The first time I visited Florence’s San Croce neighborhood, I must have walked right past the entrance to Scuola del Cuoio, a leather school in the heart of Florence. Though located on a sizable campus with several buildings and courtyards, the leather school was far less conspicuous from the street. It wasn’t until I was […]
While Florence can be heaving with tourists, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. More tourists means more foot traffic– and shops that can actually afford to stay in business. On my first visit to Florence, I was overwhelmed by the tourist tat and underestimated the shopping potential. Fortunately, on this last visit to Florence, I […]
People who complain about Florence being too touristy and crowded have likely never been to the “other” side of Florence– right across the Arno river, the Oltrarno. I used to be one of the people. On my first visit to Florence, my sightseeing was limited to a tiny circumference in the center, where I was […]
I was a little lost in Florence’s Oltrarno quarter. It might have by design, because I was only half-heartedly looking for my destination. As usual, I was hoping something more interesting would distract me first. It didn’t take long for something to capture my attention. I looked to my right and saw an open doorway […]
I’d gotten tired of hearing about the purple pasta cooked in red wine– my friend Amy just couldn’t shut up about how good it was. Amy had sampled this dish in Florence years ago and had been longing to go back ever since. While I was fine with adding it to our itinerary, I remained […]
The agriturismo Sant’ Anna in Camprena, in Pienza, Tuscany is one of my all-time favorite places to stay. Sant’Anna in Camprena in Pienza is a former Benedictine monastery with some serious history– it dates all the way back to the 15th century. But unlike other ancient Tuscan properties that have been glammed up beyond recognition […]
