<script data-pm-proxy="intercept"></script><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Noteworthy Finds]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome to Noteworthy Finds where I share destination guides, unique hotels and properties worth experiencing, restaurants, and travel deals.

I'm glad you're here and I hope you stay a while.]]></description><link>https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VbS_!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fnoteworthyfinds.substack.com%2Fimg%2Fsubstack.png</url><title>Noteworthy Finds</title><link>https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 21:50:05 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="/__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Rebecca Bersano]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[noteworthyfinds@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[noteworthyfinds@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Rebecca Bersano]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Rebecca Bersano]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[noteworthyfinds@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[noteworthyfinds@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Rebecca Bersano]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Florence Isn’t a Checklist]]></title><description><![CDATA[Itineraries for 1, 3, and 5 days that leave room to actually fall in love with the city.]]></description><link>https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/florence-isnt-a-checklist</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/florence-isnt-a-checklist</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rebecca Bersano]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:54:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!34kn!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe2a8cc18-d164-4d03-860c-21ce51b9259a_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ciao!</p><p>I hate to be the one to say this, but every other Florence itinerary I&#8217;ve seen has you moving from site to site every hour. I will never judge how you choose to spend your time abroad, because you might have limited time while on holiday to see everything that you want; however, Florence is one of those destinations that you appreciate more the slower and more leisurely your experience is. If you&#8217;ve missed my <em>A Love Letter to Florence: A First-Timer&#8217;s Guide</em>, I highly recommend that as a read prior to this itinerary.</p><p></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;9cb189e1-ece6-494b-acb3-7816054af55c&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;It&#8217;s 10:58pm.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;showDescription&quot;:true,&quot;showImage&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;A Love Letter to Florence: The Ultimate First-Timer's Guide&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:538815493,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rebecca Bersano&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;LA-based, sharing travel guides, travel deals, and uncovering unique stays world-wide.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/cbb9349b-8382-4e2a-8f85-e552f311d591_3071x3071.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-08-29T13:22:38.832Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pxxM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F148727f3-ae6e-4a01-9c1c-310bddae3b35_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/a-love-letter-to-florence-the-ultimate&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:213218011,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:5,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:10480004,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Noteworthy Finds&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p></p><p>The charm of Florence grows deeper the more you wander through alleyways. The city is especially charming at night. There is a quiet softness that emerges after the sun sets. Tour groups have dispersed, and couples wander hand-in-hand slowly down the street. The street performers provide a romantic lull and atmosphere that is the soundtrack to the city. The piazzas offer the best opportunity to soak in the sounds while admiring the architecture without the hustle and bustle of the day crowds. I&#8217;m all for a good night&#8217;s sleep on vacation, but Florence deserves a few later evenings where you wander without cause. Who knows, you may find one of the secret bakeries..</p><p>To help plan your time in Florence, I&#8217;ve created a few different itineraries depending on your length of stay. You won&#8217;t see everything, but you will get a good start and can adjust the plan according to your style of travel.</p><p></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Love Letter to Florence: The Ultimate First-Timer's Guide]]></title><description><![CDATA[Museums, food etiquette, hidden piazzas, and everything else I've learned across 4 trips]]></description><link>https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/a-love-letter-to-florence-the-ultimate</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/a-love-letter-to-florence-the-ultimate</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rebecca Bersano]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:22:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pxxM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F148727f3-ae6e-4a01-9c1c-310bddae3b35_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s 10:58pm.</p><p>I&#8217;m standing in the middle of this ornate medieval square. I&#8217;m on my way home after one of the most delicious dinners I&#8217;ve ever experienced: steak florentine cooked to perfection with a juicy pink center, a delicious homemade ravioli pasta stuffed with cheese and topped with tomato sauce, the first perfectly layered, fluffy tiramisu of the trip that left my tastebuds begging for more, and multiple glasses of a gorgeous, GORGEOUS full-bodied Montepulciano. To my left I have the bright lights of a carousel spinning around with a few children; it is 10:58pm. To my right is a violinist stringing the chords to <em>Hallelujah.</em></p><p>Time, for a moment, stands still.</p><p>I don&#8217;t notice the hundreds of other people occupying the piazza.</p><p>I take a deep breath, look around, and begin to cry. I&#8217;m finally here.</p><p>It&#8217;s 2016 and I&#8217;m lucky enough to be standing in Piazza della Repubblica in Florence, Italy with my best friend. It&#8217;s my first time abroad. At 27 years old I feel both lost in my life, questioning my career choices and relationships, yet I also feel exactly where I am meant to be.</p><p>Odd how exactly 10 years later, I feel both emotions existing in tandem again. Yet this time, I&#8217;m sitting by my apartment pool in Southern California conflicted if I will ever actually post what I&#8217;m typing.</p><div><hr></div><h4>Where It All Began</h4><p>2016 is where it all began. That trip to Florence, Italy, changed the trajectory of my life. At the time, I wasn&#8217;t well traveled. To be completely honest, I didn&#8217;t know much about travel at all. Growing up in the Midwest as the youngest of five children, I mostly experienced vacations that consisted of road trips to local states and a few family cruises in the Caribbean. Overseas, international travel always seemed unattainable, but it was a goal I continually strived to achieve in my 20s as I watched several hometown friends marry their high-school or college partners and start families. I was in no position for any of those responsibilities after graduating college. My goal: move away from home, find myself, and attempt to start over.