October 31st 2009 is not Halloween in Siena, but it is Urban Trekking day. How’s that for weird. There will be hiking around the streets of Siena on the theme of “The joy of trekking: …

I want to tell you about this opportunity to take a painting class in Italy with a famous painter who just happens to be my friend.
Last year I had the pleasure of having Bill Patterson, …

Here is another not-touristy event notification: POMARIUM is a show and market of antique and rare FRUIT. Amongst activities for non-specialists like me are a lecture on the history of gelato (in italian) by the …

The Province of Florence is offering guided visits of some of Fiesole’s private gardens on Thursdays in September and October 2009. The cost is 5 euros per person, 3 euros for kids, kids under 6 free.
Reservations have …

I don’t know yet, but…
Find out by going to the Con_Vivere festival in Carrara, September 11-13 2009. There will be Jazz, photography, films, food, an American product market, kids’ events, and a bunch of Italians discussing pertinent …

The constant question “what’s the best gelateria in Florence” has a new entry- Le Parigine on via dei’ Servi.
On a touristy street a stone’s throw from the Duomo is this recently opened retro-styled artisanal ice …

I just heard about this last minute package trip that is just the kind of thing I’d enjoy. Asia Nelson, an advanced yoga instructor from Canada, has TWO spots left on a trip Sept 20-27 …

Art historians are able to do more and more research from home with the availability of many articles on JSTOR and many books at least in part on Google Books and even on Amazon.com’s “search …

I admit to spending much too much time reading travel blogs online, following travel and food blogging friends on twitter, and writing on arttrav. I like going to each site individually, though I have recently …

Here’s a funny sign in piazza Strozzi, on corner of building right above the used book vendor cart. It’s dated 1762.
Here is the Italian transcription - English translation below:
Gl’Ill.mi SS. Capitani di Parte della Citta’ …

Arttrav is on Amazon Kindle. Here’s the story. Kindle recently (May 2009) announced that bloggers can self-publish on kindle. Accepted blogs would be listed under Kindle Blogs on Amazon and offered for a monthly subscription rate, usually …

Here’s an event announcement from my friends at De Gustibus, the FOODIES who host these amazing eat-fests. This sunday there’s a late summer lunch near San Gimignano with a whole lot of saffron on the …