Experience Tuscany

San Vincenzo on the Tuscany coast has a ten-kilometer long beach of fine white sand, flanked by a large strip of Mediterranean vegetation. It is the enviable hallmark of this lovely town, one of the major tourist centers on the Etruscan Coast of Tuscany.
San Vincenzo overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea, south of Livorno. The town offers great facilities and welcoming accommodations for a relaxing holiday on the Tuscan coast. A quiet place to spend a holiday in close contact with nature is easy to find on the slopes of the inimitable hilly landscapes of Tuscany.
The history of San Vincenzo is ancient. Inhabited since prehistoric times, it was an important Etruscan center, both for the proximity to Populonia and for the presence of extensive forests and minerals that favoured the offspring of foundries, making of it the major industrial zone of the area. This importance was confirmed by the Romans, who built one of their major roads near San Vincenzo, the Aurelia Road.
Following historical events, the Republic of Pisa in 1304 destroyed the castle of Biserno building a coastal tower, a customs and a loading dock. This was the inception of a new village of fishermen and farmers, the nucleus of San Vincenzo, which was recognized an independent municipality in 1949.
Today the town looks like a typical tourist town, elegant and comfortable, with ample green spaces. It is still guarded by the ancient coastal tower built by Pisa, recently restored and converted into a cultural and recreational center. From the town you can walk directly to the beautiful sandy beach.
Over ten kilometers of sand, all protected and adorned at its back by a pine tree forest. It is a beach of great natural charm, literally poised between the blue sea and the green pine trees. There are eight modern and well equipped seaside resorts to spend perfect rest days along the Tyrrhenian Sea.
From San Vincenzo you can take advantage of the nearby coastal pine forest and hills to make numerous trips and hikes, bike tours or horseback rides through places of great natural beauty. Especially noteworthy are the Natural Park of Ripigliano in the southern part of the municipal area, and the local hiking trail “Il Corbezzolo” leading through pleasant woods full of precious wildlife.
The Etruscan archaeological site of Populonia, or the medieval villages of Suvereto, Campiglia Marittima, Bolgheri, San Gimignano, to name a few, offer excellent reasons for a historic day trip. And as usual do not miss the local food culture, its special dishes and fine wines. The fish of the sea and the genuine fruits and vegetables of the Val di Cornia are the main sources of food in the area. The wines are also excellent, with prestigious names like Bolgheri.

Getting to San Vincenzo in Tuscany:

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Tuscany with its rustic ambiance, mesmerizing hills and romantic vineyards has been the
dream holiday destination for couples, and many a wedding, through out the years. But as the single woman traveller, how can you make Tuscany work for you on just one budget? We give the lone traveller a few tips and tricks to do it all by herself.

Where to Spend Your Nights
Travelling by yourself often means a smaller budget to spend on accommodation. So, we suggest going low key. Bed and breakfasts are a great option, but in tourist hotspots like Florence and Pisa they can be a bit pricey. To save some extra cash, try staying at a convent in the area. Not only do you get all the amenities you need, your room and bathroom will be spotless. And with safety not a problem, you’ll sleep extra tight.

For a more rustic stay, opt for working on a farm in the Tuscan countryside. You’ll be working about 6 hours per day for free, but the host family will set you up nicely with free accommodation and hot meals. You will have weekends all to yourself to explore the towns and see the sights.

Where to Spend Your Money
Tuscany is a shoppers paradise, and being home to a thriving textile industry has made it quite the hotspot for fashion. The budget-conscious lady will want to hit one of the 3 big factory stores near Florence. Try The Mall or the Barberino Fashion Outlet to get original pieces by labels like Prada and Gucci reduced by up to 70%.

And, trust us – after a day’s shopping here, you’ll want to make sure you have great baggage cover. These kinds of prices don’t come around too often.

Where to Spend Your Time
Your Tuscan getaway deserves a trip to the spa. But don’t worry about spending a cent. Simply head off to one of the natural springs in the area. We like the quaint village of Saturnia. It boasts two resorts called the Cascate del Mulino and Gorello, where the water bubbles up naturally from the earth at a delightful 37°C.

Apart from that, Tuscany is filled with a host of historical gems to see. Florence is rich with old world beauty and the perfect backdrop for a cup of coffee. The Leaning Tower in Pisa is also worth a visit, but be warned, going up the tower will require some cash. However if you’re running low, a picnic on the grass next to it won’t cost you a thing.

