Hazel

I’m Hazel, an Irish expat who moved to Italy for a year and forgot to leave. After four years of navigating Italian bureaucracy and the language struggle, I’m here to share the real Italy—from the famous postcard spots to the hidden corners I find along the way. Salute agus Sláinte.

view of siena town while walking up the steps to the basilica

The Ultimate 48-hour Tuscany Itinerary

Tuscany is one of those places where you could easily spend a month and still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface. But let’s be realistic, sometimes we only have a weekend to work with. If you find yourself with just 48 hours to soak in the cypress-lined roads and hilltop towns, don’t worry. It’s entirely possible to see the highlights without feeling like you’ve spent the whole time in the car.

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san fruttuoso bay view we got there by boat

A Perfect Day Trip to the Italian Riviera: Recco, Camogli, San Fruttuoso & Portofino

Getting to the Coast: Driving vs. Trains If you’re coming down from Milan, you have two main ways to do this. We decided to drive, which is a straightforward enough trip that takes about two hours. Having a car gives you a bit more freedom to move at your own pace. The Parking Situation: We

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