Why I Love Airports
Plus How to Navigate Rome's FCO and more
Me, right now - I’m sitting in the IGA, Istanbul International Airport, waiting for my flight home and I‘m thinking about how much I love airports - even when I really don’t like them.
Architecture - This is obvious. Airport architecture has also been great whether 1920s tiny airports like Venice Lido, Eero Saarinen’s iconic TWA Flight Center, CDG’s Air France (as ionised by Emily in Paris), and so many more.
Anachronistic Shops - shoe shine stands at CLT.
Great Food Spots - I hate food courts but I love tiny, one-of-a-kind spots like ATL’s One Flew South
Art and Museums - Finally, airports have caught up with the culture travel rend, and airpot art is no longer just decoration. Airports like IGA, CAI, FCO have museums and site specific installations that tie into the cities, regions and cultures of the destination.
Quirky Signage - just look around, you’ll see what I mean
Navigating Roma Fiumicino Airport
So you get it, I love airports but more than any airport, I love FCO- and I say this every time I step inside. FCO has been completely revamped and now is considered one of the best airports in Europe - for its architect, green initiatives and overall efficiency. Firsttimers, haters, and everyone in between, there is so much more to know about FCO, so click through my Ciao Bella article on Loving the Layover at Rome’s FCO.
Latest Articles
Along with Ciao Bella, I write for numerous publications, but you knew that, right? Well, if you are wondering where you can find all of my articles outside of the CB newsletter and website, I thought I’d share three of my recent Italy-centric pieces.
Venice Expands Its Tourist Tax for 2025 (AFAR)
Discover Italy’s Destination Hotels for Contemporary Art Lovers (Forbes)
New Hotel in Rome: Palazzo Talìa (Condè Nast Traveler)
How to Eat Really in Florence Beyond the Tourist Spots (TripAdvisor)
Darius Arya on PBS
A quick shout out to Darius for his PBS-YouTube series Life in Ancient Times with Darius Arya. I had a lot of fun working behind the scenes on this eight-part series. Each episode is 10 minutes, and if you pay attention, you may just catch me in a sound bite. Here’s the latest: