Italy Bridges: picks in northern Italy
May 04, 2009Architects and engineers appreciate that a bridge is more than just a way to cross a gap, but how many of us would include bridges on our list of Things To See in Italy? These bridges are fun to visit, will give…
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What to do in Lucca Tuscany
April 14, 2009Take my recommendations for what to do in Lucca Tuscany and you’ll have a wonderful visit! This walled Tuscan town has excellent food, magnificent views, beautiful art, and medieval walls you can cycle on. It’s a satisfying combination as a tourist: eat a…
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SCUBA Diving in Italy: Elba
April 02, 2009The island of Elba, famous for Napoleon's 10-month exile, is the largest island of the Tuscan archipelago. It's probably also the easiest to navigate as a tourist, with lots of shops, restaurants, hotels, sandy beaches, and of course: great SCUBA diving. Diving…
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Montepulciano, Tuscany
March 23, 2009Montepulciano, Tuscany is one of my favorite towns in Italy, probably because there’s a little of everything, with a heavy focus on wine. Built on a hill and surrounded by picture-perfect countryside, it also does well in the Atmosphere, Art…
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Monteriggioni, Tuscany
March 02, 2009In the case of the medieval walled town of Monteriggioni in Tuscany, a picture is definitely worth a thousand words. Begin appreciating this tiny town, surrounded by vineyards, during the approach. After entering its walls there really isn’t that much…
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What to see in San Gimignano Italy
October 01, 2008Even if you had no idea what to see in San Gimignano Italy, you’d immediately notice its unique skyline. Now a UNESCO world heritage site, this walled Tuscan city was founded by the Etruscans and then became prosperous in the middle ages…
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Gubbio, Umbria
September 15, 2008The Umbrian town of Gubbio is worth a visit and I suppose could be done in a daytrip from southern Tuscany. But personally I'd take 10 days in Umbria and hit Gubbio, Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto, Todi and Orvieto – more or less in…
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Locanda Dell’Amorosa
September 08, 2008When I travel as a tourist, I usually choose a hotel that is purely functional: comfortable and quiet, so I can get a good night's sleep; and centrally located so I can maximize tourist time. This means that in Italy I…
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Fields of Sunflowers in Italy: where and when to find them
September 03, 2008If you’d like to plan an itinerary that includes fields of sunflowers in Italy, it’s important to know where and when to find them. We took the photo above just outside the Tuscan town of San Gimignano at the end of June….
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