These travel tips were brought to you by Essential Travel, the award winning travel add-ons provider.

This post was submitted by Julie Richards.

Florence in Italy is among the most visited cities in Tuscany. The blunt reason is that there is so much to see and experience at so many levels (artistic, historic, mundane, literary, cultural, religious just to name a few) that anyone has a reason to visit Florence at least once. Visiting Florence is a lifetime experience. But you may get frustrated over so much to see and a limited time frame.
Supposing you have only one day to spend in Florence, what would you see? You will not be able to see it all, and you may not even want to. The best thing is to “tackle” the city from one side only, following a well defined ideal trail that covers a specific and delimited area. It seems easily said, but there are so many contiguous interesting things in Florence that some sort of guide become really necessary.
Here is a simple yet intense itinerary to tour Florence on your own and get the most out of it. It can be covered in one day or two, depending on how much time you have in your hands or willingness to deepen your knowledge of each sight.

Start from Piazza del Duomo. Here is the wonderful trio composed by the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, the San Giovanni Baptistery, and Giotto’s Bell-tower. Visit the interiors of the cathedral and climb up to the top of the bell tower for a wonderful view of Florence. The baptistery can only be visited on the ouside on most days, but be sure to admire the Porta del Paradiso golden portal by Ghiberti.
Continue on Via Roma, one the major shopping streets of Florence where you can also find Luisa Via Roma’s haute-couture. Cross the splendid Piazza della Repubblica and then stop at the Loggia di Mercato nuovo, where is the wild boar bronze named Porcellino. The Loggia was built in 1511 to host the gold and silk merchants, and is nowadays an open air market of handmade goods and souvenirs. The Porcellino is a copy of a Hellenistic sculpture preserved in the Uffizi.
Continue along Via Calimala until you reach Ponte Vecchio. This is the “latest” edition of a series of bridges that since the inception of Florence have united the two riversides in this exact place. Every time a flood destroyed a bridge, a new one was built. This one is in place since the 14th century. The gold shops lining the Ponte replaced the butcher shops banished in the late 1500s, while the top windows belong to the Corridoio Vasariano.
Cross the bridge and arrive at Palazzo Pitti, where are hosted a series of noteworthy museums. The Palatine gallery with paintings from the past centuries, the Monumental Apartments where the Medici, Lorraine and Savoys lived, the Gallery of Modern Art with paintings from the 20th century, the Silver Museum with precious heirlooms and furniture by the previous occupants. The Porcelain Museum, the Costumes Museum and the Coach Museum are all hosted in the world renown Boboli Garden at the back of the palace.
Commissioned by Eleonora da Toledo, the Boboli Gardens is the first example of Italian garden. On its many acres of hillside land it includes pools, fountains, statuary, small forests, lawns, flowerbeds, greenhouses and an amphitheater.
Leave the Palazzo and continue on the Sdrucciolo del Pitti to Santo Spirito, the splendid Early Renaissance church by Brunelleschi and Manetti. The interiors are astonishing and a must-see. From the square take Via Sant’Agostino and then Via Santa Monica to reach the Santa Maria del Carmine Church in San Frediano, a historic district of Florence. The 13th century church owes its fame to the Brancacci Chapel which adorn the interiors, frescoed by Masaccio and finished by Filippino Lippi.

Here this tour of Florence ends. Take it, let me know if you liked it, I would love to hear impressions!

Find here a detailed map of the tour. Bookmark the map’s link on your GPS device, then pull it up in Florence.

