Where is Pistoia? More than 10 reasons to visit this hidden gem in Tuscany , Italy’s capital of culture in 2017!

13 January 2017

Why should you visit Pistoia? Not just because it is my birthplace , of course! ( or  maybe…. just for this ?) not only because it is crowned  Italy’s capital of culture in 2017  but first of all for its geographic position in Italy in the second century BC it was chosen by the Romans as a … More Where is Pistoia? More than 10 reasons to visit this hidden gem in Tuscany , Italy’s capital of culture in 2017!

Pistoia : the longest hypogeous in Tuscany & Tibetan harmonia

28 November 2016

Yesterday I had the best experience of relaxation in a stunning original location : in the longest hypogeous path in Tuscany ,maestro Iuri Ricci  – a skilled musical therapist & musician – played for us  , a small group of people,   his beautiful  Tibetan bells . The sound was fantastic & the good vibrations … More Pistoia : the longest hypogeous in Tuscany & Tibetan harmonia

Why  Pistoia ? my interview to American  expats who decided to live here.

15 November 2016

 I love my birtplace Pistoia, as a part of myself, althought   I wanted to escape from her when I was young  as I thought it was too small , too NOT open mind for the big dreams I had..after many  years I fell in love with her just because I have been so fortunate … More Why  Pistoia ? my interview to American  expats who decided to live here.

Prato : Centro Pecci reopened with 12,125 square metres of contemporary art!

14 November 2016

This post is dedicated to my  blogger friend Yvonne from Australia , who is going live in Prato for some days in the new year ! It has been a great surprise for me this beautiful location & its masterpieces inside. I suggest you to visit not just the museum but even the brand new … More Prato : Centro Pecci reopened with 12,125 square metres of contemporary art!

Made in Pistoia : morning in a Tuscan old  mill pressing olives 

7 November 2016

Every November I really need to find an old mill to …smell the aroma of the new extra virgin olive oil ! I said “I need ” because without this sensorial deep experience I can’t start winter time :for me  it’s the easier  way to try to forget summer  time & live the autumn mood … More Made in Pistoia : morning in a Tuscan old  mill pressing olives 

Pistoia : Lonely Planet travel guide crowned it as a “must see” in the world!

28 October 2016

Oh yesssss!!👏👏👏👍👍👍🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🍾🍾🍾 So proud to be featured ( not me , my birthplace Pistoia but  it is part of myself indeeed! )  in this worldwide renowned travel guide , the Lonely Planet!!! Seeing Pistoia in a list of the 10th must visit cities in the WORLD….close  to Lisbon & Cape Town makes me cry of … More Pistoia : Lonely Planet travel guide crowned it as a “must see” in the world!

MadeInPistoia: EllEmme ,   since 1968 Italian quality knitwear factory  

24 October 2016

Have been invited to visit this Pistoia’s beautiful reality from a French client I met in my husband restaurant . So funny to get in touch with a Pistoia’s factory through a foreign !Mr  Jacques du  Mulin is ELLEMME ‘s agent for France since more than 20 years so he knows very well this factory … More MadeInPistoia: EllEmme ,   since 1968 Italian quality knitwear factory  

Enrico Baj Macario : a Count who produces regal wines in Chianti!

12 October 2016

http://www.bajmacario.it/ This is not just a traditional Tuscan wine estate in Chianti Classico district ,it is something different  : it’s a real experience in the wineyard  ,tasting  wine spilled directly from the barrel , smelling the grape inside the wood , have a ride on an old car from the Second World War among the … More Enrico Baj Macario : a Count who produces regal wines in Chianti!

Do you like read & travel?this is just 4 you : an amazing tour in Tuscany !

4 October 2016

http://www.bookclubintuscany.com/ How you can resist to all this? Everythinng you can wish is included here : book,📖travel, food 🍝🍕, wine, 🍷 great company 👭👭 day trips 🚗🚗 , shopping 👠👒💄👢 tastings , a lovely villa 🏡🏡where to stay , cooking class 🍳🍅 , historical palaces, city tours , Tuscan  landscapes …whatelse??? My good friend Suzanne … More Do you like read & travel?this is just 4 you : an amazing tour in Tuscany !

