FLORENCE, ITALY – The middle aged British couple beside us in the open air restaurant across from this city’s famed 13th century cathedral, or Duomo, were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary with a train trip through Italy.

ROME – Tourists are rewarded for coming to the Eternal City during the sweltering summer months.

ROME – I was only kidding when I told Rosa, a dear Roman friend, that I’d like to take a piece of the Forum home with me.

MONTEROSSO, ITALY – As the hull of the powerboat slammed against the choppy surf and our stomachs churned, we wondered if this day trip to see Italy’s famed quintuplets of towns known as the Cinque Terre was worth the sea sickness we were experiencing.

SAN GIMIGNANO, ITALY - From afar, this ancient town of towers looks like a fairytale village

BURANO, ITALY - We rushed to catch the early morning ferry to Burano, one of Venice’s enchanting out islands, but were lost in the maze of alleys leading to Fondamenta Nuovo pier, the boat’s launching point.

ROME - The scene is ancient Rome. The year 205 A.D. Chariots race around the Circus Maximus, the city’s oldest and largest chariot track, at a blinding pace.

VENICE - It was in a small shop on a narrow back street of this water-logged city that I had my first encounter with a Merchant of Venice.

MILAN - Italy’s fashion capital sometimes gets a bad rap.

CONG, IRELAND - When the car in which we are passengers reaches a point on the winding country road where fairytale Ashford Castle and its Lough Corrib backdrop come into view, the breathtaking panorama prompts us to simultaneously blurt out: “Oh my God!”