We’ve been to Mercantia before, but never with young kids. So we were a little worried about the crowds. But we needn’t have stressed. They absolutely loved it, and it wasn’t as crazy as we had feared. We went on … Read More
English
Drama, excitement, intrigue…donkeys…what more do you want?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDE4ow36PDQ You’ve seen the Palio, Senese-style, now see the Palio, San Donato-style. Intrigue, excitement, near-death accidents, flag-waving, this has it all. There’s great street-food, lots of stalls selling arts & crafts, games for the kids, processions, drummers, flag-throwers. We got … Read More
The Palio di Siena – extreme horse-racing, medieval-style
Italians don’t do things by halves, and the Palio is no exception. A 4-day horsing event culminating in the final race, with the Palio (an ornate banner, made by a different artist every race) going to the first horse … Read More
Beautiful Towns of Tuscany – romantic Radda in Chianti
For those of you keen to get away from the more touristy spots, Radda in Chianti should definitely be on your list. It has a really lovely _lived-in_ feel to it, and that’s probably because a lot of local people … Read More
How to choose the perfect Tuscany accommodation
Plan the perfect trip to Italy – Part 3 Now, I bet you’re thinking, “Ah-ha, this is where he starts plugging rural Tuscan villa rentals.” Well, you’d be right. But you’d be wrong too. Because, as a villa rental owner … Read More
What kind of traveller do you want to be?
Plan the perfect trip to Italy – Part 2 Ok, so you know you want to come to Italy for a long-ish vacation, and you have a few ideas of the kind of things you want to do. But … Read More
You think rugby is tough? Meet the real football.
In the historical centre of of Florence in June every year, in the square in front of Santa Croce, there’s a sporting competition like no other on the planet. Forget football, soccer, or rugby. Meet Calcio Storico Fiorentino, a game … Read More
Get your itinerary right
Plan the perfect trip to Italy | Part 1 A trip to Italy can be fairly cheap, especially if you live in the UK and buy your flights early. But if you’re crossing at least one major ocean to get … Read More