A Taste of Tuscany
Our first expedition was to the ancient, picturesque village of Bagno Vignoni. The heart of the village is the Square of Sources, a 16th century rectangular tank which contains the original source of the village’s thermal springs, in use since Roman times. You can even paddle and test the waters! We continued to Pienza where, in addition to the amazing architecture, there are stunning views from its hilltop position over the Val d’Orcia. Pienza is also reputed to be home of the world’s best sheep cheese, pecorino, which can be sampled in the local shops.
We continued on through a patchwork of vineyards, orchards and fields dotted with villas, castles and small villages to Montepulciano. This 16th century fortified hill town is crammed with palaces and churches. It is also a major producer of food and drink and we were able to sample a little, courtesy of La Croce Di Febo wine estate, including the famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. We learned about the vineyard’s production of wines and olive oils and its progression from farm to agro tourism. A brief stop was then made at a small olive pressing factory to see how local people can bring their own produce to be processed.
The following day an early start permitted us to visit the Piazzale Michelangelo to enjoy a magnificent aerial view of Florence prior to meeting our local guide for a comprehensive walking tour of major attractions such as the Basilica of Santa Croce and the Ponte Vecchio. Florence is also home to such masters as Michelangelo, Leonard da Vinci and Dante. Our excellent guide’s final piece of information was to suggest a visit to a ‘gelateria’ for some local ice cream, definitely to be recommended!
Our third day was spent in Siena, famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the famous horse race, the Palio which takes place in July and August each year. We continued on to San Gimignano, a walled medieval hill town known as the ‘Town of Fine Towers’ due to the vast numbers built by feuding families as status symbols in medieval times. The town also claims to host Italy’s “Best Gelataria”!
Our final evening was spent at Palazzo Bandino near Chinciano. This working farm has been owned by the same family for generations and dates back to the 16th century. It produces excellent wines and olive oils which we were able to taste during our final Tuscan feast! The farm also has rooms in the main house which are available to book as well as garden cottages. It offers wine tastings and cookery classes in addition to relaxation in the swimming pool and spa.
Our final day saw us heading to Rome to enjoy a whistle stop tour of the most important sites, such as the Vatican, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, a brief taster of what the city has to offer.
The trip was a mere taste of what Tuscany has to offer and I would certainly recommend a longer stay. A guided tour is an excellent way of maximising your experience!