Italy is a boot-shaped country where modern day cities sit alongside ancient ruins that have stood the test of time. A country that has given the world fine food, fine art, and fast cars. Men of historical prominence like Caesar, Columbus, Galileo, and Da Vinci all hail from this land.
The final town in the Cinque Terre is the seaside village of Monterosso al Mare, or just Monterosso, for short. The town is divided into two distinct parts: the old town and the new town. The two areas are divided by a single tunnel that caters to pedestrians and the very few cars in the town. The tunnel is located under the town’s train station; tourists...
Vernazza is a town and comune located in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, in northwestern Italy, along the banks of the Italian Riviera. It is one of the five towns that make up the Cinque Terre region, and the fourth town heading north along the Italian Riviera. The history of Vernazza dates back as far back as the 11th century. It was originally a small naval...
Corniglia is a part of the commune of Vernazza in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, along the coast of the Italian Riveria. Unlike the other localities of the Cinque Terre, Corniglia is not directly adjacent to the sea. Instead, the village sits on the top of a promontory about 300 ft. high, surrounded by vineyards and terraces. One side of the village...
Riomaggiore is the most southern village of the Cinque Terre. The village, dating from the early thirteenth century, is known for both its waterfront and its wine produced by the nearby vineyards. Riomaggiore’s main street is Via Colombo, where numerous restaurants, bars and shops can be found. Connecting Riomaggiore with the nearby town of Manarola is the...
Manarola is a small town of the comune of Riomaggiore, in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northern Italy. It is the second smallest of the famous Cinque Terre villages. When I first visited the Cinque Terre back in Summer of 2011, Manarola was the first town in the Cinque Terre I visited. Getting into this town was just half the fun! Our tour bus pulled up to...
Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal is where the Grand Lagoon meets the waters in front of Piazza San Marco. An unrivaled location, where one has a unique opportunity to live and feel the real soul of Venice. This little place offers a stay in what I would describe as one of the nicest and fanciest hotels I have ever stayed in. The hotel overlooks the Grand Canal, just...
Arguably, the most visited town on the Almalfi Coast is the town of Positano. Located about 35 miles (57 km) from Naples, Positano offers some of the most breathtaking views of Italy and its magnificent coastline. The town itself is perched on an enclave on the face of a hill and winds down towards the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Naturally beautiful, Positano...
If you hear the sounds of motor-scooters revving their engines, if you see a caravan of little Fiats circling the streets, if you can smell the aroma of pastas being served al fresco, if you can taste the creamy gelato being served to you in a massive cone, and if you can feel the rough, yet tender surface of the great Coliseum, odds are, you are in Rome, Italy! As...
Located just a short walk from Piazza San Marco lies one of the most somber places in all of Venice. It is known as the Bridge of Sighs. Built in the early 17th century, it connected the Palazzo Ducale to the Prigioni Nuove (the New Prison). In the middle of the bridge, there was a small window; as prisoners were crossing the bridge, they were allowed to take one...
Venice is a unique city because it is built entirely on water. It extends along 118 separate islands divided by canals but connected by more than four hundred bridges. The city is a treasure trove for art lovers, classical music lovers, and food lovers. The entire city is listed as a World Heritage Site. Historically, the city was the capital of the Venetian...