Balsamic Vinegar: What is it about that “black gold” liquid that’s so special? Who doesn’t love balsamic vinegar? A recent trip with our good friends JoAn and Jim took us to an amazing family-run place in Modena. They’ve enjoyed visiting …
Top 12 Things To Do in Florence
Top 12 Things to do in Florence, Italy The top 12 things to do in Florence is a list of our favorite sites. We were very fortunate to recently spend 90 days in the historical center of Florence. Our apartment …
Thrilling Day Driving a Vintage Fiat 500 in Tuscany
What an unforgettable experience driving a Vintage Fiat 500 in Tuscany! Not too long ago, friends Gina and Jay arrived in Lucca from their home in New Orleans, USA. They mentioned they had already booked this nostalgic event prior to …
Dario: The Man, The Legend, My Hero
Dario Cecchini In 2019 Ilene and I were introduced to a few cooking shows by our daughter Ally and her significant other Brett. There was a bigger-than-life character in all three shows. His name is Dario Cecchini. He is a …
Guinigi Tower | Lucca’s Beautiful Landmark
The Guinigi Tower is a beautiful landmark of Lucca and is easily recognizable by the garden on the top. A wonderful view of the city and the surrounding mountains is yours to enjoy for the easy climb to the top. …
Montalcino | Discovering the Beautiful Hill Town and Famous Wine
Montalcino, Italy Montalcino is one of the famous hill towns of Italy. It is located in the region of Tuscany in the Province of Siena. The town is 94 square miles in size and at an elevation of approximately 1900 …
Uffizi Gallery Museum | It’s Famous Worldwide
The Uffizi Gallery Museum is famous worldwide for its outstanding collections of ancient sculptures and paintings. Did you know, the Uffizi is home to some of the most important works of the Renaissance? These include masterpieces by Giotto, Filippo Lippi, …
Relaunching the Beautiful Carmine, Lucca
The Mercato del Carmine The Mercato del Carmine, once the church of Santa Maria del Carmine, is a historic building located in the center of Lucca. Its raw beauty captured me from the moment I walked into the cold, empty space. I …
Get Lost in the Boboli Gardens | Florence
Boboli Gardens The Boboli Gardens were designed by Niccolo Tribolo who died one year after starting the gardens. Bartolommeo Ammanati, Bernardo Buontalenti, and Giorgio Vasari completed the gardens according to plan. The name came from the hill, Boboli, in which …
Lights & Holiday Spirit in Italy
Christmas lights always signify to me the beginning of the holiday season. They are beautifully strung around trees and even up the trunk of palm trees back in the States. But there is something special about lights in Italy. Each …
Devil’s Bridge | Interesting Tuscan Legends
Devil’s Bridge (Ponte del Diavolo) |Borgo a Mozzano Recently, Gary and I explored the Devil’s Bridge or Ponte del Diavolo – the main attraction in the town of Borgo a Mozzano. A quick 20-minute train trip from Lucca along with …
The Walls “Le Mura” Make Lucca Special
“Le Mura” The first thing you see as you near the city center in Lucca is the outer wall or Le Mura. Whether you arrive by train, bus, or car it is there right in front of you. To enter …