</p><p>When I asked one of my best friends if she would have any interest in traveling to Italy, she didn&#8217;t hesitate. Of course, it being our first trip, and having done quite literally minimal research &#8212; remember, this is 2016, we didn&#8217;t have as much on social media to scope out. You couldn&#8217;t open your social media app, search the destination, and have millions of videos show up like you can today. There was a beauty back then in having to figure out the world of travel and what to expect. Everything would be a surprise to us. Our agenda: Cinque Terre, Florence, Sorrento/Amalfi Coast, and Rome.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h4>Why Florence Stole My Heart</h4><p>While each location is memorable in its own right, Florence stole my heart and strengthened my desire to experience the world through curious eyes and an open mind for the remainder of my life.</p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/148727f3-ae6e-4a01-9c1c-310bddae3b35_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d37b8a0b-56d1-40f8-913a-f47877a7ad99_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f02d9f9f-c64f-4186-bc79-a203c126e261_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0b2fd5aa-7e67-45fe-a194-2c5d13dc62e8_1456x474.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p></p><p>What I find the most interesting about Florence is its quiet elegance and rich history. Florence is, in my opinion, a very misunderstood city. It&#8217;s often compared to Rome and I hear comments that it&#8217;s not that exciting, or doesn&#8217;t have much going on, and in a way that&#8217;s true. It&#8217;s more reserved, less showy, but extremely rich in history and influence. Florence is said to be the birthplace of the Renaissance, leading to the influence of art, literature, exploration, technology, architecture, and politics. It&#8217;s similar to me as the fifth child &#8212; questioning modern thinking, encouraging intellectual curiosity, and challenging world views. Both misunderstood, trying to navigate the world differently.</p><p>Florence was the start of sparking cultural curiosity. I didn&#8217;t know what was to come but I knew that wouldn&#8217;t be my last trip to Florence.</p><div><hr></div><h4>Coming Back, Again and Again</h4><p>I&#8217;ve since returned to Florence four times. Each time I&#8217;ve returned, something pivotal in my life has occurred. This past visit in 2022 ended with me getting engaged &#8212; a full-circle moment for a city that deeply unveiled how lost I was at 27, unknowingly encouraging me to change the trajectory of my life by taking a lot of risks and completely uprooting it. Which, in turn, led to finding a partner who complements my life goals and supports my dreams, a mere 8 years later. <em>It&#8217;s funny how life works.</em></p><p>Now I understand that Florence is one of the top tourist destinations. However, we often forget that just because we&#8217;ve been there doesn&#8217;t mean everyone in the world has been. It also doesn&#8217;t mean you should visit other cities instead, and it certainly doesn&#8217;t mean you shouldn&#8217;t return if you didn&#8217;t understand the city the first time. I am fully aware of the effects of overtourism, but what I think people fail to understand is that the vast majority of the world has never left their home country, and that first-time traveler might have had one destination, in this case, Florence, on their &#8220;bucket list&#8221; since they were 12, finally able to take the trip 25 years later.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>If you are reading this as a fellow traveler, we are beyond blessed to have as many worldly experiences as we do, but we need to remember that not everyone is as lucky or financially well-off to travel as frequently or uniquely as we may. Oftentimes people save money for years to take one international trip, and that trip may be an overly touristy destination. THAT&#8217;S OKAY! It&#8217;s never our place to judge where or how people spend their money and time on vacations.</p></div><p>My goal is to share my experience and provide insights in the hope that it encourages you to see the world. Starting with my first love, Florence.</p><div><hr></div><h4>How to Plan Your Visit</h4><p>Florence, known as <em>Firenze</em> in Italian, is the most populated city in the Tuscany region. For the sake of this post, I am focusing on Florence proper, though I will be sharing a few suggestions for day trips outside of the city.</p><p>Florence can be visited anytime throughout the year. I do think it&#8217;s best between the months of October&#8211;April, when crowds are significantly less and temperatures don&#8217;t make you want to walk around in only your undergarments (if you&#8217;ve been there in summer, you know exactly what I mean).</p><blockquote><p>Florence is a compact, walkable city. It&#8217;s not as grandiose as Rome, but you want to explore the city leisurely, allowing yourself to be fully present and immersed in the history and culture. It&#8217;s not a city to be rushed, and that&#8217;s where I believe most people get it wrong. I strongly recommend at least 5 days in Florence, more if you want to add trips to the countryside. Take time to truly get lost in the art and wander through the alleyways. Florence has layers, and when you take time to really understand this city, you learn to love and appreciate them all.</p></blockquote><p><strong>Important Notes Before Visiting:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Have some euros on hand. You don&#8217;t need much, as many places now accept credit cards, but for a caff&#232; (coffee) it&#8217;s helpful to have euros.</p></li><li><p>Some small, family-operated bars and shops often close between 1pm and 3 or 4pm daily, and reopen until around 7:30pm.</p></li><li><p>Restaurants typically serve lunch between 12:30pm&#8211;2:30pm. Dinner resumes between 7:30pm&#8211;11pm.</p></li><li><p>Breakfast is traditionally consumed at a bar (coffee shop) and is a caff&#232; and pastry.</p></li><li><p>Tipping is not mandatory in Italy, but it is greatly appreciated. It&#8217;s okay to tip waiters at restaurants and bars, tour guides, drivers, and hotel staff &#8212; a 10&#8211;15% tip is usually appropriate.</p></li><li><p>Tap water isn&#8217;t automatically provided at restaurants. Restaurants serve bottled water, which comes with a fee.</p></li><li><p>Restaurants usually charge a few euros per person for <em>coperto.</em> This is standard at most restaurants in Italy.<strong> It is not a tip. </strong>This small fee, typically 1&#8211;5 euros per person, covers table linens, silverware, and bread. Legally, it must be written somewhere on the menu. Don&#8217;t be surprised by this charge on the bill.</p></li><li><p>You have to ask for the restaurant bill. It is not assumed the bill will be brought to the table once you have finished your meal. This is actually one thing I love about Italy. They prioritize community and connection. They don&#8217;t check on your table constantly or rush you out of the restaurant when you are finished eating. They pride themselves on letting you enjoy your experience. <strong>If you need something, flag the waiters down.</strong></p></li><li><p>Aperitivo is an experience in Italy. An aperitivo is a gathering before dinner when you share a glass of wine, or a spritz, and something to eat with friends. It&#8217;s a pre-meal palate cleanser typically served between 6:30&#8211;7pm. My favorite aperitivo locations can be found in my restaurant guide :</p></li></ul><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;b51749e9-e40a-4548-ac0a-74be44549ec8&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;One of the best things about Florence, Italy, is its food scene. Between bistecca alla fiorentina, the pappardelle al cinghiale, and the secret bakeries, aperitivo, and gelato, you won&#8217;t leave the city hungry. After visiting four times, I&#8217;ve saved a great collection of favorites that I&#8217;ll break down by category.