April 21, 2015
Final days of my stay in Florence I decided to travel a piedi (by foot) to meet Chef Marcella on my last day in town. This is the best way to make your own discoveries in Florence, especially as you put a little distance between yourself and the Duomo. After…
April 10, 2015
Wine and Chocolate Pairing in Florence Okay, you’re all waiting for my review of the wine and chocolate pairing lesson, right? First, even if you don’t partake in this amazing experience, make the Ballerini Chocolate Shop a stop on your next trip to Florence. It’s only a block from the…
March 30, 2015
Are the Florentine crowds worth the stop? Preparing to leave for Italy a few years ago, I wasn’t so excited that the last few days of the trip would be in Florence. On my last stay there, in October 2008 for just a night, I told myself: it’s just not…
March 20, 2015
Have you ever wondered what in the world the Italian guidebook is talking about when it uses these terms? For years I sort of lumped them all into the same category — “house of worship” — and moved on to more interesting topics. But the distinctions are actually worthwhile information….
March 9, 2015
This past fall I returned for the umpteenth time to a most memorable meal and always lively visit with Janet and Stefano, owners of the Sagittario Olive Farm. Located just south of Florence, this stop is the highlight for many of my clients among countless exceptional Tuscan experiences. Janet and…
February 22, 2015
Lucca is a city that I had by-passed many times. Sure, I’d heard about the magnificent olive oil, jogging around the Renaissance-era city walls (which total about 4 kilometers – a nice little morning passeggiata!), and all the Puccini paraphernalia. But the city never caught my interest like some of…
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