Where is Nonna? | Bulletin #130

This week: how to find good gelato 🍧 and the pope's not-so-secret gardens 🌳

June 18, 2025

📍 Vatican City 📸 Chris Centrella

While it may be the world’s smallest country, it sure does have a big appetite for grapes! According to a study in 2012, the populace of Vatican City on average consumed 98 bottles of wine per person–more than any other sovereign state in the world. While the reasons behind this fact remain a little uncertain (it can be tough leading the masses), there is something divine about a freshly poured glass of Chianti…

THIS WEEK IN AWA AWESOMENESS

🌭 Denmark was darling
🍨 We scream for gelato
⛲️ The Pope’s secret gardens
👵 Finding Nonna

TAK, DANMARK

We had a spectacular Adventure through Denmark thanks to our friends at VisitDenmark, and we can’t wait to share the amazing photos, videos and stories we uncovered! From the palaces of Christian IV to the hometown of Hans Christian Andersen, we made sure we had some “hygge” downtime ☕ Thanks to everyone who sent us tips (postcards are on their way!) and stay tuned for our Guide coming soon!

In Case You Missed It

Hot Tip: don’t go near Italian gelato that’s towering high like a mountain. Well, you’ll probably be fine, but it’s a known fact that you won’t find “good” gelato if it’s looking like that. Instead keep your eyes peeled for for gelato that is either covered or sits low in its container. You’ll thank us later! Hungry for more?

☕ Affogatos of our dreams
🍧 How to find good gelato in Italy
👑 The King of Ice Cream
🧑‍🚀 Ice cream in space

Borgo Laudato Si’📍 Castel Gandolfo, Italy 📸 Marjorie Becker

FROM CLOISTERED TO CULTIVATED

In May of 2025, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV ventured to Castel Gandolfo, the storied summer palace of the Holy See since the 17th Century. This was no vacation, but an inside look into how his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, had transformed the palace and its gardens during his papacy, making the private property public. Would the new Pope continue in the footsteps of Francis?

Merlini Storti Art Restoration 📍 Rome, Italy 📸 Marjorie Becker

ART’S FIRST AID

If you are wondering through the a church in Rome, we may see a hole in the wall. Do not be alarmed: it may be the mark of a talented art restoration team. If the artistic masters of Merlini Storti have done their job, you’ll never know they were there. They leave their mark by removing any found on pieces of art…

FINDING NONNA

On our recent Adventure to Italy, we set out on a quest: to find a Nonna making homemade pasta, but it was a bit more of a journey than expected!

We traversed through Rome, Pisa, and Florence, but no luck. Finally, in the rolling hills of Tuscany, we may have found what we were looking for…

Ciao, tutti! In honor of the Italian spirit we hope you’ve taken your time slowly but curiously perusing this here bulletin. We sure took our time writing it (Sorry to Dexter, our office editor). Why not stay a little while longer and click around for the secret link! You can win an AWA Keychain just for enjoying “dolce far niente,” the sweetness of doing nothing. Happy searching, friends!