I had been travelling around Tuscany for years, but somehow I never made it to the southern part, close to Lazio. This is a less visited area of Tuscany, quite far from the Florence-Siena-Pisa triangle, so most tourist groups avoid it. This fact makes it wonderfully quiet. Pitigliano perched on top...
I had seen the impressive walled town of Monteriggioni sitting on top of a hill many times while driving on the highway between Florence and Siena. Then one day I finally had the time and made the turn off to see what is hiding behind the medieval walls. I have found a cute village, definitely worth...
You all know the name Vinci. But probably many of you don't know that it's not only the name of a Renaissance genius, but it's also a wonderful small town in Tuscany. It's not a coincidence, as Leonardo was born here on April 15, 1452. Most travellers visit Vinci because of the famous polymath, but...
If you think of Tuscany, you'll be thinking about green rolling hills, olive groves, cypress lanes and vineyards. Rocky mountain peaks and ski hills will probably not come to your mind, although this is also Tuscany. The splendid Garfagnana valley can be found in the northern part of Tuscany, betwee...
When I first visited Tuscany with my friends 15 years ago, we just spent a few days in the northern part. (Little did I know that only a year later, I would be working around Italy as a tour leader, returning to Tuscany over and over again.) During this first visit, I was looking at the postcards sh...
Volpaia is a charming Tuscan village with just a few inhabitants, another one of my favourites besides Montefioralle. This wine-making hamlet is hiding among the Chianti hills, and it's easy to just drive by. But you shouldn't! Watch out for the signs by the road between Greve and Rhadda in Chianti,...
I have discovered the tiny village of Montefioralle by accident, when I was driving around aimlessly on the winding Chianti roads, stopping all the time to capture the beauty of the Tuscan countryside with my camera. I have returned several times since then, and while booking an agriturismo for my c...
Lucca is still overshadowed by other Tuscan towns like Florence, Pisa or Siena, but if you are planning to go beyond the main sights during your Tuscan road trip, make sure you don't miss this gem. It’s worth spending a couple of nights in Lucca, but if you only have a day in the area, you can combi...
While Italy has 20 stunning regions, Under the Tuscan Sun, Stealing Beauty, Tea with Mussilini and other books and movies have made Tuscany one of Italy's most famous regions. Tuscany - or Toscana - is waiting for visitors with a great variety of landscapes and uncountable treasures. Rolling h...
As an advocate of slow travel, I always recommend staying longer in one place and making sure the amount you spend on accommodation stays with the local community. In Procida this is quite easy, as most hotels and apartments are owned and run by local people. Although you can find wonderful hotels a...
After arriving at Procida and settling into our apartment, we first headed to the marina with the name that is impossible to pronounce. Chiaiolella harbour is located at the southern end of the island, just opposite from Marina Grande, the main port of Procida. Although less visited than Marina...
I have been to many amazing beaches in my life. Thailand, New Zealand, Costa Rica and Mexico are at the top of my "favourite beach" list. And Italy, of course, with its turquoise sea and white sand or rocky beaches in Liguria, Puglia, Sardinia or Sicily. To be honest, the beaches of Procida are not...
