Orvieto’s only a train ride away from Rome and I was curious to visit since it dates to Etruscan times. What’s particularly fascinating about Orvieto is its city was underground, and I was eager to see what an underground city was all about. So I hopped on the train and made my way to this gorgeous, unique place. Here’s what I thought of it.

The History of Orvieto

I usually start histories at human inhabitation but it’s important to know that Orvieto is actually on a volcanic rock (called tuffa). Because of this, the rock seeps in moisture (meaning … Continue reading

Reykjavik is pretty much the only city in Iceland and thus a popular destination for those looking to visit the Nordic nation. It’s quite small and a lot of people might think there’s no a lot to do or it’s worth skipping. However Reykjavik definitely deserves at least a day and is a wonderful place to explore. Even more, it has a wonderful nightlife and a warm vibe that’s worth experiencing. So without further adieu, here’s my guide on the northernmost capital city of Reykjavik.

A note on getting to and from the airport: A lot of places have only

Lucca, Italy is said to be one of the most charming places in Tuscany, known for its unique amphitheatre, so I couldn’t help but visit for myself. A lot of people say there isn’t much to do in Lucca but I found a few places to visit and got to see it all for myself. So without further adieu, here’s my report on the beautiful walled town of Lucca.

A History of Lucca, Italy

Modern Lucca started off as a Roman town in 180 BC – not surprisingly, as the site of the amphitheatre is still very prominent today. In … Continue reading

Siena’s one of the most popular places to visit in Tuscany. It’s a beautiful medieval town filled with hills, shopping, and history. I’d been before and absolutely loved it, so I made my way back during my most recent visit to see Siena again.

The Story of Siena

Legend has it that Siena was founded by the sons of Remus, as in the Roman Remus and Romulus. With them they took the statue of the babies suckling off the she-wolf and it thus became a symbol of the town. Of course, it was really just brought by the Romans. Today … Continue reading

There are so many places to visit in Iceland, particularly for nature lovers. The island nation’s actually a lot bigger than most people think. It’s bigger than countries like South Korea, Ireland, and Hungary. Much of it is uninhabitable but certainly visitable – and it definitely deserves a visit! Here I’ve curated a list of 27 places to visit in Iceland’s southwest, all of which are accessible from Reykjavik. I’ve been to many of them and have added a few I didn’t get to visit exclusively but that I saw and looked particularly interesting.

It’s very hard to go wrong … Continue reading

Rovinj came highlight recommended as a stop in Croatia’s northernmost peninsula of Istria, so making my way there was a no-brainer. It was definitely one of my favourite places I visited in Croatia and an absolute gem of a town.

A Short History of Rovinj

Part of Istria, Rovinj (roh-veen) was first mentioned as the Roman settlement of Castrum Rubini in the 5th century. Much like its sister towns in Croatia, it fell to many governments until it became a part of the Venetian Empire in 1283, when it became a secure town and maritime center. Unlike other parts of … Continue reading

I remember not wanting to go to Rome for some reason during my first trip to Italy at 16. Maybe because I wasn’t a huge fan of ancient history. But I also remember getting to the city and falling in love with it. I threw a coin backwards into Trevi Fountain and over a decade later made it back to Rome. Steeped in history and detail, Rome is a place that absolutely must be experienced.

The Essential Sights of Rome

Let’s start out with the very obvious – the Roman Forum. The Colosseum, a famous icon of the … Continue reading

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’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 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