Kept in the middle of the wonderful Natural Park of the Apuan Alps, it is among the most beautiful and complete caves in all of Europe: it is the Grotta del Vento, favorite destination for all those who love hiking and diving in nature. The rocky complex is complete from a morphological and evolutionary point of view and allows visitors to follow...
READ MOREAs a child, Paolo Fanciulli was fascinated by underwater shipwrecks, particularly the fish and algae that lived in them. He became a fisherman in the Tuscan village of Talamone at 13 and still plies the waters at the age of 60 in his small boat, the Sirena. But in the past decade, his job has become harder, as trawling near the coast has been destr...
READ MORESleep-deprived tourists have been blamed for silencing a historic Italian clocktower by dismayed locals who argue that they cannot slumber without its bells tolling. The centuries-old tower in Pienza, a Renaissance gem south of Siena, will be silent between 10pm and 7am because of complaints made by foreign visitors staying in nearby hotels and bed...
READ MOREFlorence, called by many the cradle of the Renaissance, is home to many architectural masterpieces that embody the artistic and intellectual glory of that era. Among these treasures, one stands out as a symbol of beauty, craftsmanship, and spiritual significance: the Gates of Paradise. These magnificent bronze doors, located on the eastern facade o...
READ MOREItaly, a country renowned for its rich history and cultural heritage, is home to countless well-known landmarks and attractions. However, it also harbors a multitude of lesser-known gems, each with its own unique story. Let’s embark on a journey to uncover five such “secrets” hidden in plain sight in some of Italy’s most famous cities. Our first st...
READ MOREThe largest exhibition of art from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods from a private art collection in Florence is heading to Miami this fall. Faith, Beauty, and Devotion: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Paintings is being organized by Federico Gandolfi Vannini, owner of Frascione Arte and his wife Daisy Diaz as the Cultural Director...
READ MOREOfficina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella has endured the rise and fall of various kingdoms, two World Wars, every pandemic from the Black Death to Covid, and countless other historical catastrophes and changes. There is probably no other brand that could find a more impressive testament to its popularity; but why exactly has Santa Mari...
READ MOREMarvelous Medieval borgoes, lush nature that transforms into a dreamlike landscape, with hot springs immersed in the Tuscan countryside – these are the typical traits of the Province of Siena. Nature, art, relaxation, beauty and wellness combine to create the magic formula that has long attracted innumerable tourists to the most exclusive spots in ...
READ MOREThe Italian Design scene is characterized by the significant presence of an extremely peculiar type of company, which in other countries is found considerably more sporadically and marginally. We are talking about companies, usually of great prestige and limited size, strongly linked to a family strain, able to compete successfully in a market incr...
READ MOREThe cathedral of Siena, in Italy’s Tuscany region, is renowned for its spectacular 14th-century mosaic floor. But due to its fragility, the masterpiece is protected from visitor foot traffic by fibreboard panels most of the year. For the next two weeks, however, visitors to the religious site will be able to get a rare view of the 56-panel marble f...
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