From Venice to Rome and beyond bookmark this page for our latest explorations in Italy.
Must See in Rome…
This month on American Nomad we’re exploring The Eternal City – Rome. Founded nearly 2800 years ago, Rome is a city of myth and majesty. In its height it was the center of The Roman Empire – with all roads leading to Rome. Though it fell to invaders in 476 AD, Rome continued to persist…
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Rome Explorer: My Roman Holiday
We’ve been exploring Italy from Venice to Tuscany and beyond. In April we’ll be focusing on exploring the history, majesty and wonders of Rome. Before we beging to Roam around Rome, I wanted to start with an overview of my recent Roman Holiday and provide some tips I learned from this adventure. In January I…
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Discover Tuscany: Lean into Pisa
Today we’re continuing our Italian Adventures with a daytrip to the charming and beautiful seaside town of Pisa. Known for its remarkable architectural wonder (or wonderful mistake), The Leaning Tower of Pisa, this city of rich history from The Etruscans to Romans and beyond is a Must-SEE in Tuscany. If you are in Florence you…
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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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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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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…
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A Walking Tour of Florence Italy
Today we’re continuing our Tuscany Adventures with a walking tour of Florence, Italy. When I last visited Florence, I only had two full days in the city, but was still able to see a lot in a short amount of time. Florence is compact and very walkable. Most of the major sites are within half…
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Must See Museums in Florence Italy
Must See Museums in Florence Italy… We’re continuing are Italian Adventures today by exploring Must-See Museums of Florence. As the Birthplace of the Renaissance and cultural hub for over 2000 years, it could take weeks (to a lifetime) to discover all of the amazing museums, historical and cultural sites that Florence has to offer. As…
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Italian Adventures: Fun Facts about Florence
Fun facts about Florence… Bevenuti a Firenze – Welcome to Florence: The seat of The Renaissance and one of the most beautiful (bellissma) cities in the world. As an art lover and history buff, Florenceis a piece heaven on earth for me. It is a crossroads of thousands of years of historical drama and intrigue,…
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Italian Adventure: Get to Know Tuscany
Get to Know Tuscany…We’re continuing our Italian Adventures in Tuscany – home to the beauty and majestic of this heavenly region of hills, pristine coasts and even a desert. Tuscany is one of Italy’s fifteen provinces and the second most visited area in Italy. Not only is Tuscany beautiful with a mix of mountains (Appennine)…
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Venice Explorer: Burano Lace
Buongiorno and Welcome – today we’re touring the Island of Burano, which is one of the Venetian Islands. Burano is renowned for this history of gorgeous lacemaking. This even served as the plot for Hallmark’s romance series ‘The Wedding Veil,’ with Autumn Reeser, Lacey Chabert and Alison Sweeney… Burano is defined by it’s colorful buildings…
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Venice Explorer: Murano – Heart of Venetian Glass
Welcome to another Italian Adventure – today we’re traveling via ferry (Vaporetto) to the island of Murano near Venice. This charming island in the Venice Lagoon is one of the most important historical spots in Venice because it is where the art of Venetian glassmaking has been practiced for over 1000 years. The island of…
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Italian Adventures: Basilica of St. Anthony In Padua
We’re continuing our Italian Adventures with a visit to The Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua. St. Anthony is one of my favorite saints of my Catholic faith. He is the Patron of Lost Things. I’ll be the first to admit he has brought many of my emergency prayers before God… So what is a…
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Italian Adventures: Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel
We’re continuing our advenures Italian Adventures in Padua at the astonishing Scrovegni Chapel. Considered to be “one of the most supreme achievements in Western European Art,” (citation: Professor Kloss on The Great Courses), The Scrovegni Chapel includes frescos by Giotto that forever shifted the course of art history. You’re thinking…that is a bold statement, why…
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Italian Adventures: Visiting Verona
Today on Italian Adventures we’re visiting Verona! A jewel of Northern Italy, Verona is roughly seventy-five miles west of Venice. This ancient city is located at the base of The Lessini Mountains (also known as the Italian Pre-Alps) and has a population of 250,000 people. Chances are when you hear the word ‘Verona’ you are…
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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