Why go to Perugia You should visit Perugia for it’s beauty, it’s markets, it’s chocolate, festivals, jazz and history that would make for a perfect movie script. Perugia is full of cobbled alleys, stairways with aqueduct archways, piazzas, gothic churches and has magnificent views across the countryside from the Etruscan wall that surrounds it. Perugia is home the University of …
Perugia – Baci Chocolate
OK. You can’t talk about Perugia without talking chocolate. Baci chocolate is known world-wide and Perugia has been named in the top 5 destinations for chocolate lovers like me (and probably for you too). Thank you Luisa Thanks you Luisa Spagnoli, who in 1922, created the Baci Perugino recipe that has only 8 ingredients. But they are a secret. We …
Perugia – San Lorenzo Cathedral the guardian of the Holy Ring
Scratch a little deeper… The Holy Ring San Lorenzo Cathedral in Perugia is the keeper of the Holy Ring (or Sacred Ring) of the virgin Madonna. It is is reputed that the Holy Ring was given to her by Joseph on their wedding day. The holy relic is kept in a safe in the San Lorenzo cathedral 8 meters above …
Orvieto – where Umbria meets Tuscany
Orvieto Orvieto sits on top of spectacular vertical cliffs of volcanic tuff that seems to erupt from the most striking green landscape. Miles of emerald green trees, farm land and vineyards worthy of any postcard. Sit awhile. Soak in the view. Umbria is known as the ‘Green Heart of Italy’. It’s easy to see why. Etruscans, Romans, Popes, secret passageways! …
The oldest church Rome?
The Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere The jewel in the Trastevere crown, is the oldest church in Rome the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere. The first of many churches I will visit on my journey. Churches, Christianity and of course, history is at the heart and soul of Italy. If you aren’t curious about this trio, if you …
The Pantheon – intriguing and incomprehensible
Pantheon – my favorite building on the plant I have no idea why, but the Pantheon is my favorite building on the planet. Perhaps it is because the architecture is visually mesmerizing and it shear genius of the construction is incomprehensible. As if that wasn’t enough, the Pantheon sits in beautiful Piazza Della Rotonda that is full of Italian restaurants, …
G Adventures Amalfi Coast – small group tour
I am so glad I signed up for the G Adventures small group tour to the Amalfi Coast. The tour lasted 7 days and was based in Furore for 5 nights after kicking off in Naples and finishing in Naples. There were just 10 people on the tour which was small enough for us to get to know each other …
Venice. Intriguing, mysterious, romantic. Perfect.
ahh…Venice Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There is no other like it. A city of intrigue, mystery, class and romance. It is also a city where divorce may occur if you don’t have a navigation strategy! See my navigation strategy below! The Grand Canal The Grand Canal is the main canal of Venice where you …
Rapallo Accommodation on the Italian Riviera
Il Nido, Via Privata Sangguinete 4, 16035 Rapallo I really enjoyed staying in this apartment in Rapallo. The apartment is a small attic space. The layout and design of the apartment has used all of the tricks in the book for decorating a small apartment. The apartment somehow feels spacious with the clever use of strategically placed sky lights that …
Sorrento accommodation in the old town.
Sorrento Flats, Corso Italia 176, Sorrento Sorrento Flats are located right in the centre of the old town. I really enjoyed my stay here in the brightly coloured rooms. Mine was pink – not really my colour but soothing none the less! There were also green and blue suites, make sure you ask for the colour you want. Historic Sorrento …
Venice Accommodation – Easy to find (important in Venice!)
Hotel Fontana in Venice What a find. I will always stay here when I visit Venice! Hotel Fontana is great value for money accommodation in expensive Venice and is close to everything and most importantly is easy to find – a blessing in Venice as those who have been there can appreciate. This is a family run hotel that offers …
Florence Accommodation Close to Everything
Guidici Halldis Appartment – Via del Castello d’Altafronte 2 Florence Loved staying in this apartment in Florence! It is close to absolutely every attraction you will want to see in this beautiful city. It’s walking distance to everything. The apartment is light and airy and well maintained. The bedroom is in a loft over the living room. It’s a really nice …
Accommodation in Rome near Vatican City
Rome Via Tacito 90, (near Vatican City), Prati, 00193 Again, I was very happy with this pick for accommodation in Rome. A lovely apartment that is both light and spacious. It is a 15 minute walk to everything attraction you will want to see. It would be on my ‘stay again’ list for sure. The apartment is on the 6th …
Italy – Rapallo on the Italian Riviera
Beautiful Rapallo Ah the Riviera di Levante. Rapallo on the Italian Riviera is where the rich and famous go for their summer holidays and where I go in winter because it is affordable! Camogli, Recco, Santa Margherita and Portofino are Rapallo’s glamorous cousins and they make up a string of old-fashioned seaside resorts. I picked Rapallo as my base to …
Italy – The Amalfi Coast – sunsets and a rugged coastline
The Beautiful Amalfi Coast As part of the G Adventures small group tour, we spent a lot of time exploring the beauty of the Amalfi coastline and it’s various villages including Sorrento, Amalfi, Fuore and Positano. As we made our way around the coastline we stopped to look at some incredible views that you would be unlikely to see anywhere …
The Vatican
The Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums, The Raphael Rooms, Tapestries and more.. The Vatican intimidated me Everyone needs to visit The Vatican to see it’s display of power, 70,000 works of art, 1400 rooms, 17,000 visitors a day, 7km of halls and it’s opulence, it’s maze of museums, gardens. And then St Peters Basilica did my head in and the most …
The Vatican – St Peter’s Basilica
The Largest Christian Church on the Planet. My visit to St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City left me feeling conflicted. The largest Christian church on the planet was opulent. I was in awe of the size, the splendour, the history and the genius of the artwork. Equally I was dismayed by the obvious display of power and wealth in spite …
Itinerary for Italy
Travel Slowly I have traveled to Italy three times now and I want to go back for more. Travel slowly. Absorb the theatre of the Italians as they get on with their daily lives. Enjoy the history in the cities that reach to many levels below the surface and the emerald green land of Tuscany and Umbria. Take time …
Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera
Cinque Terre – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Mararola and Riomaggiore Within the high rugged seaside cliffs of the Italian Riviera are five villages of Cinque Terre, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Mararola and Riomaggiore nestle like fairy tale villages. The homes of their citizens cling to the steep landscape together with their vegetable gardens and olive groves, merge naturally into the uneven terrain. …