There’s nowhere more romantic (or popular) than Italy. The word “Italy” conjures visions of crumbling Roman ruins, rolling cypress-studded landscapes, and secret canals. Italy is rich in history, culture, and food. Italy’s magnificent cities boast some of the world’s best churches, palaces, museums, and historic sites. Rome, Florence, and Venice shine as hubs of stunning … Read more
“Well-behaved women don’t make history” — Laurel Thatcher Ulrich Here’s my guide to visiting the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice Italy. The collection is a modern art museum founded by the eccentric American expat Peggy Guggenheim. The collection is one of the best museums in Italy. It’s always mobbed. So you’ll need to pre-book a … Read more
“Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go.” — Truman Capote If you’re thinking of visiting the magical city of Venice, you may want to acquaint yourself with its incredible history in advance. Venice stands as the epitome of uniqueness, unlike any other city in the world. The first glimpse … Read more
A drive from Venice to Milan doesn’t have to be a straight shot on the autostrada. The route cuts through some of northern Italy’s most rewarding towns and landscapes — Roman ruins in Verona, the shores of Lake Garda, medieval lanes in Bergamo, and wine country in between. With a little planning, the journey becomes … Read more
Wallpapered with exquisite frescos by Giotto, the Scrovegni Chapel is one of the world’s greatest art works. It was just enshrined on the the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in 2021. In 1303-05, Giotto painted a cycle of 39 frescos depicting the lives of Mary and Jesus. The frescos are a precious masterpiece of … Read more
Here’s my guide to Andrea Mantegna’s famous Camera degli Sposi in Mantua Italy. The Camera is a magical room frescoed with illusionistic paintings in Mantua’s Ducal Palace. It’s considered a hugely influential masterpiece from the early Renaissance. The fresco is famous for being the first trompe l’oeil in the history of painting. This is an … Read more
If you’re planning a trip to Florence and you’re interested in seeing the masterpieces of sculptor Andrea del Verrocchio, then here’s the guide to help you out. Although Verrocchio is mostly known today as the teacher of the great Leonardo da Vinci, he was also an important and influential artist of the Renaissance in his … Read more
If you’re planning to visit the hidden gem town of Mantua in northern Italy, make sure to check out the spectacular Te Palace. Considered one of the world’s most unique and beautiful buildings, it’s a wildly inventive and theatrical feat of both architecture and decoration. Te Palace was designed and built by Giulio Romano, the … Read more
If you want the classic Venice moment, ride the Grand Canal. Nothing else gives you a better sense of how outrageous this city really is. Venice shouldn’t exist and yet here it is, floating, crumbling, dazzling, and still running on the same watery arteries it always has. A slow glide down the canal shows you … Read more
Venice is one of the most singular and beautiful cities in the world. It’s a natural movie set, an artist’s vision of what a city on the water should look like. No other place is quite like Venice, with its narrow passageways, crumbling facades, and glistening canals. Venice isn’t just picturesque canals either. As befitting … Read more