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...
Just a few miles from the city of Nice in the South of France, or Cote d”Azur for those being specific, is the hilltop town of Eze (pronounced “eh-zz”). Founded around 2000 BC, Eze began as a small commune near Mount Bastide. The small commune was first occupied by the Romans, along with the Moors. The town was also used as sort of...
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...
Situated on a quiet corner in London’s posh Mayfair neighborhood lies one of the oldest and most opulent hotels in the city: The Connaught. This five-star hotel features all the comforts of a great hotel, mixed with some old-English charm, all in a turn-of-the-century environment, only with modern technology. The hotel first opened in 1815 as the Prince of...
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...
There is probably no dish more representative of England than tea and sweets. Everyone from every walk of life has enjoyed a cup of England’s favorite hot brew, from the lowliest commoner, to the highest nobility. Whether you are a barrister, bobbie, lorrie, or the Queen herself, everyone can agree on a cup of tea. Nowadays, everyone enjoys a good cup...
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...