One of the most popular requests The Traveling Professor gets is "take me to an authentic Italian restaurant".   I'm not exactly sure what that means but I can tell you what I think it means:  Momma is cooking in the kitchen and she is using vegetables she has grown in her own garden, meats and cheeses from the farm, wines from her own vines, and sauce she has made with her own hands.  It is served up family style with everyone sitting around the table.   Read my blog post to find out about  the best places to eat an authentic meal in Italy.

For me, Padua is my favorite city in Italy whether traveling alone or on my small group tours to Italy.  First of all it has the historic Scroveni Chapel.   There is the famous Cafe Pedrocchi as well as the university where famed scholars like Galileo taught.   The Basilica of St. Anthony, destination of many pilgrims is located here.  The markets are the best in Italy, if you ask me.   It is located within a short train ride from Venice, Venezia, Verona, Lake Garda, Treviso and other great spots.  And best of all, it lacks the crowds of tourists found in many other Italian cities.  In other words, it is authetic.  Here are my tips for where to stay in Padua.

The Traveling Professor regularly travels to Florence on his small group tours to Italy.  Florence is of course a popular destination. Hotels in Florence can vary in terms of price, location, and quality.  So for the benefit of The Traveling Professor readers, here are my top 3 picks for moderate hotels in Florence.

The Traveling Professor has been going to Venice for about 5 years now and we like to visit about four times a year.  Over that time we have developed an itinerary to enjoy over a 3 or 4 day stay.   When selecting a hotel and deciding what to see and do, there are some factors to consider.  We'll go over those factors and give some choices on where to stay and what to see and do on your tour to Venice.

I've been to Italy many times.  I've seen Rome, Florence, Padua, Siena, Venice, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, Lucca and many other places multiple times.  The Traveling Professor has dined in a lot of places but in today's blog post I list my three favorite places in Italy for lunch.  We always visit them on my The Traveling Professor's small group tours and if you come with me, I will take you to these places.  But if you go on your own, don't pass on this trio of authentic and delicious Italian restaurants for the best lunch in Italy.

There are a few options for getting around town in big European cities like Paris, Rome, London, and Madrid.   Of course there is the walking option and there are taxis.   Most major European cities are serviced by the metro and while it is probably the fastest way to get from point A to point B, there are many reasons why The Traveling Professor prefers the bus.   Read my blog post today and I will tell you why.

One of the reasons I love to travel, whether it be on a small group tour to Norway or any of the countries we go to or by myself, is to eat. I've come to love German food, Italian food, French food as well as Spanish and Scandinavian food.  In today's blog post I tell you about some of my favorite dining spots that you should try too on your next tour to Europe.

A pilgrimage to the Vatican is a must for those visiting Rome.   There is the Vatican Museum with the glorious Sistine Chapel and the Basilica of St. Peter.   However, the crowds can be absolutely brutal in terms of the number of people queuing up for both the Vatican Museum and the Basilica.   Without careful planning, it is not unusual for travelers to wait for hours to get in.   Take a look at my blog post and get my advice for saving time and money, without having to wait in line.

Let's face it, travel is expensive these days.  But we all love going to Italy.  The Traveling Professor's small group tours to Italy are probaly the most popular of our tours.   There is a way to go to Italy, enjoy it in luxury, without breaking the bank.  In fact, if this blog post doesn't save you a ton of money on your next trip to Italy, the next time you go, I will meet you there and buy you the biggest gelato to be found.

For me, there are two parts of Italy.  There are the over-touristy destinations like Rome, Florence, and much of Venice.  They are filled with massive amounts of people, trinket shops on nearly every corner, people trying to sell you all other types of trinkets, long lines, and frankly, some overrated sites.  However, peel away the skin of the onion and discover one of the best-kept secrets in Italy; Padua.  Relatively uncrowded, much cheaper than the other cities mentioned above, much more relaxing, and more fascinating in terms of history and culture, it is The Traveling Professor's favorite Italian city.