The Celiac in Italy- Catalin Varela, GF Travel Advisor

27/10/2025

20/10/2025

If bookstores had love languages, this one would be acts of service🤍

Piccola Farmacia Letteraria isn’t your average bookshop. Instead of being organized by genre or author, every book here is sorted by emotion. You can literally “prescribe” yourself a story based on how you’re feeling🫶🏼

The founder, Elena Molini, used to work in big chain bookstores and realized that readers don’t choose books by plot… they choose them by mood. So she reimagined the entire experience. Each book even comes with a little leaflet created by their psychologists that lists “therapeutic indications,” “dosage,” and “side effects.”

It’s cozy, thoughtful, and honestly one of the most charming hidden gems in Florence. Definitely add it to your must-visit list next time you’re here.

📍Piccola Farmacia Letteraria, Via di Ripoli 7r, Florence

15/10/2025

After five years in Italy, I finally tried Pocket Coffee🍫☕️

Chocolate + espresso in one tiny cube of chaos…Maybe I AM a Pocket Coffee?😅

13/10/2025

☕️ No, I can’t make the perfect cappuccino at home (and honestly, I don’t trust anyone who says they can). But what I CAN do is make sure your gluten free trip to Europe feels safe, joyful, and stress-free.

Because travel should be about memories and magic, not panic Googling “is this safe to eat??” at the dinner table.

➡️ Ready to feel confident about your trip? Head to the link in bio to book your consultation✨

08/10/2025

You know what time it is…let’s unpack my gluten free Italian groceries!

Your turn: what would a haul like this cost where you live? 🤔🛒

07/10/2025

You’re not ready for this one, amici…

Quinoa, the very first 100% gluten-free restaurant to open in Florence back in 2014, has officially arrived in the capital!🎉✨

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I basically live at Quinoa Florence. It was actually the first place I ever ate gluten-free in Italy, and it’s been my go-to ever since🥰

Their menu mixes Italian comfort with Asian fusion (hello, pad thai 👋) and their bread is legendary…like, I’ve absolutely smuggled it home before 😂

Definitely add this one to your gluten-free Rome list😉

📍100% gluten-free | lots of vegetarian options | cozy vibe | same Quinoa magic, new città

05/10/2025

Big day for 🥳They’ve officially opened their brand new headquarters, La Casa dei Celiaci!❤️

It’s just a quick train ride from the center of Florence, and it already feels like such a special space for our gluten-free community here in Toscana.

Between the speeches, the cooking demo from , and the incredible energy in the room… it really feels like the start of something exciting. 🇮🇹✨

Stay tuned, abbiamo già tante idee in mente! 😉

28/09/2025

Just popping by with some recent GF bites from my various shenanigans around the globe🌎🍽️🤤

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12/05/2024

We’re joining forces! Read more about my collaboration with the Italian Celiac Association here:

The Tuscany chapter of the Italian Celiac Association (AIC Toscana) is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Catalin Varela of The Celiac in Italy, the leading online resource for gluten free travel in Italy. This partnership marks a significant step forward in enhancing the accessibility of c

12/05/2024

BIG NEWS! I am excited to announce my collaboration with the Italian Celiac Association of Tuscany!

This collaboration is multifaceted, with exciting plans to come (🤭) but our initial focus is on enhancing accessibility through language.

I'll be assisting AIC Toscana in translating their website into English, specifically curating a "tourism" section tailored to our international audience. Plus, we’ll be launching an English blog on the AIC Toscana site with insider tips, news updates, and much more🥳

Stay connected with us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and content designed to enrich your celiac travel experience✈️

We're on a mission to make waves in the world of celiac tourism, and we need your help! Let your fellow celiac travelers know that Italy, especially Tuscany, is more welcoming and accessible than ever before💕

Together for a future where all celiacs are welcome in Tuscany, both residents and tourists!🇺🇸🤝🇮🇹
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GRANDI NOTIZIE! Sono emozionata di annunciare la mia collaborazione con Associazione Italiana Celiachia della Toscana!

Questa collaborazione vedrà, nei prossimi mesi, lo sviluppo di idee entusiasmanti (🤭) ma il nostro focus iniziale sarà sull'incremento dell'accessibilità attraverso la lingua.

Catalin assisterà AIC Toscana nella traduzione del sito in inglese, creando appositamente una sezione "turismo" su misura per il nostro pubblico internazionale. Lanceremo anche un blog in inglese, dove condivideremo suggerimenti, aggiornamenti, e molto altro ancora🥳

Rimanete connessi con noi sui social per seguire gli aggiornamenti, dietro le quinte, e contenuti progettati per arricchire la vostra esperienza di viaggio senza glutine✈️

Vogliamo fare la differenza nel mondo del turismo celiaco, e abbiamo bisogno del vostro aiuto! Fate sapere ai vostri amici celiaci che la Toscana è più accogliente e accessibile che mai💕

Insieme per un futuro in cui tutti i celiaci sono i benvenuti in Toscana, sia residenti che turisti!

06/03/2024

Those of you with celiac disease or gluten intolerance will be happy to hear just how inclusive eateries and grocery stores are in this bel paese. 🇮🇹

Join us as we welcome special guest, Catalin Varela, a gluten-free travel consultant here in Italy, on our newest episode of A New Life in Italy Podcast! 🎙️

You can find us on your fave podcast platform or via https://bit.ly/3V6yqEr . 🎧



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