Tuscan Countryside Tours

Here is a short video that I took few months ago when I went to visit my friends Francesca and Beatrice at Salvadonica. I hope you enjoy it.

Tuscan Countryside tours offers travel consulting, and reservation services for people interested in experience Tuscany off the beaten path. For additional information please contact us at:Tuscan@Optonline.net

Here are few pictures of San Gimignano. One of my favorites town in Tuscany. San Gimignano is famous in Tuscany for its many towers. San Gimignano was on the “Via Franchigena”, the road that was build by the Franks in the Middle ages that was connecting the North of Europe to Rome. This road was the first major project that was realized after the crash of the Roman Empire. The Via Franchigena allowed religious pilgrims to reach Rome. After the construction of this road San Gimignano became a very wealthy town. To show their wealth the rich families of San Gimignano started to build tall houses, that looked more like towers. At same point there were almost 100 towers, then the city banned the construction of these towers. An earthquake and the many wars that were fought in Italy reduced dramatically the number of towers. San Gimignano is about 40 minute from Florence, and about 20 min from Siena. I took this pictures during my trip to Italy in 2009.

Tuscan Countryside tours offers travel consulting, and reservation services to people interested in experience Tuscany off the beaten path. For additional information please contact us at:Tuscan@Optonline.net

During my recent trip that I took back to Florence I had the opportunity to find and to enjoy many of special foods that I am particularly found of of. Like Prosciutto Toscano, Salsicce, Salame, Pancetta and Porchetta of course. These are very traditional Tuscan food, and in many cases is impossible to find them here in the US. Lilke in the case of the Tuscan Prosciutto. This type of prosciutto is saltier that the Prosciutto di Parma, or the San Daniele which are the Prosciutti usually available here in the US. The Prosciutto Toscano is cured differently, salt, and pepper are used profusely. This different preparation gives the Prosciutto Toscano a more rustic flavor.
Porchetta is another popular Italian food that is hard to find here in the US. Usually Porchetta’s sandwich are sold on the streets during country festivals. I took most of the photos of the slideshow at a local marke closed to where my mom lives. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to capture the aromas of these food, but I can assure you that they tasted very good.

I just got back from Tuscany. While I was there I went to visit my friends Francesca and Beatrice at Salvadonica. They run one the most charming Bed & Breakfast in Tuscany. Here are some of the photos that I took last week. You can find more information about this Agriturismo on their web site www.salvadonica.com

Tuscan Countryside tours offers travel consulting, and reservation services for people interested in experience Tuscany off the beaten path. For additional information please contact us at Tuscan@Optonline.net

During one of my last trip to Florence I stopped to say hello to my friend Giovanni e Vetulio of the Gelateria il Triangolo delle Bermuda. Below is the short video that I took of my visit. The Ice Cream Parlor is located in Via Nazionale, within walking distance of the Florence’s main train station. If you are in Florence stopped by my friends and mention that you saw this video on the blogsphere.
Tuscan Countryside tours offers travel consulting, and reservation services for people interested in experience Tuscany off the beaten path. For additional information please contact us at Tuscan@Optonline.net

I just got back from my latest trip to Italy. While I was there I went to visit my friends Francesca and Beatrice at Salvadonica. Here is a short video that I took there. In the next few days I am going to upload more videos about one of my favorite bed & breakfast in Tuscany. You can find more information about this really charming place on their web site www.salvadonica.com

Tuscan Countryside tours offers travel consulting, and reservation services for people interested in experience Tuscany off the beaten path. For additional information leave us a comment or send us an e-mail at Tuscan@Optonline.net

While I was in Italy in September I went to visit the Piaggio Museum in Pontedera. Pontedera is just outside Pisa, and about 40 minutes from Florence. Piaggio is the company that after WWII invented the concept of the Scooter, which they named Vespa. Inside the museum you will be able to see some of the first models of the Vespa, together to competion, or special edition Vespas. The museum is well kept, and the entrance is free.

Tuscan Countryside tours offers travel consulting, and reservation services for people interested in experience Tuscany off the beaten path. For additional information please contact us at Tuscan@Optonline.net

The archaeological area of Fiesole is filled with findings of exceptional interest, all of which are displayed in its natural environment the harmonious landscape of the Tuscan Countryside. The Roman Theater in Fiesole is the main attraction of the area, it is very well preserved including the large steps, the stage, and the marble decorations. The ancient Roman Baths, with their great arches and their frigidarium and calidarium can be visited as well, and can give us a glimpse of the Roman way of life.

Tuscan Countryside tours offers travel consulting, and reservation services for people interested in experience Tuscany off the beaten path. For additional information please contact us at Tuscan@Optonline.net

If you are in Tuscany or in Florence this September try not to miss this great event. At this year’s 2009 Florence Wine Event Festival the best Italian and Tuscany wine companies will be presenting their most excellent wines such as Chianti, Bolgheri, Brunello, Nobile
and the whites from the north. More than 100 wine producers are partecipating to this event. These great wines will be available to taste in the splendid piazzas of Florenc: Piazza Pitti, Santo Spirito and Piazza della Passera, Piazza Demidoff in San Niccolò district. You can acquire your wine tasting glass showing this brochure at any Glass point and begin your splendid wine tasting tour in one of the many characteristic hot spots in Florence, Oltrarno.

Let’s start by having a toast!

For more information about this event contact Florence Wine Event

Courtesy of intoscana the official Tourism Site of Tuscany