The Keats-Shelley House is nestled right next to the world famous Spanish Steps in Rome. Thousands of visitors mill around the piazza in front of the steps, climb the steps, and take pictures of the steps. Yes, the steps really are very attractive–lots of flowers and a striking two-tower church at the top. But in the end, the steps are, well, steps. If you go to the Spanish Steps, take a quick pic and then veer right to visit the lovely little Keats-Shelley House. You’re in for a first-rate Artsy Traveler experience. Literary Leanings If you’ve been reading the Artsy Traveler blog for awhile ..read more

I’m a huge fan of taking cooking classes when I travel around interesting locales that have unique cuisines. So far, I’ve taken a market class and a French sauces class (sweet and savory) in Paris, a tapas class in Madrid, and a pasta & tiramasu class in Rome (see my post about that awesome class here). Choosing a Class in Rome With two weeks to spend in Rome in 2024 (with a few days off to visit Naples and Paestum), I decided to take yet another cooking class. Most of classes available were variations on the pasta/tiramasu class I’d already taken, but after a bit of searching on Get Your ..read more

What is it about Siena that makes an artsy traveler swoon? Mention Siena to anyone who has traveled there and immediately they’ll clasp their hands to their hearts and look heavenward while intoning their undying love for this gem of a medieval city. Every time I visit Siena (and I’ve been five times), I am inundated with a profound sense of living history. Of course, I could say that about many other places in Europe, but there’s something about Siena that makes it extra special. Why is Siena so Special? One reason why Siena is so special is that the modern world intrudes so discreetly that i ..read more

I love Amsterdam, which is why on almost every trip to Europe I make it my first stop. Since my visit in 1970 on my epic first trip to Europe with my mom, I’ve visited Amsterdam fifteen times. You’d think I’d have run out of places to see by now, but I haven’t. In my most recent visit to Amsterdam in April 2024, I discovered two new-to-me museums that I highly recommend. First, is the National Maritime Museum (#1 on the map below) and second is the Rembrandt House Museum (Rembrandt Huis – #2). Both deliver an excellent bang for your euro. The map below also shows the location of my recommended ..read more

The tiny town of Sirmione on Lake Garda in northern Italy is truly magical. Stay overnight and you’ll have the stone-arched streets and cypress-dotted parks to yourself. I spent 21 hours there in April and loved every minute of it. Where is Sirmione? Located at the south end of Lake Garda, cute-as-a-button Sirmione occupies the very tippy tip of a long peninsula jutting into the lake. Lake Garda is new to us and it certainly lives up to its reputation as one of Italy’s premier lakes. It is also the biggest lake in a country that has a lot of lakes. Later in our trip, we plan to tour the lakes ..read more

Padua in northern Italy, a quick train ride from Venice, can keep the Artsy Traveler well entertained for several days. I recently spent a week there and found lots to do — from staring awestruck at the Giotto frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel, to exploring the fascinating anatomical theater at one of Europe’s oldest universities, to hanging out in the stunning Pratto della Valle, where you may find a massive market in full swing. In this post, I share how I spent my week in Padua that included day trips to Venice and Vicenza. Overview So why was I in Padua for a week, instead of Venice, its mo ..read more

Last updated on March 13th, 2024 at 08:01 pm The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is an Artsy Traveler must-see, particularly for artsy travelers who love Renaissance art. I’ve visited Florence six times over the past thirty years, and on most visits, I take the time to visit the Uffizi Gallery. Few artsy traveler pursuits equal the joy of wandering blissfully through rooms full of many of western Europe’s most iconic masterpieces. In this post, I highlight ten of my favorite pieces in the Uffizi Gallery, based on my most recent visit in November 2023. When to Visit The very best time to visit ..read more

In October of 2023, I spent two weeks in Madrid (minus a three-day excursion to Ávila and Cáceres at the end of week one) and fell hopelessly in love. Madrid is, quite simply, one of Europe’s easiest cities to visit and enjoy. In this post, I chronicle my day-to-day activities during our two-week stay. From sightseeing to strolling to eating to just chilling out in the many parks–Madrid is the place to hang out if you’re looking for a city that feels more like a cheerfully crowded village. Before I launch into my celebration of Madrid, I’ll say a word about expectations. Gregg and I visit ..read more

A visit to Lascaux IV in the Dordogne region of France is a must for the artsy traveler. Here you will view the incredible paintings done by our artistically-inclined ancestors over 30,000 years ago (give or take a few centuries). The size, breadth, and sheer beauty of the paintings definitely will take your breath away. In this post, I’m sharing my experience at Lascaux IV near the charming town of Montignac in the Dordogne region of France in October 2023. Contents Some Background Lascaux II Lascaux III and IV Preparing for Our Visit to Lascaux IV Touring Lascaux IV Starting Outsid ..read more

We’ve come to beautiful little Pont Aven in southern Brittany for six days. The work done by painters of the Pont Aven School, most notably Paul Gauguin, Emile Bernard and Paul Sérusier, has long intrigued my husband Gregg Simpson. These artists—plus many, many more over the past century—have found the light and landscape of this corner of Brittany inspiring. Gregg wants to find out if inspiration will also hit him. (Spoiler alert: it does!). I’m toying with an idea for a character who comes from a provincial French town and makes her way to Paris during the Belle Epoque. Why not have her ..read more