Your guide to travel and experience Florence, Italy
Gelato is a serious matter. Especially in Florence, and especially for me as a tour guide and a gelato lover. It is here, in the cradle of the Renaissance, that the best dessert in the world was invented (in 1600, by Bernardo Buontalenti, but that’s another story). I searched for unique flavors, fresh ingredients and craftsmanship in the best ice
Read more
Leonardo da Vinci is an inspiration for people all over the world since 500 years. So many books were written about him, and many others were made publishing his notes, drawings and paintings. I am often asked what are my favorite or the best books about Leonardo da Vinci and which ones I would recommend. So I have put together
Read more
In such a modern and touristy city like Florence, you’ll be spoiled for choice as far as guided city tours are concerned. But sometimes it’s nice to take a leap into the past and discover (or rediscover) the city aboard vintage vehicles, which in addition to having an undeniable retro charm, are also very entertaining. In this article I suggest
Read more
How many days in Florence? This is one of the most common questions I get as a tour guide, and it’s the first thing travelers wonder about when they decide to visit my city. This is such an important question and the answer is not at all obvious. A lifetime is still not enough to visit everything Florence has to
Read more
The Opera del Duomo Museum is a true institution in Florence: its collection of works of art goes from the end of the 1200s to the 1800s and is one of the most important in Europe. This is definitely one of my favorite museums in Florence, because of the huge amount of masterpieces from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. If
Read more
Sleeping in Florence can be very expensive, especially in high season, and hostels are a great way to save money, and meet new people as well. Hostels in Florence are several and most of them are located just outside the historic center. However, keep in mind that the city is not so big: most of the times they are a
Read more
Certaldo, nestled among the rolling hills of Tuscany, is a small village full of history, art and tradition. It’s truly bringing the past alive through its medieval alleys, hidden gems of art and postcard-like landscapes of the surrounding Tuscan countryside. It’s tiny enough to be visited in a half a day and it will surprise you: there are so many
Read more
If you are thinking about a weekend of wellness and relax surrounded by luxury, Florence has got everything you need. Some of the most beautiful hotels with spa in Florence, where you can pamper yourself while visiting the city, are located just a stone’s throw from the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio. They are just perfect for a
Read more
Leonardo da Vinci is definitely one of my favorite artists and personalities of the Renaissance. And one of the reasons why I like him so much is his interest for flight, that brought him to design his famous flying machines. But before talking about Leonardo’s flying machines, let’s talk about Leonardo himself! It was the year 1504 in Florence, and
Read more
One of the requests I get most often is to create a one week itinerary in Tuscany and Florence. Many travelers rent a car and go on a road trip, while others prefer not to drive in a foreign country, and get around on public transport. So I created this itinerary so that it can be done both with and
Read more