How to Have a ‘Sideways’ Visit in Tuscany
The wine that got Sideways’s Maya into wine is grown in a single vineyard in southern Tuscany.
Central Italy
How Keith Haring Came to Pisa
An old mural and a new exhibit reunite Keith Haring and Pisa.
Blessing the Animals in Assisi on the Feast Day of Sant’Antonio Abate
The Piatto di Sant’Antonio Abate is a winter festival near Assisi that features a parade of horses and a blessing of animals.
Caffè Meletti in Ascoli Piceno
Postcard from Caffè Meletti, an historic bar in Le Marche.
San Biagio: Renaissance Jewel in Montepulciano, Tuscany
The church of San Biagio in Montepulciano, Tuscany, is considered one of prime examples of Renaissance architecture.
The Iconic Landscape of Val d’Orcia, Tuscany
Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, the hills, valleys, and trees of the Val d’Orcia “exemplify the beauty of well-managed Renaissance agricultural landscapes.”
Who Was Saint Valentine?
Saint Valentine, a Christian bishop from Umbria, was martyred in Rome in the 3rd century AD. Learn more about his life, death, and legend.
Will Work For Wine: Luca Signorelli’s Orvieto Duomo Contract and His Intoxicating, Apocalyptic Fresco Cycle
In 1499, Tuscan artist Luca Signorelli signed a contract to paint two remaining sections of the Cappella Nuova (new chapel) of the Duomo in the Umbrian town of Orvieto. By 1502 (or 1504, depending on which documentation you read), he had completed his “End of the World” fresco cycle in what is now known as the…
The Best Ever In-Depth Video of Siena’s Palio
Inspiration always seems to find me when I’m not looking and that is exactly what happened as I settled in to watch a few minutes of television last night. Lucky for me, I clicked over to Kenny Mayne’s Wider World of Sports, a show on ESPN that puts sports into a cultural context. One of…
Five Favorites: Art in Tuscany
To many a traveler, Tuscany and art are synonymous. From the architecture to the numerous galleries to those gorgeous, green, and cliché hills, there’s an element of art in every corner of Tuscany.
Travel Secrets: 3 of My Favorite “Secret” Places in Italy
Coming up with three of my best travel secrets for Italy is no easy task. Alas, I’ve been tagged by Robin Locker at My Mélange to come up with my list, just as she has over at her blog. In fact, since I had difficulty paring down my favorites, I’ve come up with my non-Italy…
Three Reasons to Love Perugia
Perugia, the picturesque capital of the region of Umbria, is a destination I like to recommend to travelers looking for a new place to explore in Central Italy. Perugia is an austere, university town – indeed, it’s one of Umbria’s hill towns – with several unique characteristics that make it ideal for discovery. Here’s my…
World’s Biggest Christmas Tree in Gubbio, Umbria
Rockefeller Center has nothing on this tree. The biggest Christmas tree in the world is, in fact, in Gubbio, Umbria. But this is not any tree. No, this is not a tree at all. Gubbio’s Albero di Natale is a dazzling neon feat–and Guinness Book of World Records holder–that has been lighting up the hills…
Five Favorites: Lucca
Italofile guest contributor writes about five of her favorite things in the city of Lucca in Tuscany.
The Hill Towns of Umbria
Eight beautiful hill towns to put on your Umbria itinerary.
Vampires in Volterra: ‘Twilight’ Tourism in Tuscany
New Moon, the second book in the Twilight series, has some scenes set in the Tuscan town of Volterra. Learn more about Volterra, including its vampire tour.
Five Things to Do in the Refreshingly Tourist-Free Marches Region
Le Marche is known as “Italy in one region,” for it has mountains, beaches, and beautiful hill towns. Here are the top 5 things to do in Le Marche.