Pisa in one Day

Pisa is a jewel of Tuscany and one made famous to many foreign travellers for its Leaning Tower, however this beautiful city has much more to offer the traveller than a classic tourist destination, whether it is getting lost in the many wondrous streets or taking in the magnificent history.
Whether you arrive by plane (Pisa�s airport is the biggest in Tuscany) or train, the centrally located railway station is a perfect starting point to begin your travels around the city centre of Pisa.
Taking the train station as a starting point we follow the Viale Gramsci until we arrive at Corso Italia; the renowned shopping street in Pisa.  Visitors can enjoy browsing or shopping for stylish Italian fashion, or sit down, relax and have a coffee in one of the many cafes; delight in the atmosphere and hussle and bussle on one of Pisa�s busy streets.

Once refreshed visitors can continue down Corso Italia until they get to Ponte di Mezzo on the river Arno; one of the emblematic places in the city, made famous for the annual festival (which takes place on the last Saturday in June) where the two neighbourhoods divided by the river Arno compete in a tournament. The tradition la Batalla del Puente started in the 1200 AD and involves rival teams pushing a long cart while trying to get on the bridge.

After crossing the bridge continue along Borgo Stretto, another street well known for its wide variety of couture shops and stylish bars: which as you can guess from its name, is a medieval alley with arcades and narrow streets, perfect for walking browsing and window shopping. At the end of Borgo Stretto turn left on Via Dini, to reach the beautiful Piazza dei Cavalieri.

This square was the ancient centre of the city, and is now home ancient artifacts with a wonderful historical value and interest: besides the Knights Palace, home of the Scuola Normale Superiore (one of the most prestigious universities in Italy) in the square there is also the Palazzo dell'Orologio which is linked to a curious legend: The Palazzo was built on the remains of the "Tower of Fame" (tower of hunger) famous as being the place of imprisonment of Count Ugolino della Gherardesca. As narrated by the "Divine Comedy", Count Ugolino was imprisoned in the Tower where he starved himself to death with his children and grandchildren, and near the end of his agony, children begged him to eat them and the Count, and the crazy prisoner, fed on their descendants.
Passing under the arch of the Palazzo dell'Orologio, turn right on Via Santa Maria, home to several universities, and then down to the very famous Piazza dei Miracoli.

Piazza dei Miracoli
This complex momument includes the Duomo (the door that connects many of decorative elements including a lizard, is considered by all the "Pisan" the charm of the city and is also thought to bring good luck to those who touch it), the impressive baptistery, the monumental cemetery and the famous Tower of Pisa, which owes its notorious inclination to land subsidence occurred during the start of construction.

Santa Maria della Spina
To conclude your daytrip you can go walk back along Via Santa Maria and you will be heading back towards the Arno, from the other side of the river you can admire the unique profile of the church of Santa Maria della Spina, the origin of the name is due to fact that in ancient church retained a thorn believed to have belonged to the crown of Christ.

We walked back along the banks of the Arno towards the Ponte di Mezzo, but just before the bridge turn left into Via San Frediano, then pass the Law School, where you will find the Piazza Dante , one of the favourite venues of college students for its bars and benches in the shade. This place is the ideal spot to get lost in the narrow streets of the medieval town, with plenty of restaurants and shops offering typical Tuscan cuisine; while The Piazza delle Vettovaglie, which hosts a popular fruit and veg market in the day transforms into a wondrous sight at night, and it has to be seen to be believed!!

Biking in Tuscany

Dear Friends,

Surely many of you are already enjoying their summer holidays somewhere in the sun, some of you may even be in Tuscany right now.

For those of you that are, may I suggest a bicycle tour through Tuscany to discover the beauty this region has to offer? Experienced riders tell us that such a trip will let you experience the countryside in a much more enjoyable way as it unrolls in slow motion before you.

Tuscany is a region full of agriculture and therefore full of many dirt roads and beautfigul hills that can be easily scaled on a bike.

If you are staying at a Bed&Breakfast or at a countryside hotel, your hosts will be able to assist you in finding a bike. If you are staying in a city, there are always bicycle rental shops that can be found on the internet.

To find the best bike roads in your area we highly recommend this fantastic website: http://www.piste-ciclabili.com/regione-toscana

Another option is of course just asking the people that live in the region about the best tracks and routes in the area. Locals always know best.

