The picture that started it all (or at least, the first picture I posted to this blog) - mist begins to lift over La Verna, Italy.
Quite possibly the most beautiful place on earth, this monastery helped hide 14 Jews during WWII. If you come here and look around carefully, you can find the cave where they were forced to hide during the war. This monastery was founded by Saint Francesco himself, and is said to be the site where he received the stigmata. In addition to the famous ceramic art the monks are known for, La Verna is the site of one of Italy’s most scenic hiking trails.
I highly recommend a trip to the nearby town of Cortona, a medieval city with thoughtful architecture and art galleries around every corner.











