Your Secret Door to Italy
favorite places, walks, eats, recipes       & more!

Archive for the ‘Tuscany/Siena/Pisa’ Category

Italy Hotline Reads: Siena Edition

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
The beautiful Palazzo Publico in the Piazza del Campo of Siena, Tuscany

The beautiful Palazzo Publico in the Piazza del Campo of Siena, Tuscany

For the month of May,  the Palazzo Chigi Saracini, which is home to L’Accademia Musicale Chigiana di Siena is open to visitors for guided visits.

A rare chance to see the works of Caravaggio in the Siena Duomo.

A beautiful look at the Siena Palio.

blogged by Gillian

Italy Hotline Reads: Tuscany Edition

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

charms of tuscany

How a chef celebrates spring in Tuscany.

Off the beaten path tips near Florence.

Leonardo DaVinci’s notebooks are now online.

 

 

blogged by Gillian

Grand Canal in Venice Closed for a Day, a Rare Opportunity in Siena and The Definitive Guide to Rome

Monday, April 15th, 2013
The Horses of Caesar

The Horses of Caesar

The Grand Canal in Venice was shut down yesterday to draw attention to the cities environmental challenges.

An extraordinary opportunity at the Duomo in Siena.

A fantastic guide to Rome, featuring some of our favorite places and people (and us)

 

 

blogged by Gillian

Dig Deep in Rome, Eat Well in Tuscany and Why Now is the Golden Age of Italian Wine

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

Salute! We are enjoying a selection of salumi, cheeses as a terrific glass of Refosco

Take a look at this slideshow of the top 10 foods you will find in Tuscany.

Rome has layers, like an onion.

Italy’s wine, now in the spotlight.

blogged by Gillian

Food in Florence, A Second New Years Celebration in Pisa and Finding Your Way in Florence

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013

Destination- Pisa! Here's the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the seven wonders of the medieval world

Last week Florence was all about food.

Did you know that city of Pisa celebrates the new year in March?

Finding your way in Florence can be confusing.  This video will help with the sometimes very confusing street numbers.

blogged by Gillian

What’s Hot in Rome, Making Wine in Tuscany and Mount Etna in Sicily

Friday, March 8th, 2013

Drinking Tuscany’s wines- what a pleasure!

Some of the best attractions in Rome right now.

Making Brunello in Tuscany.

Mount Etna in Sicily has been active recently.

blogged by Gillian

Venetian baubles, Tuscan Film sites and Waiting for the Conclave

Monday, March 4th, 2013

From the archives – Some of Venice’s most beautiful jewelry

A Movie Lover’s Guide to Tuscany.

As we wait for the Papal Conclave – Portraits of the popes as young men.

blogged by Gillian

Baroque Domes of Italy, a Virtual Tour of Pisa and Something New in Florence

Wednesday, February 27th, 2013

Take in these mesmerizing images of domes in Italy.

Click away with this virtual tour of the famous sites in Pisa.

A new room at the Uffizi Gallery In Florence.

blogged by Gillian

Cooking with Umbrian Lentils, A Gelato University and Florentine Doors

Wednesday, January 30th, 2013

Healthy and delicious, these tiny lentils from the Umbrian countryside are some of the worlds best

In Florence, Ghiberti’s Doors of Paradise have been recently restored.

Looking for something new to study?  There is a new university near Bologna  dedicated to the craft of Gelato making.

blogged by Gillian

A Tuscan Interactive Map, All About Italian Wine and Carnival Time in Venice

Monday, January 14th, 2013

An interactive map of the tuscan mountain range to plan for an Italian hiking, walking, skiing journey.

Overwhelmed by an Italian wine list?  This extensive resource should help.

It will be Carnival time in Venice soon.  Tale a look at the official website and then have Italy Hotline help you plan a magical Venetian experience.

blogged by Gillian