I hope this article will be helpful to you and that your holidays will lead to many happy memories!

Kind regards,
Giorgio

Palio of Siena

Dear Friends,

The Palio di Siena is a huge horse racing competition between the 17 districts of Siena. 8 of the districts that are selected by chance participate in an exciting horse race on the Piazza del Campo that lasts for only 90 seconds of pure adrenaline and excitement.

This festival has its origins in the Siena of Roman times and is repeated twice yearly on July 2nd and August 16th. Just prior and on these days the city of Siena and its �Sienesi� (the inhabitants of Siena) are bustling with excitement as they prepare for the famous race and the huge celebration.

Every person born in the city is by tradition assigned to one of the �Contrade� (the discticts). Most of the time, if the father is known to be of a certain neighborhood, his child will be given the same honor. Therefore, from the day of its christening, the child becomes an integral part of these small communities that tend to stick together and support eachother throughout life. Sieneses consider their contrada an extension of their family. They hold parties, take part in activities and form strong friendships together.

The neighborhoods compete with each other, and each one usually has at least onr or two rival ones. Adjacent contrade tend to have the most heated rivalries which often lead to small confrontations between these neighborhoods prior to the days of the Palio. While the focus is usually on the rivalries, there are often also collaborations between allies to ensure a victory in the 90 second race.

The Palio itself is more than a simple race, it is a party that gives almost every living Sienese a reason to visit the city, to enjoy the festivities at the Piazza del Campo and to stand tall and support his hometown contrada.

Attendance is free, however the view from the Piazza can be very bad and very uncomfortable in the stifling heat. Locals sell space on steps or adjacent platforms at a price of 400 to 1000 Euros, which can often be worth every cent as the turbulence of the stunning race rushes by the immense crowd.

We hope that this article will be helpful to you on your future travels and, should you decide on going to Siena, you will experience days that will provide you with some of the best memories of the summer.

Kind regards,

Giorgio

Party in Tuscany

Dear Friends,

Last Saturday I had the priviledge to participate in a �pagan� party that took place in the hills close to Montepulciano. During this party, which a friend had invited me to, people celebrate the day of the wheat harvest. All in all, it was a simple party, yet typically Tuscan as all people who had helped out throughtout the day celebrated the fruits of the bountiful harvest.

In a lot of places the harvest day is a beloved tradition, but here in Tuscany it is truly a feast!

After a hard day's work, men and women come together to cook regional dishes and to celebrate the overnight harvest with great food and wine as well as dance and song.

Here are some of the photos of this great night, I hope you will enjoy these pictures of our celebration of this beautiful Tuscan tradition.

Kind regards,

Giorgio

The Islands of Giglio and Gorgona

Dear Friends,

The summer has arrived and with it the desire to enjoy the beach, the sun and a dip in the sea. That is why today I am going to write about Giglio and Gorgona, two of the most beautiful islands in the archipelago of Tuscany.

The island Giglio is accessible by a ferry that leaves the port of Santo Stefano at almost every hour of every day of the week. During the summer there are even more frequent connections to satisfy the tourists� demand.

Giglio, unlike many of the other Mediterranean islands, retains its glory as a protected area. Marine life thrives here as the law keeps the waters from becoming contaminated.

One of the best protected zones, where one can also go for a swim, is the neighboring island of Gorgona.

Giglio has 4 beaches, Coldone beach, Cornelle beach, Campese beach and Arenelle beach, each more beautiful than the next. Should you be travelling with children I advise you to visit the Cornelle beach as it is the largest sand beach in the region while the others tend to be quite rocky.

 The old town on the island with its medieval walls and intriguing style is also well worth a visit if you find the time in between sunbathing and dips in the ocean.

A timetable of the ferry:
http://www.giglioinfo.it/isola_del_giglio/giglio_traghetti_orario.html
A collection of pictures of Giglio:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79527291@N07/

Also, here�s an interesting video on Youtube that provides a small overview of what is going on on the island.

As always I hope that our informational blogposts help you plan and guide you through your vacation in Tuscany.
Kind regards,
George

The Beaches of Tuscany

Dear Friends,

The holidays are fast approaching and many of the letters I receive often ask me about the beaches of Tuscany. This article is dedicated to help inform you about all the most important Tuscan beaches.

