Marco’s Italy
Florence city skyline panorama – Florence – Italy
Travels Across Italy-In Search of Italy’s Soul is written by Mark Gordon Smith, published travel writer and President of Private Italy Tours.
Using an easy “IF YOU GO” format, the posts provide detailed and helpful information for those planning a trip to Italy or for those only curious about sites, cities, and the history of bella Italia.
A Holiday Opera for the Child in all of us: Amahl and the Night Visitors — Travel Across Italy
It was in 1950 that then director of NBC’s opera programming, Peter Herman Adler, commissioned composer Gian-Carlo Menotti (1911 – 2007)to compose the first ever opera for the American television audience. This was no easy task and it is one of the many credits due to the exceptional talent of Menotti that he [...]
How Do I Follow Travels Across Italy posts on their blog?
Many readers have asked "How do I keep up with new articles on your Travels Across Italy blog?" It is VERY easy. When you are reading any of the articles, on the right side of the screen you will see a space where you can enter your email address. Enter your email address [...]
An Often Missed "Treasure" in Florence – the Medici Treasury
Tourists hurry through the corridors of the Pitti Palace museums every day. Often, in their rush to see the Palatine Galleries, the Museum of Costume and others, they miss one of the true treasures of Florence - the Silver Museum. The assumption, incorrectly made, is that the museum houses only silver. Such is [...]
The Face of Juliet – National Archaeological Museum in Rome – Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
The palazzo blends in to the myriad pattern of such buildings in Rome. As you ride out of the Termini station in a bus or taxi, you would hardly notice it. However, you are missing a trove of ancient artifacts, frescoes and bronze; the only other close competitor to the collections is the [...]
Marina Calamai – Florentine Artist, Jeweler, Designer
Marina Calamai Logo On a recent visit to Florence, I had a the good fortune to meet and spend some time with Marina Calamai, an artist in the truest sense of the Renaissance artist. She is a creator, a dreamer, someone who places follows her inspiration in numerous directions, always creating art in [...]
Pierfrancesco Riccio – The Artistic Eyes of the Medici Grand Duke
How do you influence, control or even manage a Grand Duke of Tuscany? Very carefully. Pierfrancesco Riccio (or da Riccio) was selected as the private secretary to Grand Duke Cosimo I of Tuscany. In the course of his tenure, one of the most important roles was the recommendation of, and support for, works [...]
Marco’s Florence: The Florentine Andrea del Sarto and the Gonzaga Family of Mantua
His father was a tailor and, as was custom in many cases during the Renaissance, he took his father's labor as his name: Andrea del Sarto - Andrea of the tailor. Enormous talent built a phenomenal career for a man who died at the young age of 43, a victim of the plague. [...]
Carla’s Heart: A Lost Tuscan Soul
When I led my first small group tour seventeen years ago, we offered only one itinerary: an exploration of Venice and Tuscany. Our group stayed in a lovely villa nestled in the hills near the Tuscan city of Impruneta, just south of Florence. The villa proved a wonderful location for that tour, enhanced [...]
Discovering a “new” composition by Vivaldi
The following is a guest post by Michael Talbot (University of Liverpool, Department of Music, Emeritus): Regular Dresden-watchers will be aware of the ambitious project “Die Notenbestände der Dresdner Hofkirche und der Königlichen Privat-Musikaliensammlung aus der Zeit der sächsisch-polnischen Union” supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), which was brought to a successful conclusion [...]
A HOLIDAY FOR HOLIDAY
Many years ago, as a kid living in Italy, I remember seeing copies of Holiday magazine on my parent's coffee table. The colorful covers enticed me to enjoy the photos and dream. It was those magazines, the evocation of exotic places to visit, that started this never satisfied yearning and desire to travel; [...]
SPEAKING OF TRAVEL Interview of Mark Smith with Marilyn Ball
In late December, Mark Smith, Owner of Private Italy Tours, was invited to an interview on a national travel show, Speaking of Travel. Marilyn Ball, who is the creator of the show, was the host. Marilyn Ball - Speaking of Travel The interview (link below) covers some current topics of interest [...]
In the Shadow of Renaissance Masters: Drawing Workshop in Florence, Italy
Join Francesco Lombardo, noted artist from Western North Carolina, on an incredible eight-day drawing workshop in the heart of Florence.
INTRODUCTION TO OUR 2020 SEASON-Private Italy Tours
We are pleased to share this brief introductory video regarding our 2020 Season. With the addition of an incredible twelve day exploration of the province of Puglia in the Fall of 2020, we now offer six distinct and unique itineraries across various regions of Italy. Our accommodations on the Puglia tour are in [...]
The New Florence "Flea Market" Is Open!
Harry Cochrane DECEMBER 4, 2019 NOTE: I wish to thank Harry Cochrane, staff writer for The Florentine English Newspaper in Florence, for the access to his article. Late October saw the official opening of the new Mercato delle Pulci, or flea market, in largo Annigoni. Nearly four years have passed since the stalls [...]
Venice, Veneto and Tuscany
Our small group tours of Veneto, Venice, and Tuscany provides guests with unforgettable encounters with the rich culture of these unique regions of Italy.
A Sunday Drive Through Heaven – the Val d'Orcia to Orbetello
On a recent Sunday afternoon, I drive south out of Florence into the spectacular hills of the Val d'Orcia south of Siena. This area of Tuscany is sparse and wide; recently plowed fields the color of burnt umber undulate across a countryside of dreams. The quintessential vision of Tuscany unfolds before me. Cypress [...]
Umbria & Le Marche
Umbria, the very heart of Italy, is little known to many visitors. Our trip begins with transfers from Rome directly to our villa in the hills of central Umbria.
Puglia and Basilicata
Puglia is probably the most surprising of Italy’s regions. The Illyric and Italic civilizations initially inhabited this area as early as 40,000 years ago; however, the Greeks, beginning in the 8th Century BC, created the first large settlements along the coast.
Switzerland
Join us on this space-limited tour offering one-of-a-kind experiences in the heart of Europe. Switzerland stands as a true center of today’s Europe; a staunch and stolid, incredibly beautiful land.
Art Tour: Florentine and Flemish Renaissance
This exceptional tour will begin in Florence, Italy: the “Birthplace of the Renaissance”. For six days and nights, we will explore in and around Florence, including excursions to Siena, San Gimignano, Lucca, as well as a full-day excursion visiting Renaissance masterpieces in the Tuscan countryside, all with expert local guides.
Sicily
Our first week on the Amalfi Coast is spent in beautiful accommodations offering unique and incredible views along the coastline. Capri and the Amalfi Coast have lured travelers for many years.
Puglia and Basilicata
Puglia is one of the most surprising of Italy’s regions. A broad amalgamation of cultures offers visitors a region replete with generous people, exceptional foods and wines, as well as a veritable mosaic of artistic, architectural and religious influences.