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;showDescription&quot;:true,&quot;showImage&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;How to Eat Your Way Through Florence&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:538815493,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rebecca Bersano&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;LA-based, sharing travel guides, travel deals, and uncovering unique stays world-wide.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/cbb9349b-8382-4e2a-8f85-e552f311d591_3071x3071.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-08-25T00:23:05.352Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5e4345db-94f5-43ae-8d11-f5b7b111a3e8_3024x4032.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/how-to-eat-your-way-through-florence&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:212627775,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:2,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:10480004,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Noteworthy Finds&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><ul><li><p>Restaurant reservations are highly recommended. Don&#8217;t expect to be seated at a restaurant for dinner quickly, especially if the restaurant looks empty. Italians respect dinner. It&#8217;s a time for community and conversation. Dinner often takes 4 hours because it is not rushed. If you can secure reservations prior to your trip, I highly recommend doing so.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Noteworthy Finds is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><div><hr></div></li></ul><h4>Public Holidays to Know</h4><p>Public holidays often bring closures or limited hours at many museums and some shops. If I can encourage you to adopt one new task before going on a trip, it&#8217;s to research public holidays in that country and region. I will always check now because I have screwed myself over on far too many trips being unable to experience any cultural sites because it was a local holiday and everything was closed.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>Always plan accordingly if visiting during a public holiday. Smaller towns typically close shop these days. Bus and train schedules are often adjusted as well.</strong></p></div><ul><li><p>New Year&#8217;s Day: January 1st</p></li><li><p>Epiphany: January 6th</p></li><li><p>Easter Sunday &amp; Monday after</p></li><li><p>Liberation Day: April 25th</p></li><li><p>Labor Day: May 1st</p></li><li><p>Republic Day: June 2nd</p></li><li><p>The Feast of St. John: June 24th</p></li><li><p>Assumption of Mary: August 15th</p></li><li><p>All Saints&#8217; Day: November 1st</p></li><li><p>Feast of the Immaculate Conception: December 8th</p></li><li><p>Christmas Day: December 25th</p></li><li><p>St. Stephen&#8217;s Day: December 26th</p></li><li><p>New Year&#8217;s Eve: December 31st</p><div><hr></div></li></ul><h4>What to See in Florence</h4><p>Florence is filled with incredible museums, galleries, restaurants, leather goods, and gorgeous gardens. It&#8217;s impossible to see everything in one visit. This isn&#8217;t a comprehensive list by any means. It&#8217;s meant as a starting point for sparking interest and curiosity about what else is in the city.</p><p><strong>Duomo</strong> In the center of town, you will find the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as the Duomo. The Duomo complex is made up of several buildings:</p><ul><li><p>The Cathedral</p></li><li><p>The climb to the dome</p></li><li><p>The Baptistery of Saint John</p></li><li><p>Giotto&#8217;s Bell Tower</p></li><li><p>The Crypt of Santa Reparata &#8212; under the cathedral</p></li><li><p>The Opera del Duomo Museum</p></li></ul><p>Entrance to the cathedral is free, but there is traditionally a long queue. You can secure a 3-day pass to the sites above <a href="https://gyg.me/k7uZEG1z"><span data-color="#0000ff" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">here</span></a><span data-color="#0000ff" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> </span>through <a href="https://gyg.me/k7uZEG1z"><span data-color="#0000ff" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Get Your Guide.</span></a> The dome climb takes place at the scheduled time shown on your ticket. The remaining sites can be visited freely during the 3-day period.</p><p><strong>Uffizi Gallery</strong> Originally built in the 1560s to hold government offices, the Uffizi Gallery today contains collections of ancient sculptures and paintings from the 14th century and the Renaissance period. You will experience some masterpieces from Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Beato Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo, Raffaello, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio. Plan to spend at least three hours here. There are several different entry ticket options you can choose from. I&#8217;ll share a few below for you to decide what is best for your schedule.</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://gyg.me/tvAI7V71"><span data-color="#0000ff" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Uffizi Gallery + Vasari Corridor Entry Ticket</span></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://gyg.me/hcE9QxjE"><span data-color="#0000ff" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Uffizi, Pitti, Boboli and 7 Attractions 5-Day Pass</span></a> (does not include the Vasari Corridor)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://gyg.me/VM2uXdlq"><span data-color="#0000ff" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Uffizi Small Group Guided Tour with Priority Entry</span></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://gyg.me/zHQvHtkx"><span data-color="#0000ff" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Uffizi Gallery Ticket &amp; Audio Guide or Tour Options</span></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://gyg.me/MT5vt88Z"><span data-color="#0000ff" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Uffizi, Accademia &amp; David Walk with an Art Historian</span></a></p></li></ul><p><strong>Vasari Corridor</strong> The Vasari Corridor recently reopened after closing in 2016. It&#8217;s a passageway that the Medici built to connect Pitti Palace to Palazzo Vecchio, crossing over the Ponte Vecchio. I obviously have not had the opportunity to experience this yet, but if you are into history and photography, I suggest a ticket option that includes the Vasari Corridor.</p><p><strong>Accademia Gallery</strong> This is the location for the famous statue of David by Michelangelo. It&#8217;s a much smaller galleria that houses paintings and several other statues but tends to get very crowded despite its size. You&#8217;ll want to book tickets well in advance, especially if visiting during the summer months. Tickets for the Accademia Gallery that include an audio app can be purchased <a href="https://gyg.me/Ys6bP7Cf"><span data-color="#0000ff" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">here.</span></a></p><p><strong>Boboli Gardens</strong> These lush gardens are filled with sculptures, art, architecture, and grottos. On a cool day, it&#8217;s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can combine the gardens with a visit to the Pitti Palace.