If you're like me, and want to discover the most colorful, quirky things on your journeys, Italy is full of them. If you're looking for day trips from Florence that fulfill these criteria (because, let's face it, another travel criteria, good food, abounds in Italy!), here are 2 of my favorites.

Travel doesn’t need to be expensive! This is especially true in Florence, Italy. Whether you’re a college student studying abroad, a faculty member on sabbatical, looking for family travel activities that don’t break the bank, or a budget-minded traveler, finding the free is ALWAYS a good thing, so that you have room in your travel budget for accommodations, interesting tours, and, of course, great food.

Italy...the land of gastronomy and cool Mediterranean waters is currently the third most visited country in Europe. The captivating country is divided into 20 different regions, and is interconnected by an extensive rail system that is not only efficient, but also budget friendly. Fast trains, such as Italo and Trenitalia, are apt for a quick commute between the major cities of the country.

Italy has been a tourist magnet for people across the globe for its romantic coastal towns, irresistible art, architecture, and spectacular food. Whether it is a lesson in history, sprawling acres of vineyards or the uninterrupted peace by the lakes, Italy has it all. 

Whether you’re a first-time visitor to Florence, or an old pro, there are always secrets to discover in this ancient city.

Perhaps the most interesting secrets belong to Il Duomo, Florence’s unique cathedral.

Welcome to Florence, Italy! Here are my 8 favorite secrets hidden in this beautiful and historic city.

Of course, Florence has masterpieces you should not miss, including Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, and Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise. However, if you are looking to add more to your Florence experience, you will want to dig deeply into the city.

Do you have what it takes own an inn, B&B, or farmhouse?! Is it a dream job, or are you just "dream drunk"? The Aspiring Innkeepers Bootcamp is your opportunity to get a hands-on taste of the pleasures and pains of running an inn, with both theory & practical experience, in this unique bootcamp/workshop especially designed for those interested in sustainable & culinary tourism. 

A planned, chance meeting with Alessandro Dari? How is that possible?

To authentically experience a place, you are going to have to genuinely immerse yourself into it. Feel it, smell it, taste it! This is my travel philosophy, my travel manifesto, so to speak.

Alesandro Dari Moon Compass

Aosta, the Rome of the Alps, lies some one hundred and ten kilometres north-northwest of Turin and is the principal town of the Valle d'Aosta. Surrounded by mountains, Grand Combin and Mont Vélan to the north, Becca di Nona and Monte Emilius to the south and Testa del Ruitor to the west.