Updated on January 14, 2024 Lucca with Kids – the best things to do in Lucca with children in tow Are you looking for a stress-free city to visit for the day or to have as a base for exploring Tuscany? If so, you’ve found it! Lucca is a charming, lively (but not overwhelming) city […]
LUCCA WITH KIDS – Fun for Little Ones and Parents Too! Read More »
Updated February 3, 2025 Lucca, Italy – a charming, relaxing city inside medieval walls. When to visit, what to see, helpful tips, and map. Lucca is famous for its wide walls, topped with greenery, and a cycling and hiking path that’s visited by locals daily. Good To Know: Lucca was named a UNESCO World
LUCCA (ITALY) – My Guide to the Walled City Read More »
Updated on November 8, 2023 You’ve got your International Driving Permit, your rental car is booked… now what? It’s time to learn the Italian road signs! Some may look similar to signs from home, while others may leave you scratching your head. Based on my time driving here as a cycling guide, trip planner, resident,
ITALIAN ROAD SIGNS – Guide for Visitors + Printable Booklet Read More »
Updated on January 14, 2024 Many parents dismiss Montalcino as a wine town that has nothing to offer kids. But, Montalcino with kids can actually be fun for kids and mom and dad, with both wine and non-wine activities. We live in Tuscany and head to the Brunello village on a day trip, but you
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Updated on November 8, 2023 Stuzzichini Meaning Stuzzichini are Italy’s version of appetizers or hors d’œvres. You can also think of them as finger foods, snacks, or nibbles. In Italy, you’ll sometimes hear them called spuntini. Good To Know: The singular of stuzzichini is stuzzichino. The word stuzzichino comes from the Italian verb ‘stuzzicare’ –
STUZZICHINI – The Scoop on Italy’s Appetizers (+ Pronunciation) Read More »
Updated on November 8, 2023 Ringing in the New Year is a huge celebration throughout Italy. December 31st is St. Silvester’s Night (La Notte di San Silvestro) and to celebrate we enjoy parties, concerts, fireworks, and festivals. We have our special New Year’s dishes and of course, we usually pop a bottle of prosecco or
HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ITALIAN – Pronunciation, Variations, and Traditions Read More »
Our family loves visiting Venice in winter *, and we often bring hesitant (and later, grateful) visiting family and friends along with us. Winter in Venice is everything it isn’t during the rest of the year – quiet, calm, peaceful. It’s romantic (always!) and the foggy mornings and twinkling lights in the evening make for
VENICE IN WINTER – All the Details on Our Favorite Time to Visit Read More »
Venice can be crowded. And hot. Packed streets, busy vaporetti (water buses), and long lines. But you don’t have to see Venice that way. Come to Venice at night! Venice at night is peaceful and dramatic. It’s quiet, the day-trippers are gone, and Venetians have taken back their city. It’s an enchanting time to see
VENICE AT NIGHT – 17 Things to Do in La Serenissima Read More »
Updated on November 8, 2023 Are you on vacation in Italy and are getting ready to call a restaurant in Bolzano to make dinner reservations? Are you waiting for a phone call from the reception at your hotel in Modena? Do you have your mobile phone by your side in case the handsome Italian boy
HOW DO PEOPLE IN ITALY ANSWER THE PHONE? Read More »
Updated on November 8, 2023 Are you coming to Italy on vacation and want to know if you can rent a car here with your US driver’s license? Or are you living here in Italy and wondering if you can use your US driver’s license to rent a car? Can I Rent a Car in
CAN I RENT A CAR IN ITALY WITH A US DRIVER’S LICENSE? Read More »
