FLORENCE WITH THE KIDS: ROCKING THE CRADLE OF THE RENAISSANCE

Florence With The Kids: Rocking The Cradle Of The Renaissance Florence might be world famous for many things, but being child-friendly isn’t one of them. Galleries and museums, not amusements and arcades, make up the beating heart of the city’s cobbled UNESCO centre, not least the world-famous galleries of the Uffiziand the Accademia. These attractions …

SPENDING THE PERFECT EASTER IN FLORENCE

Spending The Perfect Easter In Florence Easter is a special time in Florence. As scenes of solemn masses its dozens of churches are given new lease of life; its streets are awash with the colour of passing processions (their Florentine participants decked out in the same medieval regalia once worn by their ancestors); and, come …

CHASING DOWN THE BEST COFFEE IN FLORENCE

Chasing Down The Best Coffee In Florence Photo credit: Cindy Duran Florence might be most famous for its art and architecture, but its lesser-known coffee culture is undergoing a renaissance of its own. Tradition and innovation stand side by side as shabby express bars and trendy artisan coffeehouses compete to win over the city’s choosy clientele. …

OUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FOOD AND WINE TASTING IN TUSCANY

Our Ultimate Guide To Food And Wine Tasting In Tuscany Photo credit: Casa Chianti Classico It’s no secret that the Italians have a loving relationship with their food. I’m not just talking about the owners of prestigious restaurants, trattorie, or osterie. Sit yourself down at any Italian table and you’ll be amazed at the amount of …

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN VISITING POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM

What to Expect When Visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum House of the Mosaic, Herculaneum. Pinterest It’s often said that with its abundant wealth of history Italy is like a window into the past. More than a window, I like to think of it as a glass-bottom boat: constantly moving, constantly changing, and, for those who want …

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN VENICE

Off the Beaten Track: The Best Things to Do in Venice Known famously and fondly as the “Floating City”, for centuries Venice functioned as the financial gateway between the East and the West. From the banks of its canals and mudflats stretched a sprawling empire whose territory spanned from Cyprus and the southern Peloponnese right …

REGION’S GREETINGS! CHRISTMAS FOOD AND FESTIVE TRADITIONS FROM AROUND ITALY

Regions’ Greetings!  Christmas Food And Festive Traditions  From Around Italy With the long nights setting in, the temperatures beginning to plummet, and Christmas lights transforming towns and cities worldwide into winter wonderlands, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. It’ll soon be time to deck the halls and train the stomachs, especially here in …

WHERE TO GET THE BEST APERITIVO IN FLORENCE

 Where to get the best aperitivo in Florence People Relaxing In a Cafe In Florence While there are some world famous Italian exports that travel well—think pasta, pizza, Pavarotti—there are others that really, inexplicably, don’t. The aperitivo slots into this second category, not because mulling over a bitter drink and some hors d’oeuvres from around …

MATERA: THE MUST-SEE MIRACLE OF SOUTHERN ITALY

Matera: the Must-See Miracle of Southern Italy Overview Of Matera  The ancient city of Matera sits perched above the instep of the Italian boot, in the eastern extremities of the region of Basilicata. It’s a city quite unlike any other in Italy, not so much because hilltop settlements are thin on the ground—so to speak—across …