Eat. Pray. Love

This journey was centered on prayer, on love — on grace for the world. The highlight was the extraordinary Vatican City concert featuring Pharrell Williams and Maestro Andrea Bocelli, but the days around it formed a mosaic of sacred spaces, quiet moments, and unexpected connections. I ate. I prayed. And I felt love — through music, through others, through the city itself.

From Castel Gandolfo to Waldorf Astoria

My friend Gio gave me three options of places to visit. I chose Castel Gandolfo, a hilltop town about 45 minutes southeast of Rome, poised above Lake Albano. It’s known as one of “The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy.” The town’s Apostolic Palace, the Pope’s summer residence since 1626, is now a museum — though this past July Pope Leo XIV returned there for a six-week retreat.

That afternoon, I dined at Arte e Vino. Giulio Mariani, from a family steeped in four generations of catering and antique collecting, has turned the restaurant into more than a place to eat — it’s a gallery of taste and history.

I ended the night at the stunning Waldorf Astoria Rome, its elegance rising from the grand panorama of the Eternal City, antique furniture, lush fabrics, and service so polished it felt like stepping into living art.

Friends, Icons, and Jo

The next morning began poolside with Andrea Bocelli’s longtime collaborators Jules Nasso and Tony Renis. Jules, an Italian-American film producer and entrepreneur, has been behind projects like Narc and carries stories that bridge Hollywood and Italy. Tony, meanwhile, radiates the aura of a true musical legend. Known worldwide for writing “Quando, Quando, Quando” and for winning a Golden Globe with The Prayer, his presence felt like standing beside living history.

Prior to dinner, I met friends at Hotel de Russie, near the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo. We sipped cocktails at its posh Stravinskij Bar, one of Rome’s most exclusive modern gathering spots.

Dinner was at nearby Hostaria Da Pietro, a warm, welcoming, authentic family-run trattoria. The reservation was arranged by Jo Champa — actress, producer, model, and humanitarian. Born in Long Branch, New Jersey, but raised in Rome, Jo became one of Gianni Versace’s favorite models before forging her own multifaceted career. Today, she continues to inspire not just through style but through her advocacy and generosity. Sharing an evening guided by her felt like stepping into the soul of the city!

The night ended at Sanctuary Nightclub, a space conceived as a “multicultural village,” where music, energy, and wellness merged under a canopy of sound and light.

Pantheon, Cardinal Versaldi

Lunch at the Pantheon and pulled up at Albergo Abruzzi, in front of the hotel where my family stayed on our first trip to Rome. Familiar streets, flooded with amazing memories. Caffe Ristorante Di Rienzo’s Marianna Di Rienzo and Dr. Fabio, with their gentle welcome, made that return feel like I had stepped back in time.

In the afternoon, I visited with Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi — it was an true moment of grace. Listening to Cardinal Versaldi — who served as prefecture for economic affairs of the Holy See and prefect emeritus of the congregation for Catholic Education — was so inspirational.

‘Grace for the World’ Concert

The creative direction came from Pharrell Williams, in collaboration with Andrea Bocelli. The lineup was extraordinary: Pharrell with the Voices of Fire Choir (founded in Virginia by his uncle, Bishop Ezekiel Williams), Bocelli, Il Volo, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Karol G, Teddy Swims, Jelly Roll, Angelique Kidjo, Clipse, BamBam, and the Choir of the Diocese of Rome under Maestro Marco Frisina.

Before the music began, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, offered words of fraternity, peace, and unity. Bishop Ezekiel Williams spoke with conviction about music as ministry, while leaders like Graça Machel Mandela and Naomi Campbell lent their voices to the call for compassion.

Pharrell urged the crowd: “In this historic moment, I ask you to choose GRACE. Choose CURIOSITY, choose them until they become contagious. Together we will flood the world with light and love.”

Bocelli and Jennifer Hudson’s duet was prayerful. Then Hudson, with the Voices of Fire choir, unleashed a wave of sound so powerful it felt as though the square itself might rise.

Drones by Nova Sky Stories (whose CEO and co-founder, Kimbal Musk, was in attendance with his mother, Maye Musk) filled the night with spectacular imagery drawn from the Sistine Chapel — Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, doves, the word Joy shimmering above the basilica.

More than a concert, Grace for the World was a global embrace. Music became the language of unity, love, and hope — a reminder of our shared humanity, and an invitation to invitation to build a future rooted in love.

And in that square, I truly felt the love.

From Porta Portese Market to Pierluigi

Sunday began in Trastevere at Porta Portese Market, a sprawling maze of treasures. Later, I explored the Spanish Steps, shopped Via Condotti (with stops at Gucci, and my favorites Valentino, and Dolce & Gabbana), and discovered a hidden gem: Boutique Central on Via Frattina, which showcases collections from emerging Italian designers curated by owner Annalise. (Thanks again to Jo Champa for the recommendation!)

That evening we dined at Pierluigi Restaurant, a Roman institution since 1938, located in the heart of the Eternal City. The freshest seafood, refined service, and candlelit elegance made for an unforgettable final meal.  

Travel reveals what you already carry. In Rome, every meal was more than food — it was a reminder of abundance, of history, of sharing. I ate, and discovered gratitude. I prayed, and found stillness. I loved, and felt the connections that bind us all. Grace, in its many forms, is always present. The choice is to step into its light.