On a mission to connect travellers with the real Rome, Author champions sustainable tourism and under-the-radar discoveries.
This spring, award-winning Italy travel author Patty Civalleri returns to Rome with a mission: to help rewrite the narrative of American tourism in the Eternal City. From May 24 to June 10, Civalleri—an internationally acclaimed writer, historian, and cultural advocate—will be on the ground in the Eternal City to conduct deep-dive research for an updated edition of her celebrated travel book, ROME: Keys to the Ancient City. But that’s just the beginning.
As Italy continues to grapple with the pressures of mass tourism, Civalleri brings a fresh, future-focused message: Travel isn’t just about consumption—it’s about curiosity, consciousness, and cultural preservation.
“Rome isn’t a theme park,” says Civalleri. “It’s a living city layered with over 2,600 years of world-shaping history. Americans should experience more than just a selfie in front of the Colosseum. They deserve to feel Rome’s soul—and that requires slowing down, stepping off the beaten path, and learning to see the city through a historical lens.”
A Voice for the New Generation of Travel
Civalleri’s books have garnered international praise for their ability to connect with discerning, intellectually curious travellers—particularly those over 50—who crave meaningful experiences rather than fast-paced checklist tourism. Her audience is educated, affluent, and loyal. They avoid crowds, seek depth, and spend generously on experiences that matter.
In addition to her books, Civalleri created a clever way of indexing over 100 sites in each city, making it simple for even first-time visitors to spread out in the city without getting lost. The question of “How to get visitors to spread out and away from the top 10 sites” has now been answered. Her solution, called the SpiniCity Board, now gives retailers throughout each city a chance to attract visitors to their neighborhoods and to partake in travel revenue.
With deep roots in academic archaeology and historical travel, Civalleri has created a body of work that reshapes how travellers engage with ancient cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice. Her popular travel book series provides practical, image-rich tools that allow visitors to move independently, understand complex historical layers, and avoid the “Top 10 trap” that dominates most tourist itineraries and potentially ruins cities.