Europe

Encircled by a 2-mile border, Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. The independent city-state mints its own euros, prints its own stamps, and even has its own flag and anthem. The next smallest…

After the tranquil small towns of Tuscany, we headed where all roads lead to: Rome. Leaving sweet Volterra behind, we took a local bus to Saline. From there, we caught a tiny two-car only train to…

Under a Tuscan rain cloud. That’s how we spent most of our time during our stay in Tuscany. But a rainy day in Italy’s wine country is still better than a sunny day in most places.…

The Tuscan city’s unique aesthetic offers a gorgeous backdrop to exploring and even inspired Crayola’s iconic crayon. During the Renaissance, Siena produced an iron oxide earth pigment that when heated, turned a distinctive reddish brown color.…

When it comes to the world’s most romantic destinations, Venice is at the top of the list, even on a budget. The tourism industry knows that romance equals money. But as a vagabonding couple with limited…

Crowded. Touristy. Hot. Smelly. That’s what we initially heard about traveling to Venice, the “City of Water.” Yes, mobs can often choke the quaint canals in summer. But early February is an ideal time to visit.…

As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is the cultural mecca of art, architecture, history, science, food, shopping and more. Despite an abundance of English-speaking college coeds and large groups of camera-toting Japanese tourists, it’s still…

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Apuan Alps, Lucca is a tiny medieval town in northern Tuscany with big personality. Despite its modest size, Lucca has it all. Expansive piazzas. Majestic towers. And stunning churches.…

As a kid, I was fascinated with the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Why does it lean? Why was it built that way? Is it ever going to topple over? So on our way from Cinque Terre to Tuscany, I of course,…