Our second foray into the countryside around Florence was a visit to the Val D’Orcia, a region of Tuscany in central Italy, and the medieval towns of Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulcino. The Val d’Orcia was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2004. Its landscape has been depicted in works of art…
Medieval Gems of Tuscany I
Even with all of amazing and iconic sites to see in Florence alone, a two week stay gave us plenty of opportunity to explore all of Tuscany and even into neighbouring Umbria. These days trips were highlights of our time in Italy. We used Viator to book our excursions for no reason other than I…
Art of the Italian Renaissance
Florence is an art lovers dream destination. It is often touted as the birthplace of the Renaissance movement showcasing leading edge architecture, art and sculpture, and a meeting place for some of the best artists of their time – Masaccio, Brunelleschi, Donatello and others. The Renaissance is said to have started in Italy during the…
Eating Fresh & Local
To truly immerse yourself in the culture of a new country you must experience their culinary traditions. If you have food allergies or sensitivities, or are just a picky eater, this can be truly terrifying. However, preparing your own food from what is fresh and local is one way to embrace this facet of travel….
A Day In Milan
Being so close to the second largest city in Italy and not at least spending a day visiting its most iconic sites seemed a waste, so we planned a day trip to Milan from our home base in Florence. Two sites topped our list of must sees; Da Vinci’s The Last Supper and the Milan…
Tuscan Wine Tours
Tuscans are very proud of their wines, and rightfully so. Made predominately from sangiovese grapes and traditionally available in a rotund bottle nestled inside a straw basket, it is the quintessential Italian wine. Serve it with aged meats, hard cheeses, pizza and pastas and you will be transported back to the rolling hills of Tuscany….
Living Like A Local
Spending an extended period of time in any city in Europe allows you immerse yourself in the culture and landscape of your destination. You can move beyond the fast and furious pace of a tourist and embrace a more relaxed schedule. We spent 14 nights at an Airbnb in Florence. We didn’t want to…
Packing Light
We just returned from a two week trip to Italy. In that time we made use of airports, bus and train stations to move about the country. It become evident to us that many travelers still pack more than they need, making their travel more cumbersome and exhausting than necessary. How do you pack? Every…
What You Should Pack in Your Carry On
Among the many reasons we have learned to pack light is to avoid long lines and waits at the baggage claim and the heart stopping potential of your luggage getting lost. Even then we are finding more and more airlines insisting that we check our carry on luggage, often due to a full flight with…