The Churches of Florence: a Complete Guide for History & Art Lovers
Like many Italian cities, Florence has hundreds of churches, from the massive Duomo to tiny hidden chapels, and it's hard to know which...
top of page
Travel Adventures with Claire
Hiking Guide - Cycling Guide - Travel Stories: Nature, Culture, and Exploration
I've traveled the world for 3 decades and have been guiding active tours in Europe since 1996. Despite all the miles, I've never lost my passion for learning and seeing new places. I am fascinated by other cultures and awed by the beauty of the natural world. Join me for some virtual adventures and scroll to the bottom to subscribe so you don't miss a post!
** In 2023 I co-founded the new tour company Wild Sage! **
cduiker
- Apr 13
- 10 min
Cuba: Beauty in the Ruins
Cuba is one of the most fascinating and unique islands in the world. Its tropical beauty shines from behind crumbling buildings and an...
116 views6 comments
cduiker
- Feb 23
- 4 min
Milan & the BIT Tourism Trade Show
It's been an exciting few weeks for Wild Sage as we went to our first international tourism trade show (the Bit di Milano), celebrated...
85 views4 comments
cduiker
- Jan 19
- 5 min
Welcome 2024: Cuba, Morocco & Best of Italy!
Buongiorno e Buon Anno Nuovo! The new year started with a calm "Come on in" instead of the frantic alarm bells that rang in 2023, so I'm...
124 views2 comments
cduiker
- Dec 21, 2023
- 6 min
Best Tour Photos 2023!
This year has gone by like a high-speed train, rushing headlong into the future and carrying me along -- breathless and shaken -- for the...
204 views1 comment
cduiker
- Aug 8, 2023
- 5 min
Travel & Packing Pro Tips!
It's peak travel season and I've packed and unpacked my bags so many times I've got it down to a science, so I thought I'd share a few of...
228 views0 comments
cduiker
- Jun 2, 2023
- 6 min
Sardinia Scouting with Wild Sage
Buongiorno June 1st! Summer is almost here, and with it comes a very full tour season for me -- my first year as co-boss of Wild Sage!...
118 views4 comments
cduiker
- May 1, 2023
- 7 min
Rome & Florence: Trains, Planes, and a User's Guide
Tips on navigating the airport and train station in Rome and Florence
587 views0 comments
cduiker
- Mar 28, 2023
- 8 min
Sicilian Adventures with Wild Sage
"Prudenza!" the van warned, via a disembodied voice coming from my navigator advising me to be careful. I was cruising down a nearly...
251 views8 comments
cduiker
- Feb 13, 2023
- 2 min
We are Wild Sage!
E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle -- And then we emerged to see again the stars WE DID IT!! After our four month journey through the...
183 views4 comments
cduiker
- Jan 22, 2023
- 4 min
The Story of Wild Sage: an epic journey through Italian bureaucracy
"Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate" "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here" are the powerful opening lines of Dante's "Inferno,"...
199 views8 comments
cduiker
- Dec 31, 2022
- 5 min
Best of 2022: Tour Edition!
Hello, Bonjour e Ciao! I've been SO busy these past few months (** setting up MY NEW COMPANY!! see below...) that I haven't had time to...
174 views2 comments
cduiker
- Oct 21, 2022
- 6 min
Roman History Road-Trip: from Ostia Antica to Pompeii
Hail, history fans! I've had a busy fall season with lots of travel, for work and for play. My latest trip was a ten-day voyage with my...
268 views2 comments
cduiker
- Sep 4, 2022
- 4 min
Florence: Street Art & Oddities, pt. 2
Beyond the Duomo and the David, Florence hosts a wealth of surprise street art, fun architectural details, and free art installations....
395 views2 comments
cduiker
- Aug 15, 2022
- 4 min
Swords and Samurai at the Stibbert Museum in Florence
One of the most unexpected museums in Florence is the Museo Stibbert, which houses the eclectic collection of Frederick Stibbert (1838 -...
509 views2 comments
cduiker
- Jul 16, 2022
- 4 min
Near Rome: the Spectacular Palazzo Farnese at Caprarola
I recently spent a few days in the region of Lazio (the region of Rome) on a little birthday trip, and one of the most unexpected and...
