Welcome to Florence, Italy! Here are my 8 favorite secrets hidden in this beautiful and historic city.

Of course, Florence has masterpieces you should not miss, including Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, and Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise. However, if you are looking to add more to your Florence experience, you will want to dig deeply into the city.

Do you have what it takes own an inn, B&B, or farmhouse?! Is it a dream job, or are you just "dream drunk"? The Aspiring Innkeepers Bootcamp is your opportunity to get a hands-on taste of the pleasures and pains of running an inn, with both theory & practical experience, in this unique bootcamp/workshop especially designed for those interested in sustainable & culinary tourism. 

A planned, chance meeting with Alessandro Dari? How is that possible?

To authentically experience a place, you are going to have to genuinely immerse yourself into it. Feel it, smell it, taste it! This is my travel philosophy, my travel manifesto, so to speak.

Alesandro Dari Moon Compass

Aosta, the Rome of the Alps, lies some one hundred and ten kilometres north-northwest of Turin and is the principal town of the Valle d'Aosta. Surrounded by mountains, Grand Combin and Mont Vélan to the north, Becca di Nona and Monte Emilius to the south and Testa del Ruitor to the west.

When in Rome, one must eat gelato, yes? With dozens of places to chose from, how do you know which place will deliver the freshest, most authentic gelato? I’m going to make it easy for you and tell you: try Fatamorgana.

Next time you’re searching for a unique white wine, uncork a bottle of Saladini Pilastri Pecorino white wine. Is the name of the Italian, family-owned winery a challenge?  No problem.  Just ask for wine with sheep on the label.

If you go to Tuscany, you think of hill towns, medieval villages, Florence, Siena, and maybe Lucca. They are all great places to visit. But what is not far away from this part of Italy is the town of Pisa. And you all know what is in Pisa, right? THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA, of course.

On a trip to Tuscany, this is the place to stay. It is halfway between Florence and Siena, and not far from San Gimignano and Volterra. This beauty of a town is small but still shows its medieval heritage. The main part of town is still surrounded by the walls built back in the 12th century for protection. So many touches of the original remain, such as arches and towers.

Would you like to know more about Florence than many Florentines?

Allow me to share with you my second installation of The Secrets of Florence.