FLORENCE PRE-TREAT: A Love Letter to My Favorite City

Florence isn't just another stop on the Italian tourist trail for me—it's one of my most beloved cities in the entire world. I've walked these cobblestone streets dozens of times, and each visit reveals new layers of beauty, history, and magic that this city has quietly held for centuries.

Since our villa is so close to Florence, I couldn't pass up the chance to share this extraordinary place with you. This is an invitation to experience one of the world's most beautiful, historic, and flavorful cities through the eyes of someone who knows it intimately—and to feel the beating heart of the Renaissance still very much alive today.

I'm offering a 3-day optional "pre-treat" where I'll personally guide you through Florence like you've never seen it before. Yes, we'll visit the essentials—standing in awe before Botticelli's Birth of Venus at the Uffizi (Italy's answer to the Louvre), meeting Michelangelo's David face-to-face (a perfect sculpture that will leave you breathless), marveling at inventions by Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo, and climbing inside the breathtaking Duomo to get up close to the magnificent frescoes painted 375 feet above the ground. We’ll even tour the Chianti hills in vintage Fiat 500s and end up at a medieval farmhouse for a wine tasting!

But here's what makes this different: I'll take you beyond the guidebook. We'll walk through history that literally wears itself on these streets, and I'll share the stories, secrets, and hidden corners that most visitors never discover. I'll show you my hand-picked favorites accumulated over dozens of visits—the best gelateria (where locals actually go), the best pizza, the most authentic restaurants, the tucked-away leather artisans, that magical paper and book store, where to find the richest Italian hot chocolate (and the best cocktails—home of the Negroni, you know), and espresso that will ruin you for anywhere else.

This is storytelling through walking, revealing a Florence that feels alive, intimate, and extraordinary.

Investment: $500

This covers my personally guided tours revealing the history and hidden secrets of this remarkable city. More importantly, I take care of all the detail. This saves you the headache of navigating Italy's surprisingly complex ticket system for museums, churches, and tours—I'll handle all of that.

You'll cover your own meals, museum passes, and lodging. I have connections in Florence where we can arrange a series of apartments (availability pending) to share rooms if you want to economize on costs. You're also welcome to book your own accommodation. I'll organize all tickets and experiences, then we'll settle up for those actual costs.

This pre-treat is completely optional, but if the idea of experiencing Florence through someone who genuinely loves this city speaks to you, please let me know ASAP so I can book accommodations and start planning this special experience.