1,554 views4 comments
cduiker
- Jun 12, 2022
- 5 min
3 Days in Puglia: Trulli, Olive Trees, and Whitewashed Villages
Southern Italy has a totally different feel from the rolling hills here in Tuscany, or the plains and mountains of the North. Puglia...
512 views2 comments
cduiker
- May 28, 2022
- 4 min
Tuscany: What's blooming in May?
It's hard to believe we're 3 months into the flowering season here in Tuscany, and after our February magnolias, March cherry trees, and...
2,222 views0 comments
cduiker
- May 1, 2022
- 5 min
On the Road in Southern Tuscany: Pitigliano, Sovana, Sorano & Saturnia
Tuscany is so big, there are still places I've never seen in my 25 years of guiding here. So I was thrilled to have the chance to visit...
933 views2 comments
cduiker
- Apr 18, 2022
- 3 min
Spring in Tuscany: Fresh Fava Beans & Pecorino Cheese
Spring in Tuscany means fresh fava beans! Many people think immediately of Hannibal Lecter's famous line from Silence of the Lambs, but I...
339 views2 comments
cduiker
- Mar 31, 2022
- 6 min
Spring in Seville, Spain
¡Hola! and welcome to Spain! I was just in Spain on business so decided to extend my stay a few days and really explore the fascinating...
243 views0 comments
cduiker
- Feb 27, 2022
- 3 min
Florence: what's blooming in February?
It's still cold outside with nighttime temps around freezing, but the days are getting warmer and the sun is bringing out the first...
420 views2 comments
cduiker
- Feb 13, 2022
- 6 min
Winter in Tuscany: San Gimignano, Volterra & Pisa
Most people think of Italy as a summer destination and come for the beaches and al fresco dining, but that's also when it's hot and...
681 views6 comments
cduiker
- Jan 29, 2022
- 4 min
Cinque Terre news: work begins on the Via dell'Amore
I’ve been hiking the popular trails of the Cinque Terre since 1997 and have seen frequent trail closings over the years due to...
853 views2 comments
cduiker
- Jan 15, 2022
- 3 min
Winter in the Outer Banks, NC
Today's post is all about nature. My home base in the U.S. is on a narrow barrier island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I love...
174 views2 comments
cduiker
- Dec 31, 2021
- 6 min
Good-bye 2021: my Favorite Photos of the Year
Happy New Year from the Outer Banks of North Carolina! It's lovely here in the off-season and I'm grateful that I was able to travel this...
154 views6 comments
cduiker
- Nov 27, 2021
- 3 min
November in Florence: Fewer Tourists, Cheaper Prices, and a Gentle Sun
Sure, the weather may be risky in November, but it's also a great time to visit the Tuscany. Most of the tourists have gone home, the...
122 views0 comments
cduiker
- Nov 14, 2021
- 5 min
Masterworks from the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, pt.2
As promised, here's a follow-up to my previous post about the amazing collection at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. My...
207 views4 comments
cduiker
- Nov 3, 2021
- 3 min
I'm Free(lance)! Going my own way in 2022
I received notice of my termination today After 20 years of working for a small tour operator (ten of those full-time) I'm finally going...
162 views9 comments
cduiker
- Oct 17, 2021
- 5 min
Masterworks from the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, pt.1
I had a few extra hours in Athens recently so decided to visit the fascinating National Archaeological Museum. I had already been but it...
152 views2 comments
cduiker
- Oct 6, 2021
- 2 min
Autumn in Tuscany: Crisp days, Stormy nights
Buongiorno! I can't believe it's been a month since my last post! I've been traveling a lot and actually had one TOUR (Greek Islands...
135 views2 comments
cduiker
- Sep 2, 2021
- 7 min
Ten Tips for a Successful Stopover
Hello finally from my home in Florence! This is a great time to be in Tuscany as the savage heat of the summer has eased and now there’s...
118 views0 comments
cduiker
- Aug 18, 2021
- 5 min
Adventures in the Azores, pt. 2: Faial and Pico
After a fun few days on the island of São Miguel (see pt. 1 of the Azores adventure here) it was time to head to Faial, where my friend...
573 views2 comments
cduiker
- Aug 13, 2021
- 4 min
Adventures in the Azores, pt. 1: São Miguel
Some of my favorite trips are the spontaneous ones where I impulsively decide to go somewhere I know nothing about. That happened to me...