</p><p><strong>Palazzo Vecchio</strong> Once a government building, now an art museum. Visiting the Palazzo Vecchio is more for the architecture, in my opinion. The outside is home to the replica of David, but the interior courtyard has stuccoes and frescoes that showcase the history of Florence. If you are a photographer, this is one museum where you&#8217;ll want to snap photos! There is a rooftop caf&#233; where you can capture a great photo of the city, or you can climb the Arnolfo Tower at the Palazzo Vecchio for gorgeous views of the Duomo.</p><p><strong>Santa Maria Novella Church:</strong> Considered the most Roman Gothic church in Tuscany. If visiting churches isn&#8217;t a priority, I&#8217;d encourage at least walking by to marvel at the architecture.</p><p><strong>Santa Croce Church:</strong> The resting place for hundreds of Italy&#8217;s most famous historical figures, including Michelangelo, Galilei, and Machiavelli.</p><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WSOf!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WSOf!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_424, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WSOf!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_848, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WSOf!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WSOf!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WSOf!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1131666,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/i/213218011?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WSOf!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_424, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WSOf!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_848, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WSOf!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WSOf!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2e8c703-9645-4f7b-af9b-8cc261a7ac8a_4032x3024.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h4><strong>Beyond the Museums</strong></h4><ul><li><p>Sip a spritz in the <strong>Piazza della Signoria</strong>. It&#8217;s the perfect place to relax and people watch.</p></li><li><p>It wouldn&#8217;t be a trip to Florence if you didn&#8217;t stroll across the <strong>Ponte Vecchio </strong>and shop.</p></li><li><p>Walk through the farmers market in <strong>Piazza Santo Spirito.</strong> I also really like this area at night. It feels more authentic and local with the trattorias, bars, and artisanal shops.</p></li><li><p>Visit the<a href="https://scuoladelcuoio.it/en/content/8-workshops"> </a><strong><a href="https://scuoladelcuoio.it/en/content/8-workshops">Leather School</a></strong><a href="https://scuoladelcuoio.it/en/content/8-workshops"> </a>and take a workshop. This is an incredible opportunity to be hands-on with leather making and leave with a souvenir from one of the most renowned leather markets in the world.</p></li><li><p>Speaking of leather, you will have several opportunities to purchase leather goods in the area from small and large producers. If luxury shopping speaks to you, Florence is an excellent place to scratch that itch. Gucci has a <a href="https://www.gucci.com/us/en/nst/palazzo-gucci">museum</a>, boutique, and bookstore, as well as a giardino and osteria, which are fun for an afternoon tea. Gucci, Prada, Ferragamo, Emilio Pucci, Roberto Cavalli, Armani, Fendi, Valentino, Versace, Herm&#232;s, Bottega Veneta, Miu Miu, and more can be found in Florence proper. I also have a great location for outlets in Florence that will be in my itineraries.</p></li><li><p>Catch sunset at <strong>Piazzale Michelangelo</strong>. It&#8217;s one of the most breathtaking views of the city. It will be crowded, but I recommend stopping at a wine shop on the way to the top, purchasing a bottle of wine, some cups, and cheese. Make sure you have a wine opener! Arrive early so you can find a spot to sit on the steps for a good view.</p></li><li><p><strong>Piazza della Repubblica</strong> is another public square where you can roam and marvel at the architecture, listen to pop-up artists, ride the carousel, or enjoy a spritz. It&#8217;s gorgeous at night when live musicians play violins and people stroll the streets home from dinner.</p></li><li><p>Walk over the <strong>Ponte Santa Trinita</strong> to capture the perfect photo of the Ponte Vecchio.</p></li><li><p>For a true Florentine experience, visit the <strong>Mercato di Sant&#8217;Ambrogio</strong>. You&#8217;ll pass locals purchasing their fruits and vegetables while also having the opportunity to indulge in traditional Tuscan cuisine. Closed on Sundays, open 7am&#8211;2pm Tuesday&#8211;Saturday. Visiting in the morning is ideal.</p></li><li><p>The <strong>Oltrarno</strong> region, across the Arno River, is a quieter, more authentic neighborhood experience with less crowded piazzas compared to the more central region of Florence that houses the Duomo. In this area, you will find the Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, and Piazza Santo Spirito. You&#8217;ll also find local craftsmen making leather goods, lively markets, cafes, and neighborhood trattorias.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FZxZ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FZxZ!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_424, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FZxZ!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_848, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FZxZ!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FZxZ!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FZxZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2606605,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/i/213218011?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FZxZ!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_424, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FZxZ!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_848, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FZxZ!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FZxZ!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ad59074-c505-406e-b435-2477606b2848_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h4>More to Come</h4><p>I fear this post is getting too long, and I haven&#8217;t even touched on the shops I would recommend for purses, shoes, leather jackets, and more, or the day trips from Florence. Separate posts will be shared where I detail an exact itinerary for 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days in Florence and include how I would divide all of these activities and where to stay.</p><p>I hope this post made you start searching for flights to Florence. If it did, follow along.  The itineraries are coming next!</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Whether you need a flawlessly timed itinerary, hidden local gem recommendations, or access to exclusive hotel perks and upgrades, I handle the logistics so you can focus on the experience. Click below to start curating your perfect trip.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://secure.foratravel.com/intake/0EoRr2wS3f&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Trip Planning Inquiry&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://secure.foratravel.com/intake/0EoRr2wS3f"><span>Trip Planning Inquiry</span></a></p></div><p><em>Ciao!</em></p><p>Rebecca</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/a-love-letter-to-florence-the-ultimate?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/a-love-letter-to-florence-the-ultimate?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Noteworthy Finds is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div class="pullquote"><p><em>*This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business.