Category Archives: Tuscany

Melaleuca Bistrot in Florence

cake on a plate with a foamy cappuccino and yellow flowers

Florence is well known for its many culinary delights: bistecca alla Fiorentina, hearty ribollita, and savory lampredotto sandwiches. However, while it honors its Tuscan traditions well, it also has a surprisingly contemporary dining scene given its size relative to cities like Milan and Rome. My favorite example is the gorgeous Melaleuca. Melaleuca is an airy […]

Scuola del Cuoio: Florence Leather School

leather school in florence with walls lined with bags

Florence is a city that is absolutely renowned for its leather tradition. If you are searching for a Made in Italy handbag or leather jacket to take home, Firenze is the place to get it. However, this fame for leather means that you will find shops peddling counterfeit or imported goods in every corner of […]

Complete Guide to the Florence Train Station (SM Novella)

main waiting area in Firenze santa maria novella station

If you are traveling between Rome and Florence by train (or using Florence as a base to explore any other parts of Italy by train), you are going to be spending time at the main Florence train station. Known as Firenze Santa Maria Novella, the station is located within an easy walk of the center […]

The Florence Flower Market

flower market in Florence Italy

Florence is a little gem of a city. As the birthplace of the Renaissance, some of the greatest architects and artists in history have lived and worked in this gorgeous Tuscan city. Chief among its treasures in Brunelleschi’s Dome, which dominates the skyline. Of course, there is also David by Michelangelo and the treasure-filled Uffizi […]

How to Skip the Line to See David by Michelangelo

statue of david torso

The masterful statue of David by Michelangelo is honestly a must-see in Florence. It is truly an incredible piece of art in a stunning setting, but that also means that pretty much everyone else visiting Florence also wants to see the sculpture. Luckily, you can buy tickets ahead of time to skip right by the […]

How to Spend a Weekend in Chianciano Terme, Italy

Chianciano Terme Italy

Chianciano Terme is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. It’s hardly unknown – people have been coming to the area for literally millennia thanks to the healing powers of the mineral-rich water here. The Etruscans built a temple at the source and, in more recent history, in the 1960s there were lines 6,000 deep to wait […]