Category Archives: Day trips

While this may look like a dream, it is in fact a real place. A place that feels a little like a dream every time I go there. A place called Lucca. This photo was taken from atop the city’s 16th-century walls that are now home to a park/promenade that circles the city. A park on top of a wall, you ask? Well these are not just any walls. They are more than 10 meters (almost 33 feet) tall, and up to 30 meters (almost 100 feet) thick at the base. On top of all those fun measurements, this massive defensive structure is almost 2.5 miles long. There is a whole other world happening on top of these walls. You can walk on them, ride bikes around them, take a nap in the grass that grows on them, or just enjoy the view from 33 feet above the stunning city of Lucca.
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Technorati Tags: Alfredo Catalani, Bike riding, Defensive Walls, Lucca, Visit Lucca

This is the breathtaking view looking out over the Tuscan hillside from the town of Panzano, located in the municipality of Greve, halfway between Florence and Siena. This quaint hilltop town is situated along the Chiantigiana, the famous road that runs through the heart of the Chianti Classico region. This particular image shows a rather unusual geological feature for this region: a wide, low valley, rather than what are more typically narrow and deep valleys. This particular example is the biggest and most famous of these features, known as the Conca d’Oro (The Golden Bowl). Aside from being maybe the most beautiful sight I have ever seen, the particular combination of soil, altitude, and temperature on these slopes are ideal for chianti grapes, making the Golden Bowl highly coveted wine territory.

Aside from its amazing wine and incredible views, Panzano has also been put on the map thanks to a certain local butcher. Yes, I said butcher. The Butcher of Panzano, Dario Cecchini. Think I’m joking? Ask Anthony Bourdain. I recently was lucky enough to take part in the weekly Sunday lunch at one of his three (yes, three) restaurants in Panzano. It was an unspeakable three-hour feast of all the most delicious cuts of meat you have ever tasted. Not to worry, I plan on blogging about that soon enough. I just have not recovered enough to talk about it yet.

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Technorati Tags: Chianti, Conca d'Oro, Italy, Panzano, Tuscany, Wine Country

This is the view onto one of the many gorgeous valleys of Umbria from the city of Assisi.
Umbria, the lone land-locked region on the peninsula, is famous for its stunning landscapes, valleys, mountains, and forests. The Apennines Mountains cross the region and while there is no direct contact with the coast, there is the large and beautiful lake Trasimeno. Because of its reputation for being so lush, the region has been given the nickname “the green heart of Italy.”
Umbria is also famous for its many other gorgeous cities such as Perugia and Todi, both of which boast beautiful sites and exceptional food (Pergia = chocolate!!). Todi, for example, has one of the most stunning centralized churches in all of Italy. Umbria can also claim the great honor of having produced Saint Francis of Assisi. Are we surprised, looking at this image of his home, that he was one of the first to come out of the so-called “dark ages” and realize that the earth is actually quite pretty and worth enjoying? I don’t think so.

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Technorati Tags: Instagram, Italy, photography, Umbria