</em></p></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[10% Off Viator Experiences]]></title><description><![CDATA[Exclusive Code: Book by September 7th.]]></description><link>https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/10-off-viator-experiences</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/10-off-viator-experiences</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rebecca Bersano]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 18:13:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/41b8931e-3e3f-45bf-bcb7-6a3b577333cf_1200x630.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As a Viator partner, I have an exclusive code for 10% off any of the 300,000+ experiences on their platform. Some exclusions apply.</p><div><hr></div><h4>What You Need to Know:</h4><ul><li><p>Book between 8.25.26 - 9.7.26, but you can be traveling anytime</p></li><li><p>You have to use this: <mark data-color="#fff2cc" style="background-color: rgb(255, 242, 204); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </mark><a href="https://www.viator.com/?pid=P00058688&amp;uid=U00659377&amp;mcid=58086&amp;currency=USD"><mark data-color="#fff2cc" style="background-color: rgb(255, 242, 204); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Viator Link</mark></a><mark data-color="#fff2cc" style="background-color: rgb(255, 242, 204); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </mark>or the code will not work.</p></li><li><p>Add code <strong>ENDOFSUMMER2026 </strong>on the checkout page under &#8220;Promo Code&#8221; (see example below).</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nlFW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4971d99-54e8-40dc-8e82-dbc3f1ccdcae_1086x900.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nlFW!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_424, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4971d99-54e8-40dc-8e82-dbc3f1ccdcae_1086x900.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nlFW!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_848, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4971d99-54e8-40dc-8e82-dbc3f1ccdcae_1086x900.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nlFW!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4971d99-54e8-40dc-8e82-dbc3f1ccdcae_1086x900.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nlFW!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4971d99-54e8-40dc-8e82-dbc3f1ccdcae_1086x900.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nlFW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4971d99-54e8-40dc-8e82-dbc3f1ccdcae_1086x900.png" width="1086" height="900" 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/__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4971d99-54e8-40dc-8e82-dbc3f1ccdcae_1086x900.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nlFW!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_848, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4971d99-54e8-40dc-8e82-dbc3f1ccdcae_1086x900.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nlFW!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4971d99-54e8-40dc-8e82-dbc3f1ccdcae_1086x900.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nlFW!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4971d99-54e8-40dc-8e82-dbc3f1ccdcae_1086x900.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p></li></ul><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Noteworthy Finds is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts including travel deals, itineraries, and insights, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Eat Your Way Through Florence]]></title><description><![CDATA[A 4-time visitor&#8217;s vetted spots, essential travel tips, and Google Maps included.]]></description><link>https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/how-to-eat-your-way-through-florence</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/how-to-eat-your-way-through-florence</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rebecca Bersano]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:23:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5e4345db-94f5-43ae-8d11-f5b7b111a3e8_3024x4032.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>One of the best things about Florence, Italy,  is its food scene. Between bistecca alla fiorentina, the pappardelle al cinghiale, and the secret bakeries, aperitivo, and gelato, you won&#8217;t leave the city hungry. After visiting four times, I&#8217;ve saved a great collection of favorites that I&#8217;ll break down by category.</span></p><p><span>For each category, I&#8217;ve added a Google Maps link to each restaurants. Simply click on the restaurant name and be redirected to the Google Maps location.</span></p><p><em>Andiamo!</em></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Noteworthy Finds is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>
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          <a href="/__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/how-to-eat-your-way-through-florence">
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dolomites Travel Guide: 2026 Regulations]]></title><description><![CDATA[What every traveler must know this year. Critical access restrictions, new booking requirements, parking rules, cable car updates, and trail conditions across 8 popular viewpoints.]]></description><link>https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/dolomites-travel-guide-2026-regulations</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/dolomites-travel-guide-2026-regulations</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rebecca Bersano]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:56:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4B9o!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6a4bde6c-2d28-4dea-b15d-d74a00b88993_8064x4536.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Dolomites has become one of the most popular travel destinations in 2026, thanks to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics held in Cortina d&#8217;Ampezzo this past winter. Due to the increase in tourism, local authorities are constantly  updating access policies, parking systems, and entry requirements to help manage crowds and preserve the ecosystem. As a traveler, and travel advisor, it&#8217;s my responsibility to stay on top of these updates for clients traveling to the region. This guide is as current as it gets, fully updated as of June 2026. However, I always recommend double-checking booking site, which I will link below, before travel, as things can shift quickly.  </p><p><strong>This post will cover:</strong> <em><span>Critical access restrictions, new booking requirements, parking rules, cable car updates, and trail conditions across 8 must-visit destinations (Lake Braies, Lake Sorapis, Santa Magdalena, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cadini di Misurina, Cinque Torri, Seceda, Alpe di Siusi).</span></em></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Noteworthy Finds is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h4><span>Regulations:</span></h4><p><span>To ensure a sustainable and enjoyable experience for all visitors, and to preserve and protect the natural beauty of the Dolomites, please adhere to the following essential regulations: </span></p><ul><li><p>Drones: In the majority of the Dolomite region drones are banned, particularly within national parks and sensitive ecological zones. Always check local signage and regulations before attempting to fly. </p></li><li><p>Camping: Wild camping and overnight stays in vehicles outside of designated campsites are illegal throughout the Dolomites. Official campsites to secure reservations can be found <a href="http://camping.info">here </a>or <a href="https://park4night.com/en">here</a>.