I chose Montepulciano as part of my 2021 trip mainly in order to attend Il Sasso language school. My only previous experience in Montepulciano was a 2-3 hour visit while on a walking tour of Tuscany. All I remember is walking through Piazza Grande, then down the steep hill past Tempio San Biagio. As I […]
Read MoreMonth: January 2022
Il Sasso Language School
This will be a short (for me) post in large part because the experience was not at all what I expected or wanted. I heard about the school several years ago while exchanging emails with the staff of a vineyard in the area. The school has good ratings among language schools and when I first […]
Read MoreFive Days in Southern Tuscany
San Gimignano, Montalcino and Pienza It had been five years since my last trip to Southern Tuscany and in 2021 I was anxious to see all my favorite places again. But it seemed like a case of you can’t go home again, at least with respect to Montalcino and Pienza. So I’ll start with San […]
Read MoreSix Days in Rome
Since our brief visit in 2016, see Rome post, I’ve wanted to return to Rome and see more of the city. So as I planned my 2021 trip, I decided to add Rome. Walkabouts in Rome Despite it’s size I find Rome to be a very walkable city, especially if you focus on certain neighborhoods, a […]
Read MoreThree Days in Naples
I read my Naples travel book cover to cover before my 2021 trip (DK Eyewitnesss Naples) and had a long list of places I wanted to see. But to say my first visit to Naples didn’t begin auspiciously would be a serious understatement (see Getting There and Where Not to Stay below.) In addition to […]
Read MoreThree Days in Sorrento, Positano and Pompeii
Sorrento I tried to do Sorrento on a budget and I don’t recommend it. Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast in general, is definitely a ‘go big or go home’ area. My first afternoon in Sorrento left me underwhelmed. That’s because my ‘bed and breakfast’ (BeB Caruso, see below) advertised itself as close to the Centro. […]
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