Each day should begin with a hug, a kiss, a caress, and a coffee. So said the front of our breakfast menu in Florence during our recent trip to Tuscany. This sage advice seems to work well for the Italians and we strongly endorse it. We found the people to be warm and friendly, with a sense of humor and a carefree willingness to modify and adapt. Perhaps drinking copious amounts of wine contributes to those traits, or perhaps our drinking copious amounts of wine made us perceive these characteristics in the Italians we encountered. Either way, we got along famously in this beautiful, romantic country and we’re already dreaming of going back. Highlights: The concentration of incredible ancient architecture and Renaissance art in cities such as Florence, Siena, and San Gimignano. Spectacular untouched landscapes of rolling hills, centuries-old villas surrounded by vineyards, olive trees, and statuesque cypress and cork oak trees. Medieval (and earlier) villages that remain lar...