I will be adding this blog to my website. Www.gregsitlay.com. Hope you will follow my posts 
Greg’s Italy A blog from www.gregsitaly.com
Osteria da Mariano, Siracusa Sicily
Ristorante da Mariano in Siracusa is a small space with all the right things. A short walk from the center of Siracusa or the waterfront this is where you can find local Sicilian cooking. 
I first went there in 2014 and came back again 2017. Same great food and excellent service. If you are in Siracusa, you will enjoy this restaurant.
Here are some photos which I hope do the restaurant justice. The osteria is less formal than the ristorante, but with excellent local specialties.
The appetizer went quickly.
I poured another carafe of the house red. Delicious.
Here is a Yelp review with the address
https://www.yelp.com/biz/ristorante-mariano-siracusa
Buon appetito.
Oh yes do not forget the docle.
Orvieto, take the Finiculare and bus.
The Duomo Orvieto
If you plan on visiting Orvieto, that incredible hilltop town, and you are arriving by car, plan ahead. Like many town in Italy, traffic is restricted. The “zona limitato” means you are subject to a multi or fine. Traffic cameras are present throughout Italy. I can attest to their effectiveness. Orvieto maintains a public parking lot at the bottom of the hill where you can take the funicular to the top and catch a bus for the short tine into the centro. Tickets are 1.30 Euro one way and good for 90 minutes.
Here is a link to the short video of the ride and bus trip.
There is a parking area at the base of the funiculare. Look for spaces that indicate parking is allowed and there is no charge.
Leonardo 500 | YesMilano Milan is Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the death of Leonardo
Thing to do in Milan Right now airfare to Milan is priced very low from mid September on.
Vertical Gardens, Milan 2018 Greg Speck
LEONARDO 500
19/02/2019
Milan is the city in which Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci lived the longest.
Milan is the city in which Leonardo da Vinci lived the longest. Leonardo arrived to Milan in 1482, at the service of the Duke Ludovico Sforza, and his presence left an indelible mark in the history and art of the city and of the whole territory of Lombardy.
For this reason, Milan celebrates the 500th anniversary since his death with a schedule of events that will take place over the course of nine months (May 2019 – January 2020), with the Castello Sforzesco at the heart of the programme. The project will involve institutions and public and private bodies, associations and societies throughout Lombardy that will work together to create a calendar of events that will be constantly updated.
YESMILANO is the brand dedicated to the promotion of the city of Milan and its calendar of international events
Here is the link to the entire schedule
https://www.yesmilano.it/eventi/tutti-gli-eventi/leonardo-500
Photo above from Yes Milano
Above photo by Greg Speck 2018 Il Cenacolo
Tickets to view Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper go on sale three months in advance and sell out quickly, although it’s sometimes possible to buy tickets closer to your visit. You may have to combine with a tour of multiple places and the cost will be much higher.
What I Loved About Tuscany Part 2
Siena is beautiful. From the towers to the countryside, it is full of beauty.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Torre del Mangia towering above of the Palazzo Pubblico
Torre del Mangia.
The Torre del Mangia is a tower in Siena, in the Tuscany region of Italy. Built in 1338-1348,[1] it is located in the Piazza del Campo, Siena’s premier square, adjacent to the Palazzo Pubblico (Town Hall). When built it was one of the tallest seculartowers in medieval Italy.[2] At 102 m, it is second tallest after Cremona’s Torrazzo (112 m (367 ft)) the Asinelli tower in Bologna at 97 m being third.
Piazza del Campo
From the top of the Torre.
My favorite lunch.
We found a wonderful BnB just outside of Siena
The Duomo
A small salumeria we picked out our lunch.
No crowds on the street at lunch time.
Siena is a good home base for touring around Tuscany. It is definitely car country to access all these beautiful spots.
To be continued.
Bargain Airfares To Italy
It s that time, lower airfares for fall travel. Just booked my fall trip for my wife and I.
Now is the time for searching the fares. My two tickets cost less than one several years ago. No baggage, but we travel light.
Try Google Flights, Momondo.com, and be flexible. Use the flexible dates that can lower your trip quite a bit.
My flight is on AirItaly which I used last year and was very pleased with them.
Good hunting.
google-site-verification: google1482e637de4bc209.html
The Language Of Love Italian Style San Valentino e Amore | ITALY Magazine
I saw this in Italy magazine, and it is appropriate for the coming week. Italy Magazine is free and always has good content.
Enjoy.
Content copyright Italy Magazine 2019
google-site-verification: google1482e637de4bc209.html
What I Loved AboutTuscany Part one
Tuscany or Toscana is one of the most famous regions in Italy. Since Frances Mayes wrote “Under The Tuscan Sun” tourism in this region has increased immensely. Also property values have increased also. Toscana comprises a very large area. Plan on a week or more to visit the many wonderful sights. The food, climate and sights are exhilarating. Hills and valleys, morning fog that burns off quickly in the sun. So much to see and feel.
. 
The movie with Diane Lane helped increase it’s popularity with visions of sunflowers and rustic homes. There are many towns, cities, and regions the compromise Toscana. Florence is a good place to start. Florence or Firenze is the capital of to Toscana. It is a pedestrian city and cars are restricted from the city center.
Florence viewed from Piazzale Michangealo. It is worth the walk across the Arno river and the climb up to view the setting sun. At this time people flock from all over the city to view it. You and have a glass of wine, or a café from any of the numerous bars nearby. I hurried to make sunset and see the spectacular vistas from this perch.
The Duomo, Firenze
Am artist on the Arno river.
Ponte Vecchio Firenze, night time is a great time to walk the city.
An artist work to restore a sculpture at the Uffizi which is a must see. Purchase your tickets in advance with an arrival time and skip the lines. Use the web for tickets.
https://www.uffizi.it/en/pages/how-to-book-tickets
Below, beefsteak Florentine
Start with a good piece of meat
Served medium rare with a side of veggies.
If you can visit Trattoria Pandemonio, Firenze. You will not be disappointed.
Vincenza, Veneto, Italy
I came upon VIncenza during bike tour in October. A beautiful city in north east Italy. This photo is of Ponte San Paolo
Porticos as we walked to the centro for dinner.
The civic Bissara Tower was built in the late 12th century and overlooks Piazza dei Signori, alongside the famous Basilica Palladiana.
The tower was raised in the mid-15th century to it present height og 82 meters ans is still one of the tallest buildings in Vicenza.
The centro or downtown area is great for dining or shopping.
Upscale Pricing Here
My bike tour group heads for dinner in VIncenza
