The Tuscan city of Florence is home to some of the most beautiful piazzas (squares) in Italy. Below are videos of my three of my favourites. I knew very little about the history of these squares but that was not an impediment to my appreciation of the beauty and architecture of these squares. I wandered [...]

We had our best meal during our week in Tuscany in November 2009 at the Trattoria da Sergio, Piazza Bernardini 7 in Lucca, tel 0583 491364. The staff working there when we ate didn’t speak any English. Table at Trattoria da Sergio, Lucca We went for the 10 euro set menu which being Italy didn’t [...]

Update 16 September 2011 – From 1 November 2011 the only Mastercard prepaid debit to avoid the Ryanair admin fee will be the Ryanair’s own branded prepaid Mastercard ‘Cash Passport’. Update 20 April 2011 – The Ryanair admin fee has now increased to £6 per person per flight, all the more reason to get a [...]

Ancient civilisations, powerful empires and charismatic, if immodest, rulers. In this guest post Margaret Doherty explores Eastern Turkey’s magnificent and varied history through its archaeological sites with archaeological travel experts Andante Travels. One of the impressive heads on the east terrace of Nemrut Dag In 1945 while tracing ancient routes through the Taurus mountains in search [...]

The Grand Hotel Bonanno was my accommodation host in Pisa from 24 – 26 November 2009. My complimentary accommodation was arranged through Hotels.com from their selection of Pisa hotels. The four star hotel is located a 5 minute walk from Pisa San Rossore rail station. If you arrive at Pisa Centrale rail station, the number [...]

I was hosted by the Waldorf Suite from 26 – 29 November during my visit to Tuscany. My complimentary accommodation was arranged through Hotels.com who offer a wide selection of hotels in Florence to suit all tastes and budgets. The Waldorf Suite is in a central location between the train and bus stations very handy [...]

I was hosted by the Hotel Ilaria & Residenza dell’Alba in Lucca, Tuscany for two nights from 29 November to 1 December 2009. My complimentary accommodation was arranged through Hotels.com from their selection of hotels in Lucca. I stayed in Room 12 in the annexe, Residenza dell’Alba, a couple of minutes walk from the main [...]

I wrote earlier in the year about the 2009 outreach programme Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum had for modern art in Amsterdam.  Soon the Stedelijk will return to its home back in the city’s main Museum Square (Museumplein), but they continue the Modern Art in the City programme.  Right now they have the ‘construction cabin’ which is [...]

Many people make a trip to see the Christmas Markets of Germany and Eastern Europe at this time of year, but if you live in the UK, many cities are now hosting similar markets to get people in the Christmas spirit. In the West Country, one of the best known is the Bath Christmas Market [...]

I visited the Il Desco Tuscan market at the Real Collegio in Lucca on 29 November 2009. There was an amazing array of Tuscan produce on sale. The market will be open 5 – 8 December 2009 from 11.30 – 19.30. The first video shows a selection of some of the food and drink available. [...]