Perseus and Medusa
On this #TuscanTuesday, we are thrilled to bring you another virtual tour of a Florence masterpiece, compliments of our friend and guide, Freya of Freya’s Florence. A couple of weeks ago, Freya showed us around (at least from the outside)...
Virtually tour Italy’s streets in a Lamborghini
For this week’s installment of #TuscanTuesday, we invite you to come along on a virtual tour of the streets of Maranello, Italy, in one of Italy’s finest creations- the Lamborghini. Let's start with the back-story: Every year or two, Brandy and...
What to Pack for Spring in Tuscany
Spring in Tuscany is a beautiful time to visit. The flowers are in bloom, it’s less crowded and it’s more affordable. However, as the weather transitions from winter, it can be a bit tricky to figure out what to pack....
Tuscan Beaches
Before you assume that your Italian beach vacation must take place amongst the crowds of the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre, remember that Tuscany has a huge coastline. To drive end to end via the most direct route, it would...
Top Ten Summer Travel Tips
With summer right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about travel. Not just where you go, but how you go… 1. Pack light. On almost any trip involving air travel, my goal is to carry on all of my...
A Perfect Week in Tuscany, Part One
By now we have been doing this long enough to have formed definite opinions as to what comprises the perfect Tuscan vacation. Let’s say you and your family or group of friends have one week in Tuscany. If you’re like...
Where to Stay in Florence: Oltrarno
By now, most of our readers have likely figured out which is my favorite city in the world. I talk about it a lot and spend much of my time there, or plotting ways to get back there to visit...
Getting Off the Beaten Path with Carnevale di Viareggio
But, I thought Carnival took place in Brazil? Yes, it does, but this is the one in Italy, on the Western coast of Tuscany in a beautiful beach town called Viareggio. The "Carnevale di Viareggio" actually takes place over an entire...
The Exquisite Art of Florence
Take one leisurely lap around Florence noticing its details, the architecture, the stone coats of arms on buildings that were once family palazzos (palaces), even the street and piazza names, and there’s no denying that this is a city with...
The Ultimate Guide to Shopping in Florence
I recently crossed the bittersweet halfway point of this 3-month adventure in Tuscany. Having spent several weeks in Florence and the surrounding areas, simultaneously trying to be a tourist, a local and a blog researcher, I have learned a lot...