Category: Destinations

Ravenna, Italy: the Stunning City of Mosaics – Things to Do & Travel Guide

If you’ve taken art history then you may be very well aware of the mosaics of Ravenna, Italy. They’re surviving and absolutely stunning remnants of early Christian art. I am absolutely floored by the amount of work that goes into making mosaics, nevertheless the age of those in Ravenna – which are about 1500 years old and older! There’s nothing like this to be seen in the rest of the world, making Ravenna a truly unique destination.

The History of Ravenna

Around the time of Christ, Ravenna and its area Classe were actually important seaports. It’s hard to see now … Continue reading

Volterra, Italy: a Town from Etruscan Times – Things to Do & Travel Guide

Volterra’s been on my list for a long time. The Tuscan hilltop town that dates from Etruscan times caught my attention years ago and, with a stroke of luck, I was able to visit on my latest trip to Italy. Here’s what I thought and what I recommend (and don’t recommend) doing.

A History of Volterra

It’s believed that Volterra was inhabited since around the 9th century BC and was one of the major cities of the Etruscan world. The town was quite big for the time with 20,000 inhabitants, and it was a major center of trade.

The Romans … Continue reading

Venice, Italy – Things to Do & Travel Guide (It deserves more than a day trip!)

Venice is one of the must-sees of Italy. There are so many places in the world nicknamed after it – “the Venice of the north,” “the Venice of the east,” “little Venice.” But there’s only one real Venice. It has a mixed reputation of being a magical place and one of the most overrated places in the world. My first trip, I found the city to be absolutely beautiful. No doubt it’s touristy, but on my second trip, I found Venice just as charming.

Most people carve out a day to visit Venice and, after a 2020 cancellation, etc., I … Continue reading

Exploring Florence, Italy – Things to Do & Travel Guide

Florence is one of Italy’s most popular cities, and it’s very deserving of the status. This beautiful place is steeped in history, mainly Renaissance history, and of course art. Florence is an absolute must-visit for art lovers, who will find that there’s a lot to do.

The History of Florence

Florence actually dates to the times of Julius Caesar when it was established as an ancient Roman city. It’s even in this period that Florence was part of “Tuscia” (Tuscany). But as Rome is famous for its ancient history, Florence is famous for its Renaissance history. Florence became a central … Continue reading

Exploring Bath, England: Things to Do & Travel Guide

Popularised as a home of Jane Austen, Bath is one of England’s most popular cities to explore. Having been a Jane Austen fan, I’d wanted to visit Bath for so long – and it completely blew me away. There’s a lot to see in this charming city, so without further adieu, here’s a look at Bath, England (without a focus on Jane Austen).

Also be sure to see my other post on essential Jane Austen sites to see in Bath.

The History of Bath

Bath has been inhabited for a long, long time. Most notably, it was a Roman town … Continue reading

Hever Castle, the Childhood Home of Anne Boleyn

The childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Hever Castle was an easy choice for a day trip from London. It’s a wonderful castle with expansive history and several rooms to explore – not to mention the wonderful gardens and grounds. I was also quite happy to find the town of Hever very small but very charming. It makes a wonderful day trip for everyone.

Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle

The castle was initially built around the 13th century and became part of the Boleyn family property in 1462.
Anne Boleyn’s birth date is debating, but it’s speculated that Anne Boleyn wasn’t … Continue reading

Exploring Medieval Toledo, Spain: Things to Do & Travel Guide

Toledo has always been very high on my bucket list. I was incredibly excited to visit Toledo as a day trip from Madrid but quickly cancelled my day trip to Segovia and replaced it with a second day in Toledo. I absolutely loved this place.

Some of Toledo, Spain’s History

Toledo is a small place steeped in rich history. It’s been inhabited since before the Roman times by Celtic tribes, and was then conquered and became a Roman town. In the 6th-7th centuries, the Visigoths captured Toledo and used it as the center of political activity, participating in what are … Continue reading

In the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe: Places to Visit in Boston, Baltimore, and Beyond

Edgar Allan Poe has been an icon of English language literature for over a century. Between the chilling and killing of Annabel Lee to a raven rapping at a chamber door, his works are amongst some of the most celebrated and reenacted in our culture. A Poe fan, but not an expert, I’ve stopped in many places where Mr. Poe lived during my travels. And it occurred to me: just how many sites are there to visit for Poe enthusiasts?

Surprisingly, I couldn’t find a comprehensive list of Edgar Allan Poe sites. I did some digging around and compiled this … Continue reading

Exploring London: Things to Do & Travel Guide

London needs no introduction. I’ve now been to this city three times and it was actually my first international destination ever. I have to be honest: when I went for the first two times, I was a little put off since I was expecting something different, maybe something a bit more cohesive or something that felt older. I most recently went back to London in 2022 with the hopes of knowing the city better. Armed with a travel blogger mindset, I made a list and visited a lot of fantastic places.

Since London has so much for tourists to do, … Continue reading

Warner Bros. Studio Tour vs Paramount Studio Tour

I love a good film just as much as the next person. The Big Screen and its secrets are so fascinating to me. When I went to Hollywood, I was determined to learn more about the secrets of Hollywood and see where so many masterpieces were made, and booked two studio tours.

I couldn’t decide on only one so I splurged on two tours. First, I went to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, visiting the standard studio tour. Then I also went on the Paramount Studio Tour, also opting for their standard studio tour. Which one did I … Continue reading