Before we get to it, I would just like to mention that if you only have a week or less to spend in Tuscany, I advise against spending time on the beaches. I�m not trying to say they are not beautiful, they are, but all of Tuscany offers so many unique and wonderful places, that it would be a waste of time spending time on a beach while there are so many sights waiting to be discovered. Alright, now that we have this covered, let�s talk about the beaches.

The beaches in Tuscany are considered the cleanest in all of Italiy and regularly win awards stating this fact. Every year most beaches also earn the �Blue Flag�, a label, awarded to eco-friendly beaches all around the world.

In northern Tuscany, an area where our Russian customers like to shop or moor their yachts, the beaches of Forte Dei Marmi, Camaiore and Viareggio can be found. This area is also famous for being an Italian VIP summer resort in the 80s and 90s, with very long beaches that feature the beautiful Appennine mountains in the background.

At the heart of Tuscany one can find the beaches of Castagneto Carducci, San Vincenzo and Livorno, an area that is considered especially beautiful because of the vegetation that reaches the sea. Further there are the beaches of Castiglion de la Pescaia and Follonica, which are revered amongst the habitants of Siena and feature rocky beachses as well as sandy beaches full of children.

Finally, in southern Tuscany one can find the most beautiful beaches on the islands of Elba, Giglio and Giannutri as well as the beach of Monte Argentario.

We hope that this little guide will help you plan your future summer trips to the beaches of Tuscany.

Kind regards,
George

Restaurants in Cortona

Dear Friends,

This blog is about a new restaurant in Cortona that our friend Juan Angel has showed us:

It is called "Trattoria Tacconi", and it serves typical Cortonese cuisine. Very local and small, it only has five tables at street level and is run by a couple.

The very nice woman takes care of the customers orders and also cooks. You can see the kitchen from the tables, and you must pass through it in order to get through the bathroom.

The host told us about what they were serving for the day: A couple types of pastas with three different sauces that turned out to be delicious, and a second plate that was an exquisite steak.

After that we had two or three more small plates and some coffees. They do not serve desserts except for gelato. The food is excellent and definitely worth a try.

The clientele is varied: some businessmen, workers in the area, and plenty of "regulars". Very few tourists ever come here.

The check wasn't exactly cheap, but for two plates of pasta, two steaks, a litre of the house wine, water, the side plates, and the coffees, it came out to �60. Like I said, not exactly cheap, but at many other places the steaks alone would add up to  �40, and the delicious food is well worth it.

If you get a chance to come to Cortona, I highly suggest you try out "Trattoria Tacconi" so you can have your own idea of how good the food is here.

Kind regards,

George

Tuscany Itineraries- A Letter from Cristina

Dear friends, Cristina U. has kindly written me a summary of her travels to Tuscany, and it is the least I can do to thank her for being willing to share her experiences with us.

Hello,

I just returned from a four day trip in Tuscany with friends, and because I followed many of the suggestions from your blog, I thought I could send you a short summary of our trip in hopes that it can help future travellers! Tuscany is stunning, and I can't wait to return one day!

Day 1

From Bolonia, the city that we arrived in and picked up our rental car, we travelled to Lucca, the city of bicycles and gelato, plazas and bell towers. We ate on the terrace of the oval amphitheatre plaza. There are many souvenir shops, and we visited one that was dedicated to Puccini, the composer that was born in Lucca. In one of the churches, they have daily performances at 7 PM of famous arias. We were there for four hours before we travelled to the nearby city of Pisa. We visited the area with the famous tower, dome, and baptistery. We enjoyed the sun on a walk around the beautiful dome. After this, we all ate dinner in town before returning to the hotel to sleep.

Day 2

After eating breakfast, we left for Volterra. I highly suggest bringing a GPS, as ours helped us quite a bit on the journey. We were surprised by how much we liked Volterra. We walked through the city, enjoying the open air and smell of candles that were burning in the churches. Next we visited the beautiful palace plaza, which now serves as the town hall. Alabaster is very typical of the region, and there are many stores that sell stunning figures and decorations. After this we drove to the Roman ruins, which we viewed from a balcony and enjoyed very much. The visit ended in a park with great views of the town.

