I’ve learned a lot from traveling with my wife over the years. One of the simplest lessons came early: always pack a scarf. Not just any scarf, but a light, versatile one that can do about a dozen different jobs. In Italy, that little piece of fabric becomes a ticket into cathedrals, a shield against … Read more
I love Italy. All of it. I love the chaotic energy of Rome, where ancient ruins poke out of subway construction sites. I love the crumbling, soulful majesty of Naples, where pizza was born and life spills into the streets. I love Venice, that impossible floating dream, and the slow, elegant pace of Lake Como. … Read more
If you drive northwest from Siena for about forty minutes, through rolling hills quilted with vineyards and olive groves, a strange sight appears on the horizon. A cluster of stone towers rises from a hilltop like a handful of arrows shot into the sky. This is San Gimignano, and it feels like a medieval dream … Read more
Let me start by saying this: Italy is incredible. The pasta alone is worth the flight. But if you have done any research at all, you have probably come across horror stories about pickpockets. Someone’s cousin had their wallet lifted on the Rome metro. A friend of a friend lost their passport near the Trevi … Read more
Some cities feel like they belong in a fairy tale. Siena is one of them. Tucked into the rolling hills of Tuscany, this small city feels frozen in time. The red brick buildings, narrow alleys, and the famous shell-shaped main square have barely changed in six hundred years. My wife and I arrived on a … Read more
The Amalfi Coast looks like a dream in photos. Pastel villages cling to cliffs. Turquoise water sparkles below. But getting between those villages? That can feel like a nightmare. First-time visitors often assume they should stay right on the coast in Positano or Amalfi town. But those places come with narrow roads, sky-high prices, and … Read more
You have booked your flights to Italy. You have mapped out your visits to the Colosseum, the Uffizi Gallery, and the canals of Venice. But have you thought about your luggage? Italy is not like other travel destinations. The country is a living museum, and museums were not built with roller suitcases in mind. Cobblestone … Read more
Let me start with something I learned the hard way on my first trip to Florence, years ago with my wife. We booked a charming-looking hotel near the train station because it was cheap and convenient. Big mistake. Not because it was unsafe or dirty, but because we completely missed out on the feeling of … Read more
Rome is a magical city. The Colosseum at sunset, fresh pasta in a quiet piazza, the sound of fountains around every corner. But your experience of Rome can be ruined before it even begins if you choose the wrong place to sleep. Many travelers look at a map and see a cheap hotel or an … Read more
Let me start with a confession. On my first trip to Rome, I made a classic mistake. I booked a charming little hotel near Termini Station because it was cheap and looked convenient on a map. What I didn’t understand was that Rome isn’t a city you navigate by subway like New York or London. … Read more