Tuscany evokes images of a string of cypress trees lining the rolling, sun-drenched vineyards of the countryside. Together Tuscany and wine represent a long legacy of traditions and notoriety beginning with the Etruscans from Greece who started planting grapevines in Tuscany nearly 3000 years ago. Tuscany is not the center […]
It has been over two decades since Frances Mayes published her book “Under the Tuscan Sun” about her journey to purchase and renovate a ramshackle villa called Bramasole in the Tuscan countryside. Following the book’s explosive popularity, a flurry of interest in the area increased tourism and turned the word […]
Valentina De Santis is young, talented, and embodies all of the superb style and hospitality you would expect from the owner and CEO of Grand Hotel Tremezzo. This stunning hotel with spa and gardens, and their own in-the-lake swimming pool and beach is located in Tremezzo, one of the villages […]
Spending a day in Murano is ultimately an engaging getaway from Venice and its streets bustling with tourists. During the late afternoon, when colors start to soften, one may admire the city in the distance, and get a renewed sense of its eternal charm. Furthermore, Murano offers a quiet escapade […]
If there were a more beautiful city than Florence to exemplify the refinement and beauty of the Renaissance, I have yet to find it. And it should be so, for Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance. To appreciate this city, you must understand that in 1397 a wealthy banker […]
Though about 150 kilometers and a province or two separate them, Bologna and Verona share many of the same traits: Roman roots, well-preserved, medieval centers where life revolves around handsome piazzas, plus great culinary traditions and designer shopping on elegant, arcaded streets. And both cities share have something else in […]
When your time is limited, and you have specific sightseeing interests and desire a memorable meal in Rome, here are some of our favorite places that we recommend. Near the Spanish Steps: Assaggia Roma Assaggia means “taste” in Italian, and that’s just what this stylish restaurant on pretty Via Margutta […]
Once in a while I get a question from a reader asking, “How much should I tip while in Italy?” The answer is not so straightforward, because we bring our own cultural norms with us when we travel, and that can be a hard thing to “undo” for a week […]
All roads may or may not lead to Rome, but chances are your vacation to Italy will begin or end there. To make the most of your stay in the Eternal City, be it for a couple of days or for a week or more, location is everything. Basing yourself […]
To say Milan is only one of the top design capitals of the world could be an understatement. It has been at the top of the list since Leonardo Da Vinci lived and created here for twenty years and left his genius in engineering, architecture, inventing, sculpting and art. Today […]