We next travelled to San Gimignano, a small, medieval village that is full of tourists and souvenir shops. We ate on a terrace, drove through the plazas, visited the towers, and tried some delicious gelato. We were there for three hours, and then we drove to Siena.

I liked Siena more than the first time I visited it. It was dark outside, and we were in the plaza that holds the Palio. Here, there are many shops and restaurants to be enjoyed. Throughout the streets there are many beautiful palaces. We visited the Duomo, but could not enter because it was late. Next we returned to the plaza where we had a nice dinner. We left for our rural accommodation with cameras full of pictures.

Day 3

This day was dedicated entirely to Florence. We left our car in a parking area in the beautiful area close to the Pitti Palace. After we saw the palace, we went to the stunning Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery. The Uffizi has two-hour long lines unless you buy tickets online first. After this we went to the Piazza della Signoria, where the beautiful architecture brought tears to my eyes. When it started to rain, we sought shelter  in a caf� across from the Duomo. There is also a line here, but it does not take long to get in. We visited the shop that is in the catacombs, where there are many interesting books. After this, we stopped at a store and bought some homemade soap. We found a place to eat near the Dante house.

After eating, we returned to the Piazza della Signoria where we relaxed in a caf�. We went to the Gucci Museum in the same plaza, a very cool place- art books and a caf� with benches, very modern and welcoming. Next we travelled through the city on bikes for two hours. First we saw the Accademia Gallery in the Santa Croce plaza. There are many great bars in this area that fill with locals and are less popular with the tourist crowd. We heard a great jazz band play some unique covers of popular hits. Next we biked to Santa Maria della Novella, and passed all the very expensive shops along the way. From here we went back to the Pitti Palace, dropped off our bikes, and picked up our car. Lastly, we drove the the Michelangelo Plaza to see the beautiful artwork before we drove to our house to relax for the night.

Day 4

Our last day was dedicated to the south of Tuscany. First we went to Pienza, a small and beautiful town. This area is famous for the wine and cheese, and for this reason there are many gourmet food shops that sell Chianti and Noble wine, and delicious pecorino cheeses. It was Easter Sunday, and there were many people out celebrating. From there we went to Montepulciano, which was also very beautiful. We walked up a street that was lined with shops selling local products. We had a delicious meal at Trattoria di Cagnano and then drove to some of the small villages in the area to take pictures of the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Hot springs and spas are very typical of this area. After this, we visited Cortona and then went home. There is always something to see and do in Tuscany, and I can't wait for my next trip when I can visit some of the places I didn't see and revisit some of my favorites!

Kind regards,
Cris

In Tuscany with Your Dog, the Friend that Will Never Abandon You!

Dear friends, vacation time is drawing near, and many of you are starting to plan your trip to Tuscany.

For those of you like me that love animals and have a dog, it is important for me to inform you of certain things.

First of all, you must know that whether you visit the art cities, towns, or islands of Tuscany, you and your four-legged friends can have a great time together.

Tuscany offers so many options for you and your dog that there is no need for you to leave your best friend at home. Whether you stay in an apartment or a rural house, your friend with have room to play in the garden, and most accommodations accept pets.

Also, Italian law protects our pets, allowing them entrance into places like restaurants, bars, and shops.

It is important to know that no merchant can impede entrance as long as your dog is always on a leash.

For my last piece of advice, if you visit Tuscany in the summer, you will probably have to protect yourself and your four-legged friend from mosquitoes. For this reason, it is very important that your dog does not sleep outside and wears a Scalibor collar for protection.

So my friends, if you are thinking of visiting Tuscany this spring or summer with your dog or cat, you can rest assured knowing that you and your friend will be well received.

Kind regards,

George

Tuscany with Children

Tuscany offers many great cultural and gastronomic experiences, and it also offers some very fun possibilities for groups that are travelling with children. Apart from walks or bike rides through the beautiful hills, there are other places where children can have fun, like in the parks of Tuscany.

For this reason I have decided to prepare a list, that you will find below, of parks that deserve a visit if you are going to be taking a trip to Tuscany with children.

1- Parco Avventura Fosdinovo (northwest of Tuscany, near Lucca)

2- Parco Avventura di Alberovivo (close to Florence and Grosseto)

3- Monkeys Park Adventure (close to Tirrenia)

4- Salta Albero Parco Avventura (close to Rapolano Terme, Siena)

5- Selva del Buffardello (in the north of Tuscany, close to Lucca)

6- Il Giardino Sospeso (close to Livorno)

7- Acqua Village- waterpark, ideal for summer (close to Livorno)

Tuscany also offers many paths and roads where you can go horseback riding, especially in the Maremma and coastal areas.

