Joy and Canocchie in Venice
July 22nd, 2014Thank you to Dale R. who stayed at the Venice Marino apartment. Dale gave us permission to share this with all of our Italy Perfect Blog followers. On our final evening in Venice my wife and I meandered from San Marco to the Rialto bridge, working up quite a seafood appetite. We stopped at nearly ... Read More
Three Ways to Manage Jet Lag
July 16th, 2014Ancient Roman philosopher Epictetus wrote that one must first control his eating habits, and then he must control his sleeping habits. We can use his advice in our three tips for travelers crossing the Atlantic to stay in Italy. ... Read More
Every Caravaggio Painting in Rome
July 11th, 2014The greatest painter of the Renaissance was Caravaggio according to many experts. Born Michelangelo Merisi, his lively character and grandiose personality would rival modern celebrities. He arrived in Rome in 1592, a penniless painter’s apprentice. A decade later he had become the most famous painter in the world as well as a gambler and a ... Read More
4 Essential Items to Pack for your Trip to Italy
July 3rd, 2014Packing for your European adventure brings decisions big and small. Here are four very useful items we recommend adding to your packing list, without which you could waste or even lose funds and more. All of the following products have been tried and tested on our own trips to Europe and are available online through the affiliate links. ... Read More
Florence Mercato Centrale: A Tour of Tastes
June 30th, 2014The newly renovated Mercato Centrale [Central Market] is the epicurean center of new and old Florence, a veritable tour of tastes. The ground floor has always offered a wide array of fruit, vegetable, meat and other specialized local vendors. The 140 year-old Mercato Centrale recently celebrated the opening of its new HUB gourmet food hall ... Read More
3 Best Ways to get from the Pisa Airport to Florence
June 23rd, 2014To get from the Pisa Airport to Florence, there are three usual ways: by train, by bus and by private car directly to your vacation rental. You don’t need or, probably want, a rental car in Florence, but you could do it all the same. Here is all the information you need to decide on ... Read More
A Moveable Feast Tuscan Style
April 11th, 2014Food traditions are a big part of Italian culture so it’s no surprise that eating well is a tradition of our Italy trips! A highlight of a recent trip was a marvelous dinner prepared for us by Chef in Tuscany at our accommodations near Florence. Graziella and her staff arrived cheerful and efficient; settled us ... Read More
Italian Easter Traditions
April 3rd, 2014Traditional Dove-shaped Easter cake. There is nothing like Rome during Easter. From Palm Sunday through Easter Monday, the Eternal City is a symphony of pilgrims, tourists, Christian tradition, flowers and dove-shaped Easter cakes. On Holy Thursday night, the streets of Rome are filled with jovial energy while Roman faithful and visiting pilgrims pray in seven ... Read More
Palazzo Valentini – A Rome ‘Must See’
March 19th, 2014Make it a ‘Must See Top Eleven’ list for your Rome visit with the new Domus Romane of Palazzo Valentini. Deep under the palace conveniently located in Piazza Venezia, near the gleaming Victor Emmanuel Monument (fondly called the wedding cake), is a modern exhibit that promises a fascinating 1.5 hour tour. The remains of two ... Read More
La Bella Figura — Italian Style Decoded
March 3rd, 2014Fare una bella figura (make a good impression) – an unspoken Italian cultural objective that entrances expatriates and tourists alike. In the 1920s, astute F. Scott Fitzgerald captured the idea of la bella figura: “When a girl feels that she’s perfectly groomed and dressed she can forget that part of her. That’s charm.” The Italians ... Read More
Train Travel Tips – Italy Perfect’s tips to make train travel in Italy a fun and relaxing experience.
January 30th, 2014Here’s a collection of our wisdom regarding trains, including: Reserving train tickets Seat selection Rail protection insurance Changing reservations Rail pass? Cheaper to drive? First or second class? At the station Validate tickets Paperless tickets Boarding train Changing seats Food onboard Call your greeter Landing in Rome/Milan + same day train to Florence ... Read More