I watched out the large rectangular window and the massive television screen blaring Italian on the wall at the same time.
Glancing back and forth, I could see where each frame of the movie had been filmed. The main actor would walk into the door that I had just walked through and then up the stairs to the very room I was standing in.
However, the Italian actress in the movie was upset about something, but I couldn’t be anywhere further from that emotion, as I was delighted to be here. This was dé·jà vu with a twist, where innately I understood that not only did this place have a history, going back 57 years, it had one going back 20 centuries!
The new owner of the apartment was visually illustrating to my group about his apartment’s history: An apartment where Marlon Brando once lived in 1965. And where the scene mentioned above from Italian film director Michelangelo Antonioni, L’Avventura, was filmed in 1960. Antonioni had owned the apartment as well.
It was now the home of Fabio Bongianni, whom I would later learn is a master chef in Italian cuisine and teaches Italian cooking classes in his commercial kitchen within this very apartment. This is just one of the #BeMyGuest experience you can have with Trafalgar Tours.
Who knew there was an island right in the middle of Rome? I certainly didn’t, even though I had visited this island before! I simply didn’t realize it was not attached to either side of the banks of the Tiber River! It is called Isola Tiberina, or Tiber Island and it’s the world’s smallest inhabited island. To get there, you only have to cross Rome’s oldest original bridge Ponte Fabricio, still existing in its original state and built in 62 BC!
A Tiny Island in the Middle of Rome: Tiber Island, Italy
I had first discovered Tiberina Island when I was on a tour of Undiscovered Rome with the Viking Ocean Liner, Viking Star. This tour was for people who had visited Rome many times before and were looking to visit lesser known areas of Rome. I remember crossing that bridge and walking into the 10th-century basilica but failed to realize it was on an island. I also had no idea there were two apartments here as well, as that particular part of that tour was to see the inside of the basilica.
Many months after my original visit to the island, I was invited on by the CEO of Trafalgar Tours USA, Gavin Tollman. He had a special treat waiting for us, as we would visit Isola Tiberina and explore one of only two apartments built on the island, the home of Fabio Bongianni, who teaches cooking classes here. Not only that, Fabio is very proud to own this apartment and was gracious enough to show us around.
Once inside his private apartment, we were given a tour of the inside area of the residence. It had ancient walls, underground passageways, a foundation built of plexiglass that revealed a crumbling rock foundation below, that was used as a wine cellar.
It was quite interesting to peer into the old down below with the new juxtapositioned next to it.
Attending a tour and dinner with Chef Fabio Bongianni, where I would later learn a few secrets of Italian cuisine cooking, was a highlight of my trip to Rome!
A Tiny Island in the Middle of Rome: Tiber Island, Italy
As mentioned before, this is just one example of Trafalgar Tour’s #BeMyGuest experiences and you can experience it too, as this is offered currently on this Trafalgar Tour in Italy.
- Rome Explorer – an 8-day trip, dinner with Fabio Bongianni in his apartment, which formerly belonged to film director, Michelangelo Antonioni.
Here are a few other insider experiences in Italy for you to explore with Trafalgar Tours:
- Italy Bellissimo – 11-day trip, cultural insight about Italian weaving at Laboratorio Giuditta Brozzetti – a traditional wooden frame hand-weaving shop and a trip to Siena.
- Best of Italy – 13-Day trip, cultural insight into Venetian tradition of glass making and visit to the island of Burano which is famous for its colored houses and lacemaking.
- Flavors of Italy 10-day trip – a walking tour of Venice and visit the Rialto Food Market and a #BeMyGuest experience with the Lenzi family – olive oil tasting on their Tuscan farm, enjoying Chianti over a meal. Includes a trip to the UNESCO, walled medieval town of San Gimignano.
RECOMMENDED READING ABOUT ITALY:
Furore, Italy: The Most Beautiful Place on Earth
A Voyage Thru Time: Things to do in Venice, Italy
Disclosure: The writer believes in full disclosure and wanted to let you know that this trip was provided by Trafalgar Tours. As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with accommodations, meals and other compensation.
I’d love to visit this little island! Now if only I had a method to remember all the tiny places I want to visit when I go somewhere…
ha ha! so true!
It would be so amazing to be able to tour this island. I wasn’t aware of this island before. I think it’s really lovely and it’s also peaceful, the kind of place you’d want to escape to for some down time.
I would agree!
I have been to Italy quite a few times but I have not known of Tiber island! I hope to visit the next time I’m there. It looks like it has a lot to offer.
agreed! I was quite surprised!
How cool! I would love to visit one day!
yes! go.
How did I not know of this? I travel to Italy almost every year and every time I miss exploring Tiber Island. This time I have to make sure I do. Tiber Island will be #1 in our itinerary.
Agreed! me too!
I had no idea. What a neat little spot!
Yes, a neat little spot!
An underground passage would be trippy. It’s nice to get an inside peek.
Yes, trippy!
This looks like it was such a great trip.
Trafalgar Tours, I heard, can open up a whole new world of travel to someone.
This destination looks awesome!
Yes, they certainly can!
This looks like such a beautiful place! I would love to be able to go here one day.
Yes, it is pretty cool!
How amazing is that apartment!? What an incredible tour that must have been. I would definitely love to explore all that Tiber Island has to offer when I get to Italy!
Yes, It was quite amazing!
This looks like a great place to spend a vacation! One of the things that interest me about Italy is their cuisine!
It is awesome: Tiny Tiber Island, Italy
Tiber Island looks like a beautiful place. I love the architecture and the setting. We’ll have to stop there when we visit Italy.
Yes, take a stop on Tiber Island, Italy.
Awesome! We’re planning a trip to Europe, and Italy is on the agenda. We HAVE to include Tiber Island.
Cool! Enjoy Italy and of course, Tiber Island, Italy!
That is one beautiful place. I’d love to visit Italy, period. But if we get there, I’ll be sure to make Tiber Island a stop.
Yes! Be sure and take a walk to the island! Tiber Island, Italy
Oh wow! It’s so beautiful there! We have been to Italy three times. How could we have never been here?!
I know, right? I was even there before and didn’t realize it was an island! Be sure and visit the Basicila on the island as well.
What a quaint little island! I have yet (keyword yet) to travel to Rome, but I have no doubt that Italian cuisine will be a huge part of my experience.
Oh, for sure!