</p></li><li><p>Dogs: If you are traveling with a dog, they must be kept on a leash at all times in parks and protected areas. This is crucial for the safety of wildlife and other visitors. </p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h4>Lake Braies</h4><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4B9o!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6a4bde6c-2d28-4dea-b15d-d74a00b88993_8064x4536.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4B9o!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_424, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6a4bde6c-2d28-4dea-b15d-d74a00b88993_8064x4536.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4B9o!, 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class="image-caption">copyright: Rebecca Bersano</figcaption></figure></div><h4> New for 2026:</h4><p><mark data-color="#fff2cc" style="background-color: rgb(255, 242, 204); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Between July 1 - September 15, 2026 the valley road is closed to private vehicles between 9:00am - 4:00pm. You must pre-book parking or purchase a bus ticket in advance. No walk-ups will be allowed during restricted hours. </mark></p><p><strong><span>Parking Options and Cost:</span></strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>P4 (lakeside):</strong> 30 Euro/day during peak season: must pre-book online. Campervans over 2.2m are 45 Euro/day.</p></li><li><p><strong>P3</strong>: Cash only; someone collects in person. 18 Euro/day (best value!).</p></li><li><p><strong>P2:</strong> Open 8am-6pm, credit card or coin machine. Max is 7 Euro/day. </p></li><li><p><strong>P1: </strong>Requires a shuttle to the lake. Highly recommend only using as a last resort. 11 Euro/day. </p></li><li><p><strong>Shuttle Bus:</strong> Must pre-book between July 1 - September 15, 2026. Lines 439 and 442. </p></li></ul><p><strong>Rules:</strong></p><ul><li><p>No parking along the access road.</p></li><li><p>Dogs are allowed on leash on the trails but not allowed at the lake itself.</p></li><li><p>Before 9:30am or after 4pm you can access without a reservation. </p></li></ul><p><strong>Lake Activities:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Rowboat rentals are available. Shared boards typically run between 20-30 euro per hour. Private boats start around 50 euro/hour. </p></li><li><p>There are several trails in the area. One path circles the lake. It&#8217;s a very easy leisurely path with stairs. I would not recommend pushing a stroller. </p></li></ul><p><em><strong><mark data-color="#c9daf8" style="background-color: rgb(201, 218, 248); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span>Insider Tip:</span></mark></strong></em><span> Visit very early in the morning (sunrise) or late in the afternoon to avoid the largest crowds and capture the best light for photography. The crowds can be overwhelming during midday in peak season.</span></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prags.bz/en&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Official Site for Bus + Parking&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.prags.bz/en"><span>Official Site for Bus + Parking</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.pragsparking.com/en&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;P4 Day-Stay Ticket&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.pragsparking.com/en"><span>P4 Day-Stay Ticket</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h4>Lake Sorapis</h4><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qU1G!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F32a1f28e-500f-42d4-86c8-5556aaa5cd2c_8064x4536.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qU1G!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_424, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F32a1f28e-500f-42d4-86c8-5556aaa5cd2c_8064x4536.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qU1G!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_848, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, 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sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qU1G!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F32a1f28e-500f-42d4-86c8-5556aaa5cd2c_8064x4536.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" 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/__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F32a1f28e-500f-42d4-86c8-5556aaa5cd2c_8064x4536.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qU1G!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_848, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F32a1f28e-500f-42d4-86c8-5556aaa5cd2c_8064x4536.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qU1G!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F32a1f28e-500f-42d4-86c8-5556aaa5cd2c_8064x4536.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qU1G!, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F32a1f28e-500f-42d4-86c8-5556aaa5cd2c_8064x4536.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" 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class="image-caption">copyright: Rebecca Bersano</figcaption></figure></div><p><span>The spectacular turquoise lake is nestled between the Dito di Dio rock formation. Reaching it requires a moderate hike. No cable car is available. No bathrooms on trail.</span></p><p><strong><span>Access:</span></strong></p><ul><li><p><span>The lake is only accessible by hike. The most common trail starts from the Rifugio Auronzo or from the Passo Tre Croci area.</span></p></li><li><p>Trail Difficulty: Depending on the route, the trail is moderate to difficult. The hike from Passo Tre Croci takes approximately 1.5-2 hours one way and involves exposed sections with chains and water. I recommend waterproof, sturdy footwear. <strong>The loop hike is not a hike I would recommend for beginners. </strong></p></li><li><p>The exact trail that I completed can be found using this link: <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/italy/veneto/passo-tre-croci-lago-sorapis?p=-1&amp;sh=7yahmm&amp;u=i&amp;utm_medium=trail_share&amp;utm_source=alltrails_virality"><mark data-color="#fff2cc" style="background-color: rgb(255, 242, 204); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lake Sorapis Hike</mark></a><mark data-color="#fff2cc" style="background-color: rgb(255, 242, 204); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">. </mark>It is an out and back opposed to the loop.</p></li></ul><p><strong><span>Parking:</span></strong></p>
      <p>
          <a href="/__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/dolomites-travel-guide-2026-regulations">
