5 of Our Favorite Tuscany Hill Towns
January 27th, 2021These days while we’re all dreaming of being able to return to Italy, there’s one place that’s especially good at capturing our hearts and imagination: Tuscany. Isn’t there just something magical about those picture-perfect landscapes of rolling hills dotted with towns, vineyards, and rows of cypress tress? To inspire your future travel plans and keep Italy close to your heart, we’re sharing 5 of our favorite hill towns in Tuscany. ... Read More
What to do on a Rainy Day in Florence
January 8th, 2020Planning your vacation in Florence during the winter and spring months is a great idea. You miss the summer heat and the high season crowds. It is the best time of year for hearty food like pappardelle al cinghiale and glasses of deep Tuscan red wine. Most of your days will be sunny and crisp ... Read More
Four Ways Florentine Cuisine Highlights Tuscan Bread
February 13th, 2018Did you know that tasty Tuscan bread has no salt? It’s one of the details that makes bread in Tuscany so unique. However, without salt it goes stale quickly. Clever Italian cooks handled this problem by inventing delicious traditional dishes that make the best use of old bread. Nothing goes to waste! Why did they ... Read More
A Feast for the Eyes: Unforgettable Florence Views
July 25th, 2016The city of Florence has much to be admired. At every turn there are layers upon layers of beautiful views. Here are some of our favorite panoramic views for enjoying the splendor of Florence, whether from a popular tourist site, an off-the-beaten path location or a wonderful vacation rental apartment. ... Read More
Italy Perfect Featured in Travel + Leisure Magazine
February 4th, 2015Italy Perfect is delighted to be included in Travel + Leisure magazine’s February 2015 “Guide to the New World of Vacation Rentals”. The February issue includes Italy Perfect’s beautiful Tuscany Bucine property located in a peaceful setting in the hills near the fortified, ancient town of Arezzo. The accommodations here are very comfortable, a good value and almost ... Read More
Arriving in Italy just got easier! New direct train service from Rome airport to Florence and Venice.
December 16th, 2014New direct train service from Rome airport to Florence and Venice, twice a day at 11:08 am and 3:08 pm. You no longer have to take the airport train to the main train station (Termini) and then take a second train onward. Just take the direct train at either of those times and arrive at ... Read More
Fiesole, the Crown of Florence
November 5th, 2014The narrow and crowded streets of Florence are filled with delights but you may find, as we do, four nights into our stay, that we need a respite and Fiesole is the perfect solution. On the heights above Florence, the ancient town of Fiesole welcomes with amazing views, a small historical area with an evocative ... Read More
Top Tips for Visiting your Student Abroad in Italy
August 25th, 2014A semester abroad is a dream-come-true for many university students — and their family members who come to visit. We recently interviewed Mike, a recent college graduate, who shares with us his wisdom on “do’s and don’ts” for visiting your son or daughter who is studying abroad in Italy. ... Read More
Florence Mercato Centrale: A Tour of Tastes
June 30th, 2014The newly renovated Mercato Centrale [Central Market] is the epicurean center of new and old Florence, a veritable tour of tastes. The ground floor has always offered a wide array of fruit, vegetable, meat and other specialized local vendors. The 140 year-old Mercato Centrale recently celebrated the opening of its new HUB gourmet food hall ... Read More
3 Best Ways to get from the Pisa Airport to Florence
June 23rd, 2014To get from the Pisa Airport to Florence, there are three usual ways: by train, by bus and by private car directly to your vacation rental. You don’t need or, probably want, a rental car in Florence, but you could do it all the same. Here is all the information you need to decide on ... Read More
Train Travel Tips – Italy Perfect’s tips to make train travel in Italy a fun and relaxing experience.
January 30th, 2014Here’s a collection of our wisdom regarding trains, including: Reserving train tickets Seat selection Rail protection insurance Changing reservations Rail pass? Cheaper to drive? First or second class? At the station Validate tickets Paperless tickets Boarding train Changing seats Food onboard Call your greeter Landing in Rome/Milan + same day train to Florence ... Read More