In closing friends, I hope that your vacations to Tuscany are with your kids so that you can take advantage of some of the beautiful parks mentioned.

Kind Regards,

George

Discover Tuscany's Movie Sets

Tuscany, with its beautiful, artistic landscapes, has always been one of the favorite settings for various movie and commercial directors.

One of the first great directors who used Tuscany as a movie set was the world renowned Federico Fellini, who chose the towns of Chianciano Terme and Bagno Vignoni for his award-winning film 8 � and who described Tuscany as the ideal set for his movies.

However, Tuscany�s most famous movie set is, without a doubt, the city of Florence, which has been used as the setting in countless films, since its palaces and streets are capable of creating unique settings. Just think of A Room with a View or the film Hannibal, which starred Anthony Hopkins. Other important actors such as Marcello Mastroianni and Vittorio Gassman have also strolled through Florence in various movies, as well as film director Brian de Palma.

Another very important actor/director who has chosen Tuscany for his movies was Robert Beningni, who chose Arezzo and Cortona to film his masterpiece, Life is Beautiful, which won various Oscars. Most recently, the town of Cortona was used as the setting for another famous movie, Under the Tuscan Sun.  

The director Franco Zeffirelli has also chosen Tuscany for various movies, including Tea with Mussolini.

To end with one of the most recent movie sagas, one of the films in the famous Twilight Saga was filmed in Montepulciano.

Finally, my friends, Tuscany is Tuscany, a unique and marvelous landscape which certainly makes everyone dream�

 

Kind regards,

George

Enjoying Tuscany�s Thermal Spas and Springs (Northeast Tuscany - Pisa and Lucca)

On a trip to Tuscany, you can�t miss enjoying a good bath in a natural environment, especially if it�s in one of the 39 thermal spas and hot springs that Tuscany has to offer.

Apart from exploring Tuscany�s art, culture, history and gastronomy during your trip, you can also enjoy some of the world�s best thermal spas and springs. In fact, there are so many of these spas and springs in such a small area that I�m sure that every one of you would be satisfied. Tuscany has much to offer, from luxurious five-star thermal spa resorts such as Adeler Thermae to thermal springs which are more popular but just as spectacular, such as those in Saturnia, which you can see in the image above.

Throughout the next few blog posts, I�ll talk about some of these thermal spas and springs which I think are worth visiting in order to help you prepare for your trip to Tuscany.

Terme Bagni di Lucca

The rainwater which filters through the rocks is accumulated throughout the passing of the years until it is released towards the surface by a strong pressure. These thermal waters are rich in mineral salts and are some of the few odorless and completely crystal-clear thermal springs. It is told that, in antiquity, these thermal springs would open in the spring, since during this period the phases of the moon would balance the heat of the earth with water, creating some of the best therapeutic effects.

It is also told that, during the 19^th century, many hedonistic aristocrats would enjoy these thermal springs, found in some of the most beautiful villages of Lucca.

If you decide to visit these thermal springs, you could also bathe in two natural steam caves where the temperature varies between 40 �C and 47 �C. These caves are two perfectly conserved natural enclaves where you can enjoy some of the most modern treatments. This center is open all year round.

Bagni di Pisa

Located in the same area of Tuscany, I would recommend that you also visit this thermal spa. Bagni di Pisa is famous for being one of the most elegant places of the past centuries. Here, famous figures such as King 

Gustav III of Sweden, King Christian VII of Denmark, various kings of England, Paolina Bonaparte, Percy and Mary Shelley, Vittorio Alfieri and Carlo Goldoni would enjoy this thermal spa and also play in its casino.

Therefore, if you do decide to visit this spa, apart from enjoying this marvelous architectural enclave which was built in the 1700s, you can also enjoy two thermal pools at 38 �C, a Turkish bath and many other thermal pleasures such as saunas, spas and massages.

Bagni di Pisa, from my point of view, is really spectacular. If you manage to visit it, you should also visit the various lobbies and rooms of the hotel which, to this day, still conserve the glamour and noble spirit of this fantastic place.

