Clara Vannucci for The New York Times

Sant’Andrea in Percussina, a hamlet south of Florence, where Machiavelli spent time in exile.

Five centuries after “The Prince” was written, visiting spots in and around Florence that track the arc of Machiavelli’s life.

Sean Marc Lee for The New York Times

The solar-paneled Beitou Library in Taipei.

In recent years, Taiwan has seen the development of a number of eco-friendly initiatives, from a protected marine habitat to a high-speed rail system to a ban on shark-fin soup.

An illustrated guide to the tangle of topics that person sitting next to you at 35,000 feet might be contemplating.

Ingrid K. Williams

Pira Luigi, a small winery where the author sampled three Barolos for free.

A trip to the source, in northwest Italy, can turn the pricey specialties into affordable treats.

Melissa Biggs Bradley, center, with her children at Petra in Jordan in June 2014.

Melissa Biggs Bradley of Indagare.com sees family vacations as an opportunity for her children to “understand the complexity of the world.”

Le Sirenuse

For the author’s third trip to the Amalfi Coast, one of her goals was a dinner at Le Sirenuse hotel in Positano.

Here’s why taking a tour of a destination you’ve been to several times just might make sense.

Cory Lum for The New York Times

Desmond Valentin checks out his fishing gear as waves crash against the Hawaiian coast. Mr. Valentin once caught a 136.6-pound ulua.

Ulua can weigh well over a hundred pounds. So how, exactly, do you haul one in from the shore?

Mike Belleme for The New York Times

Falls Park in Greenville.

Falls Park became a spark for a pedestrian-friendly city center when it opened in 2004.

Francesco Lastrucci for The New York Times

The view from A Pié de Mà in Riomaggiore, one of the villages of the Cinque Terre.

In this coastal corner of Italy, you can lounge on the beach, take in dazzling views and even indulge in a seafood splurge — all on a frugal budget.

Julien Bourgeois for The New York Times

The Marché Dauphine, one of the markets at Marché aux Puces de Paris/St.-Ouen.

Over the past two years, the giant Marché aux Puces de Paris/St.-Ouen has become cool again. Here’s some guidance for conquering the sprawling stalls.