Discovering Italy

04/10/2023

Happy feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Umbria and Italy!

Buona festa di San Francesco d'Assisi, patrono dell'Umbria e delI'Italia!

03/10/2023

Fabulous, well done Florence. Keeping the rights of residents over itinerant tourists is the only way to maintain the core nature of the city.

Florence city council has approved a bylaw to prohibit any new Airbnb openings in the UNESCO area of the historic centre.

“Today is important for Florence,” writes Dario Nardella, Mayor of Florence, on his Instagram. “The city council has approved a crucial measure for short-term rentals to meet the needs of students, workers, young couples, families and the elderly. Over the years, the short-term tourist rental market has grown disproportionately and is testing the city’s limits. The consequences are visible to everyone: a loss of identity in the historic centre, precarious living conditions, increases in the cost of living and a drastic reduction in housing availability…We have decided to put a stop to any new Airbnb openings in the UNESCO area of the Historic Centre of Florence. Housing is a fundamental right and it is our duty to ensure a future that is accessible to everyone. We want to keep the soul of our historic centre alive and to preserve the beauty and liveability of our city.”

The bylaw is not retroactive, meaning that current Airbnb rental owners will not be affected. However, if they choose to switch to long-term residential rentals, the council pledges to write off second home municipal taxes for three years.

What do you think?

15/08/2023

07/04/2023

Just beautiful

21/03/2023

Spring is definitely in the air here in Umbria. Still a tad chilly but stunning blue skies.

01/01/2023

The best display of the new year, and what a vantage point - spectacular. Happy New Year/Buon Anno Nuovo to all our DI friends, travellers, colleagues, associates around the world. We wish you a safe, joyous, happy year of travel.

24/12/2022

Buon Natale a tutti - Merry Christmas everyone

Vi auguriamo un Buon Natale da Assisi, l'Umbria vi aspetta .... Umbria the new Dolce Vita !
Photo Credit CHRISTIAN MACIAS

10/12/2022

NATALE 2022. Stunning view of the tree in Piazza Venezia from atop the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument in Rome.

09/12/2022

NATALE 2022. A very pretty tree for Assisi this year, birthplace of the presepe (nativity scene). https://youtu.be/pr5K3Y_l0wc

8 dicembre, tradizionale accensione e benedizione dell'albero di Natale e del Presepe nella piazza inferiore della Basilica di san Francesco d'Assisi

08/12/2022

NATALE 2022. Always my favourite- in Piazza del Duomo Florence

05/12/2022

NATALE 2022. Piazza Venezia in Rome is almost there.

05/12/2022

NATALE 2022. The fabulous light show in Piazza di San Pietro, Vatican City, as the Christmas tree lights up and the Presepe (Nativity scene) is uncovered. More details on that later.

https://fb.watch/hcXzaQquNg/

04/12/2022

NATALE 2022. In via Tornabuoni, Florence lights up

04/12/2022

NATALE 2022. Arezzo becomes a Christmas wonderland

28/11/2022

Exciting to see, the tree is being prepared in San Marco. Looks to be a traditional one this year.

13/11/2022

Always fascinating

09/11/2022

This is another from the same find. How beautiful

Primo Piano: Le Statue di bronzo di San Casciano.
A San Casciano dei Bagni sono state scoperte 24 statue di bronzo di epoca romana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtsOB-Od3js&t=188s&ab_channel=Canale3Tv.

09/11/2022

What an incredible and exciting find:

An archaeological find that takes your breath away in , in the province of Siena! 😍 Protected for 2300 years from the mud and boiling water of the sacred tanks, a never-seen-before votive deposit has re-emerged with over 24 bronze of very refined workmanship, five of which almost one meter high, all intact and in perfect condition .

Only in recent months did a large basin, votive objects, altars dedicated to the gods, a bas-relief with the image of a large bull and a putto in , a masterpiece of the Hellenistic age, come to light. Now, lying on the bottom of the large Roman basin, the young came out and, next to him, Hygieia, the goddess of health who was the daughter or wife of Asclepius, a snake coiled on her arm. A little further on, still partially submerged by water, you can see Apollo and then divinities, matrons, children, emperors.

