
From Venice to Rome and beyond bookmark this page for our latest explorations in Italy.
Discover Tuscany: Get to Know Siena
Today we’re heading into the hills of Tuscany to the charming historic town of Siena – a Medieval crown jewel waiting to be explored. A little history: Siena was originally an Etruscan settlement (people before Roman rule) and later was transformed into the Roman city of Sena Julia. This settlement disappeared after the fall of…
Read More Discover Tuscany: Get to Know SienaHighlights of The Uffizi Museum – Florence
We’re continuing our Italian Adventures today with a tour of the Highlights of The Uffizi Museum in Florence. Hands down, The Uffizi is one of the premier museums in the world and a destination museum for art lovers. I dreamed of visiing the museum since first learning about it in Middle School and that dream…
Read More Highlights of The Uffizi Museum – FlorenceMust-See in Florence: The Accademia
Today on American Nomad we’re taking a tour of one of Florence’s most important museums – The Galleria dell’Accademia. In addition to being home to Michelangelo’s famed statue of David, The Gallery houses one of the most impressive collection of 13th-15th century art anywhere. While David rightly draws most of the viewers attention, I challenge…
Read More Must-See in Florence: The AccademiaHelpful Travel Resources:
When booking your trip to Italy there is a lot to consider. I’ve included links to resources that helped me to coordinate my vacation. If you have additional suggestions let me know via comments section below.
- Great guidebooks
- Rick Steves Venice (lots of free resources on his website as well)
- DK Eyewitness Books
- Florence and Tuscany
- Top Ten Rome
- Italy
- I enjoyed the Great Tours of Italy and Italian Renaissance courses on streaming service ‘Wondrium.’ You can sign up for a trial.
My favorite sites:
Rome:
- The Colessium
- Spanish Steps
- Pantheon
- The Vatican (technically it’s own country :))
- St. Paul’s Beyond the Walls
- Catacombs
Florence: Birthplace of the Italian Renaissance
- Uffizi Gallery – a must see for art lovers; includes masterworks by Raphael, Botticelli, Leonardo daVinci, Michelangelo and so much more
- Accademia – home of Michelangelo’s David
- Bargello – National Museum for Sculpture – includes Donatello’s masterpiece ‘David’ in bronze
- The Duomo – Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Mary of the Flower) – Brunelleschi’s maginificent dome is a wonder of architecture
- Convent of St. Mark’s – Home to Fra Angelico paintings
- San Lorenzo – Church of the Medici
- Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace) – gorgeous gardens and art museum in former Medici estate
- Ponte Vecchio and Arno River
Venice:
- St. Mark’s Basilica
- Gran Teatro La Fenice
- Accademia (Art Museum)
- Peggy Guggenheim Art Museum
- Rialto Bridge
- Glass-blowing demonstration