By Laura Mongillo in Florence— Typically an Italian breakfast consists of fruit juice, espresso or a cappuccino and a delicious flaky soft pastry filled with rich cream, flavorful jam or sinful chocolate. But have you ever wondered how those delectable treats could possibly be ready for the earliest of risers without being stale leftovers from » Read more

By Laura Mongillo— What’s the best way to rub shoulders with Florentines, far from the museums and tourist traps of central Florence? Head out to the stadium and watch the city’s soccer team Fiorentina play against some of the best teams in the world! Fiorentina’s fan base is still very proudly Florentine and is a » Read more

By Nicole Arriaga in Rome— If there’s something to be said about Italians, one thing’s for certain, they sure know how to churn out a good cup of coffee. Just about everywhere you turn in Rome, behind every nook, cranny and yes, monument, you will find a coffee bar. To say that Italians are obsessed » Read more

By Laura Mongillo in Florence— Even though Florence is the home of the “bistecca fiorentina,” a steak that is sold by the kilo and never to just one person, the city is quite welcoming to vegetarians, vegans, people who eat kosher and various other diets. Oddly enough, almost all of the vegetarian and vegan fare that Florence » Read more

By Laura Mongillo in Florence What would you rather take home as a souvenir from Florence? A pair of boxer shorts with the David’s (ahem) jewels printed on the front OR a gorgeous Florentine-made Italian leather handbag from the ’60s? Ok, I guess that may be a gender-biased question, but is it really that hard of » Read more

By Marc Justin in Florence— Many would say visiting Florence without dousing yourself in Chianti wine makes for an incomplete trip. But did you know that the Chianti region is not only a basin for wines but also home to walking trails that will awaken the dormant hiker buried deep inside every Cheapo. Greve in Chianti, today’s » Read more

By Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries— The big rail news in Europe this past week has been the successful launch of a new direct train service from Moscow to Nice, restoring a link between the Russian capital and the French Riviera that has not operated since before the First World War. Routed via Minsk, Warsaw, » Read more

Finding a bar that suits you can be a difficult task while travelling and Florence in particular has some obvious pitfalls. So simply keep in mind what kind of atmosphere you’re looking for and this advice can help you enjoy the city and it’s nightlife that much more! Florence’s bar scene Many of Florence’s bars and » Read more

Florence is a medieval fairy tale city of churches, palazzos and cobblestones. However, like in other cities, it has had to adapt to modern times and technology. In January 2010, Florence took a giant leap into the future by christening the first of three tramway lines servicing the city center and surrounding areas. Despite much » Read more