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          </a>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dolomites, unpacked]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Italian Dolomites: how to get around, what to know before going, and practical advice.]]></description><link>https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/dolomites-unpacked</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/dolomites-unpacked</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rebecca Bersano]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:22:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3hGg!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79897820-054e-431e-8718-d0c7adeddec3_8064x4536.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;How would you feel about hiking through Italy?&#8221;</p><p>I can&#8217;t believe that these words came out of my mouth when discussing options for our honeymoon, but they did.</p><p>We toyed with the idea of safari at first, which would be more of a traditional honeymoon destination, but after much consideration, and the fact that I would have had no option of going outside for a walk or workout daily, I thought it would be best to find a more &#8220;fitting&#8221; honeymoon that accommodated my activity preferences.</p><p>Said activity preferences: moving my body for the majority of the day.</p><p>I know, it&#8217;s not for everyone, but thankfully I married a man who also doesn&#8217;t enjoy sitting at a beach or being in a pool unless we are with 20 of our closest friends.</p><p>So we opted for a honeymoon that included eight days of hiking in Switzerland, three days imbibing spritzes and carb loading on pasta in Lake Como, one day in Lake Garda (which we both agree was not enough time &#8212; we need to return and properly experience Lake Garda), eight days hiking through the Italian Dolomites, and a few days in Milan for arrival and departure, and designer shopping. Hey, you can take a girl to the mountains but she will still like her designer bags.</p><p>Yes, you read that correctly. We decided that we would spend 16 of our 22-day honeymoon hiking. The first vacation we&#8217;ve ever done together where we hiked the entire day, for 16 days straight.</p><p>To say this was our favorite trip we&#8217;ve ever done (and we are both extremely well-traveled) doesn&#8217;t even touch the surface of how I&#8217;d describe our time abroad. Each destination deserves its own dedicated post, so today I want to focus on the Italian Dolomites, a destination that&#8217;s quickly gaining popularity, especially now that the 2026 Olympics have put it firmly on the map.</p><p><strong>In this post:</strong> where the Dolomites are, where to stay, how to get around, when to visit, the small things nobody tells you before you go, and the trails we hiked ourselves. If you&#8217;re planning your own trip, this is the practical half of the story &#8212; and if you&#8217;d rather skip straight to it, jump to &#8220;Where Are the Dolomites?&#8221; below.</p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/79897820-054e-431e-8718-d0c7adeddec3_8064x4536.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/79897820-054e-431e-8718-d0c7adeddec3_8064x4536.jpeg&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><div><hr></div><h3>Why We Fell for the Dolomites</h3><p>My husband loves traveling and researching destinations as much as, maybe more than, I do &#8212; he spent the entire year before our honeymoon bookmarking hiking trails he wanted to complete. I was along for the ride, in charge of finding unique hotels and booking flights. (<em>Spoiler: I booked us business class on points for an insanely good value, which is something I think everyone should learn to do, and we stayed in two gorgeous properties with some of the best service and amenities I&#8217;ve ever experienced</em>. <em>I&#8217;ll touch on both of these in a different post.</em>)</p><p>Driving into the region reminded me of a five-year-old seeing Disney World for the first time. I couldn&#8217;t stop pointing out the window, saying &#8220;look over there.&#8221; I&#8217;ve never been more captivated by a region of the world. The landscape is drastically different from the cornfields I grew up behind in the Midwest, and while Southern California has its own mountains, they don&#8217;t compare to the Dolomites.</p><p><em><mark data-color="#cfe2f3" style="background-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[insert an Amy Poehler transition]</mark></em></p><p>When was the last time you woke up excited about your day ahead? This is one of those places that has you eager to rise early and explore. Between the fragrant pine air, lush green valleys, and dramatic jagged cliffs, you&#8217;re captivated and inspired by nature&#8217;s beauty at every step.</p><p>I didn&#8217;t realize how much being in the mountains changes you. It&#8217;s a real &#8220;touch grass&#8221; moment. Every hike, every drive, every meal, I kept saying to my husband, &#8220;I love it here.&#8221;</p><p>I felt calm. I felt motivated. I felt exposed. I felt myself.</p><p>Travel means something different to everyone, and that&#8217;s what makes it so special. Maybe hiking eight hours a day isn&#8217;t your idea of a honeymoon, and that&#8217;s okay &#8212; you&#8217;ve found what fills your cup, and that&#8217;s the whole point. But if this does sound like your kind of trip, here&#8217;s what I wish someone had told me before we planned ours.</p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0ccd6fdf-d30b-498c-ab85-59f1bc3d3ee7_4536x8064.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/21cc8319-d89f-4f17-8940-6fd302c35a1f_4536x8064.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1c4df4e6-1090-4135-a6e1-5b6bfa5b50a1_2268x4032.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/da69d71e-f244-42b5-a9f3-e060d354d3d5_1456x474.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><h3>Where Are the Dolomites?</h3><p>The Dolomites are a mountain range in northeastern Italy, spanning three administrative regions (Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige/S&#252;dtirol, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia) and five primary provinces (Belluno, Bolzano/South Tyrol, Trento, Udine, and Pordenone). During the First World War, the front lines for the Austro-Hungarian Army ran straight through this region &#8212; you can still visit an open-air war museum at Cinque Torri, one of the hikes we completed.</p><p>It&#8217;s a vast region, and it&#8217;s impossible to see everything in eight days. I&#8217;d recommend splitting it into two halves, eastern and western, the way we did. We spent the first half in Kastelruth, close to Alpe di Siusi and the famous Seceda Ridge, and the second half near Cortina d&#8217;Ampezzo, to experience the turquoise lakes and limestone cliffs.</p><h3>Where You Stay Matters</h3><p>Things look close together on a map, but your hotel location matters more than it seems. Driving through the Dolomites is beautiful in its own right, but if you&#8217;re doing 4&#8211;5-hour hikes, you don&#8217;t want to drive two-plus hours there and back each day on top of it. You do, however, likely want an exceptionally nice spa, pool, or hotel bar to come back to after a long day on your feet.</p><p>The question I get asked most is &#8220;Where should we stay?&#8221; &#8212; and I wish I could give a one-size-fits-all answer, but I&#8217;d be doing you a disservice without knowing your itinerary, travel style, and budget first. There are several incredible properties across the region but it&#8217;s important to first understand where you will be spending your time. </p><p><strong>This is exactly what I help clients with as a travel advisor:</strong> matching the right hotel to the right itinerary. If you want a hand planning this trip instead of guessing, complete my inquiry form and I&#8217;ll take it from there.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://secure.foratravel.com/intake/0EoRr2wS3f&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Travel Planning Inquiry Form&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://secure.foratravel.com/intake/0EoRr2wS3f"><span>Travel Planning Inquiry Form</span></a></p><h3>How to Get Around</h3><p>Unpopular opinion: you need a car. Public transportation is an option, but between the region&#8217;s tourism boom and the 2026 regulations, wait times for buses and the most popular trailheads can run hundreds of people deep. A car will save you time, money, and frustration.