Curated Touring

08/10/2022

Saturdays are for strolling 💚

07/10/2022

Friday Fall Vibes @ Berg Eltz 🍁🍂

06/10/2022

From August to December, the grounds of the Ludwigsburg Palace host the world's largest pumpkin festival, with nearly half a million pumpkins on display. Spend a day viewing the jaw-dropping, elaborately-carved pumpkin sculptures and sampling the delicious pumpkin-based dishes (think themed soups, waffles, and local favorites including a specialty pasta, Maultaschen). Pumpkin perfection! 🎃🧡🎃

06/10/2022

✨Golden hour ✨ is every hour at Vienna’s Stadtpalais Liechtenstein. This 17th century palace was once the primary residence of the princely family of Liechtenstein, one of Vienna’s wealthiest families, and it was considered to be at the cutting edge of art and architecture. No expense was spared in the lavish and opulent interiors, which feature plastered ceilings, gold leafing, and Thonet wood floors. A must-see in Vienna!

29/09/2022

It’s “National Coffee Day” and we’re raising a mug to that delicious concoction that starts our mornings (and revives us in the afternoon) ☕️ Where have you savored your most memorable cup of coffee?

20/09/2022

The delightful Irish town of Cobh is known for a row of colorful, nearly identical houses lined along a charming street in front of St Colman’s Cathedral. Built in the 1850s, these houses are fondly known to locals as the “Deck of Cards,” because, as the joke goes, if the house at the bottom of the hill were to fall, the others would pile on top of it, just like a deck of cards!

19/09/2022

Designed in 1861, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery. The Galleria connects two of Milan's most famous landmarks: the Duomo and the Teatro Alla Scala, but the Galleria is most certainly an architectural landmark in its own right.

Question of the day: should an afternoon spent here be considered shopping or historic sightseeing? 🤔😉

18/09/2022

When it comes to stunning fall foliage, it’s hard to beat what Scotland has to offer! September and October boast vibrant shades of gold, bronze, and crimson against a backdrop of evergreen pine. Warm yourself up with a glass (or two 😉) of whisky, then get outside to experience the fiery colors of Scotland’s unforgettable countryside 🍂

18/09/2022

Neuschwanstein Castle, with its white limestone façade and dramatic blue turrets, is rumored to be the real-life inspiration for the castles in the Disney Classics “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty.” It’s easy to see that Neuschwanstein Castle has some major fairy tale vibes ✨

Our favorite time to visit is in the fall, when the Bavarian Alps are awash with bold autumn colors, temperatures are pleasant and mild, and the oppressive summer crowds have dissipated. We recommend staying in nearby Munich, where you’ll be well-situated to visit Neuschwanstein and the area’s other beautiful castles 🏰 Happy travels!

15/09/2022

Anyone else obsessing over ‘s Masterpiece Theater Portofino series? The sea views, the colorful architecture, and la dolce vita…complete Portofino Perfection😍

We are booking for 2024 but still have some openings for 2023. Call or message us for availability requests

29/06/2022

😍😍😍

Ceilings of Italy.

With

07/05/2021

Irish Green 💚

13/03/2021

In the 13th century, Emperor Frederick II ordered the construction of Castel del Monte in the Italian region of Apulia. The Castel is one of the most mysterious buildings ever constructed in medieval Italy and scholars remain uncertain about its original function.

Some have suggested it was built as a hunting lodge for the Emperor. But there is no evidence that the Castel was ever used in this way, and without a stable, it seems unlikely that sporting pursuits were a central focus. It likewise lacks a strategic position, a moat, and other important defensive components usually associated with a fortress. Some scholars have hypothesized that it served as a religious temple or a monument to “Knowledge” or “Intellect.” The interior features many references to astrology, and during the solstice and equinox, the paths of light follow a precise astronomical path across the building.

Regardless of its exact use, the Castel del Monte was a architectural and engineering marvel of the Middle Ages. Its unusual octagonal plan—complete with octagonal towers at each angle—is unique. It also featured innovative plumbing and hydraulic systems, which seem to have moved rainwater through the building, providing for bathing and toilets. Declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1996, the Castel del Monte stands as one of the best preserved medieval castles in Southern Italy. It is also undoubtedly one of its most fascinating and enigmatic.

07/03/2021

The “Ponte dei Sospiri” or “Bridge of Sighs” is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Venice, often used as a backdrop for kissing couples enjoying a scenic gondola ride. Despite the bridge’s beautiful design and location, its name does not reference love or romance, as many think.

The Bridge of Sighs was built in 1614 to connect the interrogation rooms at the opulent Doge’s Palace (on the left) with the New Prison (Prigioni Nuove, on the right), a dark and dreadful building where criminals were incarcerated. While the conditions in the New Prison were an improvement over the “old” Venetian prisons, they were still extremely harsh. Those interred faced damp cold in the winter, oppressive heat in the summer, unsanitary conditions, and little light and fresh air.

Rather than notions of romance and love, the bridge’s name refers to the heavy sighs of despair from convicted prisoners crossing the bridge, many of whom likely knew they would not see freedom or Venice for a long time (or perhaps never again). Stone grates in the walls of the bridge provided views—although limited—out to the Venetian lagoon for those passing through.

Despite the beauty and magnificence of its architecture, the Bridge of Sighs had a harrowing function. For those forced to cross it in the seventeenth century, difficult conditions awaited them on the other side.

07/03/2021

Happy Birthday, Michelangelo! 🎂 Born on this day in 1475, Michelangelo was a prolific Italian sculptor who is often considered one of the greatest artists of his age, if not of all time.

