During the tour we crossed three major streets extending out from Piazza del Popolo and the obelisk visible there.– 1st along Via del Babuino (east)– 2nd Via del Corso (center)– 3rd Via di Ripetta (west) Spanish Steps Fontana della Barcaccia (Baroque Fountain by the Spanish Steps) Colonna dell Immacolata (Corinthian …
We stayed near the villa again today. The adults ventured to a local winery, Villa La Ripa, during the day. In the evening, everyone went to a nearby village for an authentic Tuscan meal.
Today was a recovery day spent in and around the villa.
Today we ventured several hours north to the city of Florence, or Firenze as it is known in Italian. We had been warned about the difficulty driving and parking in Florence, so we identified a parking lot on the city outskirts with nearby public transportation to the city center. Unfortunately, …
Today we ventured even further from the villa and visited the cities of Castiglion Fiorentino and Cortona. Our second destination of the day was the city of Cortona. Cortona was featured in the book Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. We walked into the city through the Ghibelline Gate …
Today was our first major excursion in Italy. We drove into Arezzo and met Steve and Rebecca at the train station (they delayed their departure from the US due to a volleyball tournament). Then the two Smuck clans took a walking tour of the city. Most of the pottery and …
Today was mostly spent relaxing at the villa and getting adjusted to the time change. We briefly ventured out to the nearby town of Subbiano to stock up on groceries. The grocery store was very similar to US stores, even carrying some of the same brands. We did have to …
We arrived in Italy today and began our 10 day adventure. The next eight days will be spent in Tuscany relaxing, visiting family, and going on day trips to nearby sights. The final two days will be in Rome for a fast-paced set of tours of the expected attractions. Here …