Even for late May, the air was crisp and the late morning light was sharp.  The golden reflection of Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise was only one of many moments of illumination to be found in this city.  Yesterday it was the afternoon magnificence of San Miniato al Monte and its golden relief tossing sparkling sun over the city below.  I walked down to the Ponte Vecchio as the golden baton passed to the Arno itself, where the sun and sky reflected perfectly between arches and up each side of the river.  The buildings seemed to whisper to one another about what shades of ochre and cool bruised shadows the other structures were wearing for the evening.

Earlier, as only can be done in Florence, I started my day at San Marco in the presence of Fra Angelico’s Annunciation. It also glows, a fresco masterpiece with the subtle luminescence of skill and faith, an artist’s prayer.  The previous morning was spent at the mercy of Masaccio in the Brancacci Chapel. It was biblical stories told in the frescoed flesh of stonemasons and figures of every day craftsmen. It would be after this, and after a meal of lasagna and sparkling water, that I would get lost at the intersection of Via Dell Inferno and Purgatorio! I took refuge in the Uffizi Gallery, letting Botticelli protect me in the lyricism of Primavera. It feels like paradise now in the shadow of the magnificent Duomo as the afternoon approaches.

Two blocks or so to the south of Florence’s mother church, I find the Duomo’s workshop. Perhaps today is a holiday because it’s closed, but I can still peek in. Stone carving tools, stoutly timbered workbenches, partially carved columns, statues, and a dusting of marble are a powerful tableaux to a way of life. It is prelude to my walk, which takes me by the Institute and Museum of the History of Science. Inside is Galileo’s thumb, like some holy relic, and the lens, framed in ivory, through which he would first spy and identify the moons of Jupiter. I turn to the east to face the the Basilica of Santa Croce, just a short distance away.

Dante’s likeness holds the entire courtyard in front of the church - a massive and cloaked figure with a great and mighty scowl.  It makes me smile to see children furiously licking gelato cones at his feet. I enter the side of the church and work my way around the perimeter. A casuallu dressed symphony is practicing in the area before the altar. Here are the tombs of Galileo, Machiavelli and Dante. At last, in front of me, is the tomb of the great Michelangelo. As evening approaches, I light a prayer candle then aim once again for the Arno. I can see the vignettes of outdoor cafes and reflections strolling on the water like the people flowing down stone streets, and I can feel the presence and power of the centuries walking shoulder to shoulder with me as I make my way home.

The Italians are a celebratory people and it certainly shows in the large number of festivals and other events that take place every year. You won’t want to miss the pre-Easter Carnivale in Venice, perhaps Italy’s most famous celebration, with numerous masked balls, parades, and musical festivities taking place over a two week period. Italy has a number of other religious themed events such as the San Gennaro Festival In Naples (September), Festas di San Nicola in Bari, Festa di Sant’Antonio in Padua (June), the Snake Charmer’s Procession in Abruzzo (May), and the famous Explosion of the Cart, occurring on Easter Sunday in Florence.

Other events of note include the San Pietro di Castello Feast in Venice (June), the Venice Film Festival (Cinema Biennial), Vinitaly in Verona, and the Historic Regatta in Venice (September).

Italy has a moderate, Mediterranean climate that can best be enjoyed in fall and spring. The northern regions tend to have more extreme variations, with very cold winters and some very hot summer weeks. As to be expected, winters in the Alps are long and quite severe. Regions along the coast are helped out by the Mediterranean Sea, keeping the summers a little cooler and the winters a little warmer. Rain falls throughout the summer season, with the first snow in the Alps usually coming in mid-September. Some areas south of Rome can be affected by the sirocco, which is a hot and humid wind blowing from Africa. This can produce a few very hot and stuffy weeks during the summer time in these regions.

Italians tend to vacation in the summer months, so if you are planning to visit Italy at this time you should know that some businesses may be closed.

There are several methods of getting to Italy from other parts of Europe, including bus, train and ferry. Getting there by bus is generally the least expensive alternative, but it takes longer and the trip can be an uncomfortable one. Flying to Italy is obviously the quickest method to get to Italy, but unless you are able to find a substantially discounted rate, the price can be rather prohibitive. For most people the best alternative is to take a train. The price is usually competitive with bus fares and not only does travel by train usually get you there faster, but trains tend to be a bit more comfortable than busses.

Once you arrive in Italy, you will be faced with similar choices and the answers are similar as well. The best strategy is to find a place to stay that is centrally located in whichever city you are staying in and walk. When you want to move on to another city and don’t have the budget for flying, research all of your options because sometimes busses can be the better choice because of scheduling or route issues.

Also, check ahead for potential strikes or other uniquely local factors that may affect scheduling or availability. Most experienced travelers in Italy recommend staying away from Italian subway systems as they lack the comfort and efficiency of some of their counterparts in cities like London or New York City.

Welcome to the most insightful and interesting holiday blog on the bloggosphere.

The Team.