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Villa delle Palme
2007-09-05 05:30:22
Five of us spent a week at Villa delle Palme, in Quattro Strade, in late August 2007. You drive down a long private cypress-lined driveway to the elegant security gates and enter what looks like a film set. The swimming pool is to the right, beyond which there is open countryside, and the formal gardens continue on this side (topiary, feature fountains, palms), ending with a small orchard within which there was a delightful gazebo with barbecue, at which point the villa appears on the left. Parking opposite the side door, you discover that the large main building is all yours - the family live in the attached (but very separate) annex. They were very quiet and well-behaved, except for one night where they must have had a party! The villa seems to have had a lot of money spent on it recently. Both the interior and exterior were in immaculate condition. The floors were all tiled, on both floors, and the sense of style, grandeur and spaciousness made us feel very special. The hou


Tavernelle, Cooking Class
2007-09-04 11:30:11
Whilst, in my opinion, Florence is the most beautiful and romantic city in the world, a two stop trip is needed to fully appreciate the delights of the region. A few nights in Florence (early or late season) then a few nights in a villa in the countryside gives the best of both worlds and an experience to fill the soul with beauty, romance and some of the best food and wine on the planet! I highly recommend seeking out Osteria La Gramola in the village of Tavernelle. The couple running it left their city jobs to recreate typical Tuscan fare from their grandma’s recipes. No fusion or fussy cooking, just tradition, passion and quality products, plus an excellent cookery school. We joined four others to make Tuscan tomato soup (beats Heinz hands down) drunken pork and biscotti washed down with a different wine for each course. Plus the most amazing selection of cheeses and honeys…we bought a selection of the wines and honey to take home and they still make me smile to just se


Villa Spotlight: Villa Felciai
2007-09-03 07:00:25
Our first, two-part Villa Spotlight series continues with Villa Felciai. Make sure to view the previous villa spotlight entry regarding Villa Fabbri . We are proud to offer you this pair of villas perfect for large groups coming to Tuscany for a wedding, family reunion or whatever the reason. Villa Felciai and Villa Fabbri are close to each other, roughly 200m (220 yards), but completely independent properties for those interested in renting only one of them. Both villas are part of the huge estate of the Villa La Selva, where the owners live and oversee their winery and other operations. Villa Felciai has 11 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms and can sleep a maximum of 24 people more than comfortably. The villa is on a small country road just outside of the medieval hamlet of Monte Benichi, a secluded area of Tuscany that lies between Siena and Arezzo. Roughly 20 minutes from Siena, you are close enough to visit without a hassle but far enough away that you will be able to enjoy the peace


Wi-Fi in Tuscany
2007-09-02 09:06:06
If you need access to the internet while traveling in Tuscany and the villa you’re renting doesn’t offer internet access there is no reason to panic. With over 400 Wi-Fi points throughout Tuscany, getting online is not as big a problem as it once was. With more and more hotspots coming online each month, finding an internet connection will become easier as time goes on. For those of you unfamiliar with hotspots, a hotspot is a location with a wireless internet connection that is open to the public. Sometimes it’s free and in some cases it is fee-based. Connection to the network is made through your wireless adapter in your laptop or other hardware. There are a good number of sources online that can educate you about the wi-fi industry. A simple Google search for ‘what is wi-fi‘ will yield abundant results. How to find a Wi-Fi Hotspot? Good question! There are online directories that provide lists on hotspots throughout Italy, and the world for that


Villa Spotlight: Villa Fabbri
2007-09-02 07:00:06
Who doesn’t want a dream wedding? Many of us fantasize about whisking our closest friends and relatives away to Tuscany for our wedding, but few are lucky enough to follow through with this dream. In our first two-part Villa Spotlight we are proud to offer you a pair of villas perfect for a large group coming to Tuscany, whatever the reason. Villa Fabbri and Villa Felciai are close to each other, but completely independent properties for those interested in renting only one of them. Both villas are part of the huge estate of the Villa La Selva, where the owners live and oversee their winery and other operations. Villa Fabbri has 10 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms and can sleep a maximum of 22 people. This large property has gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside, and also has a private swimming pool for exclusive use by the guests. Comprised of two separate buildings right next to each other, the Villa Fabbri’s large living spaces are ideal for a large group but witho