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When we think of the middle ages the images coming to our mind are those of knights, kings and epic battles, but also of great poverty, poor social status and disastrous health conditions that would often bring to plagues and epidemics of all sorts. This was due to the complete lack of a urban sewage system and waste collection and disposal. Human wastes were released into the streets, just like house garbage piled up along roads and squares. The situation in Florence in the 14th century was no better, therefore the need of hospitals was just as high as in any other city. But it must be said that while in other cities the health-care conditions were a nightmare, Florence boasted a very modern conception on health providing.
Up until the 14th century Florence health providers had been compassionate monks in monasteries and convents. With the growing population their facilities could no longer provide an adequate service. Among the first and most notable hospitals being built in Florence is that of Santa Maria founded by Folco Portinari (the father of Beatrice Portinari, the great love of Dante Alighieri). The hospital of Santa Maria was located in Piazza Santa Maria Nuova, however on the opposite side of today’s hospital named Santa Maria Nuova. Nuova means new, given to the name of the hospital when it was moved to the current location.
Florence had many other hospitals in addition to this one. By 1340 on the entire city territory stood 30 hospitals, for a total occupancy of more than a thousand beds. The entire population of Florence was of about 90 thousand, for an average of a bed every 90 people, which is a great standard for those times, and also for our days.
Moreover, Florentine hospitals were conceived with contemporary concepts. Each resident had his own bed, personal tableware items, and a personal chamber pot. These simple devices helped decrease the contagiousness of inmate illnesses. In addition the linen of each bed was regularly changed and each had a pillow with a interchangeable pillowcase. Moreover, doctors and nurses visited the inmates often and regularly. A number of people was employed as service personnel to attend the daily maintenance of the hospital and bedding necessities.
The situation was quite different in other hospitals. Those in need of care were “accommodated” on large bare wood planks, dozens on the same plank. And of course they did not receive the same care and attention they would have in Florence.
Reading this, one would almost think that in 1340 Florence ill people had it better than in our days. To think otherwise think that medical science at the time was really unreliable and savage. It is sufficient to mention (this is quite crude) that the advised cure for liver ailments was to quarter a live dog and apply it to the part while it was still warm.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini is a famous name in the world of wine. Her wine farm, the Fattoria de’ Barbi, rises in the heart of the Brunello land in Montalcino, near Siena. Among the many Italian wines, Brunello stands up among the best. The wine produced at Mrs. Cinelli Colombini’s farm is among the best Brunello wines on the market.
She, and her mother before her, has always kept a close relationship between her work and the world of art, with social responsibility and high ethical standards. Her mother instituted what in time has become a prize dedicated to women, the Casato Prime Donne (First Ladies of Casato), which recognizes to an Italian or foreign woman the excellency of her work in socio-political and cultural environments.
The news at the Brunello wine farm is that a new artistic trail is born amongst the vineyards in Tuscany. The rows of plants owned by Donatella Cinelli Colombini host sculptures by Italian and foreign authors. The trail will be installed in occasion of the Casato Prime Donne awards, which will be on September 18.
It is an unusual place for an art installation. Yet, this is an unusual art installation. The artwork is much more in tune with the environs of a Tuscany vineyard than an art gallery. The rows of Brunello are perfect for the statue by American artist Michael Austin Latka. He is a member of ‘Land Art’, a new artistic proposal that is environmentally friendly for both materials and subjects. Latka used travertine from the south lands of Siena to carve an ancient vintners. It will be located in the rows where he has been working for hundreds of years. Along the art route were added the dedications to the winners of past editions of the Casato Prime Donne prize. Carved on blocks of travertine, the dedications will stand along with artworks by young artists.
Eight glazed ceramic doves open the artistic journey through the vineyards. The creator is the sculptor and goldsmith Orlando Orlandini, and the subject was chosen as a strong symbol of peace and femininity. The doves are followed by three large iron weather vanes depicting the colorful sprites drawn by the Sienese painter Alessandro Grazi. Other notable pieces are the calendar of Brunello by Stefano Carlucci, made of crystal, the ‘Talking Stones’ by Jeff Shapiro, and ‘The Bold Mark’ by Pignattai. Here the official website of the Fattoria de’ Barbi.
An unusual vineyard tour in Tuscany, to appreciate the rural soul of this land from all perspectives.

Getting to Fattoria de’ Barbi:

