-
Florence’s Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia
In a city whose narrow streets are bustling with clueless tourists, presumptuous art aficionados and history buffs, the Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia offers a much needed “off-beat” respite. Located close to the Piazza San Marco, this unassuming and nondescript building seems to blend into the surroundings. Only the stone signboard outside its door gives any indication of hiding one of Florence’s most underrated Christian art pieces. On any average day, the cenacolo (Italian for The Last Supper) is devoid of any lines or crowds that frequent other sites such as the Uffizi Gallery or the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore and is just the kind of hidden gem that guidebooks fail…
-
The Magic of Milan: Exploring the Heart of Lombardy
It’s an early summer evening in July in Milan. After a two-hour Alitalia flight from Athens, I am back in Italy after many years. The airport shuttle is waiting for a few more passengers; Alvaro Soler’s La Misma Sol plays on the stereo. I settle into my seat as the bus begins to pull out of the airport. Its a long drive from Malpensa to Milano Centrale, Milan’s main train station (and Europe’s biggest by volume) where I am supposed to meet Esther and Marukh. I am tired but I don’t let that rain on my enthusiasm – I am in Italia for crying out loud! It is one of…