Spinaci alla Fiorentina
2007-09-01 07:00:27
Spinach in Florentine style. Ingredients: Spinach fresh and clean 1 kg Olive Oil 2 garlic cloves Béchamel sauce (2 cups) Grated Parmesan Salt and Pepper (more…)


Villa Spotlight: Palazzo Rosadi
2007-08-30 13:23:40
Welcome back to Villa Spotlight : where we point out some of the villas that we believe stand out. Some offer a peaceful and relaxed vacation spot, some offer a great location to act as a launching point for your site-seeing through Tuscany, some are perfect for the newlyweds on a budget, and then we have properties like Palazzo Rosadi that seem to be a veritable fortress of luxury and beauty. “Fabulous villa in a fabulous part of Tuscany. Highly recommended!”-Charles F. - Exeter, New Hampshire Palazzo Rosadi has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, allowing it to accommodate up to twelve people with comfort. This villa is over two hundred years old and has been in the Rosadi family much of that span. It presided over the area and the family operated several farms from Palazzo Rosadi, which underwent some extensions of its own as the family grew. An artist from Monterechi was hired to paint in some of the rooms, and the brilliant colors of these paintings are still there


Ribollita
2007-08-29 12:25:32
A hearty bread and vegetable soup; traditionally made from minestrone soup and the leftovers then layered with bread and baked for a dish on the second day, and then the third day ribollita was made. This is a recipe to get there a little faster. Enjoy! Ingredients: Dried white beans 400gr 1/2 Savoy cabbage 2 bunches black Tuscan cabbage 3 ripe or canned tomatoes 1 stalk celery 2 carrots 1 garlic glove 2 onions 1 peperoncino (red pepper) 4 potatoes 2 bunches beet or fresh spinach Extra virgin olive oil Whole wheat bread (pane casalingo) Salt and Pepper Preparation: Cook the beans (soak overnight), retaining all the cooking water; take about three quarters and strain straight back into their water. Keep aside the rest of the beans. In a large pot, sauté the chopped onions together with a clove of garlic in olive oil. When these are golden, add the sliced celery, carrots and peperoncino . Sauté for a while and then add the chopped tomatoes, Savoy cabbage, black Tuscan cabbage,


Tuscan Cuisine
2007-08-27 12:31:56
Regional cuisines can develop for a myriad of reasons: types of food grown in the area, wealth of the area, or simple preference. Areas of great wealth are able to import exotic spices or ingredients and incorporate them over time into the normal meals of the area. Regions with bland ingredients tend to more, and often hotter spices than regions with more rich and flavorful ingredients. The area now known as Tuscany has been populated since at least 1,000 B.C., though the exact history of the ancient Etruscan settlements there are unknown. Tuscany has had over three thousand years to refine the cultivation of its local ingredients and its own style of cuisine. Tuscan cuisine is the epitome of rich ingredients. Often forgoing thick and heavy sauces or heavily spiced dishes, Tuscan cooks let “the food do the talking”. The region is well known for its hearty soups, olive oil, fine wines, delicious cheeses, unsalted breads and flavorful meats. Each and every element of the Tuscan
Read more: Cuisine

Duomo di Siena
2007-08-26 08:00:47
According to legend, Siena was founded by the sons of the fabled founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. One rode a black horse and the other a white horse, giving the city its symbolic colors that continue today in the symbol of the commune on its coat of arms. The city’s colors and legends also live on in one of the most memorable sites the city has to offer: the Duomo di Siena. The Duomo di Siena was built with striped white and black marble, echoing the city’s colors all the way up to the bell tower. The impressive cathedral was built in many different spurts of construction, with additions after the departure of a former architect or artisan, as well as, when the church simply needed an expansion. One massive expansion was planned in the fourteenth century that would have doubled the size of the church as it is today, but unfortunately was not completed as the Black Death had finally visited fair Siena. Though after construction had began on the expansion it was ev


Wild Boar Festival of Suvereto
2007-09-27 14:17:30
Suvereto is a small medieval town of no more than a few thousand people that lies close to the sea.  It lies in the Livorno province of Tuscany,  and is roughly 90km from Florence and 60km from the city of Livorno.  This isolated coastal town is small and peaceful, having no more than a few thousand residents.  But for one week a year, the city comes to life with a festival celebrating one of the famous delicacies of Tuscany, wild boar.Typically held during the first week of December, it has become one of the most visited events in the Maremma region.  Stands are set up throughout the town and grills are fired up as they show off one of their most prized ingredient of local cuisine.  The booths also show off the other locally produced specialties such as wine, olive oil, and honey.  The restaurants of Suvereto go all out as they prepare theme dinners centering on wild boar.  The festival includes historic reenactments, archery competitions and exhibitions, as well as other med
Read more: Festival

