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 …
What is Buccellato di Lucca? Ancient Bread Recipe
Buccellato di Lucca is from the Tuscan region and particularly – the city of Lucca. The bread is made with raisins, and it used to be the favorite of the Roman army. Shaped in the form of a ring or …
What in the World Is Phylloxera?
Before we came to Lucca in April of 2021, I had never heard of phylloxera or what effect it had on vineyards in Italy and all of Europe. Then we became good friends with Jim and JoAn and my wine …
Arrivederci 2021 – Year in Review
Most of us are saying “Arrivederci” to 2021 with almost the same gusto as when we said the same words to the year 2020. Times have changed for everyone around the world. With travel restrictions still in place, the one …
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 …