Discover Italy

people on a gondola

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…

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by ynpgal77

Highlights 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…

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by ynpgal77

Must-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 Accademia
by ynpgal77

Helpful 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