</p><h3>When to Visit</h3><ul><li><p><strong>June&#8211;September:</strong> Best for day hiking, mountain biking, hut-to-hut hikes, swimming, and leisurely strolls. It&#8217;s also the busiest window, so trails, parking, and cable car lines get crowded. My personal pick is the first two weeks of June or the end of September, once school is back in session.</p></li><li><p><strong>October:</strong> Gorgeous for foliage, but many cable cars stop running, public transit routes shift, and early snow becomes a real risk at higher-altitude rifugios. Research each trail&#8217;s accessibility before you commit.</p></li><li><p><strong>Late November&#8211;March:</strong> Ski season &#8212; ideal for slopes, Christmas markets, and snowshoeing.</p></li></ul><p>Heads up: if hut-to-hut hiking (Alta Via 1) is on your list, those routes are already booking for 2027.</p><div><hr></div><h3>Things to Know Before You Go</h3><ul><li><p><strong>Languages:</strong> German, Italian, and Ladin are all spoken here. Learn a few phrases in German and Italian, and download Google Translate before you land.</p></li><li><p><strong>Bathrooms:</strong> Rifugios typically charge about 2 euros per person to use the bathroom, and most don&#8217;t accept cards &#8212; carry cash.</p></li><li><p><strong>Hours:</strong> Supermarkets and restaurants generally open around 8&#8211;8:30 a.m., close for a few hours midday, then reopen.</p></li><li><p><strong>Reservations:</strong> Parking passes and permits are required for the most popular trails (I&#8217;ll cover exactly which ones in my upcoming 2026 regulations guide).</p></li><li><p><strong>Driving:</strong> U.S. visitors (or anyone without an EU driving permit) need an International Driving Permit before renting a car.</p></li><li><p><strong>Budget:</strong> This is not a budget destination &#8212; flights, transportation, cable cars, parking passes, and food and drink all add up quickly.</p></li><li><p><strong>Packing:</strong> Weather shifts fast, so layers are non-negotiable.</p></li></ul><p><em><strong>Want the full packing list and the 2026 trail-regulation breakdown the moment they&#8217;re live?</strong></em> <a href="/__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe">[Sign up here]</a> and I&#8217;ll send both straight to your inbox.</p><div><hr></div><h3>The Trails We Hiked</h3><p>I can only speak firsthand to the trails we completed: Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, Santa Maddalena, Adolf Munkel, Lake Sorapis, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cadini di Misurina, and Lake Braies. But this region is enormous, and I&#8217;d encourage you to look beyond what&#8217;s popular on social media. Val di Fassa, Pale di San Martino, Passo Rolle, Torri del Vajolet, Val San Nicol&#242;, Alta Badia, and Merano are all on my list to return to.</p><div><hr></div><h3>Ready to Plan Your Own Trip?</h3><p>If reading this has you googling flights already, that&#8217;s exactly the feeling I want to help you turn into a real itinerary. I match travelers with hotels, trails, and timing that fit their pace and budget <strong>[<a href="https://secure.foratravel.com/intake/0EoRr2wS3f">Complete my inquiry form</a>]</strong> and let&#8217;s start planning.</p><p>And if you&#8217;ve already been, I&#8217;d love to hear about it. Have you visited the Dolomites, or is it on your bucket list? Leave any questions below!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Noteworthy Finds! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Starting Anyway]]></title><description><![CDATA[Travel, career pivots, and starting over in your 30s. The first post of many.]]></description><link>https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/starting-anyway</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/p/starting-anyway</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rebecca Bersano]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:27:47 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>I&#8217;ve been staring at the cursor on the screen for a solid 2 hours and 12 minutes, scared of typing. Writing has never been my strong suit; I don&#8217;t recall a passing grade in English in all my years of school, and on my Instagram account I am constantly called out for mispronouncing words.</span></p><p><span>But here we are&#8230; starting.</span></p><p><span>Over the years, there is one thing I can confidently say is the best lesson I&#8217;ve learned in life: </span><strong><span>you fail to grow, to learn, to evolve, when you stay inside of your comfort zone.</span></strong><span> So each year, I challenge myself to something that&#8217;s naturally uncomfortable. I&#8217;m on my last 30 days of a 365-day streak of learning Italian on Duolingo (Andiamo!), and honestly, doing a 15-minute daily Italian lesson felt easy compared to this. This year&#8217;s real challenge? Writing. Long form, put-it-out-into-the-world, someone-might-actually-read-this writing.</span></p><p><span>THAT&#8217;S TERRIFYING!</span></p><p><span>I&#8217;m curious by nature. Those who know me well know that I&#8217;m always asking thoughtful questions, trying to understand someone, or somewhere, a little better. That&#8217;s partially why I love traveling. Back in 2016, when I took my first trip abroad, I fell in love with Italy. The people, the pace of life, the intentionality around meals and community, and promised myself that I would travel somewhere new each year for the rest of my life, to never lose that feeling and curiosity. I&#8217;ve kept that promise to myself, even if it meant a new state in the U.S. when I couldn&#8217;t travel internationally.</span></p><p><span>I don&#8217;t say this to boast, because my travels are rarely lavish, but it&#8217;s an important part of my story and how I will be showing up here: sharing travel destinations and experiences that enhanced my life, in hopes they do similar for you.</span></p><p><span>But travel isn&#8217;t the only thing I&#8217;m curious and figuring out right now. I&#8217;m at a bit of a crossroads. I left a steady-paying job, moved to California, and watched two business attempts fail. I&#8217;m working toward financial freedom, because I will be damned if I have to rely on my husband to support my lifestyle, and I&#8217;m still looking for a community of women I truly relate to at this stage of life. </span><em><span>(If you&#8217;ve cracked the code on building deep female friendships after relocating in your 30s, while also choosing a childfree life, I&#8217;d genuinely love to hear from you.)</span></em></p><p><span>What I&#8217;ve learned this past year, while I navigate finding myself, my friendships, and a career that actually feels stable and like I&#8217;m providing for my family, is that the best thing I can do for myself is to get outside and explore the world. Exploring new places has always cured me, in a way. I release insecurities, I find peace and stress melts away. Life is meant to be lived and even in the most uncomfortable phase of life I&#8217;ve ever been in, I want to make sure I&#8217;m living in opportunity and abundance, not sit stagnant in fear.</span></p><p><span>So that&#8217;s where I&#8217;m starting: with my love affair with travel and sharing noteworthy finds that come with it. But honestly, this could become so much more as I navigate figuring out who I am and where I belong, in real time, alongside you.</span></p><p><span>I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re here. If any of this resonated, follow along or subscribe below so you don&#8217;t miss what next. And say hi in the comments! I&#8217;d love to know where </span><em><span>your</span></em><span> comfort zone ends.</span></p><p><span>Rebecca</span></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://noteworthyfinds.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Noteworthy Finds is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>