146 views4 comments
cduiker
- Jul 19, 2021
- 5 min
Stopover Fun: 36 hrs in Lisbon
We all try to avoid long lay-overs when we fly but you can also extend your visit and turn it into a fun "stopover"! I did it last week...
102 views0 comments
cduiker
- Jul 6, 2021
- 5 min
Hiking near Florence: the Monastery and Nature Reserve of Vallombrosa
The summer sun can be brutal in Florence, and it's often one of the hottest cities in Italy since it's landlocked and in a wide valley,...
380 views4 comments
cduiker
- Jun 28, 2021
- 3 min
The Tour de France : excitement & fun at the world's biggest bike race
The Tour de France began this weekend so I just had a chat with my old friend and former guiding colleague Luca Magnoni. He and I have...
106 views2 comments
cduiker
- Jun 14, 2021
- 4 min
The Green side of the Big Apple: Nature trails and calm spaces around New York City
Here's one last post from my recent trip to the U.S. and then I promise to return to Italy! My memories of New York were mostly of...
134 views0 comments
cduiker
- Jun 4, 2021
- 3 min
Revolution in the Streets: in Tiananmen Square with my Father, May 1989
Today marks the 32nd anniversary of the mass demonstrations and eventual violent crackdown in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Amazingly, my...
288 views14 comments
cduiker
- May 31, 2021
- 5 min
Classical Beauty: the Greek & Roman collection at The Metropolitan Museum of New York
I recently spent a week in New York City to cap off my visit to the U.S., and I decided to go to the city's premier museum, the...
376 views0 comments
cduiker
- May 24, 2021
- 3 min
Miami Outdoors: the Graffiti Art of Wynwood Walls and Nature Walks around Key Biscayne
I had never spent much time in Miami but recently went there to visit my niece, and she took me around to see the sights. The city lies...
260 views2 comments
cduiker
- May 17, 2021
- 3 min
OBX, USA: Walking Trails of the Outer Banks, North Carolina
I normally cover the southern Mediterranean but my U.S. home base is in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (affectionately dubbed the...
516 views0 comments
cduiker
- May 10, 2021
- 5 min
The Uffizi Gallery (Florence): Medieval & Renaissance Masterpieces
Italy is opening up again and the museums are finally welcoming visitors after almost 6 months of closed doors. The famed Uffizi Gallery...
684 views0 comments
cduiker
- May 3, 2021
- 5 min
A Trip to Rome & my "Covid Free" flight to JFK
After 14 months of pandemic and 7 months without even leaving the Florence city limits, I finally decided to get outta Dodge and fly back...
121 views2 comments
cduiker
- Apr 26, 2021
- 5 min
Chatting with Dimitris: Greece opens up & hiking around Athens
Greece just announced that it's opening its borders to international travelers on May 14th, so I figured it was a good time to check in...
174 views6 comments
cduiker
- Apr 12, 2021
- 5 min
A Tour of Florence's "Wine Windows"
[* updated to July 2024; I will add the ones that are open for business at the end of the post.] Everybody's been talking about...
2,623 views4 comments
cduiker
- Apr 7, 2021
- 6 min
Chatting with Manu: hikes, history and explorations in and around Rome
I've spent the past year exploring every inch of Florence's city limits, so I thought it would be fun to check in with my friend and...
271 views3 comments
cduiker
- Mar 22, 2021
- 5 min
Welcome, Primavera! Early spring hiking in the hills around Florence
This weekend marked the start of spring but it's been springing for a while here in Tuscany. Sunday was also "International Day of...
219 views8 comments
cduiker
- Mar 15, 2021
- 11 min
Italy goes Red again: Status report from Florence
Hello everyone! I’ve just finished recording my first podcast (!!!!) so now you have two ways to get news from my adventures. I won’t...
354 views2 comments
cduiker
- Mar 8, 2021
- 4 min
Goddesses, Queens, and Black Madonnas: an Artful Salute to International Women's Day
March 8th is International Women's Day, so let's celebrate with a historical tribute through time. Here's to the goddesses, temptresses,...
239 views7 comments
Did you enjoy your tour? Or just want to support me during this difficult time?
Every little bit helps, and I hope to be back in the field soon! Thank you so much!
--ClaireintheWorld--
Scroll down to subscribe
bottom of page