Stories from the ground
Blog
Guides, food and history written by the people who run the tours.
Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia: What to Look For
Michelangelo's David at the Accademia: why the hands look too big, the block nobody wanted, and how to see it in Florence without the crowds.
Montserrat Day Trip from Barcelona: How to Do It in Half a Day
Montserrat day trip from Barcelona in half a day: which train stop to use, when the boys' choir sings and the summit…
What to Expect on a Bologna Food Tour (And How to Pick the Right One)
What a Bologna food tour actually involves: the stops, the tastings, how long it lasts, morning versus evening, and the questions that…
Florence From Above: 6 Viewpoints Beyond Piazzale Michelangelo
Six places to see Florence from above that are emptier, cheaper or closer to a glass of wine than Piazzale Michelangelo: from…
Trevi Fountain: The Story, the Coin Ritual and How to See It Without the Crowds
A two-thousand-year-old aqueduct, a Baroque stage set and a coin ritual that funds soup kitchens. What the Trevi Fountain is, and the…
Sagrada Familia From the Inside: The Details Most Visitors Walk Past
Two facades by two different sculptors, columns that lean for a reason, and stained glass that changes the building by the hour.…
The Vatican Museums in Three Hours: What to See and What to Walk Past
Seven kilometres of galleries and one exit through the Sistine Chapel. A three-hour route through the Vatican Museums, and the rooms you…
Where Barcelonans Actually Eat Tapas (And the Tourist Traps to Avoid)
Most tapas in central Barcelona are aimed at tourists. Real Catalan tapas are found in four neighborhoods locals know and visitors usually…
Bologna’s Quadrilatero Market: A Self-Guided Walking Tour for Food Lovers
The Quadrilatero is where Bologna has been buying and selling food since the Middle Ages. A 90-minute self-guided walking tour with 6…
Piazzale Michelangelo: The Best Sunset in Florence and How to Get There
The best sunset in Florence happens on the south bank of the Arno, on a 19th-century terrace called Piazzale Michelangelo. How to…
