A fantastic 2-to-3-day itinerary in the South of Siena through the wine regions of Brunello, Montepulciano and Orcia!
Tag: discover authentic Tuscany
A Day with an Italian Chef in a 17th-Century Palace [Lucca]
In the authentic Tuscan city of Lucca, enjoy a top-quality cooking class learning about the Italian gastronomy from the chef!
Lucca: your ultimate guide [2 to 5 days]
Text: Claire LessiauPhotographs: Claire Lessiau & Marcella van Alphen Lucca is this kind of city. The more time you spend here, the longer you want to stay. Yes, the picturesque walled Tuscan city at the foot of the Apennine Mountains and along the Serchio River is touristy. Still it remains an authentic city with a…
The secrets of pasta making & everything you need to know to enjoy your pastas [Siena, Italy]
Find out the secrets of pasta making in Siena, Italy (and the locals’ favourite when ordering).
The crafts behind the masterpieces of Florence
Text: Claire LessiauPhotographs: Claire Lessiau & Marcella van Alphen Florence is the artistic capital of the Renaissance. The Italian city is world famous for its museums and masterpieces by some of the most revered artists of all times. However, the unspoken stories of its craftsmen need to be told. Without them, most of these masterpieces…
Your 1-day Vespa loop from Siena itinerary [Chianti, San Gimignano, Certaldo…]
Ride your Vespa through Tuscany on this great loop from Siena (can also do it with a car, but it is not as fun!)!
Sleeping in the cradle of the Kingdom of Italy [Bernini Palace]
More than staying in a 5-star hotel, staying at the Hotel Bernini Palace is sleeping in the cradle of the kingdom of Italy and stepping into history…
Exploring the white waters of the Apuan Alps [Bagni di Lucca, Tuscany]
Close to Lucca, discover an outdoor paradise!
In Puccini’s footsteps in & around Lucca [Italy]
Follow the footsteps of the beloved composer Giacomo Puccini in his birth town of Lucca, Tuscany.
Barga: the Scottish dream
This beautiful Liberty-style villa sums up perfectly the recent & fascinating history of the charming city of Barga…
The Saint Paolino celebrations in Lucca
Text: Claire LessiauPhotographs: Marcella van Alphen Paolino (or Paulinus) is the patron of Lucca and, according to the legend, its first bishop sent by Saint Peter himself to evangelize the Lucchese about 2,000 years ago. Celebrated since the Middle Ages, it is in 1664, the day of his holiday, on July 12, that Paolino became…
The naughty history of tiramisu
The history of tiramisu is much older than thought, and involves nobility and brothels… Find out, and get the original recipe!
How to decode Italy’s best Renaissance museum: the Uffizi [Florence]
This article is a brief selection of some of the masterpieces of the Renaissance that can be admired at the Uffizi – DECODED!
Best regards from far, 