My Photography
I travel. A lot. I live for the adrenaline rush of new discoveries and spontaneous events. In the past, most of my photographs are simple snapshots to support my guidebook writing. But, a few years ago I began to try to take “nice” pictures. Above all I want pictures that are compelling and that help me tell the stories behind my adventures. Now, my main photo interests are landscape, event, and street photography.
Experience and Books
I have been traveling around Italy since my family’s first visit in 1992. I’ve visited many hill towns and sites. I’ve tried new foods and steeped myself in culture. Learning the language is a priority and now I know when to use “Ciao” and how to ask for my meal.
My travel books and memoirs focus on small Tuscan towns and Italian culture for repeat visitors to Tuscany. These are the kinds of places that most guidebooks cover in 30 words or less. It’s because I believe that repeat visitors want to travel slower to engage more in the culture that I write my books. I believe that the repeat visitor is more interested in culture than in “collecting” as many sites as possible..
Arezzo is My Home
I set up my base in Arezzo — actually at an agriturismo a little outside the city. From there I study Italian, branch out to discover new places and events, participate in festivals and daily markets, walk in the evening passeggiata, and make new friends. One of my favorite fall festivals is Rigutino’s annual polenta festival held during the first two weekends of October.
Speaking the Language
To communicate with the family I had to learn Italian, only a few spoke any English, and that was limited. Or so I thought. It turns out that they’d rather listen to my Italian than use their English.
Several times I’ve found a church caretaker or museum docent who, upon discovering that I understood Italian, took me on a private 45 minute tour. I’ve learned about specialties in a restaurant that aren’t on the menu and found the perfect Vino Nobile for the secondo piatto because the waiter understood me. Thanks to the the language I’ve learned to harvest grapes and olives to make wine and olive oil. And I learned to make limoncello from my cousin Nando.
Importance of Family
I have a unique perspective from other writers because of my family. They show me the real “Inside Tuscany” with its hidden tiny hill towns, incredible panoramas, and restaurants and pizzerias known only to the locals. They have taken me to sagre (festivals dedicated to a single food like steak, or porcini mushrooms) and weekend long festivals and antique fairs. And, they “try” to teach me how to “act Italian” –– but it is still hard to get used to eating dinner at 8:30.
Below: Scott Tiezzi Grabinger
When I Started
After I retired from the University of Colorado Denver in 2008, I was thinking about what to do next. I asked, “What do I know and love?” I love writing and traveling in Arezzo and Tuscany, so decided to begin a series of guidebooks. The first was the book on Arezzo. It took 18 months to research, write, and publish it. The next four followed in what I call the “Inside Tuscany: A Second Time Around” series. Don’t hesitate to visit my books’ website.
