Destination: Italy

Michelangelo Sculptures in Bologna

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [110]

IT SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES being in Bologna, not that we’ve been here before. The car was due back at 10:30, check in’s not until four and now we’re standing on the corner with no idea where we’re at, where we’re going or what ... Read more >

Photos: Ravenna and Bologna

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

Revisiting Ravenna

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [73]

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY to Ravenna—Autumn arrived. With the all the road construction, impromptu stops to photograph the fall colors and time for a picnic lunch, the 90-minute drive from Arezzo took nearly twice as long. Back in 2012 ... Read more >

High on Arezzo

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [94]

THE CHURCH OF SAN DOMENICO IS THE ZENITH of Arezzo. It isn’t the best thing, by far, but it may be the highest and this morning Connie lead me, huffing and puffing, for a visit. And I said Arezzo wasn’t a hill town!     ... Read more >

Photos: Arezzo, the Forgotten Town

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

If You're Going to San Francesco...

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [80]

YOU MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE FINDING AREZZO in your Italy guidebook—even Rick doesn’t bother with it. Arezzo is older than Florence but it didn’t have Michelangelo. It is in Tuscany but it isn’t a hill town but it . The Sunday morning ... Read more >

The ❤️ of Tuscany: Montepulciano and Pienza

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [88]

THE PROBLEM WITH A VISIT to the “Heart of Tuscany” is deciding wether to Drink or Drive! Since this was an “Under the Tuscan Sun” sort of day, I drove, despite the offerings of relentlessness wine shop owners of Montepulciano.... Read more >

Photos: More Tuscan Hill Towns: Montepulciano and Pienza

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

Hill Towns of Tuscany: San Gimignano and Volterra

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [100]

IF YOU ARE AN AMERICAN TRAVELING IN TUSCANY, you won’t find a better guidebook than Rick Steve’s ITALY. And if you’ve forgotten to buy a copy, you can download tips, itineraries and even walking tours. If you are especially lucky you ... Read more >

Photos: Hill Towns: San Gimignano and Volterra

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

Suddenly Sunny Siena

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [90]

HAVING A RENTAL CAR GIVES US a lot of freedom. But we also need a place to park, free parking if possible, which can make finding lodging difficult. In Siena, where cars have been banned since 1966, parking is verboten so we’re staying outside ... Read more >

Photos: Siena

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

Lucca—City of 100 Churches

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [74]

WE DIDN’T COUNT 'EM, OF COURSE, but Lucca is said to be the “City of 100 Churches.” As a matter of fact, on our visit ten years ago we barely noticed them. In truth, the only mention I gave Lucca in my “vagabonds” journal ... Read more >

Photos: Lucca

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

Cinque Terre—Riomaggiore, Manarola (and Bonassola)

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [58]

THE VIA DELL’ AMORE—LOVERS’ LANE—is the most famous and romantic stretch of the Cinque Terre coastline, connecting the picturesque villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola. Since the trail remains closed there we skipped the Cinque ... Read more >