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.
How Keith Haring Came to Pisa
An old mural and a new exhibit reunite Keith Haring and Pisa.
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.”
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…
Five Favorites: Lucca
Italofile guest contributor writes about five of her favorite things in the city of Lucca in Tuscany.
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.
The Real Pinocchio
Last November, the New York Review of Books released Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio under its NYRB Classics imprint. The tale, as reviewed by Tim Parks in the latest issue, is much darker than the Disneyfied version. After the jump is Parks’ full review. As always, I urge you to subscribe to NYRB; they…
Keeping Up With the Antinori
Italian wine enthusiasts (that includes most of us, right?) may find this past weekend’s 60 Minutes story on Italy’s Antinori family intriguing. Considered one of Italy’s premier winemaking clans, the Antinori have been in the wine business for more than 500 years. Today, even the Antinori daughters are in on the act. To learn more…
Wine Routes in Tuscany
Tuscany has more than a dozen wine routes. These are known collectively as Le Strade del Vino.
Kid-Friendly Tours of Florence
Florence may feel like a fairy tale city for adults, but kids aren’t always impressed. That’s mostly because they’ve yet to study or appreciate the art, architecture, and history that have made the Tuscan town one of the world’s most favored destinations for generations. Enter Context Travel. The walking tour company, which I have mentioned in…
The Lost Leonardo
News program 60 Minutes investigates the discovery of “The Lost Leonardo,” a long-missing mural by Leonardo da Vinci.
Tuscan Wine Picks From Epicurious
One of the pleasures of visiting Tuscany is having the chance to drive the fertile hills of wine country, sampling reds and whites along the way. Most travelers really only think of Chianti, a mini-region within Tuscany, when thinking about Tuscan wine. But another vino hotspot is Montalcino. Montalcino is the home of Brunello di…
Beaches of Tuscany: Best Beaches for a Tuscan Summer
Tuscany has 230 kilometers of coastline plus a cluster of islands, making it perfect for a beach holiday.
Bringing Home the Best from Italy
It’s one thing to go to Italy and bring back photos, cheap souvenirs, and designer clothing that you could have bought at just about any department store or outlet. It’s quite another to bring back items that Italy is known for – quality leather, handmade paper, artisan chocolate, etc. That’s why I really like…
Saving Money — and Time — with Combined Tickets
A lot of touristy, and even not-so-touristy, cities in Italy offer combined tickets. These tickets include admission to several related attractions at a price lower than each individual ticket combined. Rome and Vatican City For instance, Rome has the Roma Pass. This combined ticket gives users free entry to one or two museums, reduced entry…
