Road Signs

Be sure to use any open windows to get to incredible roads--for example, loving the Pre-Raphaelites can lead you to Leighton's famous "Flaming June" in her sleepy tangerine diaphanous dress, and then to his "Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna" as it's pulled through the streets Florence in a procession.

This can lead to an interest in the Renaissance, in Florence, in late medieval art or even let you discover Dante or Petrarch. Or you are just led to the late-medieval painter Cimabue [c1240-1302] and then Giotto.

And you get granita in the morning and gelato at night in Florence off Santa Croce at Gelateria Carabè. I know it's the best because I've been to them all... literally, for research purposes. Make sure to jump out a window to get on a good path, they always lead out to amazing places.

P.S. If you need a tour guide for most of Italy, let me know--I'm always available, make insanely detailed plans with seven alternates and am laid back about everything. You have to be over there.