Art, fashion, historical landmarks, and beautiful landscapes – I was sure Florence, Italy, would offer everything I look for when traveling, and I was right. It’s a city that truly has it all – a ...

MONTERIGGIONI, Italy — Rick Steves, the Seattle-based European tour guide, is derided by some snobs as the contemporary version of the ‘60s “If it’s Tuesday, this must be Belgium” approach to travel.

Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, Florence is a city of firsts: it was the birthplace of the Renaissance, home to artistic geniuses like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, and the spot where the ...