"Former home of Swedish physician Axel Munthe, now noted for its beautiful gardens and breathtaking views; visitors encounter cultivated grounds and historic architecture that combine personal history with panoramic coastal scenery." - Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz is a writer and editor based in Rome. She has been contributing to Travel + Leisure since 2014, when she started as a fact checker before becoming a contributing digital editor in 2015. She has also held positions as a contributing editor at The Points Guy and the NYC cities editor at DuJour Magazine. In addition to Travel + Leisure, her writing has appeared in Architectural Digest, Surface Magazine, Brooklyn Magazine, T Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, GQ, Departures, Afar, Fodor's, Town & Country, Condé Nast Traveler, Robb Report, Hemispheres, and others. When she's not jetsetting around Italy and beyond, she can be found in Rome, enjoying some cacio e pepe or relaxing at home with her husband and two dogs. Originally from the Boston area, Laura moved to New York City in 2011 to pursue a master's degree in creative writing and translation at Columbia University. She also holds a bachelor's degree in French from Smith College. * 10+ years of experience writing and editing * Co-wrote "New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants," an award-winning guide to New York City's speakeasy scene published by Jonglez Editions in 2015 * Contributed to "Fodor's Brooklyn," published by Penguin Random House in 2015, which won silver in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition * Contributed an essay to "Epic Hikes of Europe," published by Lonely Planet in 2021 * Updated the 2022 edition of "Fodor's Essential Italy" Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A historic hotel in Florence, known for its beautiful architecture and serene surroundings, part of the Belmond collection."
"Villa San Michele, once a Franciscan monastery, in the Fiesole hills overlooking Florence."
"You'll wish you never had to leave this charming, historic villa, one of our top-recommended Airbnbs with private pools." - Madison Flager,Caitlin Morton
"Perched in Fiesole with a facade attributed to Michelangelo and gardens tended by Franciscan monks, this graceful hillside hotel offers understated Renaissance luxury across 46 rooms and suites, manicured 15th-century gardens, a colonnaded loggia ideal for aperitifs with sweeping views of Florence and the Arno Valley, a hands-on cooking school, a hillside pool, and concierge services that can arrange exclusive experiences such as after-hours Uffizi access." - Laura Itzkowitz, Erica Firpo