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Millions of tourists visit Florence in Italy every year in any season. Many are attracted by masterpieces with which Renaissance masters have gifted the Tuscan city. The one that is probably the most famous of all is Michelangelo Buonarroti, the author of the David, the Pieta and other splendid sculptures in Florence.
Would it not be a wonderful discovery to find a secret portrait by the hand of the master in a place that nobody would have imagined it could be, and that just you and a few others in the world know?
There is such a thing right in the city of Florence. It is a secret that only locals, and not all of them, know. To discover it you have to be in Piazza della Signoria. You will have to look carefully, as time has withered a little the vigor of the sign left on the stone. The stone is that of the Palazzo Vecchio in the Piazza, and the place is behind the statues of Ercules and Cacus by Baccio Bandinelli.
If you look carefully you will find a bas-relief, the profile of a man sculpted on a flat stone of the wall. It may almost seem a graffiti, but the incision is much deeper. How come Michelangelo made this incision right here?
The story narrates of a group of friends in Piazza della Signoria around the end of the 15th century. Michelangelo was already a famous sculptor, and a self assured-one as well. He was very confident of his capabilities, and very convinced that his decision over his own works were always the right ones. Such a poise was very probable to attract some envy and some antipathies. So it happened that Michelangelo was challenged with a bet to sculpt the portrait of a notable person of the time over the stone of Palazzo Vecchio, but to show his ability he had to do it with his hands behind his back. We do not know if Michelangelo won that bet, as we have no idea of who the subject of the portrait was, but we can tell for sure that the portrait is very well done and for sure a work of the hand of the master.
Another versions of the story says that Michelangelo sculpted the portrait of a man that that day was being conducted to the gallows in the Piazza, yet another tells how he would have sculpted the face of a person that each day would stop him by that place to narrate to him his problems, and he would have done so while the person was talking and he had his hands behind his back.
Whichever the version (although the first seems the most accredited one), now you are one of the few to know the story behind the secret portrait of Palazzo Vecchio.

The original name of this Tuscan recipe is Pezzole della Nonna, and it is a very antique and simple Tuscan dish. It also bears a remarkable story. It is told that this recipe is the ancestor of both French crepes and bechamel sauce (white sauce). The “exporter” of the recipe seems to have been Caterina de’ Medici that after becoming the queen of France by marrying Henri II, decided to bring her own cooks to court as she could not do without “home cooking”. The crespelle at the Valois court became crepes, and the white sauce that was called “balsamella” became known under the name of bechamel sauce.
It is a light recipe, with only 80 grams of butter for four people. It is perfect in any season, steaming hot or at room temperature. It has no meat, therefore can be an excellent vegetarian recipe.

Ingredients:
300 grams of spinach, 200 grams of ricotta cheese, 100 grams of flour, 80 grams of butter, 4 eggs, 1 glass of milk, half liter of bechamel sauce, grated parmesa, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Preparation:
First prepare the bechamel sauce or balsamella, as you will need it at room temperature. To make it get 50 grams of butter and melt it in a small pan at bain-marie (water bath). To cook bain-marie simply set a pan inside a larger pan with boiling water. Do not make the water overflow, and make sure the smaller pan is floating freely.
When the butter is melted, remove the small pan from heat, then mix in two heaping tablespoons of sifted flour. Use a whisk to eliminate all clumps. When the mix is ready set it again in the boiling water and cook until it becomes a little darker in color. Then, very very slowly, start pouring in half liter (500 ml) of whole milk, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and keep stirring until the bechamel has thickened up, and no less than 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add a pinch of salt, pepper and nutmeg, mixing them in. Set to rest at room temperature. You can also eliminate butter, but it will be less tasty.
Prepare the crepes filling. Wash the spinach and cook them only with the washing water on the leaves. Set in a covered pan at medium heat for a few minutes. Stir every now and then. Cook until the leaves are completely whithered. Squeeze the excess water, then chop them up and mix with the ricotta cheese, 2 eggs, 3 spoonfuls of grated Parmesan cheese, salt pepper and nutmeg.
Prepare the crepes. Mix 2 eggs, 30 grams of melted butter, 1/3 of a cup of milk (add or subtract to adjust consistency), a spoonful of flour and a pinch of salt. Lightly butter a non sticky pan and pour a small quantity of the batter, cooking on both sides. Repeat until the batter is used up. Each crepe should be very thin. If the batter is too thick add more milk and mix, otherwise add more flour and mix. Like with bechamel, you can also eliminate the butter for lighter results.

Fill all the crepes with an equal quantity of spinach mix to use it all up, then fold each in 4 like a handkerchief (this is the pezzola). Set the crepes in a buttered oven pan and flood with the bechamel, almost completely covering them. Cook in a heated oven for 20 minutes at 150 Celsius.