As always, I hope that this post has helped satisfy your curiosity regarding some of the unique aspects that this beautiful land known as Tuscany has to offer.

Kind regards,

George

Tuscany's Parks and Nature Reserves

Are you ready to discover new places that you won�t find inside your travel guide? Are you prepared to leave behind Tuscany�s artistic cities, its wine and its villages in an instant?

There exists another Tuscany, one that is authentic and beautiful, where trips are enjoyed and photographed. These are Tuscany�s parks and nature reserves � oases in the middle of nature where you�ll find rare plants and various species of animals. These parks, many of which have access and facilities for disabled people, are definitely some of the places which nature lovers should not miss.

Shown below is a map of the various parks and nature reserves in Tuscany. If you click on one of the butterflies, you�ll be given more information about that park:

View La Natura selvaggia in Toscana in a larger map

As always, I hope that this has been useful for you.

Kind regards,

George

Follow Us on Facebook!

Hey there, friends, we�ve just finished publishing on our Facebook page a collection of the best photos of Tuscany which our fans have shared on our Facebook page.

Below you can see one of the photos�

If you want to see more photos and learn more about Tuscany, follow our Facebook page by clicking the �Like� button in the following link: Tuscany Blog

Kind regards,

George

Contemporary Artists from Tuscany

Dear Friends,

Today, I would like to talk to you about a metal sculptor who lives in Montepulciano and who, for a few years already, has been creating some beautiful sculptures which I think are worth talking about in my blog about Tuscany.

Giulio Pellegrini, as the artist is called, has raised the art of sculpting to a new level, creating beautiful works of art derived from Italian comics and, by playing with light and shadows, he makes these sculptures come alive.

In order to describe what he does, I�ll translate a section of his site for you:

�Chinediferro (the name of his store) began in Montepulciano, a town that has had a central role in the project and which has been the ideal setting for this tryst between metal and ink. The project began in the Palazzo Rizzi during a comic book exhibition showing the works of the comic book artist Danijel Zezelj. During a performance, which merged live music performed by a group of avant-jazz musicians, known as the Jessica Lurie Ensemble, and live painting done by Danijel, I thought about pulling a character out from the pages of his comics and bringing it to life. I�m a blacksmith by trade, and so there was nothing more natural than to use iron, a noble and everyday material, just like how pen and paper are for the comic book artist who created these drawings. The result was a silhouette of human dimensions which cast a giant shadow on the wall�

�to be a blacksmith in Montepulciano does not only mean that you are an artisan, but also that you are in one of the most beautiful places in Tuscany where, for a variety of circumstances, art, music, and comics intersect. This means that I�ve had the pleasure of meeting some of the greatest artists of Italian comic books, such as Andrea Pazienza, and even Danijel Zezelj�

�All of this allows me to change my profession without actually leaving it, and thus giving it a new lease on life, where iron and ink are mixed to create new works of art� �

Well, friends, that�s the end of my post on this unique artist known as Giulio, and whom, if you ever go to Montepulciano, you could meet personally by visiting his shop or perhaps even finding him enjoying a glass of wine late at night with his friend, Oste, at the Acquacheta di Montepulciano, a lively restaurant known for its delicious steaks.

I hope that you found this interesting!

Kind regards,

George

Sausages of Tuscany

Dear Friends,

During a trip to Tuscany, you cannot forget to try our food- especially our ham and sausage, considered to be some of the best in the world.

The king of all sausages in Tuscany is, without a doubt, ham. There are many different cuts of Tuscan ham of all prices; in my opinion, all are good, including those of a lower price. If you would like to try one of the fancier cuts, my recommendation is the famous "Prosciutto di Cinta Senese".

                                                                                                            

This type of ham, comparable by price and flavor to the ham of the acorn-fed Spanish pigs, is considered the best ham in all of Italy. It comes from a special type of pig (that of the picture) that follows a special diet.

The second type of sausage I recommend you try is "Finocchiona". This type of sausage is cured with fennel and black pepper and comes from the loin.

Another delicious sausage is the Salcicce(butifarras). Salcicce can be cut from pig, boar, or deer; however, I prefer Salcicce from pig and cured with salt and pepper. 

