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
How To Access English Language TV in Italy
November 30th, 2015When traveling in Italy, you may need a respite from all the sights and sounds, a little television to relax. Most Italian Vacation Rentals subscribe to the basic satellite subscription that means a few English language news channels such as BBC News, Sky News, MSNBC and no English language entertainment except maybe decades-old reruns of ... Read More
Five Tuscan Fall Festivals
September 14th, 2015Fall is a great time to enjoy the many seasonal harvest festivals that take place throughout Tuscany which celebrate the rich tradition of food and wine. 1 – GREVE: CHIANTI CLASSICO WINE FESTIVAL This enticing wine festival is held every year in the city of Greve, in the Chianti area, on the second weekend of ... 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
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
Travel Tips for a Do-Able Day Trip to Venice from Florence. And sample itinerary!
April 21st, 2015Get the most out of a day in Venice. It is a small city with many attractions, so we’ve put together 5 travel tips for vacationers staying in Florence. Some of these tips save you time, some save you money and all of them come from our years of experience in Italy tourism. ... Read More
Fanatic Packer’s 5 Spring Packing Tips!
April 8th, 2015The response to our winter packing tips was so wonderful — thank you! So, by popular demand, here are 5 spring packing tips since we know many of you are preparing now for upcoming travels. Spring is harder than winter or summer because the weather can be unpredictable, ranging from really chilly to quite warm. Packing Tips 1. ... Read More