New Horizons.

With the start of September and the oncoming fall, I begin to think about travel schedules and new destinations. Where will it be? Kazakhstan, Belize, Oman . . . who knows?

In the meanwhile, I am dividing my time between my home in Southern Tuscany and my new abode in Florence. As I will be here at least half the time, I have decided to add a Florence by Night aspect to this blog bringing you new locales to savour as often as I find them. Leave the museums to guidebooks and the fun to me?!



Piazza Michelangelo
Renowned for one of the best views of downtown Florence, it must be seen at night (even if you also go in the day with every other tourist).

As the sun sets and the banks of souvenir sellers move on, this becomes one of the most romantic settings in Tuscany . . . but wait.

After dinner, down the stairs to the terrace under the Piazza where there is no light but the 'candlelight' of the Duomo and other major monuments. . .that is the time and place to go. With the Ponte Vecchio just below, if you are very quiet, you can hear the musicians on the bridge seranading their audience.

Regardless, you will undoubtedly here the strings of at least one young Italian in the Piazza trying to impress his new girlfriend or foreign girls he has just met strumming a guitar singing Italian ballads or international classics.

It may all sound a bit corny but trust me, the setting is idyllic, the view captiviating and much more romantic than posing for a kiss on the Ponte Vecchio among hundreds of other couples.