Category Archives: Tuscany

How to Buy Museum Tickets (and Skip the Line) in Florence

Florence is one of my favorite day trips from Rome. It is only 1.5 hours away by train, which means that we can be in a completely different Italian city with very little coordination or planning. Which presents its own challenges… we sometimes cannot resist the temptation to travel to Florence on (very) short notice! […]

The Frittelle of Siena’s Piazza del Campo

Siena is one of the quintessentially beautiful Italian towns. Built above rolling Tuscan hills line with cypress trees and vineyards, the little city has a series of small streets that radiate away from the main square, begging to be explored. But it is the square itself – Piazza del Campo – is probably the city’s […]

Florence’s Ferragamo Museum

When you are only going to the Florence for the day, you pray it doesn’t rain. When you do inevitably get caught in rain, it is time to come up with a quick Plan B. Sara and I found ourselves in just such a situation and decided that it was a fine excuse to pop in […]

7 Things to Know Before You Visit Terme: Natural Hot Springs in Italy

If you are planning a trip to Tuscany, you are signing up for all kinds of indulgences. After all the hard work of eating truffles and drinking Chianti, you might want to enjoy a bit of well earned relaxation. Terme, natural hot springs, are a fantastic way to soak in the Italian lifestyle. Some are […]

Ditta Artigianale: Third Wave Coffee in Florence

ditta artigianale in Florence

Happy National Coffee day to my fellow Americans! I love me some coffee. Most days, slightly burnt and rather acidic Roman espresso will do just fine. Other times, I have to go to Florence for the day. Ditta Artigianale was everything I dreamed it would be. The second location, in Florence’s Oltrarno area, is a […]

The Siena Palio: More Religion than Race

I have something that I affectionately refer to as my Italian Bucket List. Hiking the Stromboli Volcano? Check. Battle of the Oranges? That was on it, but is now complete. Siena’s Palio? I have yet to fulfill my dream of experiencing the tradition first hand. The race is controversial because it is also dangerous. Siena’s […]