Pictured here is a detail of the Sistine Chapel, commissioned by Pope Julius II and painted by Michelangelo between 1508-1512. For a sum of 500 ducats (approximately $3,000.00 in today’s American dollars), Michelangelo painted over 12,000 square feet of ceiling! The frescos are beautiful, emotive, and some of the greatest masterpieces of Western art. Not bad for an artist who never considered himself a painter 😉

📸 captured by our favorite

03/03/2021

Lake Bled sits nestled in the Julian Alps of northwest Slovenia, about 30 miles from the capital city of Ljubljana. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and forests, Lake Bled is famous for its picturesque scenery and was once a popular health resort for aristocrats from all over the world. The lake’s north shore is dominated by the medieval Bled Castle, first recorded in the year 1011 and perched dramatically atop a sharp ravine. The castle is the oldest fortress in Slovenia and boasts legendary views from the top of its tower.

In the center of the lake sits the small Bled Island, visible here. A pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was built here in the Middle Ages, and the remains of mid-15th century frescoes are still on display. There was also a rich Baroque remodeling in the 17th century. The island church is a popular venue for weddings and the chiming of its bells (rung only after a wedding has just been completed) often echoes around the shores in the mornings and afternoons.

The best way to reach Bled Island is via a traditional wooden rowboat known as a “plenta.” Similar to a Venetian gondola, a plenta seats about 20 people and is powered by two oars; many of the boats are also covered by exuberantly colored awnings.

In addition to its beautiful scenery, Lake Bled is famous for its local delicacy, a cream pastry known as “kremna rezina.” Every bakery has its own secret recipe and the kremna was designated a protected dish by the Slovene government in 2016!

28/02/2021

Here’s a shot of Tintern Abbey, one of the most picturesque and charming ruins in Britain. Located on the River Wye in southeast Wales, the monastery was begun in 1131 by Walter de Clare, Lord of Chepstow, and was the first Cistercian abbey to be founded in Wales.

The main abbey church (seen here) was rebuilt from 1269 to 1301, when the new building was consecrated. It is one of the most important examples of the so-called Decorated Style, which flourished in Britain from c. 1250-1350. Tintern is especially famous for its large, traceried windows, which allowed the master mason to show off his love of complex geometric forms. Most of the rebuilding at Tintern was funded by Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk, whose coat of arms was once commemorated in the stained glass.

TIntern Abbey was dissolved in 1536 as part of the English Reformation and its roof and stone vaulting later collapsed. The scenic ruins that resulted have served as inspiration for poets and painters ever since the 18th century, including JMW Turner (who made several fantastic water colors) and William Wordsworth (who wrote a famous poem while visiting here in 1798).

27/02/2021

Pictured here is a detail from the Baroncelli Chapel, found in the Franciscan church of Santa Croce in Florence. The Baroncelli, a wealthy Florentine banking family, commissioned artist Taddeo Gaddi to paint an elaborate fresco program celebrating the life of the Virgin Mary in the 1330s.

Taddeo Gaddi was the star pupil of master painter Giotto, and one of the leading artists in Florence in the 14th century. According to biographers, the frescos in the Baroncelli chapel are among Gaddi’s most important early solo projects. The young painter was praised for rendering complex architectural settings and producing dramatic effects of light. In fact, one of the first depictions of nocturnal lighting painting can be seen on the middle register to the left of the window in this image. Here, an incandescent angel hovers over a startled shepherd, the brilliance of the angel illuminating the the darkened landscape like a fiery torch. Gaddi used a dark and monochromatic palette for the shepherd and his surrounds show a dramatic contrast between the darkness of the night and the angel’s divine illumination. This use of a “night light” would have been radical, exciting, and remarkable to 14th century viewer.

Gaddi enjoyed a successful painting career in and around Florence until his death in 1366. His final resting place? In the church of Santa Croce, in close proximity to the beautiful Baroncelli chapel, where his talent is forever preserved.

25/02/2021

Fun fact: Lichtenstein Castle is set on a dramatic rocky outcrop in.....Germany (not the tiny European country of the same name as you might have guessed🧐). The present-day castle was built in the nineteenth century on top of the ruins of its twelfth-century predecessor. The castle owes its very existence to Wilhelm Hauff, author of the 1826 novel, Lichtenstein. In his book, Hauff described medieval life so vividly that Count Wilhelm of Württemberg was inspired to rebuild the castle that had fallen into ruin centuries before. The precariously-perched castle towers over the charming village of Honau. But despite its prominence in the landscape, Lichtenstein Castle is rarely visited by tourists. We think it’s well worth a trek through the rolling alpine hills and small villages that dot the area to explore this fairytale homage to the Middle Ages🏰

25/02/2021

Here’s a picture of a thermopolium (or as we like to call it, an “ancient Roman snack bar”) in the town of Herculaneum, built about 10 AD. Located at the intersection of two busy streets, the thermopolium sold food and drinks to people walking around town, running errands, or looking to grab a quick bite with friends to discuss business or the latest gossip.

The name “thermopolium” is derived from Greek and literally means, “a place where something hot is sold.” A typical example, as seen here, consisted of an L-shaped counter into which large storage vessels were sunk. Most snack bars offered fish or cheese with bread, and for dessert patrons could order honey or spiced wine. These establishments were often known for one special recipe that people would enjoy and recommend to their friends. Just like modern food trucks or snack bars, thermopolia had devoted customers who would make special trips (and often wait in line) for their favorite meat stew or lentil soup.

It’s easy to imagine steam pouring out the holes of the bar and patrons lined up for a hot meal. Even though this thermopolium was built nearly 2000 years ago, its design isn’t too far removed from fast food of the 21st century!