History

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 -...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...