Kate
McCluer
Kate got bit by the Italy bug when she was a Junior Year Abroad student in Florence, many years ago. She got her Masters Degree in art history in Florence; did dissertation research in Genoa and Rome; and taught for the Syracuse University and New York University study abroad programs in Florence, where she still lives.
Move over Switzerland! The Soča Valley in Slovenia boasts spectacular Alpine vistas that the Swiss Tourist Board would be proud to claim as their own. But Switzerland is Europe’s priciest country by far. Luckily, savvy travelers can expect to spend 30-40% less in Slovenia’s Julian Alps than their Swiss counterparts. Adventure & Active Travel The
The idyllic island of Elba floats just six miles from the coast of Tuscany. Although off the radar of most American tourists, poet Dylan Thomas called Elba “the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean.” Legend has it that when the goddess Aphrodite emerged from the Tyrrhenian Sea, she lost her pearl necklace. Seven of these
Venice is shaped like a fish, with the tail in the east and the mouth in the west. The head of the fish is north and the belly is south. Don’t believe me? Check out a satellite photo of Venice, or browse this short, entertaining book by a local Venetian. The lagoon city is divided
The Big 3 + the A.C. is the classic combo for an Italian vacation. Rome, Florence, Venice and the Amalfi Coast are popular destinations that never go out of style, nor should they. However, many of their main features can be found in the historic and less crowded city of Verona. Here are eight of
Kotor is the most beautiful and best-preserved town in Montenegro. Today, as in the 17th century, Kotor embodies the magical spirit of the Venetian Republic. Venice controlled Kotor from 1420 to 1797 and during this time, the region’s shipping and maritime trade thrived. In fact, the town’s protected location on the innermost Bay of Kotor,