The Cinque Terre National Park is one of the gems of Italy, close enough to Florence to make it a popular day-trip destination. A UNESCO World Heritage site its rugged coastline shelters five (hence ‘cinque’) brightly coloured little towns that cling to the terraced hillsides above the sea. This area has been romanticised by poets… Read more »
Read More5 Italian dishes to melt your heart
I’ve lived in Italy for a while now. When I first arrived I didn’t know my mozzarella from my mortadella, but now my tastes have come of age and I’m just as fussy as any Italian when it comes to what’s on the plate in front of me. So I thought I’d let you in… Read more »
Read MoreWas “Medici: the Magnificent” shot in Florence?
If you’ve watched the second series of the Medici, you might be wondering if you can see any of those locations next time you come to Florence. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but it turns out that most of the scenes set in Florence were shot somewhere else. But that doesn’t mean you can’t see… Read more »
Read MoreMedici the Magnificent. Fact and Fiction in the TV series
While the first series of Medici wasn’t that historically accurate, the second series “Medici: the Magnificent” is much more faithful to the truth of what really happened. It’s set during a particularly complex and turbulent period in Italy’s past, at a time when the Florentine republic was effectively ruled by the Medici. It was a… Read more »
Read MoreBest Places to visit in Italy in 2019
If you are travelling to Italy in 2019, here are a few ideas of the moment. Places where you can savour the rich culture of the peninsula and immerse yourself in the area’s natural beauty. Buon viaggio! Italy has so much to offer the visitor in the way of art that people often don’t realise… Read more »
Read MoreGiuliano de’ Medici. Who was the brother of Lorenzo the Magnificent?
Handsome, athletic, passionate and kind. That’s how history books portray Giuliano de’ Medici (Florence 1453-1478). He was the younger brother of Lorenzo the Magnificent, at the time when the Medici family was unofficially ruling Florence. Giuliano didn’t get a chance to show all his qualities to the world, as he was brutally murdered during what… Read more »
Read MoreHow to plan a trip to Tuscany
When you’re planning a trip to Tuscany, your only concern will be how to do everything on your list. A region so full of art treasures, natural beauty and culinary experiences that its’ not easy to pick just one for your holiday. But here you’ve got a few tips to help you tailor make your… Read more »
Read MoreLife lessons from Tuscany for 2019!
It’s been said that Italians know how to live. From the food to the surroundings and the lifestyle, everything seems to be geared towards living well. So if you have room for a couple more new year’s resolutions this year, here’s a way you can live the good life, Tuscan style. Mangiare bene (Eat well)… Read more »
Read MoreA taste of Christmas in Tuscany | What’s on the menu?
When it comes to food, Tuscany never stops giving, especially at Christmas. From the fun filled Christmas markets to festive delicacies, there is always something more to enjoy, especially if you have a sweet tooth. If you happen to be in Tuscany from December 8th onwards, the whole region is officially in Christmas mode, and… Read more »
Read MoreLa Verna Sanctuary, Tuscany, Italy – Nature and Spirituality
La Verna is a famous Franciscan Sanctuary in Tuscany, central Italy. The religious complex has an impressive location atop Mount Penna, which is part of the Foreste Casentinesi National Park. Surrounded by a thick forest of fir and beech tees, it’s built high up on a rocky outcrop on the ‘Saint Francis’ sacred mountain’. Pilgrims… Read more »
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