Disover this land underground: Caverns and Grottos in Tuscany

Depending on what part of Tuscany you are visiting, there are several spots for you.

The Apuane Alps, in the Lucca and Carrara region, offer the Antro del Corchia (info at: www.antrocorchia.it), the Grotta dell'Onda free to all (info at: www.comune.camaiore.lu.it), the Grotta del Vento (info at: www.grottadelvento.com), the Grotta di Bagni di Lucca (info at: www.termebagnidilucca.it), and the Parco Naturale delle Grotte di Equi (info at: www.comunefivizzano.it).


If you are in Siena or the Val di Chiana Area you have the Parco Archeologico Naturalistico di Belverde (info at: www.comune.cetona.siena.it), the Bottini di Siena (info at: www.comune.siena.it/diana), and the Labirinto di Porsenna (Tel. 0578 227667).

The Valdarno area near Florence offers the Grotta Giusti (info at: www.grottagiustispa.com), and the Grotta Maona (info at: www.grottamaona.it).


The coast and the southern part of Tuscany include the Miniera del Siele (info at: www.abiesealba.com), the Museo delle Miniere di Montecatini Val di Cecina (info at: www.viaggioantico.com), the Museo Minerario di Abbadia San Salvatore (info at: www.terreditoscana.it), the Parco Archeominerario di Montieri (info at: www.parcocollinemetallifere.it), the Parco Archeominerario di San Silvestro (info at: www.parchivaldicornia.it), the Parco Minerario dell'Isola d'Elba (info at: www.parcominelba.it), the Parco Minerario Naturalistico di Gavorrano (info at: www.parcominerario.it), and the Galleria delle Fonti dell'Abbondanza (info at: www.coopcollinemetallifere.it/musei)

So now you have plenty to explore, discover and relax in Tuscany...even underground!!

Summer 2008 The opera Festival , Opera and Theatre season

Florence � at Giardino dei Boboli (what a wonderful location!!!)

Shows start at 9,15 PM

June 11-12-13-14
CATS

June 25 and July 10-30
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA

July 3-17-29
LA BOHEME

July 8-23
LA TRAVIATA

July 11
SIGUR ROS

July 14-15
THE BEST OF MOMIX 2008

July 22
FIORELLA MANNOIA � Italian Pop Concert

July 24
CARMINA BURANA
BOLERO

July 28
FILM MUSIC � Camera Orchestra

August 5
O.R.T.-ORCHESTRA DELLA TOSCANA � PUCCINI E VERDI A PARIGI

Chiusdino (Siena) � at Abbazia di San Galgano (just magic..google it for pictures!!)

Shows start at 9.00pm

June 13 � July 26
CARMINA BURANA
BOLERO

June 18-21-28 and July 4
IL FLAUTO MAGICO

July 24
SULLE TRACCE DI DIAGHILEV

Barberino di Mugello � at Villa Medicea di Cafaggiolo

Shows start at 9.00pm

July 11
LE STAGIONI


July 6
FAVOLE with Paolo Poli

July 13 at Chiostro Cennaio
LE STAGIONI

July 16 at Chiostro Cennaio
LAUDARIO DI CORTONA

July 20
LA BOHEME

July 27
CARMINA BURANA
BOLERO

Take advantage of the Tuscan land with Coocking Classes

Tuscan traditions are strongly bound to the roots of Tuscan cooking, its flavors and the cuisine.
A famous travel agency in Siena, the Cor Magis, offers to its customers the opportunity to take part to tailored cooking classes.

The spirit of this cooking school is based on the Tuscan tradition, therefore the ingredients used during all classes are those that throughout the centuries have come to be part of the Tuscan tradition.
The recipes are of course the most traditional ones. Here you will learn how to cook the true and simple Tuscan way, without all the frills and compromising spices and foreign tastes that you encounter at most restaurants outside Italy and Tuscany.


Each class is designed around you and your group, so you will learn to love what you do and have lots of fun, whether your dish is a success or a "fiasco"!

Some examples of what you will be able to learn are from the very basic bruschetta (pronounced brusketta), or the many appetizing sauces to create "crostini" (bread tarts), to the simple yet elaborated preparation of handmade pici.

What is more fun than learning such a pleasurable thing such as Tuscan cooking? A healthy and tasty way of life without messing up your kitchen.


The course of Cor Magis includes:

-Transfer from your accommodation to the cooking school (and return to your accommodation, of course!)
-A professional chef that speaks several languages, so you will have all the instructions crystal clear.
-A professional kitchen able to accommodate your group that will allow you to learn comfortably.
-The final dinner, where you will enjoy the dishes you have prepared.

A taste of Porcini

When you visit Tuscany you can pick up these wild mushrooms. But do pick up the young small ones as the older porcini mushrooms may have maggots and do not taste as good. The best place to find these mushrooms is under an oak or chestnut tree in the wild forests in the Hills of Tuscany on a warm day after a fresh spell of rain.

Mushroom hunting is like a national past time in Autumn in many parts of Tuscany. Many locals and tourists enjoy exploring the forests to pick up these brown, ochre or rust coloured specialties. Chocolate brown coloured ones are the most highly prized mushrooms.

Many traditional Tuscan dishes are made using these mushrooms as one of the main ingredients. You can also use it to make a porcini mushroom sauce, for soups, in salads, in pasta dishes, stuffed porcini mushrooms or you can even grill it or fry it and lightly season it with olive oil and a hint of garlic.