Skip the lines in Florence with a little preplanning

We always feel so terrible as we walk past the long and winding line to see the statue of David in the Galleria dell’Accademia of Florence. Yes, we truly feel sorry for the tourists who are burning up valuable sightseeing time waiting in the summer heat, fanning themselves with whatever they can come up with […]

Pizza in Bella Italia

Where does one find the best pizza in Italy? In the mom and pop-owned and operated Trattorias of Italy. We found one the other day in Bolsena, not far from our homebase in Orvieto. The Cain family loved their margarita pizzas while the rest of us had lasagna, or a salad or a seafood starter.

La Taverna di Masaniello great place to eat in Amalfi, Italy

We were referred to this friendly little Ristorante tucked away on a back street in the medieval heart of Amalfi by the receptionist at our hotel. We loved La Taverna di Masaniello so much that on the first night, after our plates were cleared and we pushed back with warm and satisfied bellies to make […]

View from our hotel in Amalfi

We don’t want to leave this place, but tomorrow we must. We’re moving on to visit Pompeii, then up to Orvieto, Umbria for two nights at a country inn. The highlight of a stay there is dinner. Look for mouth-watering images soon.

Capri was a great place in 1964

In the year when I was born, Capri was probably a fantastic place to go and relax and stroll around. Sophia Loren, who owns a magnificent compound on the Amalfi Coast probably went there to buy her sandals. Today, in the time of mass tourism when practically everyone can afford to travel, Capri is a […]

Relaxing in Amalfi

Our guests the Cain family from Texas relaxing over their breakfast on the terrace of our hotel overlooking Amalfi. Another perfect July morning.

Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome

In 1732, Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to create a large fountain at the Trevi Square. A previous undertaking to build the fountain after a design by Bernini was halted a century earlier after the death of Pope Urban VIII. Salvi based his theatrical masterpiece on this design. Construction of the monumental baroque fountain […]