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An Italian Affair

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About Us

Founder of An Italian Affair, Antonella Nichinonni was born and raised in Casigliano di Strettura, a small hamlet on a hill top just off the old Flaminia Way midway between Terni and Spoleto in Umbria, Italy’s green heart.

As a young adult along with her family she moved to Australia where she completed her education and still makes her home.

She is a university graduate with Honours specialising in the Languages of Italian, Spanish & French. Also holding a Grad.Dip.Ed she has taught at all levels for over 23 years. In 2005 she founded an Italian Language school, Forum Italiano, in Melbourne Australia,  and now runs her own school, An Italian Affair language school.

Her love affair with Umbria started from birth and even though Australia has been her home for many years, her passion for Italy and deep connection to the region and to its people remain very strong. She has been fortunate to retain her ancestral family home and no greater pleasure has she had than to be able to share her home, its passing traditions and seasons, retaining and renewing the friendships of generations past with her family, friends and students.

Antonella is specialising in a new form of luxury, that being the luxury of Experience. Her deep connection with Umbria and strong desire to share it led Antonella to create hosted educational, cultural and gastronomic tours offering unique and special travel experiences, the sort that money cannot buy and that only genuine passionate and local people can deliver.

Antonella celebrates the aspect of self-discovery that can take place when people from a “wired” world are immersed into this ancient landscape and its people.

“I never know exactly where and when it will happen but at some stage on every journey I see people touched in a way that is deep and real and surprising. I will quote poet, David Whyte to describe what I mean;

”I knew then, as I had before life is no passing memory of what has been nor the remaining pages in a great book waiting to be read. It is the opening of eyes long closed. It is the vision of far off things seen for the silence they hold. It is the heart after years of secret conversing speaking out loud in the clear air.”

I have seen non-religious folk deeply affected visiting the tomb of San Francesco, others bought to tears by the simple generosity of neighbours sharing the sweetest figs from the field. Last year we experienced a literary interlude with Prof Rodney Lokaj at his home exploring the “Spiritual Journey of Faith of San Francesco & Santa Chiara” on a perfect evening outside under the stars overlooking the Spoleto valley, the whole night had a magical quality that we just couldn’t shake for days.

For me this is the pinnacle, these experiences can’t be manufactured or reproduced over and over again, they are always subtly different but when the temperature and conditions personally and physically and spiritually are just right the outcome is truly transformative.”

Antonella personally hosts all her tours. She feels a strong necessity to respect the generosity of her hosts, family and friends and wishes that her activities will have only the lightest touch on their way of life.
As such these tours are by necessity very small in scale and frequency
and available only to a select cliental.

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Testimonials


Con questo piccolo regalo ti vogliamo ringraziare per il tuo tempo assolutamente maraviglioso con te, e il gruppo nel tuo paese di Umbria Era un esperienza indimenticabile! Grazie mille Antonella. … Read more
Con questo piccolo regalo ti vogliamo ringraziare
Dear Antonella, What a pleasure to receive your email. After all you only had 101 other issues needing your attention before your departure next week. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. At this sta… Read more
Thank you for your thoughtfulness
Tanti ringraziamenti per il viaggio, per me era un’esperienza piena di memorie che non dimentichero`. Anche apprezzo che sempre mi inconraggi, un segno dell’insegnante migliore. Grazie mille, a pr… Read more
Tanti ringraziamenti per il viaggio
The 2013 Two Festivals Tour was a wonderful journey, generously guided. Antonella did not take me on a tour, she took me home. Luisa Havyatt
Buongiorno Antonella,
Dearest Antonella, Just a few words to say “grazie mille” for the wonderful time spent together, in Umbria. The tour was exceptional and I again enjoyed it immensely. Your friendship is so special… Read more
Just a few words to say “grazie mille”
I feel I got to know Umbria much better going with you than I would have on any other tour your love of here radiated to us all and for this I thank you most sincerely.

I look forward to doing the… Read more
I got to know Umbria

Grazie mille per tutto. Questa esperienza viene una volta nella vita. Mi sono divertita ogni giorno di nostro viaggio. Baci Lorraine, Erin and Alessandra.

(Thank you so much for everything. This… Read more
Grazie mille per tutto.
Anyone that wants a unique italian holiday experience I can highly recommend antonella . Lisa and I stayed in her village in Umbria in 2007 and it remains one of our lives most treasured memories

H… Read more
Anyone that wants a unique italian holiday

For those who are thinking of taking a trip to Umbria with Antonella but have reservations….don’t.

My name is May and I am a first year student with Forum Italiano. In August 2011, I travelled to… Read more
"Umbria with Antonella"
Dear Antonella, thank you for the most wonderful trip to Umbria. Lots of love Catherine.

Catherine (from Sydney )
Thank you for the most wonderful trip to Umbria
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