One last type of sausage I recommend is called "Soppressata". These sausages are made from the poor parts of the pig and are quite a bit cheaper, but they are also deicious and you can make a great dinner out of these and different types of cheese.

I will talk about the different types of cheese in my next article.

I hope all of this is of help to you on your visit to Tuscany! 

Kind regards,

George

Books about Tuscany

Dear Friends,

Today, I would like to tell you all about some of the most famous books about Tuscany, which I�m sure that after reading them, you�ll have a more pleasant view of our region and which would also be of great help to you in preparing your trip.

The first book which I would like to recommend is Frances Mayes� Under the Tuscan Sun.

This book tells the story of an American writer who, after a divorce, suffers from a creative block. Immersed in a profound existential crisis, she decides to visit a friend who lives in Tuscany. Once there, the writer falls in love with a house called �Villa Bramasole� (which literally means �the house which longs for the sun�) and she decides to buy it. However, the villa needs a lot of renovation in order for her to be able to live inside it, but then again, what better place to start a new life than in the region which gave birth to the Renaissance? And thus, the writer begins a new life�

I won�t spoil the rest for you. This novel is a best-seller throughout the world and is a light and easy read.

The second book which I�d like to recommend is A Thousand Days in Tuscany by Marlena de Blasi.

This book is a brief tale about the beauty and greatness of Tuscany. There is even a section with regional recipes. This book is perfect for food-lovers.

Another book, which came out not too long ago, is A Vineyard in Tuscany by Ferenc M�t�.

This book tells the story of an American couple who decide to move to Tuscany, buy a vineyard, and produce their own wine. The narrative shows us the beautiful land of Tuscany, the kindness of the locals and the beauty of a life in contact with nature.

If you like this book and would like to read more about Tuscany, you could also buy his second book called The Wisdom of Tuscany.

Well, friends, happy reading!

Kind regards, from Tuscany under the snow,

George

Things to Do in Tuscany

I would like to mention a new service that's available now, which I think would help a lot of you visiting Tuscany.

This new service is a web page where you�ll find some of the most diverse and interesting things that one can do during their trip toTuscany.

What interested me the most about this new service is that it has collected almost all of the activities that one can do in Tuscany on just one page.

You�ll find everything there, from wine tours, hot air balloon rides, cooking classes, and art classes, to horse rides, ATV excursions and many other interesting activities.

What I like the most about this site is the information it gives you about the tour guides, which from my point of view is something that is essential in order to really enjoy the vast cultural history that Tuscany has to offer.

As always, I wish that this information has been useful for you.

Kind regards,

George

The "Unknown" Val d'Orcia

Dear Friends,

In the previous blog entry, I talked about the villages in the Val d�Orcia that are well-known, so in this entry I would like to tell you all about some of the lesser-known towns which are in this beautiful valley.

Let�s start with my favorite town in this valley, La Foce, which is easily reached via a white road from Montepulciano. This town is definitely one of the most magical places in the valley. In fact, in La Foce is where you�ll find one of the most famous images of Tuscany, which you can see here in this entry. The image is of the marvelous mansion of the Origo family, who helped shelter many children seeking refuge from the war and the bombing of cities in Italy during the Second World War.

For the garden lovers reading my blog, I would recommend visiting this splendid villa which opens its garden to tourists every Wednesday afternoon (all year long) and every first weekend of the month (in September, October and November) for a few hours.

Another magical and unknown town of the valley is, without a doubt, Radicofani. This town is famous as the refuge of the infamous bandit, Ghino di Tacco, who, in the Middle Ages, managed to kidnap an abbot and convince the Pope to pardon him. This town is located on top of an immense hill and overlooks the valley from its walls. A visit to the tower of Radicofani will literally leave you breathless once you�ve reached the top of it, where you�ll enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view.

Another town which conserves its beautiful medieval heritage is undoubtedly Castiglion d�Orcia, where a stroll through its streets will return you to the Middle Ages. You will definitely love visiting this town.

A drive through these three places, whether in a car or on a motorcycle, in the winter, spring, summer or autumn, with rain or shine, will not leave you listless. Throughout all the seasons, this valley maintains a beautiful energy which is impossible not to catch while passing through these three towns which are not as well known as the others, but just as beautiful.

As always, I hope that all this information has helped you plan, in the best way possible, your vacation in Tuscany.

Kind regards,

George