The Summer Sales Are Back—Upgrade Now for 30% off!

Last Thursday, as I was wandering around the Spanish Steps with a bit of time to kill before an appointment, I decided to stop by Marella to see if there was anything I should return for when the saldi start. To my surprise, as soon as I entered, a shop assistant told me that the summer collection was already 30% off, even though the signs weren’t up yet. I walked out with a new navy blue blazer, glad that I had snagged it before someone else snatched it up.

If you live in or visit Italy often, you likely know about the saldi, i.e. the big semi-annual sales. Did you know that the dates are regulated by each region? Throughout Italy, the saldi officially kicked off on July 4 this year, though their end date varies. In Lazio, the saldi will last for six weeks, until August 16. And, yes, the New Roman Times is on sale too!

Upgrade anytime between now and August 16 and you’ll get 30% off the price of a paid subscription. No special code or link necessary.

That means that all new yearly subscriptions cost $49 instead of $70. Or you can lock in a monthly subscription price of $4.90 instead of $7. So if you’ve been thinking about upgrading, now is the time to do so.

By upgrading to a paid subscription, you’ll unlock current and future paywalled issues that contain the insider intel I’ve worked so hard to gather over years of living in and traveling around Italy. Highlights include my popular curated lists such as these:

• 26 Places in Italy to Inspire Your 2026 Travels

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Rooftop Bars in Rome (2026 Update)

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Pizzerias in Rome (2026 Update)

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Beach Towns Near Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Places to Shop in Rome (2026 Update)

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Places to Eat in Rome (2024 Update)

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Classic Restaurants in Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Affordable Hotels in Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Restaurants and Bars in Venice

• A Guide to Rome’s Essential Neighborhoods

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Luxury Hotels in Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Tour Guides and Companies in Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Cheap Eats in Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Under-the-Radar Beaches in Italy

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Places to Eat in Florence

You’ll also get access to my 72 Hours series spotlighting in demand destinations such as:

• 72 Hours in Rome

• 72 Hours in Milan (2025 Update)

• 72 Hours in Ischia

• 72 Hours in Venice

• 72 Hours in Lecce

• 72 Hours on Lake Como

• 72 Hours in Florence

• 72 Hours in Perugia

• 72 Hours in Capri

• 72 Hours on the Amalfi Coast

• 72 Hours in Naples (coming soon!)

Plus my series of in depth neighborhood guides, including:

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: Campo de’ Fiori

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: Piazza Navona & the Pantheon

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: Monti

• Florence Neighborhood Guide: Duomo

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: the Jewish Ghetto

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: The Spanish Steps

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: Borgo & Prati

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: Trevi

• Florence Neighborhood Guide: Santa Maria Novella

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: Piazza del Popolo & Flaminio

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: Repubblica

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: Trastevere (coming soon!)

Paid subscribers also get perks like exclusive discounts with my partners, including 10% off Scooteroma’s Vespa tours. Top tier subscribers who opt for a “Super Supporter” subscription get a free 40-minute consultation with me to help them plan a trip to Italy. And all paid subscribers—regardless of tier—get 25% off my travel consultations via Ella Travel (formerly SoloTrvlr).

Perhaps most importantly, paid subscriptions help me keep this newsletter going and keep a portion of the issues available to everyone for free. The New Roman Times does not have any ads or sponsored content. I only write about places that I genuinely love and people who are worth getting to know.

“Enjoy the depth and diversity of the topics you cover, and your excellent writing skills! Brava!”

“You choose really interesting topics! A very knowledgeable woman.”

“Going to Rome next year and want the support of your knowledge so I’m supporting you getting the knowledge.”

“Thanks for the great writing. Having obtained my Italian passport (in addition to my US passport), I’m traveling around Italy looking for where I might want to settle down. I enjoy your writing and tips and hope to put them to practical use.”

“Stumbled upon the New Roman Times doing research into Italy for a series of trips. Love your writing; looking forward to diving in with a subscription. Thanks!”

I hope you will join these and other satisfied subscribers in upgrading to support my work. And remember, I always welcome your questions and feedback. Which issues of the New Roman Times have particularly resonated with you? What do you want to learn about in future issues? Share a comment below or email me at newromantimes@substack.com. My inbox is always open to questions from readers about visiting or living in Italy.

• Wanted in Rome has the official dates for the summer sales in all of Italy’s 20 regions.

• Are you in Italy and want to know where to shop this month? Check out my very subjective guide to the best places to shop in Rome (2026 update).

• If you’re new around here and are curious to learn more about me, I would encourage you to read my Letter from the Editor and the About page.