Buon Natale! Christmas in Italy
December 12th, 2016Italy has many nice ways, big and small, to enjoy the Christmas season. There is no better time to visit Italy’s illustrious cities than during the Christmas season. The holidays kick off with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception – L’Immacolata Concezione – on December 8th. This day is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Don’t ... Read More
Italy Perfect Honored by Condé Nast Traveler
December 6th, 2016Condé Nast Traveler magazine has, for a fourth year running, honored Lisa and Pat Byrne of Italy Perfect as one of the best-of-the-best Travel Specialist, for villas and apartment vacation rentals, especially for Florence. Check us out in the December 2016 issue! Every year Condé Nast Traveler highlights the absolute best travel experts and vacation ... Read More
Go Greek: 4 Rome Sites With Greek Roots
November 29th, 2016While there are more countries bordering the Mediterranean than you can count on your fingers, Italy and Greece always seem to be at the top of the list of dream destinations for travellers. The cultures are similar in many ways – think: olives, stucco and enthusiasm for unending hospitality (The movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” could have been ... Read More
Ready for Inferno? The movie, that is!
October 14th, 2016Grab the popcorn and settle in for a fast-paced romp though Florence and Venice! If there’s one thing predictable about the various Dan Brown thrillers (Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons) the newest film adaptation, Inferno, it is certain to provide the predictable tension-filled trek as he dodges danger at every turn. ... Read More
Italian Street Food: Six Fabulous Faves to Delight Your Palette
October 10th, 2016There is something magical about sitting in an Italian piazza at dusk, ordering a bottle of wine and carefully studying a menu to decide which delicious dish looks the best that day. The atmosphere is unparalleled, the food is sure to be amazing – the perfect ending to a day. But what if there isn’t time ... Read More
Spanish Steps Makeover: Isn’t she pretty?
September 26th, 2016Welcome back Spanish Steps! Rome’s iconic Spanish Steps just reopened following a nearly year-long renovation. The majestic steps, which rise from Piazza di Spagna up to Trinita’ dei Monti church, have provided the beautiful backdrop for countless movies, print ads, TV commercials, wedding photos, postcards, marriage proposals, and more selfies and instagrams that you can ... Read More
Florence’s Bridge of Gold: Ponte Vecchio
September 20th, 2016They say that gold is a safe investment because its value rarely depreciates. In Florence, the stability of gold manifests in a different form: the Ponte Vecchio. Forever fascinating, the neighborhoods on either side of the Ponte Vecchio [Old Bridge] are highly sought-after locations for our Italy Perfect vacation rental apartments. While modern travelers know the bridge for ... Read More
Florence: A Tale of Two (Extra) Davids
September 12th, 2016Why has a single statue managed to capture the minds of millions, held gazes enraptured, struck awe in the hearts of admirers? Maybe it is the story: David, the original underdog manifested in marble. The mind’s eye fills in the gaps: The giant Goliath. The sling shot. Desperation because no “real” warriors have stepped forward, only ... Read More
Roman Colosseum Essential Info
September 6th, 2016The center of Rome is teeming with life. Tourists course through the streets in rapid motion, creating a constant influx of energy keeping an ancient city alive and vibrant. It is therefore no small irony that the Colosseum, the most well known icon of Rome in the heart of the city, has a long history of mortal ... Read More
Bucatini all’Amatriciana, Tribute to the town of Amatrice
August 29th, 2016The tragedy of the last week’s earthquake in Italy will not soon be forgotten. The small town of Amatrice was one of the most impacted. While the scars of the devastation, loss of lives and injuries will long remain, there is pride in a global restaurant movement to celebrate the heritage of Amatrice, the namesake of ... Read More
Cool Coffee – Granita al Caffè
August 22nd, 2016Decades before Starbucks and imitators launched cold coffee and frappuccino beverages, Italians have been enjoying cool and refreshing granita al caffè, the great-granddaddy of cold coffee drinks. A cross between a slushy and sorbet, granita al caffè originated in Sicily. It is made from lightly sweetened espresso that is frozen and then crushed, prepared like a ... Read More