Posted by internetauthor on December 6th, 2011 — in Tuscany
There are plenty of amazing sights in Tuscany, and you can spend all day staring at churches and castles that are centuries old, but when you get done looking at everything, perhaps it’s time to actually put on some walking shoes and do something while you’re in this beautiful part of the world.
Hiking Monte Forato
If you’re ready to ramp up your vacation, a hike through the Italian Alps is an excellent way to get started. Hiking in the Apuan Alps isn’t a gentle sloping hill along a medival town, although there are plenty of those to explore as well. (more…)
Posted by internetauthor on October 25th, 2011 — in Tuscany
One of the most celebrated museums in Italy, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence is home to many amazing works of art from some of the most celebrated artists in the world. Inside the museum you’ll find works from Botticelli including the Birth of Venus as well as da Vinci’s Annunciation. Michelangelo, Titian and Raphael have works represented in the museums as well. The trick isn’t finding amazing works of art, the trick is finding a way into the museum that doesn’t involve standing in line for hours at a time.
Touring the Uffizi Gallery
Gaining access to the gallery is simple enough – if you’re patient. Lines extend out from the entrance and regardless of the weather you’re left to the elements for long periods of time waiting on your turn to tour the halls and exhibits. For this reason, it’s best to make advanced reservations for the gallery. (more…)
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Posted by grazia on October 21st, 2011 — in Italy, Tuscany
Pienza is a small town still retaining its ancient structure of medieval village. It is located in Tuscany, in the province of Siena, in the Val d’Orcia, on a hilltop overlooking Mount Amiata and the Crete Senesi.
UNESCO has recognized Pienza and the Val d’Orcia as World Heritage Site for the beauty of the natural landscape and the great historical and artistic value in this area.
The city is known as the city of Pope Pius II, because this Pope was born here in 1405. Pius II wanted this town to be built and to be worthy of the nearby Siena; so he called famous architects and valuable artists, and between 1459 and 1462he ordered to built this small town according to the canons of the Italian Renaissance.
Pienza has been defined in many ways: Ideal City, Utopia City, City of Author, but no one else like the poet Giovanni Pascoli gave a more fascinating definition. He called the city “born from a thought of love and a dream of beauty.”
To discover and appreciate Pienza it is important to walk the old streets where Renaissance and Middle Ages blend in the architectural structure and in the artistic flourishes giving this city its unique character.
The city historical centre is truly a gem. This is built around the Piazza Pio XII, which still represents the centre of city life. (more…)
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Posted by internetauthor on October 11th, 2011 — in Tuscany
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Lucca is easily one of the top destinations in Tuscany. Among the many sights and sounds to be found in this ancient city, you’ll find the best preserved wall of any of the walled cities. Lucca has close to one hundred ancient churches and there are excellent streets for walking, hiking and just browsing through endless arrays of shops and restaurants, but the most intriguing part is that the entire city is completely enclosed within the ancient walls.
The Walls of Lucca
Not only can you walk around the walls surrounding Lucca, you can actually walk on top of the walls. If you were to hop on top of the walls, you’d be able to see the entire town while carefully navigating your way completely around the city and back to your starting point. In fact, the whole town tends to walk on top of the walls since they have been planted with pretty trees and grass making the walls a very extended park or walking trail of sorts around the city. (more…)
Posted by grazia on October 4th, 2011 — in Italy, Tuscany
The Italian culinary scene is really rich. Saying that each region has its own kitchen is restrictive. Actually we should say that every city has its recipes that can be or completely unrelated to those of the neighbouring city or a variation on a recipe typical of the area.
Tuscany is located west of the Apennines, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. It has a triangular shape. One side follows the coast and the other two move into the countryside up to the Apennines, so including small or big hills or even mountain.
Therefore it’s no wonder that Tuscan cuisine is rich in both meat and fish.
But one of the most typical items of this region is the bread. Tuscan bread is without salt and that’s what makes it unique among the other Italian bred.
Among the various cities Florence is famous for the “bistecca alla fiorentina” (T-bone steak), “ribollita” and “schiacciata con l’uva” (crushed with the grapes).
Prato is famous for the well-known “cantucci di Prato” (nooks of Prato), typical dessert always eaten with “Vin Santo”, a sweet and amber wine in which these small cakes are dipped before being eaten.
Grosseto and the Maremma area are famous for “Acquacotta”. This strange name comes from the poorness of the main ingredient: the water. What’s more miserable of boiled water? They add to the water: bread, salad, eggs, mushrooms, cheese and seasonings as oil and salt.
The typical Tuscan antipasto is based on cured meats and crostini. Crostini are small slices of toasted bread on which a variety of sauces and condiments are laid. (more…)
Posted by internetauthor on September 26th, 2011 — in Tuscany
Tuscany is a rich cultural experience no matter which city you find yourself exploring, and among the finest Tuscan cities, Siena is an excellent blend of interesting traditions, fascinating culture and unique opportunities. You’ll find a host of things to do and see in Siena and many of them are a far cry different than what you’d expect in larger cities like Rome and Florence.
Il Palio
Siena is well known for many things, but one of the most popular events in the city is the annual horse race called Il Palio. A historic festival, the seventeen neighborhoods of Siena all compete against one another in a horse race in the center of town. The Piazza del Campo is prepared for the race and the seventeen neighborhoods draw for a spot in the race (more…)
Posted by grazia on September 5th, 2011 — in Italy, Tuscany
The Hermitage of Montesiepi and the Abbey of San Galgano are one of the most beautiful architectural 
complexes in all of Tuscany.
They are located in the province of Siena, in the valley of the river Merse. The nearest towns are Chiusdino and Monticiano.
The Abbey is a building structured as a Latin cross, consisting of 3 naves. It is 71 meters long and 21 meters wide. Its architecture is typical of the Cistercian buildings and also the place where it was built observes the rules of this religious order: it is isolated from the houses, built in the middle of a vast plain and close to rivers.
The building is now roofless and this creates a really impressive view in any season of the year: with green grass or snow.
In the hermitage of Montesiepi there is the sword of St. Galgano, stuck in the stone. This is the most fascinating part of the history of this architectural complex. (more…)
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