Guest Post by Katie Greenaway
Being a travel expert in Florence, Italy, my friend Katie decided to share her thoughts here with her recommendation on some top wine bars in Florence. Here are the top 5:
- Caffe` Sant’Ambrogio – This wine bar is very busy and hopping every night. On the weekends the patrons congregate outside in Piazza Sant’ Ambrogio where they set up tables in front of the church. The ambiance gives off a sense of youth sliced with a feeling of that city is so very small. People pass through this piazza many times over, where they end up stopping for a cocktail or a nice glass of red at Caffe` Sant’ Ambrogio. Their 50 odd wines are all held in house and also can make any cocktail under the sun. The aperitivi they serve is of typical Tuscan flavors. Their lunch aperitivo starts at noontime as well as an evening aperitivo starting at 7pm. Open every day from 10am-3am. Location: Piazza Sant’Ambrogio, 7
- Le volpe e l’uva – A wine bar off the beaten path is just the place for people looking to get away from those crowded piazze(squares). Located in a tiny piazza called Piazza dei Rossi, it has a welcoming atmosphere. The staff is very helpful and kind. If you don’t know what you type of wine to try, they will suggest something perfect for you. And to match with your wine, there are an array of cheese plates, salame, and insalata caprese. For something more hearty, there are panini and schiacciate made with fresh ingredients. They provide a hearty list of wines from small producers throughout Italy. You will find wines in this shop that you won’t find anywhere else in Florence. The hours of this lovely little wine adventure is Monday through Saturday 11-9pm, Sunday it is closed. Location : Piazza dei Rossi 1
- Vinaino di Parte Guelfa – I can honestly say they make the best sandwiches here. I eat here every other day and spend less than 5€. It is a great deal and the locale is cozy like you are sitting at home talking with friends. Locals frequent this shop on weekdays especially. Like a bartender, Luca and Leonardo listen to the local patrons that come in just to talk about life. They add their two sense here and there but most of the time they keep pouring the wine. It is a release to let all your worries and concerns out onto your neighborhood sandwich extraordinaires. Open from 11am-7pm from Monday-Saturday. Sunday it is closed. Location: Via Val di Lamona, 6
- Coquinarius – Coquinarius has a small seasonal menu of different types of bruschette for antipasti, tasty meats and fish. Salads are delectable here; creative choices include toppings such as sun-dried tomatoes, eggplant, sunflower seeds, zucchini flowers or pear. This elegant enoteca(wine bar) has a wide range of wines from Italy, California, Argentina, Austria and Chile. The camerieri (waitstaff) are very kind and full of life. It is a great venue to enjoy the afternoon with a book, the Italian banter and/or to get lost in your glass of wine. Wines are served by the glass or bottle in this relaxed experience. Even though it is located in the city center where there are tons of tourists, you will find the place filled with Florentines enjoying an long lunch. Enjoy the solitude with your cheeses and crostini. The hours to this quaint place is 9am to late evening. Closed on Sunday. Location : Via delle Oche 15r
- Mangiafoco Caffe` – Just a few steps from the Ponte Vecchio, Mangiafoco is located on Borgo Santi Apostoli. Lunch is served with a simple primi, panino or other dishes considered pranzo veloce (fast lunch). Even though the place is small it offers an aperitivo every evening. Live music is held inside every so often as well. The service is personable and they staff really cares what you are about to consume. Giving you a reason why a certain dish is being served. Explanations about the wine and why a 2003 Chianti tickles the palate. Just like Vinaino, people end up gathering outside on the street with a glass of wine in hand. Colored all in viola, where viola is prevalent in support of the city’s soccer team, Fiorentina. Open every day. Location: Borgo SS. Apostoli 26r
Katie Greenaway is a freelance travel writer and is the Local Expert of Florence for Nile Guide where she also provides the secrets of Florence on her blog. She writes about her life in Florence on her personal blog Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino and contributes to MNUI Travel Insurance with travel articles.
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It has been a while since I last wrote for any Top 5 posts except “Top 5 travel attractions” on destination which are actually guest post by some experienced travel blogger around the world. When I was flipping through my photos taken in Europe last night, I could feel my excitement of visiting Europe still remained strong inside my mind. That was why I’ve booked another flight to Eastern Europe next year! 
But why is it so? Isn’t visiting Europe an expensive travel and always remained a dream to be realised by many avid travelers around the globe? Why I’m so eager to fly to Europe again next year?
These are 5 reasons why I should and all avid travelers should visit Europe now, I mean NOW!
- Euro currency had reached its new low level! Value of Euro has depreciated over 20% since January early this year, and it’s still dropping. What used to be expensive in Europe has now become reasonable! The cost of traveling to and visiting Europe is now 20% cheaper! Let’s do some calculation: If I were to visit Europe last Summer, my total traveling cost for 15 days was RM10,000.00 (USD3,200). If I’m traveling to Europe now for the same period, it would be RM8,000.00 (USD2,500) only!!
