Monthly Archives: May 2014

A River Walk in Tuscany

Posted on May 31, 2014 by msraaka

Volterra is a short drive to the town of Colle di Val d’Elsa — a beautiful and low-key town in Western Tuscany-the province of Siena. There is an upper part, that is older and more historical, with a castle (and … Continue reading →

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Volterra—Wind and Stone

Posted on May 29, 2014 by msraaka

My husband has a saying about gelato—the best gelato is the one you have in your hand. I could say something similar about Italian hill towns. The best town is the one you’re in. In order to explore more in … Continue reading →

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The Gardens of La Foce

Posted on May 26, 2014 by msraaka

We were so glad we had a chance to visit the La Foce Gardens, near Chiancino Terme in Tuscany. A good friend sent me a link to the recent NY Times article by David Larkin, and it sounded too good … Continue reading →

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A Few Reasons to Venture to Umbria

Posted on May 23, 2014 by msraaka

Tuscany gets all the press, but Umbria has its own special perks. Here are a few of my favorite reasons to venture into the “green heart of Italy”. Country roads with lush scenery and no tolls Driving in Italy may … Continue reading →

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Day Hikes near Sulmona

Posted on May 19, 2014 by msraaka

The month of May is usually warm and sunny in Italy, but this year, it turned unseasonably cold the week we arrived in the Abruzzo Region. We decided to be flexible and were fortunate to fit in a few nice … Continue reading →

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A Short Stay in Sulmona

Posted on May 17, 2014 by msraaka

Sulmona is a delightful city located in the Abruzzo region, about two hours from Rome and just one hour from the Adriatic Coast. We chose it for our base town while visiting two more National Parks of Italy—Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo … Continue reading →

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Abruzzo & the Gran Sasso

Posted on May 15, 2014 by msraaka

After a week in the Le Marche region, we navigated the picturesque local roads heading south, to the dramatic Abruzzo Region. We are visiting the Abruzzo region for the first time to explore several of their beautiful parks for hiking. … Continue reading →

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A Few Day Trips in Le Marche

Posted on May 13, 2014 by msraaka

We’ve explored the northern region of Le Marche for six days and we’ve barely scratched the surface. There is plenty to see and do in this unspoiled region of Italy. Most of the interior region is hilly and mountainous, which … Continue reading →

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Slow Travel in Le Marche

Posted on May 9, 2014 by msraaka

The region of Le Marche is not as well known as Tuscany or even its close neighbor, Umbria, which has some advantages. There is a more relaxed pace here and even the popular sites are uncrowded—except for the occasional school … Continue reading →

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Back to the Bel Paese

Posted on May 8, 2014 by msraaka

After a long flight from Newark, NJ, with a few missed connections, we finally landed in Bologna for our first stop in Italy. Most people fly into Rome or Milan, but the Bologna airport is a less hectic option. The … Continue reading →

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