Discover destinations through culture and history

Welcome! My name is Kristen. Iā€™m a Chicago-based traveler with a deep love for Italy, art history, and culturally rich places. This space is where I share destination guides, historical context, and stories that explore how history, art, and everyday life shape the way we experience a place.

Front view of the Milan Cathedral, a large Gothic-style church with intricate white marble facade, pointed arches, and tall spires.
Fresco painting on a domed ceiling depicting various biblical scenes and figures, with a central octagonal opening showing the sky.

Featured Guides

History, adventures, and city guides.

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Featured Guides
The Ritual of Aperitivo
The Ritual of Aperitivo
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On Location

Stories and highlights from my travels across the world.

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On Location
Banff, Canada
Banff, Canada
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Art History Bites

The history, beauty, and story behind every piece.

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Art History Bites
The Last Supper
The Last Supper
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Social Media

Discover more travel and food content through my instagram.

A woman with long, wavy blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a sleeveless black top, smiling in a brightly lit room with dark walls, framed artwork, and pink flowers in the background.
Two women in pastel-colored dresses smiling and holding ice cream sundaes on a balcony with greenery in the background.
Two women smiling in skiing gear on a snowy trail with ski poles, with snow-covered houses and leafless trees in the background.
Three women sitting together on a wooden bench on a boat, smiling, holding cups, with water and sailboats in the background.
A woman in a white dress and large black sunglasses standing outdoors at a scenic overlook with a view of the ocean, a hillside town, and blue sky.

Hi there! My name is Kristen, and Iā€™m based in Chicago, IL. I work in Business Operations at a growing startup, but I started my career in consulting at EY. I studied at Indiana University and spent a semester abroad in Milan, which is really where my love for travel, art history, and Italian culture began. I come from an Italian-American family, my great-grandparents immigrated from Italy in the early 1900s, and that heritage is a big part of why I love exploring Italy and learning more about where I come from.