Month: April 2009

Visiting charming Arezzo

April 28, 2009

We just got back from a short trip to Arezzo, a charming town in southern Tuscany, that we took to celebrate my recent birthday. Not as popular to tourists as the nearby Cortona, we were pleasantly surprised with what Arezzo has to offer. We got to Arezzo in under an hour by train from Florence….

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Florence under bloom!

From now until May 3, head towards Florence’s Horticulture Garden to witness spring’s bounty in the shape of plants and flowers at the Mostra dei Fiori, or Flower Fair. Open from 8.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, the fair is located in the external area of the horticulture garden (one of the entrances is…

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Two days in Cortona and Montepulciano

This Easter and the day after we took a short yet relaxing vacation in the Valdichiana area we like a lot. The valley lies between the Tuscan regions of Arezzo and Siena and the Umbrian regions of Perugia and Terni. Our destination was Cortona and Montepulciano. Cortona welcomed us with beautiful sunshine despite the uncertain…

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A weekend at the Cinque Terre

April 11, 2009

View of the Cinque Terre coastline with Vernazza poking out at center We spent last weekend at Cinque Terre, planning to hike and visit all five of the towns along the beautiful coast that give the name to the area. Even if the Cinque Terre are in Liguria, we are just a few kilometers out…

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About the EarthQuake in Abruzzo in Central Italy

April 9, 2009

As you probably already know, on the night of April 6 a strong earthquake (5.8 on the Richter scale) hit the region of Abruzzo in central Italy. The medieval city of L’Aquila, the region’s capital, was hit hard and other minor cities around it, like Onna, have been almost completely destroyed. The buildings were too…

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Italian Cultural Week: State Museums and more for free!

April 3, 2009

Across all of Italy, the “Settimana della Cultura” or “Week of Culture” will take place this year April 18-26. The 11th edition will once again promote art and culture by offering free admission to all Italian state-owned properties and to especially organized guided visits and exhibits to these cultural treasures. To see a list of…

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Florence Museums open on Easter Monday 2009

April 1, 2009

This is the list of Florence State museums that will be open on April 13 (“Pasquetta” or Angel’s Monday) as advertised on the official site. Many of these are generally open on Sundays so they’ll be open on Easter Sunday. Check the site above for hours and to double check which ones will be open…

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