Rick Steves’ "Postcards from Europe"

Riviera on the Rocks
Rick Steves I’m unable to travel in Europe anymore without doing a little research. Hoping to round out my coverage of Vernazza, I have a list of reader-recommended B&Bs to check out. First on the list is Ivo. Ivo, who runs [...]

Major festivals include the Explosion of the Cart, when a cart full of fireworks is exploded in front of the Duomo on Easter Sunday; the Feast of St John the Baptist, patron saint of the city, on June 24th; the Gioco del Calcio Storico, featuring football matches played in 16th-century costumes, held in June in [...]

The Ponte Vecchio perhaps represents progress of humankind through the centuries more specifically than any other monument in Italy. Built by the Etruscans, the bridge has withstood many storms and many assaults by invading legions. Located over the widest part of the Arno River, the bridge has been rebuilt and restored countless times throughout its [...]

SHOPPING — A few if the most important markets:
Mercato di San Lorenzo (San Lorenzo Market), Piazza San Lorenzo near the Basilica and in Via ell’Ariento Probably the most important market in Florence for clothing, leather goods and any number of souvenirs. Open 7:00am to 2:00pm; closed Sunday and Monday.
Mercato Centrale (Central Market)
Open 7:00am to 2:00pm [...]