- Heritage sites in Europe are in danger of extinction! Major attractions in Europe are mostly inscribed as UNESCO Heritage sites. Over time, many of them are really run-down! European countries are spending huge amount of money restoring and maintaining those sites. You could see many of the restoration works being carried out everywhere in Europe heritage sites. What would happen to them in next few years?
- Global warming is causing more natural disasters! Pollutions caused by human are creating worse global warming and green house effect to our earth than ever before. This are causing more and more natural disasters happening each year. Global weather has also become unpredictable sometimes, it can snow in Spring or hit record high temperature in Summer. When I traveled to Europe last May, ash cloud was covering most parts of Western Europe. We had to play by ear when planning our itinerary. What would happen in future?
- Competitions among budget airlines has reached its new high! Budget airlines are ruling the air space nowadays where everyone is opting for cheap flight whenever they are flying. This uptrend has stimulated the booming of this sector of the aviation industry. Stiff competition among budget airlines helped in bringing the air fares down to even zero cost!
- Digital photography has reached its maturity! After 10 tens of its introduction to consumers level, digital cameras have now the ability of taking great photos that are comparable to films. Its advantage over the film is Digital cameras can take as many photos as you like, with just the matter of how many Gb of SDHC or Compact flash cards you are bringing along your travel. In my case, I brought 4 memory cards along my Europe travel and had taken over 4000 photos! In this matured market, we can now buy a DSLR system for as low as USD600 and still able to take awesome travel photos!
With the combination of above 5 top reasons, do you still sit back to think twice, or get up now and book your air ticket NOW? Read my recent Europe travel experience for more motivation! Or receive more of my upcoming Europe stories by subscribing my RSS feed or via email. – Travel Feeder, your ultimate travel photo blog
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Guest Post by Laura Thayer
One of the Southern Italy’s biggest travel surprises, Naples is a vibrant, real and energizing jolt of Italian culture and lifestyle. From the chaotic traffic to the world famous Neapolitan pizza, everything about life is slightly more intense in Naples. Here’s a look at just five of the many travel destinations in Naples that will give you a taste of southern Italian vitality and charm.
1. National Archaeological Museum
The outline of the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius forms the backdrop for the city of Naples. While quiet since its last eruption in 1944, just outside the city lie the ruins of ancient Pompeii and Herculaneum destroyed in 79 AD, which serve as constant reminders of the volcano’s fury. Visiting the historic sites is a moving experience, but to see the real artistic treasures uncovered at these sites, and many more in the area, head to the National Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale) in Naples. Home to one of the world’s most important collections of ancient art, this is one of Naples’ cultural and historical gems.
2. Spaccanapoli & the Historic Center
Running through the historic center of Naples is one of the city’s most characteristic streets called Spaccanapoli, or “splitting Naples” after the straight line it cuts through the city. Many of the most important sites to see in Naples are located in this part of the city, and easily accessible on foot. Don’t miss the impressive Duomo, or Cathedral of San Gennaro, Church of Santa Chiara, the busy Piazza del Gesù Nuovo and the Capella Sansevero with the moving sculpture of Veiled Christ by the Neapolitan artist Giuseppe Sanmartino.
3. Capodimonte Museum
Built as a royal palace for the Bourbon kings of Naples, the Capodimonte Museum (Museo Nazionale Capodimonte) is home to a world class collection of paintings from the 14th – 19th centuries, as well as a fine collection of decorative arts.
4. Piazza del Plebiscito
The Piazza del Plebiscito is Naples’ grandest public space, and is surrounded by some of the city’s most elegant buildings. The curved colonnade was inspired by the Piazza in front of St. Peter’s in Rome, while the central church of San Francesco di Paola was modeled after Rome’s Pantheon. The impressive Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) lines one side of the piazza, and just steps beyond you’ll find the Teatro San Carlo, one of Italy’s most beautiful opera houses. Nearby is the glass domed Galleria Umberto I, a reminder of the 19th century elegance of Naples.
5. Monastery of San Martino
Located in the hills above Naples with fine views over the city and beautiful Bay of Naples, the Certosa di San Martino is a Carthusian monastery dating back to the 14th century. Inside you’ll find a fabulous art collection, serene cloisters and impressive architecture. The views from the gardens are simply breathtaking!
Laura Thayer is an art historian and freelance writer living on the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy. She writes about travel for MNUI, a cheap travel medical insurer, and blogs about life on the Amalfi Coast at her own site Ciao Amalfi.
Photos © Laura Thayer, Ciao Amalfi!
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