Best Restaurants in Florence Disembarking the train at Florence’s Stazione di Santa Maria Novella, I resolve to make the most of my just three days in Florence to get my “Eat Pray Love” groove on—preferably without busting my budget. After a lovely week of hiking The Veneto, the Italian countryside north of Venice, reaching Florence […]
Italy’s Padlocks of Love: Luccheti d’Amore
For young Italians, nothing says “That’s Amore!” quite like heavy metal – and the rest of the continent is locking onto the trend. Maybe it’s just me, but when I think metal, chains and padlocks, the first thing that comes to mind usually isn’t romance. But leave it to the Italians to take those three things, add […]
Climbing the 463 Steps of Florence’s Duomo
Plan Your Visit To The Florence Duomo During my recent trip to Florence, Italy, my girlfriend Kristin and I decided to do something we’d never done before: visit the top of the Florence Duomo. Every Italian city has a duomo. Though there is no English equivalent, to define duomo is easy enough: it is the […]
Italy from Bottom to Top: Tuscany’s Cuisine
Last night, to celebrate the dollar’s dramatic comeback against the euro, Kristin and I scoured Florence for the famous bistecca alla fiorentina. Made from a unique breed of cow, Chianina, the steak is served in huge slabs of between 1.5 lbs and 3 lbs, and traditionally cooked al sangue, which means “bloody.” I say “scoured” […]
Italy Tourist Information
Introduction to Italy The tenth-largest country in Europe; Italy reaches into the central Mediterranean and includes the islands Sardinia and Sicily. Before Italy became a nation-state in 1861, the country was divided into city-states. Those political divisions may no longer exist but they are still present culturally. One will find a long-standing rivalry between Florence […]
Curious Easter Ceremonies in Italy
Easter time in Italy means spending time with family, eating good food, and picnicking in the countryside. Businesses sometimes take the entire week off, and government-run institutions, such as bus and train service, are pared down. Easter Sunday itself, known as Pasqua, is a day of intense celebration. Parades, brass marching bands, idols made […]
Uffizi Gallery – Stepping into The Florentine Renaissance
Recognized as one of the most important art museums in Italy, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence is home to the works of numerous Renaissance painters, and like Paris’s Louvre, filled with more artwork than any one person can appreciate in a lifetime. Located inside a palace built in 1554, the gallery is situated in the center […]
Wine Tasting in Chianti, Italy
I never realized how easy it is to go wine tasting in Chianti until I gave it a try. My girlfriend Kristin and I were staying in Florence and decided to rent a car for twenty-four hours and drive into wine country. It didn’t take more than forty-five minutes and we were in the rolling, […]
Seeking Sanctuary on Borgo Santissimi Apostoli, Florence
It’s late spring, unseasonably hot, and I’m amidst the clamoring crowds walking toward Ponte Vecchio on via Por Santa Maria. It’s dusk, and for some reason the sun seems to strike more intensly upon setting in the western sky. I need a refuge. Instead of following the map-wielding, chatty crowds, I take a right on Borgo Santissimi Apostoli […]
Musings on Via dei Cimatori in Florence
It is just before noon on a bright and clear Wednesday afternoon, and I am on the hunt for a new street. Crossing Piazza della Repubblica with five potentials scrawled on an index card, I suddenly realize I need lunch—and fast. I have only so much time so I need a spot quick and delicious. […]