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There’s a common misconception that Tuscany, Italy has been overrun by tourists and there are no hidden gems left to be found! For certain areas of Tuscany there may be some truth to this. But the majority of the region still holds many secrets waiting to charm its more adventurous visitors. Mugello, for example, is an area north of Florence that goes virtually untouched by tourists. Today we’ll dive into some of the fascinating history that makes this secret place a speci

At Creative Edge Travel , we take pride in the way we go beyond the basics of travel in Italy to truly connect you with the culture and its people. Today we’re giving you a closer look at the story behind Andrea, the man behind the wheel for our small group tours and immersive experiences in Mugello, Tuscany. Read on to meet Andrea! 1. Where were you born and raised? I was born in Florence but I’ve always lived in Borgo San Lorenzo, where Creative Edge Travel’s Living Slow

by Frances Reid I’m willing to bet that any mention of Italy immediately conjures images of Tuscany’s rolling green hills, dotted with wineries. Am I right?  If you stop there though, you’re missing out on one of southern Italy’s best-kept secrets: Puglia Yes, it takes a bit more effort to get there (Puglia is tucked into Italy’s boot heel), but where’s the fun in taking the path others have traveled? No. You, my friend, need an authentic encounter with another of Italy’s da

You’re at a caffè in Italy ordering a steaming cappuccino. The barista has so much personality and you just wish you knew how to ask what his name is! You’re sitting in a piazza quietly watching the people come and go. An older gentleman with so much character in his face sits next to you on the bench. You can tell he is full of stories and knowledge but you’re just too shy to pipe up and start a conversation… I know how it feels! I get butterflies each time I say something

My favorite area to wander and live in Florence is Oltrarno, the area just across the river from the main tourist center where you can quickly sink into local life centered around Piazza Santo Spirito. One of the many things I love about Oltrarno is that it is still full of hidden artisan studios where, with the right insider know-how, you can discover ancient techniques still in use today to create timeless masterpieces. I recently met with one of those master artisans, hum

As a nature lover and artist , one thing I love about travel is experiencing different types of landscapes. I notice how the straight pine trees of the southern US become wild and craggy in southern Europe. I notice how the color palette of a place gets dustier, more saturated, or expands into a range of colorful minerals new to my painting vocabulary. And I notice the way tall mountains energize the “adventuress” in me, while flatlands gently sloping into the sea make me wan

You know those moments when you experience something just incredible and you know you’ll always remember it? Visiting the sea caves of Polignano a Mare in the “heel” of Italy’s boot was one of those moments for me. I can still feel the sense of world-expanding freedom as the speed of our private boat sends a rush of warm air over my wide-open arms from the very front of the bow. Salty droplets splash up and cool my sun-browned skin. The view approaching the cliff-clung city o

Written by Elisabetta Verdone What I am going to tell you about my dear region is something that I like to whisper with a low voice and there is a reason why. Italy, outside of the stereotypical postcards of beautiful cities and historical monuments, is a colorful, patchwork blanket of 20 various and differing regions. Every region is a specific world, with different traditions, landscapes, colors, weather, food and even different dialects! Besides many well known, famous and

Before I teach you how to use buses and trains in Italy, let me give you some background info so you can understand just what a feat this was for me. Picture an innocent country girl, who grew up in the mountains of North Georgia, and never saw so much as a city bus until she was in college. That girl is me. When I was a kid, cars or tractors were the only methods of transportation, except maybe the big yellow school bus that picked me up at 5:50AM or horses, if you had any.

It’s a funny thing, that greener grass on the other side… When I met Marco at a language exchange Meetup event in Florence, I was so intrigued by his immense passion for the colonial Northeastern US that I asked to interview him. In our initial conversations that would later blossom into a friendship, I discovered that Marco feels about the US the same way I feel about Italy. I wanted to understand and explore this paradox that we could be so equally in love with each other’s

One of my favorite favorite favorite  things to do is meet Italian people. I am always amazed by their genuine warmth and passion for helping me learn about their culture. Often times I end up learning about a quirky tradition I didn’t know about or a hidden village I’d never heard of. Sometimes I end up at their dinner table, pouring through old family albums after a meal. But every single time, no matter what, I walk away with a new friend. And just as mi casa es tu casa

I still remember the first thing I ordered in complete Italian ( cioccolata calda , anyone?). The feeling of those beautiful sounds rolling off my tongue, and further, being comprehended by the Italian barista, was addictive. Before departing for my study abroad program in 2011, I studied Italian on my own between my classes because I knew I wanted to be able to communicate with the locals. I was surprised by how far my lessons took me and how much deeper my experience was be

How to find the best gelato when traveling in Italy..that is the question! “But..isn’t all gelato good?!” you might ask. Ah…my wee one, you’ve yet a lot to learn! Yes, I suppose on some level, cold creamy sweetness is always good. But once you taste the real gelato, you won’t want to waste a single scoop on “mediocre”. Here are 5 ways to make sure you’re getting the best gelato while wandering about Italy. (You should probably start taking those notes now…). 1. If it’s a mile