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Exploring Spain’s Catalonia Region: The Catalan Countryside
Spain’s Catalonia region is best known for vibrant and bustling Barcelona and also for the famed Costa Brava (meaning wild coast) where Blue Flag beaches span the Mediterranean Sea for 130 miles. Yet there are even more gems in the Catalan countryside. Medieval villages full of ancient monuments, chocolate museums, Michelin-starred restaurants, vineyards for days.…

Visit Florence – The Birthplace of the Renaissance
In Florence, the present is artfully blended with the past. History around every corner. Cathedrals and other ancient monuments popping up throughout the city to remind you of the pervasive influence the bygone days have on modern times. But why does this capital city of Tuscany hold such significance? Florence was the birthplace of the…

Complete Guide to Provençal Cuisine
The region of Provence in southeastern France has so much to love: the French Riviera, lavender fields, epic landscapes like the Massif des Calanques, and rich cities like Avignon and Marseille. And then there’s the food! Provençal cuisine is famous for its powerful flavors and simple, farm-to-table ingredients. Provence’s warm, Mediterranean climate influences its cuisine,…

Discover the Wine Regions of Tuscany
Every wine-seeking traveler inevitably finds themselves in Tuscany, the hilly land of winding roads lined with sculptural cypress trees and vineyards surrounding romantic hilltop towns. The wines here are famous, as is the rich landscape and food. As one of the most prolific wine-producing areas in Italy (and even in Europe), it’s no wonder Tuscany…

Get to Know the Architecture of Puglia: Trulli
Puglia: It’s the heel of Italy’s boot. A lesser-known, sunny region and a growing wine destination (think dark, rustic Primitivo). It’s the birthplace of orecchiette pasta. And, of course, Puglia is also home to the famed trulli buildings. We’ve already covered a lot about the Apulian food and wine scene in some of our past…

Top Picks for Rhône Valley Wine
Southern France’s Rhône Valley has long been synonymous with wine culture — think thousands of years, not just hundreds. While the first wine grapes were planted in France sometime during the 4th century B.C. and brought in by the Greeks, it’s the Romans we have to thank for the incredible quality and diversity of the…

7 Things to See and Do in Alsace
Home to the oldest wine trail in France, cathedrals with exceptional heights, and a cuisine that melds French and German flavors, Alsace is a region of variety and charm. This region in eastern France has strong ties to Christmas (trees were first decorated for the holy holiday here), but Alsace is truly a year-long destination.…

Exploring Spain’s Catalonia Region: Girona Travel Guide
Being only a 40 minute high-speed train ride away from Barcelona, it’s no wonder so many travelers to Spain’s Catalonia region loop in a trip to Girona. But! We don’t want you to get the wrong idea. On its own, Girona is a destination worth traveling to and not an afterthought at all. This small…