Cortona is one the most popular hilltop towns in Tuscany, Italy. From its verdant hill, it watches over the Val di Chiana valley like an ancient guardian. It’s a fascinating place, with picturesque narrow lanes, spectacular views and huge protective walls built by the Etruscans. Here’s a list of our personal favourite things to do in… Read more »
Read MoreTravel back in time in Tuscany
It’s easy to time travel in Tuscany. From the medieval lanes of Siena to the towered citadel of San Gimignano. From the pretty jewel that is Certaldo Alto to the walled town of Monteriggioni. These are places where history is so perfectly preserved that you half expect to see a knight on horseback round every… Read more »
Read MoreRificolona Festival, Florence paper lanterns festival in September
Every year on the evening of the 7th of September, the streets of Florence are alight with hundreds of colourful paper lanterns. This is the Rificolona Festival, a traditional celebration that sees kids parade through the city centre their rificolone, or paper lanterns. The main parade starts at 8:15 pm in Piazza Santa Felicita and ends in… Read more »
Read MoreContessina de’ Bardi, loyal wife of Cosimo de’ Medici
Contessina de Bardi, the wife of Cosimo de’ Medici, has became a celebrity thanks the Netflix series “Medici Masters of Florence”. The beautiful and talented Annabel Scholey brings to life this strong woman character who was very involved in her husband’s political life. But is it true that women had such a role in 15th… Read more »
Read MoreRinaldo degli Albizzi – the enemy of Cosimo the Elder
Rinaldo degli Albizzi was one of the main opponents to the rise of the Medici in 15th century Florence. He’s the main villain in the Netflix series “Medici: Masters of Florence”, where he’s brilliantly brought to life by English actor Lex Shrapnel. We look at how close the fictional Rinaldo is to the historical character…. Read more »
Read MoreEco Green Tours Florence – A more comfortable way to see Florence
Eco Green Tours offers a very special way of seeing Florence. Just relax in the comfort of their electric mini-cars, while they drive you around the city centre showing you the highlights of the city. It’s maximum fun for minimum effort, and zero emissions. Save yourself the trouble of walking, enjoy the views, and let… Read more »
Read MoreFree things to do in Florence – Enjoy the best attractions at zero cost
Florence is filled with some of the most famous art in the world. Just by walking around the city centre you can experience much of it for free. Museums aren’t any more expensive than any other main European cities, and in many cases are quite cheap. But what if you don’t want to open your… Read more »
Read MoreFamous paintings in Florence – Unmissable masterpieces at the Uffizi
Florence has an impressive collection of paintings. So the task of choosing its top masterpieces is a tad challenging. But we do like a challenge. So we’ve made a shortlist of the famous paintings in Florence that you absolutely can’t afford to miss, all of which can conveniently be found in the Uffizi Gallery. Seeing… Read more »
Read MoreBest places to visit in Chianti – Superb wines and views
The Chianti is a region of Tuscany synonymous with rolling hills and vineyards. It stretches between Florence and Siena and delights visitors with superb views and top-quality red wines. It’s the perfect destination to enjoy ‘la bella vita‘, or the good life, and fill your senses with some of the most impressive countryside Tuscany has… Read more »
Read More10 amazing facts you didn’t know about Tuscany
Tuscany is the region in central Italy famed around the world for its art, food and natural beauty. But, even if you’re familiar with the main sights, there may be plenty of facts about Tuscany you might not know. Here we open the pandoras box of fascinating trivia about one of Italy’s most famous regions…. Read more »
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