Florence

Jun 24

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...

May 1, 2023

Rome & Florence: Trains, Planes, and a User's Guide

Tips on navigating the airport and train station in Rome and Florence

Sep 4, 2022

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....

Aug 15, 2022

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 -...

May 28, 2022

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...

Apr 18, 2022

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...

Feb 27, 2022

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...

Dec 31, 2021

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...

Nov 27, 2021

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...

Oct 6, 2021

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...

Jul 6, 2021

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,...

May 10, 2021

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...

Apr 19, 2021

Notes from Lockdown: Spring 2020

The lockdown in Italy in the spring of 2020 was one of the strictest in the world; not only did we have to socially-distance and wear...

Apr 12, 2021

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...

Mar 29, 2021

The Dying Gaul & the Naked Warriors who Terrorized Rome

One of my favorite works of art is this powerful statue called "The Dying Gaul." It's in the Capitoline Museum in Rome and has a...

Mar 22, 2021

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...

Mar 15, 2021

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...

Mar 1, 2021

Pitti Palace: the Modern Art Collection

Hey, it's museum day! I managed a quick visit to the imposing Pitti Palace a few weeks ago, right before they shut the museums down again...

Feb 23, 2021

Florence: Street Art & Oddities

Wandering the streets of Florence you see all sorts of interesting things, from the ancient to the modern... In a city known for...

Feb 22, 2021

Backstory, pt. 3: Head for the Hills

Everybody comes to Florence for the art, the culture, the history, or let's not forget the food, the wine, the shopping! But one of the...