Travels In Italy

"Inspired by the surroundings during one of the trips we took to Italy, the concept for Art & Accents was born. We wanted a store that reflected the romance of Italy and integrated a blend of Italian ceramics, dinnerware, & fine art. Hopefully, We've achieved what we set out to accomplish and provide you with high quality home furnishings from various regions of Tuscany. Please enjoy a few pictures from one of our buying trips.

During our travels throughout Italy, We've searched for artists that are producing unique, hand-crafted pieces unlike most you'll find in other stores. Not only have we found wonderful products for Art & Accents, but we've located some great cities and places to stay.

Glorious Italy with ancient ruins, fishing boats, rugged landscapes, cathedrals, village streets and bustling markets provide the setting for the ultimate vacation. One great resource for us has been the Touring Club of Italy. We use no other maps when driving through Italy. Now available at Art & Accents are the maps and guide books from the Touring Club of Italy. Don't go to Italy without them. Just call or e-mail with your travel plans and we can ship the appropriate maps and guides immediately.

"JOIN THE CLUB." For 25 EURO, you can join the Touring Club of Italy............simply go to: www.touringclub.com/eng/travelers/default.aspx and click on the "Join The Club" icon on the top-right side of the page.......Make the most of their travel experience and member-only discounts.

Florence, considered by many to house the greatest number of art objects in the world, is within an easy drive of the Tuscany region and shouldn't be missed if you're able to travel to Europe. It is a beautiful city with wonderful sites, hotels, clothing shops, and restaurants. Though more hectic than the sleepy hill towns of Tuscany, Florence is a landmark city not to be missed.

Italy is a world unto itself. There are so many great areas to visit and each has its own unique flavor and character. Watch for a more detailed travel page soon. We are working with some of our favorite places in Italy to make your travels as memorable as ours have been. In the meantime, may we suggest a few favorite places such as Lago Maggiore, just north of Milan and west of Lake Como. Stressa at Lago Maggiore is a great place to start or finish a beautiful vacation. Also in the north, you can spend time in Parma, a town often overlooked, but really a lot of fun and the food is out of this world. From Parma, you drive to Bologna and enjoy the world famous food and a beautiful city. If you like wine and are going to Tuscany, you must stop in Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano for the wonderful red wines. The medieval town of Orvieto is one of our favorites........a beautiful town with wonderful food and wine. The art and ceramics range from Old World to modern. We've stopped at a few really great wine bars in Orvieto where the food and Umbrian wine are less known but fantastic.

One of our most unforgettable trips included a stay at "Punta Civita".........a bed and breakfast on the Amalfi coast, about two miles from Ravello. You can view Punta Civita by going to: www.puntacivita.it
Make sure to let Roberto know you were referred by Art & Accents......you'll be treated like friends, not just patrons. The accommodations are as wonderful as the view and Roberto will share a lifetime of Amalfi coast knowledge with you.

Please come visit Art & Accents the next time you're in the San Diego area. We'd love to meet you and have the opportunity to show you our entire product collection."

Larry & Joan Calicchio, Proprietors
Art & Accents