Honestly, I never thought much about going to Venice. I figured it’s one giant tourist destination, which, of course, it is. It was a bit of a train ride from Florence, but the coach was very comfortable. That being said, we had a wonderful guide, Chiara, who gave us a lot of information on the history of Venice, how the buildings were built and stabilized through the centuries and even got us in without paying the 5 Euro fee.
She also recommended the best place to eat and take a gondola ride.
When booking with Phil~italy mention Italian Roots and Genealogy
I never thought I would be in a gondola, although I did see them at the Venetian in Las Vegas! It was actually quite nice and relaxing. And at 90 Euros for 30 minutes in a boat that holds up to 6 people not a bad deal in this day and age.
It was really amazing to watch the gondoliers thread their way through traffic and how they would push off the side of a building to make a turn. Catch the video below to see!
You are probably we aware of the masks made in Venice, plenty of shops and designs to choose from. Interesting fact about the mask with the long nose, that was by design so that a doctor could add something in to reduce the smell during the plague and also keep his distance.
That night for dinner, we found an amazing little family place just a few blocks from our apartment in Florence. Ristorante Pensavo Peggio. Once again mostly locals, and we had to get by with our broken Italian. My wife had the Tuscan soup and I had the Tuscan Beef Stew, which was one of the best dishes I had in my many trips to Italy.
Our host and hostess were just wonderful and on the way put we were offered Limoncello and Grappa.
The Journey Home 2025 – Florence
Click here to join out Facebook group Halfway through our trip we took the train from Bologna to Florence. Which was interesting as we thought we missed our train as we were on the wrong track, luckily it was late and we made our way to the correct track on time. Whew! We stayed at an excellent apartment about a 10 minute walk from the train station so very convenient for our day trips. When
Unlocking the Secrets of my Genoese Ancestors
In this conversation, Bob Sorrentino interviews Tess Martin, who shares her journey of exploring her Italian heritage and family history. Tess discusses her background, her family’s migration from Italy to America, and the unique visa that allowed her to live in the Netherlands. She delves into her genealogical research, uncovering family secrets and connections that reveal the complexities of her ancestry. The conversation highlights the importance of historical context in understanding family migration and the
The Return Home 2025 – Ferrara
Click here to join out Facebook group Ferrara is not your typical tourist destination in Italy, but it was on my bucket list as it is the birthplace of my 13th great-grandmother, Isabella d’Este. I was a bit disappointed only because there was very little mention of the d’Este women. But I guess a trip back to the Renaissance days. When booking with Phil~italy mention Italian Roots and Genealogy he d’Este family was one of
The Journey Home 2025 – Modena
Click here to join out Facebook group My daughter loves cars, especially expensive ones. So when I mentioned Modena, she asked, “What’s there?” “Ferrari.” “I’m in!” Truly a great museum, and a really good cafe, better than the one we stopped at on the way there, although a bit more expensive. At least 20 cars are on display, with a short video, gift shop $$$$ and a simulator for 25 Euros. You can also tour
The Journey Home 2025 — Bologna
Click here to join out Facebook group 16th Century spy camera. We had an excellent guide in Bologna provided by Phil~italy. One the most fascinating parts of the tour was the tour of the Jewish ghetto. The Bologna Ghetto was established in 1556 when the Jewish community in Bologna was confined to a small, enclosed area near Via dell’Inferno. It was created by papal decree under Pope Paul IV, a decision that reflected the broader
The Journey Home 2025 – Milan
Click here to join out Facebook group Our 2025 trip to Italy began in Milan with a bespoke itinerary created for us by Phil~italy. Phil Micali has a team of experts in Italy ( Teresa, Liliana, and Pam ) who created the itinerary and recommended lodging, food, and excursions. Just before the trip, Phil met with us and reviewed everything, so there were no surprises. Phil~italy also puts everything on a phone app for you,