"A discovery that will rewrite the and on which over 60 experts from all over the world are already at work" explains the archaeologist Jacopo Tabolli, professor at the University for Foreigners of Siena who has been leading the project since 2019.

An absolutely unique treasure, which is accompanied by an incredible amount of inscriptions in Etruscan and Latin and to which are added thousands of coins as well as a series of equally interesting vegetable offerings. The beautiful country never ceases to amaze us!

📸 ANTICAE VIAE / Facebook

29/10/2022

As heavily trafficked and as touristy as it may seem it is still one of my favourite jaunts when in Florence, especially early morning or for a late night stroll after dinner. It is when all is shuttered and more peaceful that you can really feel the magic of the bridge, hear the endlessly fascinating stories, some quite gory but others just mystical and splendid, but also to see the beautiful craftsmanship in the stores closed up and padlocked wooden shutters. Of course, a day time wander will also mean an inevitable finding of a new something to add to the collection of memories. Looking past the glitter there is always some new irresistible delight to be found.

The Ponte Vecchio is about to be restored for the first time in its 677-year history.

04/10/2022

Buona festa di SAN FRANCESCO D'ASSISI, patrono dell'Umbria e d'Italia! 💚🇮🇹

20/09/2022

Some of the magical places we include in Discovering Italy's "Unspoilt Umbria" small group tour beginning May 2023.
Ask us HOW . . .

15/09/2022

As some of you have asked, this is now the direct link to the web page that outlines the "Unspoilt Umbria Tour" beginning May 01 next year: http://www.discoveringitaly.com/index.php/tour-planning-activities/group-tours/unspoilt-umbria-tour

13/09/2022

Send me a private message here with your phone number or email and I will get back to you with all the details of this fab tour coming up.

10/09/2022

SMALL GROUP TOUR - MAY 2023 - BOOKING NOW
Umbria is one of those enticing regions, ancient land of the Etruscans, with its abundance of saints, spectacular medieval cities, ragged vineyards and olive groves planted in traditional haphazard rows, long-reaching traditions of peasant food - celebrating simple flavours and combinations - famous wines and, more importantly, the most warm-hearted, welcoming people. In this tour we will spend relaxed times discovering those best kept secrets together. MAX 6 in the group. Private transfers. Many inclusions. PM me if you would like to join us.

08/09/2022

A perfect match for Discovering Italy’s “Unspoilt Umbria” small group tour in May 2023

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Click here to learn more: https://bit.ly/SQEuropeEarlyBirdsSep22

Fares valid for select travel dates between 22 January 2023 and 5 September 2023

25/06/2022

And still in beautiful Siena today, the Campo being prepared for the first Palio after an enforced 2 year hiatus

Ma quanto è bella la terra in Piazza del Campo ?

25/06/2022

Always an exciting time when the entire fabulous mosaics of the Siena Cathedral floor are revealed. They will be uncovered this year from June 27 to July 31 and again from August 18 to October 18

21/06/2022

One of DI’s favourite places for a late night strolll in Rome. What’s yours?

Buona giornata capitolina a tutti da Piazza Navona a 360° ❤️
⠀
Seguici su:
🌎 www.capitolivm.it
📘 www.facebook.com/Capitolivm
📸 www.instagram.com/capitolivm
🎥 www.youtube.com/c/Capitolivm
⠀

21/06/2022

A good point to note for all our DI travellers. Much better to be prepared

No one likes to talk about returning home after a holiday overseas. But there’s one thing that Aussies need to keep in mind in addition to duty-free shopping – the Digital Passenger Declaration.

Quick tips:
✅ create an account and download the app or visit the webpage before you travel
✅ fill it out up to 7 days prior to boarding your flight home to Australia.

Read more: www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19/digital-passenger-declaration