Where to stay in Florence & feeling part of the History : Relais Santa Croce ~ Baglioni hotels ~

28 September 2016

If your dream is to live a real Florentine experience & feeling like being part of the History, not just a visitor , this is exactly where you should stay. In an historical building , Palazzo Ciofi-Jacometti , old columns frame the  palace dated midway through the 18th  century,  commissioned by the Papal treasurer  Marquis … More Where to stay in Florence & feeling part of the History : Relais Santa Croce ~ Baglioni hotels ~

Celebrating  300 years of Chianti Classico  wine 🍷: 1716 September 25th  & today 🍷2016

25 September 2016

Yesterday I was strolling  in the Florence city center & I’ve heard a drum sound …so I stopped:  I thought it was like being in another century … then I saw a police woman on a  horse & lots of people standing at the border of the  Calzaiuoli street that leads to Piazza della Signoria … More Celebrating  300 years of Chianti Classico  wine 🍷: 1716 September 25th  & today 🍷2016

Pistoia’s gem :ever had an  aperitivo in a greenhouse & in a kitchen garden? Here you can!

19 September 2016

I have already told you about Pistoia that has been called  “city of green”  because of its nurseries plant & greenhouses , exporting plants & trees all over the world to create fab private & public gardens /parks ,right? This time I wish to share with you this beautiful location where having a yummy & … More Pistoia’s gem :ever had an  aperitivo in a greenhouse & in a kitchen garden? Here you can!

Lucca & Pfanner Palace : feeling as a princess like Nicole Kidman!

12 September 2016

Do you remember the film : “Portrait of a lady” directed by the great  Jane Campion  in 1996 with Nicole Kidman & John Malkovich? Some scenes have been played in this old palace in the heart of Lucca and finally it is open to public  & the magnificent garden too, so I could visit it … More Lucca & Pfanner Palace : feeling as a princess like Nicole Kidman!

Where to stay in Turin with class: Grand Hotel Sitea ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

31 August 2016

http://www.grandhotelsitea.it What does it make your visit  in a new city an unforgettable & pleasent experience to be remembered forever ? In my opinion where you choose to stay is very important to determinate your first impression: the hotel or b&b or farmhouse ,becomes your home away from home for some nights & days  so … More Where to stay in Turin with class: Grand Hotel Sitea ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A fish cooked in a brick : a seafood dinner in Sardinia 

28 August 2016

Another summer, another lovely dinner in one of my fav restaurant on the Emerald coast : “Belvedere” near Porto Cervo.It first opened as a gastronomy shop to take away & then during the years it became a real restaurant with few seated places & with excellent seafood dishes . This time we tasted a local … More A fish cooked in a brick : a seafood dinner in Sardinia 

Picturesque Pistoia

13 August 2016

Originally posted on Bagni di Lucca and Beyond:
Pistoia doesn’t attract as many tourists as it should. It is a gorgeous medieval town with some stunning buildings. I have been several times and I love to wander the streets enjoying an authentic Italian city. At the centre of town is Piazza del Duomo. There is something amazing…

Cooking class & sweet memories in a Chianti Tuscan villa 

2 August 2016

Imagine a group of beautiful ladies from the States – headed by my dear friend Suzanne Stavinoha Waltz –  sharing a stunning typical  Tuscan  villa “under the Tuscan sun” , on a green hilltop , in the countryside of Chianti area : amazing view, great landscape , vines & olives groves around it , aromatic … More Cooking class & sweet memories in a Chianti Tuscan villa 

Sardinia fascinates me !

28 July 2016

Here again after a long long ,busy year I can enjoy the same seaside & this marvellous sea, the granite marble big rocks 🌊☀️🌻🌴🌺meet my old friends from different regions & nations, tasting great food & excellent wines!🍾🦀🐠🐬🦂🌴🐚🌞🍷🍸🍹🍧☕️  This summer I have to add more memories to those I have collected in more than fourty … More Sardinia fascinates me !

Pistoia: tomorrow starts 37th edition of PistoiaBlues Festival  & it’s live music in town!

4 July 2016

Still remember one of the first Pistoiablues in 1983 : I was still a teenager & never seen before  a concert in the Duomo square  of my city ! The most impressive thing to me was the very different kind of people  coming from everywhere in Italy & from abroad  with long hair & long … More Pistoia: tomorrow starts 37th edition of PistoiaBlues Festival  & it’s live music in town!