Sugo Di Carne
2007-09-26 16:40:55
Marina’s own recipe for meat sauce. This will make enough sauce for roughly four people. Ingredients: Beef cutlets 200 gr Ripe (canned) plum tomatoes 500 gr 1 onion 1 carrot 1 stalk celery 1 glass of red wine parsley Extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper (more…)


Giostra del Saracino
2007-09-26 15:40:44
As small of a region as Tuscany is compared to many other vacation areas of the world, it has full of a diversity and uniqueness that keeps people coming back year after year. You can visit a town several times, and still not see everything it has to offer, and the festivals that are so prevalent across Tuscany are a prime example of this.  This time, we will be visiting the beautiful city of Arezzo. Arezzo is host to an annual event called the Giostra del Saracino, in which the town divides itself up into sections and each section picks a champion to represent it in the event.  The event dates back to a medieval times and has been celebrated every year since.  The competitors charge an armored target, with points being awarded for accuracy. The magnificent Piazza Grande is host to the event, with the jousting going on in the center of the large square.  The town is covered during the festival with vendors and things happening across the city.  Much of the town dresses in medieva


Villa Spotlight: Le Masse
2007-09-25 17:00:50
Today on villa spotlight we will once again be looking at the Chianti region of Tuscany. A region well known for its beauty as well as the signature product that gives the region its name. Once only a small region between a few cities, the region was expanded to encompass a broader area and sub-regions were created to differentiate them from one another. Though the entirety of the original Chianti is within Chianti Classico, land was added to it as well. “Le Masse is beautifully situated above the charming Chianti town of Greve. It is also very centrally located for trips to Florence and all the wonderful wineries, restaurants, and spectacular small hilltop villiages and castles that dot the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany. Definitely a great place to stay.” -Matthew from Indianapolis, IN (more…)
Read more: Villa , Spotlight

Reader Submission: Residenze il Palazzetto Agriturismo
2007-09-25 10:00:13
The villa is gorgeous !!! If you want to feel real Italy this is the place to go. The villa is in very quite place, about 2 min.(by car and 15 min. if you walk) from the the beautiful city of Castelnuovo Di Garfagnana’ and just 10meters outside the woods. The owners are really a great, very nice couple. The house has 3 bedrooms each with a bathroom’ - just like in the pictures. The kitchen is fully equipped - and I mean fully, it has everything except the microwave (but you won’t be needing it anyway, ’cause the food is so delicious you will cook and eat it immediately) . There is a market in the city every Thursday (since 1430) ! The restaurants are great, all the little towns around are like in fairy tales. I really recommend to visit Barga and Vagi di Sotto. There are 2 supermarkets in the city, and there is a huge supermarket about 15 min. outside the city in the direction of Lucca it called E.LECLERC, you won’t miss the sign. The place has 3 houses,
Read more: Reader , Submission

Strozzapreti
2007-09-24 02:00:32
A spinach gnocchi dish with pecorino cheese. The name “strozzapreti ” means “priest throttlers” because, according to the popular legend, the medieval priests were very greedy and known to eat a lot. Ingredients: Spinach, cooked, squeezed, dry 350gr Ricotta cheese 350gr 3 whole eggs and 3 yolks Parmesan cheese and pecorino cheese 100gr Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg Flour as needed (more…)


Villa Spotlight: La Certosina
2007-09-23 08:00:33
Welcome back to our recurring article, Villa Spotlight ! Today we will be turning our spotlight on Lucca, a wonderful Tuscan town with a long history. Like many villas, La Certosina is outside of the main city and is much better for those looking for a quiet and relaxing vacation in Tuscany. La Certosina actually lies in a hamlet called Formentale, and is only a few kilometers from the walled historic city center of Lucca. Formentale was a settlement created by the Certosas fraternity of monks, and the Certosa Monastery still stands today. Olive groves and hectares of fruit trees surround the little town, making for a beautiful and relaxing location for your holiday. “This villa provided an incredibly scenic and quiet hilltop haven to download from a day of traveling to nearby cities and attractions. The nights were so peaceful; the mornings announced by nearby roosters crowing. Rustic, yes, but it had all the creature comforts we needed, including a beautiful black gatti to


