Since we’ve just returned from Florence
after writing our new books, Dreaming of Florence
and Dreaming of Tuscany, we thought you might
enjoy a peek at them in our first newsletter. We’ve always loved traveling and
realize that the people who read our books and love beautiful things,
also want to travel in style. We’ve spent years trying to discover the
best of the best—simple or grand—whether it is a place to stay, eat or
shop, or a tiny museum filled with gems that people rarely visit. The
joy of finding a new discovery and sharing it is just the best!
In this rapidly changing world, we are happy to say that Florence is
still unique. There are many places we have visited for years that
continue to thrive. The great museums are still there, and though they have been
spruced up, their essence has not changed and their treasures are as
moving as ever. Many beautiful shops are being run by the same family,
just another generation. The artisan tradition is thriving. Most of the
restaurants we have been enjoying for decades are good and maintain their traditional Tuscan cuisine.
The city has so many special places that it doesn’t seem fair to mention
just a few. But I especially like the Bargello for it’s amazing bronze
sculptures and extraordinary Della Robbia Room; La Specola because it
has remained unchanged and is usually filled with delighted children and
adults; and the Science Museum because of Galileo’s telescope—and his
finger! The newly reopened Bardini gardens are simply breath taking. On
the other hand, I couldn’t live without the Sant'Ambrogio food market
and its congenial neighborhood with one of my favorite shops, Lisa Corti
(right) and all the Cibreo restaurants, especially the Caffè, for
a quick pick-me-up.
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