www.Tuscany-Traveller.com - Itineraries

The best of Chianti

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0200

Land of Poets

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Tuscan art cities

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A handful of medieval villages, a generous quantity of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance masterpieces, and a sprinkling of vineyards and olive groves, and voilà! a marvelous Tuscan cocktail ready for the tasting.

This itinerary exploring some of Tuscany's most beautiful art cities commences in Prato. Since medieval times the city has been a major textile manufacturer, as is demonstrated by the fascinating exhibitions in Prato's Textile Museum. The city's splendid religious and civic buildings are yet another indication of Prato's past commercial importance. In the 13th century Prato was the seat of the Imperial Viceroy of Tuscany and it was here that Frederick II of Swabia constructed the region's only Frederician fortress: the Emperor's Castle. Linking this imposing edifice with the defensive perimeter walls of the city there is an elevated passageway, recently restored, known as the "Cassero". The city's Basilica di Santa Maria delle Carceri and the Cathedral of...

Towns of Val d'Orcia

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0200

A glass of Brunello di Montalcino before commencing and a slice of Pienza's Pecorino cheese with which to conclude our journey through Val D'Orcia. The Orcia valley is famous throughout the world as producer of some of Italy's most highly prized gastronomic specialties, but even more so for its marvelous rolling countryside, enchanting little villages, and beautifully conserved medieval hill top towns.

The valley is traversed by the river to which it owes its name and by the via Francigena, the medieval pilgrim route linking Rome with Canterbury. Our journey commences in Montalcino, town guarded over by an imposing 14th century fortress and encircled by a thick medieval perimeter wall. Montalcino has a number of attractive houses of worship including the 14th century churches of Sant Egidio and Sant Agostino and an impressive neoclassical cathedral. Just a few kilometers from Montalcino lies the Abbey of Sant Antimo, a superb example of Romanesque architecture which, according to...

Maremma and the Etruscans

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0200

From Grosseto, we take the Aurelia highway in the direction of Rome and after 12 kms we arrive at Alberese, one of the main access points to the Regional Park of the Maremma, known also as the "Uccellina Park": 10000 hectares and 20 kms of coast, a natural paradise with marsh lands, pine and deciduous woods, ancient watch towers, immense beaches. A harmonious union of land and sea, sandy dunes and mountains; where horses roam free and the highly prized cows of Maremma are bred. The park can be visited on horseback, by carriage, by canoe and by bike, throughout the year.

Continuing along the Aurelia, after 17 kms we come to the ancient settlement of Talamone, rising up on a rocky promontory directly above the sea, and famous for its impressive fortress.

A few kilometers further and we reach "Tombolo", a long tongue of sand which divides the Lagoon of Orbetello in the Laguna di Ponente and the Laguna di Levante. Orbetello, situated in the middle of this...

The sea and hills of Versilia

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0200

The elegant town of Viareggio is the natural point of departure from where to head off in to the hillside of Versilia. Among the most popular seaside towns on Italy's Tyrrhenian coast, Viareggio is best known internationally for its Carnival. For a whole month of the year, the streets are animated by a succession of parties, parades of street performers in flamboyant costumes, and processions of floats transporting immense satiric reproductions of politicians and celebrities through the town. Obligatory a walk along the sea front promenade which, from the harbour, proceeds for some 3kms along Viale Margherita skirting a fabulous beach of fine sand. This historic street, lined with striking Liberty style buildings, is home to a great array of boutiques where to buy articles of the best Italian designer fashion, and chic, open air café where to sip a drink whilst awaiting the opening of the numerous clubs and bars in which to experience Viareggio "by night". Before...

From Florence to Chianti

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Florence possesses an artistic heritage of immense and quite incalculable value. The magnificent cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the spiritual heart of the city and its astounding cupola is one of Brunelleschi's greatest architectural achievements.
Right next to the duomo, one finds another masterpiece, the bell tower which bears the name of the great 14th century artist Giotto, and is considered to be one of the finest in the whole of Italy.
Piazza della Signoria, dominated by the majestic Palazzo Vecchio, represents the administrative center of Florence. Just steps away from the square lies the Uffizi Gallery, which houses artworks by history's most celebrated artists.
It would be quite impossible to mention here each of the many sites worthy of visit in the city, so we must cite just a few: the Spedale degli Innocenti, the Accademia galleries, the Bargello Museum. And then there are the churches: Santa Croce, Santa Maria del Carmine, Santa Maria Novella, Orsanmichele; all...

Crete Senesi

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Graceful lines of cypress trees, hills dotted with olive trees, rows of grape vines which follow the rise and fall of the land. We are in the heart of Tuscany, immersed in a landscape where the city of Siena, with its magnificent cathedral, reigns supreme. Innumerable the places to visit within the city's medieval perimeter walls: first and foremost the immense central square of Piazza del Campo where, twice a year (on the 2nd of July and 16th of August), the famous Palio horse race is run. An impressive number of artistic masterpieces are housed in Siena's museums, including works by Duccio di Buoninsegna, Simone Martini, Pinturicchio, and Jacopo della Quercia.

South of Siena, extending over some five hundred square kilometers, we find the stunning Crete Senesi. Travelling along the Via Laurentana towards Asciano, we pass through the ochre colored hillside from which the deep "sienna" yellow is obtained, a color which featured predominantly on the canvases of...