Sagra Del Tordo
2007-09-22 08:30:24
There are many different festivals held throughout Tuscany and Italy as a whole. Each has their own charming flair, similar but different from all the others. All of the town comes out to enjoy a little competition between the different neighborhoods, usually competing for nothing more than bragging rights until the next event. Good food, drink and a fun time are had by all and while you may think outsiders are not welcome during these times, the warmth and hospitality that is so common among the Italian people is sure to make you feel right at home. Unlike the Palio or the Bravio delle Botti, the Sagra Del Tordo is not a race among the neighborhoods. It is a medieval archery competition that is held every year during the last weekend of October. Its best to arrive before the event if you are planning on staying in Montalcino (not to mention booking early) as people who arrive during the festival will have to park sometimes more than a kilometer away from the town and face the up


Arista alla Contadina
2007-09-21 08:35:01
A roasted pork sirloin in country style. Ingredients: Pork sirloin 1,5 kg with bone (3.3 lbs) 4 Garlic Cloves 2 sprigs Rosemary Sage 2 Bay Leaves Marjoram Tarragon Mint Olive Oil Salt and Pepper (more…)


Villa Spotlight: Capannina
2007-09-20 07:00:06
Welcome to this weeks Villa Spotlight , in which we’ll be covering a smaller villa in San Gimignano named Capannina. Nestled on a hill, in the many hills around the small town of San Gimignano with gorgeous views all around of the many olive groves and vineyards that produce the wonderful Vernaccia di San Gimignano. In the distance you can even see the towers that the little medieval town is so well known for. “This villa is very small, but beautifully formed! It has all the essential things you need, including kitchen area with fridge, microwave and oven. The location is fantastic, with the views over the Tuscan countryside from the pool and the main bedroom being second to none! A car is definitely needed for the visits to the hilltop villages, and the closest restaurant Antico Desco is highly recommended. I would highly recommend this villa, but if you’re wanting it to be completely without anyone close by you might be disappointed as it’s on the same site


Villa Spotlight: Fattoria Della Nave - Part 2
2007-10-02 15:30:35
Welcome back to our Villa Spotlight on the magnificent collection of rentals known as Fattoria Della Nave! Yesterday we focused on the grounds and area surrounding the Della Nave property, and today we will be taking a closer look at the rentals themselves. Each one has been well appointed with fine furnishings, both comfortable and classic. First we will be looking at the original villa part of the property, containing five separate apartments. (more…)


Villa Spotlight: Fattoria Della Nave - Part 1
2007-10-01 15:30:17
In the past we have discussed multi-unit villas in our Villa Spotlight , and they can be such wonderful properties that we will be revisiting these large rentals once again. Multi-unit villas can offer the luxury of a larger villa, but in smaller spaces if you are traveling with just a few people in your party. On the other hand, if your party is rather large a multi-unit villa can keep all your guests together in one place without crowding a single house. These advantages, among other things, make them so attractive to certain situations. The villa we are looking at for the next few days is the amazing and gorgeous Fattoria Della Nave. This property has been in the Della Nave family and has been their summer house for over 200 years. It was constructed in the eighteenth century and still remains this character despite some renovations over the years. Fattoria Della Nave is made up by nine separate units and lies in Terranuova Bracciolini in the province of Arezzo. The entire p


Lake Trasimeno
2007-09-30 08:30:07
Lake Trasimeno is one of the most beautiful lakes on the Italian peninsula. It lies just over the border of Tuscany near Cortona, and dominates the northwestern part of Umbria. The is surrounded on three sides by the hills that are so common throughout the region, with a lowland stretching out from the west of the lake.  Olive groves dot the hills surrounding the area, and hills nearest Tuscany also grow many grapes, along with other fruits and vegetables.  The climate here is warmer that the other hills surrounding the lake, as they are at a lower elevation.  Portions of the shores are covered in many older pines, willows and poplars; many of them over 30m tall. The towns on the lake are all rather small in population.  Some of the notable ones are Passignano sul Trasimeno, Tuoro, Monte del Lago, Torricella, San Feliciano, San Arcangelo, Castiglione del Lago, and Borghetto.  Castiglione del Lago is probably the most well known as its the largest peninsula onto the lake and has


