All posts categorized: ITALY
A Day in Chianti: Wine and Beyond
Known for its undulating hills blanketed with picturesque vineyards, Tuscany’s popular wine region of Chianti makes an easy day trip from Florence. Even if you’re not into wine, the region is worth a visit for its scenic landscape and for its charming, historic hamlets. Read more
Florence At Leisure
“Been there, done that.” Why go again? It’s actually very rewarding to revisit a city that boasts a long list of must-sees and -dos, where your first visit was spent running around making sure you didn’t miss anything from the list. It can be so hectic and stressful! But on the return visit, it can be more leisurely,... Read more
Jewels of Tuscany: Siena and San Gimignano
After we said our bittersweet goodbye to the Etruscan Coast of Tuscany, where its lesser known hamlets enthralled us, we headed into the Central Tuscany to revisit towns that captivated us on previous visit more than a decade ago. These towns are more touristed, but absolutely for good reasons. They are both UNESCO World Heritage sites and the... Read more
Tuscany: Charming Hamlets in The Etruscan Coast
“Come see us at my in-laws’ summer place in Castagneto Carducci, it’s on the Tuscan coast, around Bolgheri area, where the Super Tuscan wines are produced…..,” replied our beautiful friend Lynn, who just then moved to Italy from NYC with her Italian husband, when we e-mailed her about our plan to visit Italy. The idea of seeing Lynn and visiting part of... Read more
Hiking and Devouring in Cinque Terre – Part 2
We woke up to another beautiful day in Vernazza. It was delightful to walk around the village early morning and to take in its charm and colors. After the spectacular hike the previous day, we were excited to continue the second half of the hike today and to tackle the harder part of the trail. Read more
Hiking and Devouring in Cinque Terre – Part 1
CinqueTerre (“Five Lands”) is a cluster of five fishing villages perched atop the steep hills on the coast of Italy’s Ligurian Sea. No cars, no modern constructions – just sheer old world charms! The villages are connected by ferries, trains and networks of breathtaking hiking trails. It is also a gastronomic paradise. Read more