Brian Boitano
Barga, Italy

I recently visited Barga, a peaceful walled village just north of Lucca. Barga has the same medieval charm of both of the walled towns of Lucca and Siena, but on a much smaller scale.

From the huge 11th-century hilltop cathedral, a centerpiece of the town, I could see miles and miles of hills dotted with old farmhouses and covered in vineyards. What I appreciated most was the realistic medieval quality of the place. With only a little café, a restaurant, and some antique shops, Barga seemed unaffected by time. I was transported back hundreds of years. And it was wonderful.

Figure skater Brian Boitano was the Olympic gold medalist in 1988, a two-time world champion, and four-time U.S. national champion.