Five Rome Sites to Book Ahead
March 29th, 2016A little advance planning can make your stay in the Eternal City much easier since you’ll be assured of avoiding long lines that are common at the most popular sites. Here are the sites we recommend you book well in advance of your Rome stay. Colosseum When you approach the Colosseum, you may find a line ... Read More
Four Train Travel Tips for Italy
March 7th, 2016Traveling by train in Italy can be an especially nice experience if you give yourself time to enjoy the ride. Here are some of our tried-and-true tips to help you get the most out of your journey: Get to the station early and figure out where the platform information will be posted. The platforms are ... Read More
What Florence Sites to Book Ahead?
February 22nd, 2016Our guests often ask for advice on which sites to reserve in advance to avoid waiting in long lines. We know those lines so well. I remember a special excursion to Florence years ago with my young son, having driven for 2 hours from our countryside vacation rental. He really wanted to see Michelangelo’s Bound ... Read More
The Magical Fountains of Villa d’Este in Tivoli
February 1st, 2016Fantasy and reality combine to create a world beyond our dreams at Villa d’Este in Tivoli, just outside of Rome. Cascading fountains draw you inside, whispering their secrets as you pass and cypress trees stand tall, guarding the estate and its terraced gardens. Looking up to the main house, you wonder if Juliette will come ... Read More
Venice Pleasure: Musica a Palazzo
December 14th, 2015Music is woven through the life and history of Venice. A concert or an opera is a wonderful way to deepen your enjoyment of this lovely city. Enjoy fine music in unique and intimate settings at Musica a Palazzo. You can choose your opera, based on the day of the week and then move from room ... Read More
Five Great Day Trips from Florence Italy
July 19th, 2015Florence is conveniently located in central Tuscany, a city known for millennia as the intersection of great art, history, and food. The nearby towns and cities, rich with culture and tradition, are great opportunities for easy day trips while staying in Florence. Here are some of our favorites chosen by our Italy travel experts. ... Read More
Favorite month to visit Italy? Our travel experts’ answer might surprise you.
July 13th, 2015November is our favorite month to take advantage of low season rates and fewer crowds. We always go in November, have done for 10 years, and the first part of the month has mild, October-like weather that can last into the latter half of the month. ... Read More
The ZTL – Avoid Restricted Traffic Zones & Fines in Italy
June 16th, 2015Are you thinking of cruising around in your rental car, pulling up to the doorstep of your vacation rental in the center of Rome or Florence, unloading your bags and then chancing upon a handy parking garage or, better yet, street parking? Think again… Driving in Italy takes some careful planning if your route takes you through ... Read More
Indispensable Italian Coffee Primer
June 8th, 2015The caffeine landscape in Italy is rich with ritual and tradition. The espresso is as much a staple as pizza and wine. Italy is very traditional in its choice of coffees; popular American and British brands have never really made their mark here. So the Starbucks vocabulary such as latte and venti, while they are Italian words, don’t mean the ... Read More
Shopping Rome’s Unique Flea Markets
May 18th, 2015Romans love many things, and shopping is high on their list. To get a taste of bargain hunting, Italian style, why not visit a flea market or two? Here we’ve compiled a list of five interesting flea markets within this glorious city. ... Read More
5 Stunning Roman Rooftops
May 4th, 2015It is a true Roman virtue to relax in the afternoon when the sun is shining. From spring through autumn, Rome is blessed with many sunny days and temperate weather. Drink in the timeless skyline and feast on the panorama of golden-hued history. These 5 rooftops are a few of our favorite relaxing spots for ... Read More