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Happy Valentine’s Day!

I saw it for the first time when I visited Florence this past December:  a cluster of small padlocks fastened to the gate which surrounds the statue of Benvenuto Cellini in the middle of the Ponte Vecchio. Love-struck couples attach these "love-locks" onto the bridge and then toss the keys into the River Arno to signify their everlasting love. The practice has become popular in cities all across Europe – you’ll see them in Rome, Paris, Budapest, Dublin and Prague.         

Read on to find out more secrets about Florence, for lovers of all kinds...

Love-Lock on Ha’Penny Bridge, Dublin		Love locks on the Ponte Vecchio, Florence

Thank you for your continued support and friendship.

Ellen Bainer, CTC

Florence is for Lovers! The Arno River, looking towards the “old bridge”, Ponte Vecchio

For Art Lovers:

The Vasari Corridor is an elevated covered walkway that sits atop the shops of the Ponte Vecchio and runs from the Uffizi Gallery to the Pitti Palace. Designed in the 1500’s by Giorgio Vasari (a friend of Michelangelo and Italy’s first art historian), it is filled with a collection of artists’ self-portraits that is unique in the world. Visits by private appointment only (which I can arrange for you, of course!).

Coat of Arms, Florence		Secret doorway in Florence

Enter Brancacci Chapel (Brahn-KAH-Chee) through the adjoining monastery’s quiet courtyard. Inside the Chapel you’ll find frescoes by Masaccio (Mah-SAH-choh), an early Renaissance artist who inspired Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Marvel at the techniques of light and perspective as you compare and contrast Masaccio’s style to that of the lesser artist Masolino, side-by-side. Visits are timed and must be booked in advance.

Masaccio: "The Tribute Money"
"Expulsion of Adam and Eve"		Detail from Brancacci Chapel

For Food Lovers: 

Click here to see a video of Al Pacino’s favorite restaurant in Florence,  4 Lions.

For Movie Lovers: Tea with Mussolini (1999) ……starring Cher, Judi Dench, Lily Tomlin, Maggie Smith. Set in Florence in 1935.

Il Salviatino in the afternoon sun		... view of Florence from my room (really!)
This resplendent property holds a few secrets of its own: the ceiling in the Affresco Suite had been covered over during WWII to hide its dazzling frescoes from the Germans.
Affresco Suite		... and its “secret” frescoed ceiling

The villa used to house Stanford University's overseas program: maybe that's why guests find the Library such an appropriate gathering place. You’ll find lots of books and homey touches throughout – it's a happy marriage of modern and historical. Michelin-starred chef Carmine Calo commands the kitchen. The spa and pool overlook the magical Tuscan countryside.

The Library: for a glass of Prosecco...			...or a cup of tea

Trips Worth Taking is an online magazine written by Ellen Bainer and dedicated to enhancing your worldwide travel experiences. We'll introduce you to fascinating people and places; reveal travel tips honed by 30 years of traveling the globe; and recommend unforgettable trips that are "worth the price of admission"! Thanks for tuning in!