Italy »
Volterra, Italy
This was probably the most challenging hike. The last two miles were definitely intense – a steep uphill climb to Volterra, the last mile on the main road, with cars and busses careening past us.
Read More »Mount Vesuvius, Italy
Mount Vesuvius is about six miles from Naples. It is an active volcano, and last erupted in 1944. Its most famous eruption was in 79 AD. That is the eruption that destroyed both Pompeii
Read More »Siena, Italy
We arrived in Siena, home of the world famous Palio (a twice annual horse race around the Il Campo). Siena is divided into contrade (districts). Each contrade has their own mascot and crest. All
Read More »Institute and Museum of the History of Science, Florence, Italy
Our reservation at the Accademia was for 11:45am, that left plenty of time, before that, to visit the science museum (6.5 euros), home not only to Galileo’s telescopes, but also to his finger (relic
Read More »Trattoria Sostanza, Florence, Italy
We both wanted our final dinner in Florence to be memorable and I didn’t want to leave Florence without experiencing the Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Again we thought of the Rachael Ray show($40 a Day) and the incredible
Read More »Vinci, Italy
From Carmignano, we hiked to the village of Vinci, the birth place of Leonardo. We visited the farmhouse (at Anchiano, 3km from Vinci) at which Leonardo was (probably) born. Leonardo was an illegitimate child.
Read More »San Gimignano, Italy
In the hills of Tuscany, far from any city, is a small walled town called San Gimignano. San Gimignano is sometimes referred to, by tourists, as the medieval Manhatten. In the 1300s, San Gimignano
Read More »Amalfi, Italy
Amalfi overlooks the Gulf of Salerno. It was a very important port, until a devastating tsunami in 1343. Amalfi is the home of Limoncello – the delicious lemon liqueur. Just up from the beach is
Read More »Duomo of Florence, Italy
Also not to be missed is the Duomo museum. The museum contains many statues and works of art that were originally on the exterior or within the duomo, or maybe even were just intended
Read More »Positano, Italy
Positano is a picturesque seaside village on the Amalfi coast. To those that haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Positano, it might be best known as the seaside home of Marcello, in the Diane
Read More »












