We walked past il Mercato several times on our first trip to Florence and never did find it! Even though the building is huge – perhaps a football field in length, it is hidden by the street vendors of San …
The Doors of Dublin | A Colorful Look & Their Stories
The Colorful Doors of Dublin Gary and I saw these famous and amazing doors of Dublin, Ireland when we stopped there for several days in November 2019 on a stop on the way back to Arizona from Italy. We met …
Top 20 Italian Surnames | What are They?
Top 20 Italian Surnames Have you ever wondered what are the most common Italian surnames and where your family’s surname came from? I know I have and as a matter of fact, I thought my surname “Modica” came from the …
Biggest Sundial in World, Bologna
Biggest Sundial in the World The biggest sundial in the world is located inside the church of San Petronio in Piazza Maggiore, Bologna. Piazza Maggiore is in the center of Bologna and is dominated by the massive unfinished Basilica of San …
Spotlight: Our Love of Arezzo and Return in 2020
Our Love of Arezzo Gary and I did a day trip to Arezzo while staying in Florence during our one-year adventure in 2019. It is on the main train line between Florence and Rome encompassing beautiful countryside along the way. …
Blarney Castle & Gardens | History & What you Need to Know
To get you in the spirit for St. Patrick’s Day! A visit to Blarney Castle in Ireland came after being in Italy for one year in 2019. Gary and I stopped in Dublin on the way back to the …
Rock of Cashel | Visit a Beautiful Irish Castle
While in Ireland, we stopped to visit The Rock of Cashel, also known as St. Patrick’s Rock and Cashel of the Kings. It is very large and I have never seen anything like it before. This castle is one of …
2 Bologna Towers: Garisenda and Asinelli
The 2 Famous Bologna Towers These two Bologna towers, or as the Italians call them Torri’s, are the symbol of Bologna and a landmark that stood out against the sky for those long ago who came from Ravenna and other …
History of the World Famous Bialetti Moka Pot
Bialetti Moka Pot The famous Bialetti Moka Pot… I’m sure you know what it looks like. When most people think of Italy a few things come to mind. Food, wine, culture, and coffee. Coffee is highly revered by all …
Modena, Italy
Modena Modena (pronounced Mo-den-a) is an Italian town of approximately 185,973 inhabitants. It is located south of Parma and north of Bologna on the same train line and stands at the heart of Italy’s breadbasket, the central region of Emilia-Romagna. …
Foligno, Italy: Wonderful Month in Umbria
Foligno, Italy It is July when our train arrives in Foligno, Italy. It was a short walk from the historic center to our apartment. After our self-check-in and grocery excursion, we took to the streets to explore our new home …
The Bardini Garden & Panoramic Views of Florence
The Beautiful Bardini Garden You can find the Bardini Gardens along the Arno River and by the Ponte alle Grazi. Just up the street is the entrance to a beautiful, not as well-known garden in Florence with spectacular views …