Florence, Tuscany and Umbria
Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Assisi and the Cinque Terre.
The Tuscan Maremma Travel Guide
Although Italy isn't an overly large country, there are still places that are still relatively undiscovered by the tourist hordes - even in arguably the most popular region of Tuscany.
Top 10 Things to Do in Florence
Before my first visit to Florence , I'd heard and read that one could easily spend a week in the city madly running from museum to gallery and still not hope to see all the art there is to see.
Win a Private Market Tour in Florence with Judy the Tuscan Diva: Passports with Purpose 2011
Many of you may be familiar with the Passports with Purpose annual travel blogging fundraiser (if not, there are more details below), and if you've visited WhyGo Italy before you know about my…
Flash Floods & Mudslides Hit Liguria & Tuscany [Updated 5 November]
By now you may have heard about the devastating flash floods and mudslides that hit parts of Liguria and Tuscany over the past few days (more rain is expected, so it's not over yet).
Things You Should Know About the Cinque Terre
Once upon a time, the Cinque Terre actually was a collection of "sleepy fishing villages" - unlike today, when that phrase is still used to describe what has become one of Italy's most popular…
Fishing Tours in the Cinque Terre
You'll read over and over again - including on this site - that the five towns that make up the Cinque Terre are "fishing villages." The description somehow makes them seem work-a-day, when in…
"The Genius of a Place" & the Impact of Tourism in Cortona
Some years ago, before I was working at BootsnAll and before WhyGo Italy even existed, I visited the Cinque Terre for the second time.
What to Do in Lucca
There's much of Italy I have yet to explore, so in an effort to get more information to you more quickly - at least more quickly than I can cover every spot on the map - I sometimes have other Italy…
Leaning Tower of Pisa
I've written before about my experience visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa , and even about how to avoid the lines by buying tickets to climb the tower in advance .
Itinerary for 4 Days in Florence
This is a stop on my perfect itinerary for Italy - if you've been following along, you've already spend 2 days in Venice and 2 days in the Cinque Terre . Now, it's time for Florence!
Itinerary for 2 Days in the Cinque Terre
This is part of my perfect Italy itinerary series - it's the second stop on the tour. If you missed the first one, go back and see what to do with two days in Venice !
Things You Should Know About Florence
When most people think of visiting Italy for the first time, their first "must-see" destinations are what I call Italy's "Holy Trinity" - Rome, Venice, and Florence.
Day Trips from Florence
Florence is one of those compact, walkable, and packed-with-tourist-sights cities that makes it easy to overlook the idea of taking a day out of your stay to venture anywhere else.
10 Favorite Family-Friendly Accommodations in Tuscany
Traveling to Italy with kids isn't just about finding fun stuff to interest them in the places you'll visit - it's also key to find an accommodation option that fits the unique needs of a traveling…
Free Things to Do in Florence
Even in times when Italy is seeing a downturn in the number of visitors and really craving tourist money, it's still not what most people would call a cheap vacation destination.
Hiking Guide to the Cinque Terre
No matter how crowded the tiny villages of the Cinque Terre are getting these days, they remain intensely beautiful, almost impossibly charming, and reasonably accessible to visitors - all of which…
Italy Q&A: Soccer Games in Tuscany in October
Here's another in the Italy Q&A series. This comes from Margie, who asks: I am going to be in Tuscany October 10-17. Are there any soccer matches in our area during that time?
What to Do in Pisa
Most of the people who visit Pisa do so for a couple of hours, usually on their way to or from Florence or Siena , only to get a picture of themselves "propping up" the leaning tower of Pisa and…
Super Secret Uffizi Ticket Booth in Florence?
You may remember that I recently wrote an article about the long lines in Florence in March for sights like the Uffizi - my goal was to try to implore you to buy tickets ahead of time so that you…
Avoiding Lines in Florence
Anyone who's planning a trip to Florence has probably heard the horror stories of people who had to wait 5-6 hours in line to get into the Uffizi Gallery.
Siena
Although most people spend their Italian vacation in the "holy trinity" of Italian cities - Venice , Florence , and Rome - those who branch out and go just a short distance off the well-trodden…
Bargello in Florence
The Bargello might have once been a prison, but by telling you to visit the Bargello in Florence I'm not saying you should commit a crime and get yourself arrested.
Accademia Gallery in Florence
I've met several people who walk into the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, look over at the statues flanking the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio and think, "Oh, wow, there's Michelangelo's David!
The Duomo in Florence
If you're used to Gothic cathedrals like Notre Dame in Paris or Westminster Abbey in London , stoic and stately in all that gray stone, you might be in for a shock when you see the Duomo in Florence…
Uffizi Gallery in Florence
For many, a visit to Florence just isn't complete without some time spend in the famous Uffizi Gallery ("Galleria degli Uffizi" in Italian).
Weird & Wonderful Florence
Bathed in the history of the Renaissance, Florence might seem like the ideal destination if you're into the offbeat sights. But every city has oddities, and Florence is no exception.
What to Do in Florence
The cradle of the Renaissance, Florence attracts countless visitors all year round. There are, clearly, things that everyone wants to see when they visit.
"Little Jerusalem" in Tuscany
Italy is intensely Catholic, being the home to the Roman Catholic Church's headquarters, and statistics show that roughly 90% of the population identifies itself as Roman Catholic.
Buying Advance Tickets to Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Travelers in the know - or at least those who are prone to planning ahead - are finding it easier and easier to avoid lines in Italy and book tours in advance .
The Cinque Terre is Closed
Okay, it's not really closed, but I'm beginning to think it should be. At least sometimes.
Disney Guide to Florence
Traveling to Italy with kids is by definition going to be a different experience than traveling without kids.
A Video Visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Here's a little video of one of Italy's most famous sights, the Leaning Tower of Pisa .
Falcons Nesting on Florence's Duomo
As if there isn't already enough to see in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, now bird enthusiasts have another reason to become Italy enthusiasts as well: A pair of falcons have chosen an…