The Bronze Pig | Florence, Italy The Bronze Pig Fountain or Il Porcellino, as the Italians call him, means “the little pig.” He is located to the side of the Mercato Nuovo in Florence, Italy. You’ve probably walked past …
Carnival Spectacular: Spotlight On Venice – Know Before You Go
Venice’s carnival was recently voted one of the world’s top five carnivals. It’s no wonder why when I see photos on social media! Venice is a magical city for anyone to visit but… it is particularly spectacular during Carnevale di Venezia! …
Brussels at Christmastime: Exciting and Enchanting
Visiting Brussels… wow… it’s been almost a year since Gary and I were there for a little winter excursion. When we returned from this trip and I had a moment to write a post, it didn’t seem like the proper …
Piedmont Guide Including Two Special Must See Destinations
Where exactly is Piedmont in Italy? Piedmont is at the foot of the Swiss Alps – where Italy meets France and Switzerland. Ancient volcanic activity has left its mark on the landscape, with over two million hectares of vineyards covering …
Aosta Valley Travel Guide: Don’t Miss These Two Places
Aosta is the capital of the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy. It is also the gateway to the Via Francigena in Italy. The Romans founded the town in 25 BC at a crucial point where the main roads heading …
Forte dei Marmi in Tuscany: Lavish, Glamorous, and Enticing
Forte dei Marmi is a seaside town in Italy known for its beaches and high-end shopping. Recently, I had the opportunity with two different adventures to discover the shopping component, as well as, the lovely beach. The town has a …
The Island of Elba: Our First Adventure to Tuscany’s Treasure
I wasn’t sure what to expect when disembarking the ferry on Isola d’Elba in June. What I am sure about is Napoleon would never recognize it today. Definitely more congested than when the emperor was exiled to the island in …
Da Vinci’s Last Supper: Masterpiece in Milan-Our Incredible Visit
The Last Supper was top on our list to visit when we first arrived in Milan back in 2010. What we didn’t realize is that it was closed the only day we could visit. Rookie mistake. What we… and perhaps …
Amazing Portugal | Our Awesome Trip & Tips
Our recent trip to Portugal was amazing! We planned a ten-day trip recently to visit three areas of this country. As the saying goes… best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry… and so… we changed it during our …
Easy Day Trips From 5 Major Cities in Italy
We often get asked about easy day trips from Lucca and other major cities throughout Italy. When Shari, a faithful, long-time subscriber of this blog suggested this for a post, we thought we’d do it. I will always recommend that …
The Historical Regatta, Venice
The Historical Regatta is the main event in the annual “Voga alla Veneta” rowing calendar. This unique sport (which only takes place in Venice once a year- has been practiced in the Venetian lagoon for thousands of years. Most noteworthy… …
Ducale Palace and Park, Parma
Ducale Palace and Park One of Many Parks in Parma, Italy Finding Ducale Park was a bonus when we stayed in Parma. Plenty of old trees provided shady paths to wander and stroll under. When we visited, the weather was …