May 12 On our way from Orvieto to Montepulciano we took a diversion and drove high up into the mountains to the ancient Abbey San Salvatore in the town of the same name high in the mountains of the Val di Orcia, Tuscany. The abbey is small and not particularly impressive from the exterior unless […]
Jewish History in Pittigliano, Tuscany
May 10 There was once a flourishing Jewish community in this fortified Tuscan village. Kicked out of the Papal States (those areas immediately surrounding Rome) by Popes in the 16th century, a large settlement developed in Pittigliano where they were given protection by the local ruling family. In ‘Little Jerusalem’ there can be seen many […]
Enjoying Italy by Visiting Orvieto, Umbria
May 9 Just off the plane at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, George and Susan Then from Florida were welcomed by guide James Derheim for their second trip with European Focus. Last year, it was Germany and George’s ancestral towns of Amberg and Nurnberg. This time, it’s Susan’s turn with visits to Orvieto, Tuscany, the […]
Micro Group Tour Offer for Germany and Prague
Using inspiration from a recent tour plus some reliable favorites of our clients over the years, we are happy to present this amazing opportunity to experience some of Europe’s many delights in an intimate group of no more than six persons. Micro-Group Tour in Germany, Czech Republic and Austria 11-day trip Small Group Tour Offered […]
Interesting Architecture Abounds in Prague
May 5 It’s just amazing how gorgeous and interesting an ancient European capital city can be as long as it is not bombed to smithereens every fifty years or so. Prague is a city which survived World War II and the immense destructive power of aerial bombardment totally unscathed. The result is block after block, […]
Touring around Prague in the Praha Lady
May 2 We took a guided tour the other day in Prague with our driver Jerry and his very special lady. The “Praha Lady” is truly one of a kind, built in 1938 and in pristine condition thanks to a very particular owner who usually keeps this treasure safely in his garage. However, due to […]
Dresden’s Amazing Rebirth
April 29 The city of Dresden is located in what many used to call “The Valley of the Ignorant.” That nickname came from the fact that this was one of the only cities in the former East Germany that could not receive Western satellite signals. Therefore, the people of Dresden had no idea of the […]
The Dome of the Reichstag in Berlin
April 23 A visit to the glass and steel dome of the Reichstag in Berlin used to be something I would never contemplate. The lines were always huge, no matter what time of the day. However now, due to tightened security and the requirement that all visitors register in advance for security clearance, a visit […]