Exploring Beautiful Bologna – Day Trip from Florence
May 9th, 2016Bologna is one of the fine cities of Italy, very much worth a visit. The trip from Florence is only 35 minutes by train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Bologna Centrale station, with a train about every 30 minutes. You can buy the ticket directly at the train station or online at this link. ... Read More
Pizza By the Slice in Italy
May 3rd, 2016Pizza reigns supreme as a perennial favorite any time of year and just about any time of day! Here’s a brief primer on “pizza al taglio” literally translated as “cut pizza” as in, by the slice. ... Read More
Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence
April 18th, 2016A wonderful day trip from Florence is the iconic coastline of the Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre translates in English to “The Five Lands”, a chain of five coastal towns that have never had automobile access. Here you can explore each beautiful town, hike along the coastal trail, dine on seafood, or lounge on the beach. The five villages in order from the ... Read More
Farmer’s Market Food Extravaganza!
April 11th, 2016Food is one of Italy’s greatest delights. We think of the farmer’s markets that can be found in all Italian cities as interactive museums of food and culture with fresh-from-the-farm ingredients and the friendly social interactions between shoppers and vendors. Dramatic and beautiful arrangements of the fresh items demonstrates the art that permeates Italian history and culture. Cheerful ... Read More
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
Tour Italy’s Foods Without Leaving Rome
March 21st, 2016Ask anyone: what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Italy? The food, the wine. (And the history and culture, of course), but most people get a vision of pizza and pasta dancing around their head when asked. And for a lot of people, experiencing all of the different types of ... 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 13 Obelisks of Rome
February 16th, 2016The city of Rome has the most obelisks in the world! 13 true obelisks, stone pillars made from single blocks of stone. ... Read More
Frappe’ Sweet Fritters Chase Away Winter Blues
February 8th, 2016February might bring the winter blues but it also marks Carnivale season when you can enjoy frappe’, a yummy seasonal Italian pastry. Like potato chips, nobody can eat just one! Frappe’ are flaky strips of deep-fried pastry dough sprinkled with powdered sugar. Different regions have different names for these tasty treats. Whatever the name they are ... 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