Torta con L’Uva
2007-09-29 08:30:07
The traditional recipe is made with dough and black grape. It’s delicious but I think it’s more appropriate for brunch or a snack because is very energetic. I substitute this with the following delicious recipe, according to me, as much the original. Ingredients: 250 gr plain white flour 150 gr sugar 4 eggs Baking powder 3 tablespoons of olive oil Black grape about 500 gr Brown sugar (more…)


Acciugata
2007-10-11 12:52:50
Acciugata is an anchovy sauce that can be used in a variety of applications as a condiment: meat, pasta, and seafood. Though this recipe is a modern adaptation, the basic recipe has been around for thousands of years. Dating back to Ancient Greek times, a salty fishy sauce named garum was popular in all levels of society. The Romans later adopted the sauce from the Greeks and remained popular throughout the Empire. Ingredients: 4 Salted Anchovies 1 Garlic Clove 1 tbsp Capers Parsley, finely chopped Olive Oil Salt and Pepper (more…)


Lesso Rifatto
2007-10-10 15:58:09
Lesso Rifatto was the most popular and most inexpensive dish for the farmer in our countryside, served with lots of potatoes and sometimes re-heated . Ingredients: Mixed meats as : half hen, beef meat as lean, tongue, top rib,1 or 2 bones (Ask your butcher to suggest some meats in place of these if they are not available) For broth: 2 potato, 2 carrot, 1 celery stalk, 1 onions, a small piece of Savoy cabbage, 2 tomatoes, parsley, basil Salt and Pepper 3 or 4 onions Ripe or canned tomatoes 500gr (18 ounces) Sage Flour, 1 tbsp (more…)


San Miniato, Citta del Tartufo
2007-10-08 14:52:10
Sitting atop three hillsides that dominate their section of the Arno river valley, San Miniato has resided for hundreds of years. Recorded history dates back to the time of Etruscans and the Romans, but archaeological evidence shows that a settlement of some type has existed on this spot since the Paleolithic era. The city today lies in the province of Pisa and has roughly 27,000 people in it. On first inspection, San Miniato may not appear to be anything out of the ordinary for Tuscany. Look closer, and a bit lower and you just might find something though… San Miniato is known for not something that grows above ground, such as the olives and grapes that are so iconic for the region. Instead, this small town produces 25% of Italy’s white truffles, prized by chefs and gourmands everywhere. Known as the Tuber Magnatum Pico, or the Food of the Kings, it grows only centimeters below the ground and can be found in a very limited area. As many things in Italy, strict law


Sad But True: Thieves and Pickpockets
2007-10-07 10:30:28
The destinations that attract people to visit from across the globe also attract something else: pickpockets. Its sad but true, but not something that should keep you away from the beauty and majesty of Tuscany. Please take these cautionary tips to heart and go into the fray armed with this knowledge. Millions of people visit Tuscany each year and only a small percentage will have a problem like this, but make sure you do all in your power to make sure you are not in the small percentage! Europe has a very low rate of violent crime, which is great by any measure, but the theft rate is elevated from this practice of preying on tourists. On the plus side holiday villas are, more often than not, outside of the traditional tourist traps and hotels in the larger cities. A pickpocket watching you bring your luggage into the hotel and watch you come back out is sure to make you as a target. Its never possible to completely wash off that big red target on your back that says “TOUR


Salsa Verde
2007-10-06 04:30:03
This sauce was very popular in Medieval age and sold by the streets vendors that usually came from the countryside where they collected fresh herbs. There are variations of the below recipe where the addition of ginger, cinnamon, sage, cloves, or some breadcrumbs has modernized the recipe. Ingredients: 1 Large bunch of Parsley 1 Egg 2 Anchovy Fillets in oil 1 tablespoon of Capers in vinegar 1 Garlic Clove Olive Oil Salt and Pepper (more…)


Autumn in Tuscany
2007-10-04 14:42:40
As the days been to grow shorter and the evenings get cooler, you can be sure that Autumn is here. The vendemmia begins as the grapes are finally ready for the picking and the wine makers start their almost magical craft. Travelers who visit Tuscany in Autumn can typically expect several things… (more…)


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