Venn Travel

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Travel Itinerary for the Venn September 2024 Tuscany Tour
13/08/2024

Travel Itinerary for the Venn September 2024 Tuscany Tour

Almost all of the high-end crystal in Italy comes from the “Bohemia of Italy,” Colle di Val d’Elsa, another fortified me...
24/12/2023

Almost all of the high-end crystal in Italy comes from the “Bohemia of Italy,” Colle di Val d’Elsa, another fortified medieval hill town along the Via Fracigena. Now a charming hamlet that has welcomed pilgrims and travelers for ages, historically, strategically located Colle often found itself in the middle of the tumultuous conflict between Siena and Florence. Today, museums and cathedrals in Colle provide a glimpse into the past and the views from the tops of the hill continue to astound. Also, a fabulous stop for lunch!

Volterra even sounds imposing, as if it should be an ancient city perched high on the hilltop since the 8th century. Yet...
24/12/2023

Volterra even sounds imposing, as if it should be an ancient city perched high on the hilltop since the 8th century. Yet, Volterra is also welcoming with its charming stone-paved streets and abundant shops and restaurants. There are a number of fascinating museums and archeological sites to visit and they also love to celebrate here as the town hosts many festivals, including an elaborate Medieval reenactment (Volterra AD 1398) and a twice yearly food festival (Volterragusto) dedicated to truffles, cheese, wine and other local culinary delights. Volterra is also renowned for alabaster production and art. At Christmas time, the city lights up with intricately decorated shop windows.

Moving further along the Via Francigena, we next visited Monteriggioni - one of the most impressive walled Medieval tow...
17/12/2023

Moving further along the Via Francigena, we next visited Monteriggioni - one of the most impressive walled Medieval towns in Tuscany. Monteriggioni was a key stronghold in the battles between Florence and Siena from the 1200’s to the 1500’s. It is a typical fortified village that started its life as a castle with more towers and fortifications added as the aggressions between the Tuscan rivals intensified. Today its mighty towers can still be seen for miles. Towers that once impressed Dante Alighieri so much that in his Divine Comedy he compared them to “horrific giants”. Nowadays, you can walk along portions of the walls for an amazing view or stroll through the piazza to enjoy quaint shops and cafes.

One of the purposes of an exploratory trip to Italy is to work out some of the kinks before you bring your guests on a t...
14/12/2023

One of the purposes of an exploratory trip to Italy is to work out some of the kinks before you bring your guests on a tour. This time, the kink was a giant bolt that lodged itself in our tire the first day we had the car - we discovered the completely flat tire when we tried to head out the next morning from a town in the middle of nowhere. Another kink to work out is that it is hard to get ANYTHING done at all anywhere near a national holiday in Italy (this time the holiday in question was Dec. 8 - L’Immacolata, celebrating the Virgin Mary - but there are pretty much holidays in Italy ALL the time). So, in spite of purchasing the “Don’t Worry” insurance from our car rental company, it was simply not possible to switch out our car (heaven knows we tried). At one point, roadside assistance did send a tow truck driver to pick up our car, but, since there were no plans to bring us a new one, we wouldn’t let him take it. Instead, using our best horrible broken Italian, we convinced him to help us change out the tire for the spare and tighten the lug nuts as hard as we could. We renamed our Jeep “Spare” and we soldiered on for the rest of the trip riding on a donut. Considering some of the roads we drove on, making it to our final destination in Florence was probably a Christmas Miracle.

Next stop in Italy involved some world class relaxation in the ancient village of Bagno Vignoni. Situated on a hilltop i...
13/12/2023

Next stop in Italy involved some world class relaxation in the ancient village of Bagno Vignoni. Situated on a hilltop in the ethereal Val d’Orcia National Park, along the Via Francigena (the main route followed by pilgrims in antiquity who went to Rome), the thermal waters in Bagno Vignoni were frequented by the Etruscans and Romans. At the heart of the village is the "Square of Sources", a rectangular tank, of sixteenth-century origin, which contains the original source of water that comes from the subterranean aquifer of volcanic origins. The spa of Bagno Vignoni was attended by eminent personalities such as Pope Pius II, Saint Catherine of Siena, Lorenzo the Magnificent and now us. I am forever grateful to my cousin Jacqueline DeRose for introducing me to this amazing gem.

“Ladies! Ladies! You need soap!” Well…we had been flying multiple flight legs overnight and then hopped into our rental ...
12/12/2023

“Ladies! Ladies! You need soap!”
Well…we had been flying multiple flight legs overnight and then hopped into our rental car without the benefit of a shower, but did we really smell that bad?!? Our first stop on the Tuscany exploratory/planning trip was Arezzo, a town of poets and artists and musicians. Arezzo was an important Etruscan town that was later conquered by the Romans and remained significant through the Medieval Period. It is a city rich in history and culture. On the day we stopped by, they were preparing for the evening’s Christmas Market festivities and there was a chill in the air. “Zuppa” or “soup” was what our restauranteur was actually hawking, not soap, and we were so happy to step inside his enchanting and warm establishment to partake of a delightful soup and some bruschetta.
12.06.2023

🍽️✨ Elevate Your Culinary Journey with Venn Travel! ✨🍽️At Venn Travel, we are not just travel experts; we are also passi...
29/10/2023

🍽️✨ Elevate Your Culinary Journey with Venn Travel! ✨🍽️

At Venn Travel, we are not just travel experts; we are also passionate home chefs dedicated to creating extraordinary dining experiences for you. From hidden culinary gems to renowned local eateries and private chefs, we curate unforgettable moments that tantalize your taste buds. Indulge in flavors, ambiance, and impeccable service, all crafted by our talented travel liaisons. Join us on a gastronomic adventure like no other. Buon appetito! 🌟🍽️

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Venn Travel September 2024 Tuscany Itinerary

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