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 …
Lucca Comic & Games 2022 | Big Invasion
The Lucca Comic & Games event takes place every year between the end of October and the beginning of November. Lucca’s event It is the second largest of its kind with Tokoyo, the event is called “Comiket” being number one. …
Cittadella Park | Historical Park in Parma
The Cittadella Park Cittadella Park was originally built for defensive purposes and was then transformed into a prison and a place of torture. Today, this beautiful area located in Parma, Italy is a public park with spaces for children to …
Rimini, Italy: Beautiful Beachtown
The Beach Town of Rimini Rimini is a small coastal town on the Adriatic coast, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. It’s known for its beachside nightclubs, fantastic seafood, and very shallow waters. The waves just simply roll gently to shore. We …
Leaning Tower of Pisa: The Amazing Climb
The Leaning Tower of Pisa The Leaning Tower of Pisa is iconic and easily recognizable when in this town, or even just passing on the train or roadway. All the times we’ve visited the Field of Dreams as it’s called, …
Balsamic in Modena: Outstanding Experience
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 …