Hello Giorgio, We are Ariele and Alex, a couple from Sao Paulo, Brazil. We both have Italian origin (from Barga, Northern Tuscany and Friuli) and our dream was to visit the country of our ancestors. We were also interested in learning Italian language and cooking.
I've found your blog last year and has been very resourceful in organizing our trip to Tuscany. I saved many of your suggestions regarding itineraries, restaurants, interesting places off the beaten tracks. After extensive researches online and among our friends and relatives we decided to spend our 10 days in Tuscany in this way: one week in Montepulciano where we attended the Italian course offered by the local Il Sasso language school and three days by the sea in Pietrasanta.
Montepulciano is lovely historic village with a great welcoming ambience and community. It has the perfect size for a stay, not too big and too touristy, easy to reach and good base for daily excursions.
We preferred to rent a self catering apartment as we both love cooking and enjoy our evening together. We choose an apartment called Poltitian and we were very satisfied. We also followed your suggestion for the best Fiorentina steak (my husband is passionate about that) and went to Acquacheta Osteria and met the funny owner Julio.
The Sasso language school organizes weekly intensive courses from Monday to Friday with very friendly and professional teachers. After days of hard study we spent the last three days at Lemons Guest house in Northern Tuscany by the sea. The place was delightful surrounded by a romantic garden, it was a perfect treat.My only regret is that I could have spent more time in Montepulciano and one week is really too short, but we definitely come back with our friends. We were in Italy in May, do you think November or December are good months to visit Tuscany?
Many travelers claim Autumn to be the best time for food lovers.
Thanks again Giorgio for your helpful work!
