Category: Italy

Tuscany Highlights

The hills of Tuscany beckon with beautiful vineyards on the slopes and medieval citadels

I recently came across this Fountain Photo Challenge and I thought I’d take part. Although the overall theme is fountains, each month has a specific theme. May’s is “fountains with people on or in them” I went through my photos and found one that brought back great memories: the fountain at Piazza Navona in Rome.…

Via Janelli’s medieval homes in Cortona

Cortona dates back to the Etruscans, who left traces of their civilizations. Just like it happened all around Italy, then came the Romans and so on and so forth. A well-known street in Cortona is Via Janelli. It is famous for its medieval half-timbered houses from the 14th century. It is said that they are…

What to do in Lucca

Lucca is perfect for a day trip from Florence or Pisa. Puccini's birthplace offers great places to stroll, history and culture. #Lucca #Tuscany #Italy

What to see in Volterra, Tuscany

Volterra. Velathri. Volaterrae. The area has appealed to settlers since the Neolithic Age for its advantageous location on top of a hill and natural resources. The Etruscans founded the town of Velathri on this hill and fortified it in the 4th century BC. In the 3rd century BC, the Etruscans realized it was pointless to…

Fantastic Florence

We visited Florence on a Sunday in April. We drove from our agriturismo in the countryside. Thankfully, traffic was rather scarce and we were able to navigate our way to a private parking garage. Our car, a vintage 1965 Alvis, attracted a lot of attention even from the parking attendant. Our first stop was Santa…

Certaldo, hometown of Boccaccio in the Tuscan hills

Visit Certaldo, a charming medieval fortified town set on top of a hill in Tuscany, and home of poet Giovanni Boccaccio. #Tuscany #Cetaldo #Italy #travel

Postcards from Pisa

I’m trying to figure out how to operate the parking meter but my Italian isn’t good enough to understand the instructions. A young African street vendor comes up to me to try and help. I instinctively raise my hand to stop him. It makes me nervous when a stranger offers unsolicited help; I can’t help…