The Splendor of Tuscany—Sharing Memories and Dreams Contest

Farm house in Le Crete.  Photo: Property of Abbeville Press.  Unauthorized use is prohibited.

For centuries, the allure of Tuscany has captivated our imaginations with evocative images of hilltop towns, Renaissance art and architecture and Cyprus-lined roads meandering through golden fields of sunflowers. I’ll never forget my first trip to Tuscany, Italy—it was love at first sight. Immediately, I fell under the Tuscan spell when the most picturesque scenery unfolded before my eyes, whether in its cities or the surrounding countryside.

Inspired to Travel—Greece

The cast of 'Mamma Mia.' Photo: WikiMedia Commons.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to write about movies that inspired me to travel for TravelCuriousOften.com. While that list was published, I have so many more that I want to feature here on EuroTravelogue whether it’s movies, books, trips taken by colleagues or whatever the case may be, that inspired or inspires travel. At heart, I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to stories of true love and the visual beauty of the world and its people around us. And so it with this underlying thread of "romance" that I weave together all of my “inspired by” stories for you and begin this new series with an adventure to the Greek Islands and perhaps a sing-a-long song or two with Abba along the way. 

ArtSmart Roundtable: Raphael’s ‘School of Athens’ in the Vatican Museum

Completed in 1511, Raphael's "School of Athens" decorates one of four walls in the Stanza della Segnatura, one of four rooms in a suite of apartments intended for Pope Julius II.  Now part of the Vatican Musuem, this academic gathering of history's most brilliant is accessible to everyone and it's wonderful!  Photo: WikiMedia Commons.  

Welcome to the ArtSmart Roundtable! Each month, the Roundtable—a group of travel bloggers / art aficionados who are passionate about discovering art while exploring destinations around the world, publish this monthly series that highlights a particular art-related subject. January’s topic is wall paintings and when I think of wall paintings, I can’t help but think of the magnificent frescoes that decorate many a chapel, museum, city hall—among others, throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Topping my list of favorite frescoes are Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel of course, but I’ve already written about the agony and ecstasy of the Sistine so I thought I would shift my focus to my second favorite Renaissance artist Raphaello Sanzio da Urbino or more commonly known as Raphael! I hope you enjoy this closer look at Raphael’s “School of Athens” and the next time you’re in Rome, make sure you set aside time in your itinerary to visit the Vatican Museums to see this master stroke of genius up close and personal.

Szentendre, Hungary: Colorful Past, Color-full Present

A double rainbow above the Danube at Szentendre. All content and photography in this article are property of Penny Ewles-Bergeron. Please do not use without permission.

I am thrilled to welcome Guest Blogger Penny Ewles-Bergeron to EuroTravelogue. Also known as @abrushwithitaly on Twitter, Penny can't live without art, music, politics, food and travel. After years in London and Dublin, she now resides in Naples—which luckily provides plenty to paint, photograph and write about—truly, her "brush with italy." When she's not creating her masterpieces, Penny contributes regularly to ItalianNotebook.com where she imparts her knowledge and shares her experiences while she calls Napolitown home.  At the end of this article, she gives her personal recommendations when visiting Szentendre so be sure to check them out.  I hope you enjoy Penny's "impressions" of Szentendre, Hungary.  

In Pursuit of Provence, France—Hilltop Towns and Fields of Lavender

The allure of Provence, France, beckons with the sweet fragrance of lavender and historic sites of medieval towns.  All photography in this article is the copyrighted works of Brian Jannsen unless noted.  Unauthorized use is prohibited.   

Perhaps the most sublime in all of France, Provence evokes images of medieval towns, hills of lavender fields swaying in the breeze and the sweet romance of the sea. Stretching from the Alpine mountains through the meandering Rhône River valley before surrendering to the Mediterranean, the lands of Provence promise the most delightful and dramatic landscapes around every bend in the winding roadways throughout the region. Stop by one of the hilltop towns alive with bustling marketplaces and festivals throughout the year celebrating both the spiritual and secular. In the countryside, you’ll find rolling hills of lavender bursting with life and filling the air with the most intoxicating perfume imaginable. Later in the summer, fields of sunflowers bathed in golden light seem to disappear into the horizon. Perhaps it’s the romance of the sea that beckons? Head to the south of this region to Saint Tropez and Nice and let’s not forget the glitz and glamour of Cannes! It’s all here in Provence, France.

EuroTravelogue's 2011 Highlights Including Favorite Pictures of the Year

A stop for la café and people watching is a must-do at the quintessential Parisian sidewalk café. Photo: Property of EuroTravelogue™. Unauthorized use is prohibited.    

It's hard to believe another year is over and now we are standing on the threshold of a brand new year full of new opportunities and new beginnings!  I can hardly wait!  But before we flip the calendars to 2012, let's reflect for a moment on where we've been in 2011, an extraordinary year for me and for EuroTravelogue. What started out as a part-time hobby has grown into a second full-time job for me, however, I use "job" extremely loosely as contributing to my blog and sharing the content with all of my readers, followers and friends has become my addiction, my enjoyment; my passion runs deep.