Elvira Vedelago - Cofounder of POSTSCRIPT
Introducing Weekend With, our latest content series featuring interviews with fascinating women who love to travel. Discover how these bold personalities would spend a weekend away, from their destination of choice to their ideal travel companion. Come along for the ride as we explore unique perspectives on the art of traveling. Whether you're a seasoned solo traveler or simply curious about new destinations, Weekend With promises to deliver insightful and inspiring travel stories that will leave you yearning for your next vacation. Sit back and join us on this exciting journey.
Who is Elvira Vedelago?
I'm the co-founder of POSTSCRIPT, an independent journal spotlighting women of color artists and thinkers.
Where are you going and who with?
I'm going to Tuscany for a long weekend with my closest girlfriends. We plan to escape the chaos of London for a slower pace of life in Italy. Based in Pisa, we make day trips to neighbouring medieval towns, eat (!) aplenty, learn about (and drink!) local wines, and take joy in being within such beautiful natural landscapes. I’m going with them because I love sharing new experiences with my closest friends and creating fun new memories together.
What’s your travel style?
Wherever I travel, I'm always keen to engage with the culture of the area. I like immersing myself in the history of the towns, viewing local art, and trying foods specific to that region. Sometimes I plan out my activities in advance, but mostly I like to simply get lost, step out without a concrete plan and see where the day takes me. Doing so often gives me a better sense of life in that place and discover unknown gems within the area that I may not have come across if I had been so rigid with my activity planning. With busy cities and quiet countryside, there's so much to explore in Tuscany: medieval towns, impressive Renaissance art and architecture, and world-renowned wines and cuisine.
Primo Pasta, courtesy of Elvira
Elvira’s Hit List
What I Like.
The landscape is breathtaking, think mountains, vineyards and beaches. I love the rustic feel to a lot of the towns, everything looks a little rugged but is teeming in history. Of course, the food is exquisite but I particularly love how proud the locals are of their dining culture and how much they want to share this with you.
What I Recommend.
Eat: Offish Ristorante (Pisa)
Eat: Primo Pasta (Pisa). I would go back just for this.
Eat: Il Vecchio Foro bakery (Pisa).
Do: Visit Lucca, a medieval town known as the City of Art (20 mins train ride from Pisa) and book a wine tasting at Tenuta Adamo Winery.
Do: Take a day trip to Florence (1 hour train ride from Pisa) and spend the afternoon around the Centro Storico area to see centuries-old churches, such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), and Renaissance-era galleries like the Uffizi and Bargello.
What is your must-pack item?
Sunglasses. It's the Italian way.
Carry-on or check-in?
Carry-on.
Hotel or Airbnb?
I like a mix, but for Tuscany, definitely Airbnb.
Share a song, podcast, or book for the trip.
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant, a historical fiction set in the late 15th century Florence, Italy. With themes of love, art, religion and power, the story gives a beautiful description of Renaissance Florence.
Lucca book market, courtesy of Elvira