Today is the day of one of the most awaited events in Tuscany, the Palio of Siena. A few hours after the event ending, the winner of this August edition is the contrada of Tartuca, which won with the jockey named Trecciolino.
The Palio of Siena is celebrated twice a year, on July 2nd and on August 16th. However, originally it was run only on August 16th, for the Catholic festivity of Assumption. However, with time the July 2nd race was added.
The 2010 August Palio of Siena has been a breathtaking race. From the first moment until the end the contrada of Tartuca dominated the scene at the head of the ten horses. The Civetta horse and jockey kept their position just few meters away from the first position. However, to no avail. For three rounds of Piazza del Campo the Tartuca horse and his jockey raced to victory. It is a very nerve wrecking experience, as in those moments any minor detail counts. A distraction, an ill-calculated trajectory and the opponent passes forward. Or even worse, the jockey may fall. It may happen that a horse wins the race without jockey, but it is a very rare event. It was a spectacle to see the advantage of the two head runners increase over the trailing eight by each lap. The sheer power of these horses and the great ability of jockeys is on display during the whole three minutes long race.
Fortunately this edition only saw one jockey fall and no horse injured. It may happen that horses get injured, but fortunately a hospital and nursing home dedicated to injured Palio horses guarantees to these wonderful animals to continue a happy life in splendid grasslands near Siena.

Unfortunately this Palio was haunted by a dramatic event. A French tourist, a delegate from the city of Avignon, the twin city of Siena, died this morning following the fall of a piece of stone from the facade of a palace that hit him in the head. The 77-year-old man was dining at the Civetta’s dinner. It seems that a piece of lighting during the eve of the Palio might have triggered the fall, although news are not clear on this. The entire city of Siena mourns the victim of this tragic fatality, and a minute of silence right before the race was dedicated to him.

Watch the video to get a real picture of the Palio. This is the video of today’s race as transmitted on national Italian television, Rai.

These last few days in Tuscany have been quite hot, not only for the August sun. The heat is generated by a strong argument between the Italian government and the city of Florence. One would have never imagined, but the Italian government is claiming ownership over the ultra-famous Michelangelo’s David, which as of today has been an undiscussed property of the city of Florence. While the argument may be likely to cause a few eyebrows to rise and someone to laugh, the argument is gaining momentum and becoming a pressing issue for the two opponents.
The Italian government put two state lawyers in charge to verify the ownership of Michelangelo’s David. They reviewed all the documents starting from the receipt of 400 Florins that the Florentine republic paid to Michelangelo in 1504, then verified any movement of the statue during the centuries, clarified the authority changes through history to finally conclude that the heir of the original Florentine Republic is not today’s Florence, since with the unity of Italy any subordinate form of power became null. In addition, the lawyers found out that when the statue passed from Palazzo Vecchio to the Accademy Gallery, no claim by the city of Florence was made, and that the expenses for the transport were charged to the Italian state.
The mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi, has a completely opposite opinion, as one could imagine. Supported by a law that recognizes the owner of Michelangelo’s David in the city of Florence, the mayor defends the rights of the city to keep the ownership of the most famous statue in the world.
However, the dispute constitutes a wedge issue not only because of the incalculable artistic value and prestige of the David, but also because the revenue from the tickets sold to visitors account for a staggering 8 million euros every year. It is very probable that since the Italian government is selling state properties like islands and historic palaces to whoever has the cash to pay such estates, the culprit may not be the prestige but the large revenue that the statue alone is capable of generating. If Michelangelo were alive his royalties would be a fortune!
During these days no other detail was given. There is no mentioning where the statue would be moved if the ownership passed to the Italian government, or if it would be moved at all. In any case, it is a little sad to see such a petty spectacle being played at the feet of Michelangelo’s David.

Right off the bat I am telling you that this is not going to be “design on a dime”, as for your Tuscany kitchen you want to achieve the real look, and unfortunately hundred dollars or euros are not going to do the trick. You want your kitchen to be a nice place to be in, a warm nest to have your first coffee and a retreat to come back to at the end of the day. You can achieve this even without spending big bills on it. One important thing to remember is that nothing like self-made crafts keep costs down. Of course not everyone is a crafty person. Try to accomplish that Old World charm, especially with details. Using natural materials and colors is key. Read further for the essential tips to get your transform your kitchen into a Tuscany kitchen.

Use paints that are warm, solar and soft in color. Look at pictures of Tuscan country walls. They have that sun-baked aspect that you want to reproduce. Yellows, pale oranges, very soft reds, and gold shades are perfect picks. Try to achieve a textured paint to increase the number of shades. It definitely takes a much greater effort, but the result is very rewarding. For additional details look at the Tuscan Style Kitchen Walls article.

Whenever you can, try bringing the outdoors inside your kitchen. Prefer clay, stone, wood and iron over other more technological and shiny materials. Seek the uniqueness of handmade objects, the warmth of small imperfections. These will help you achieve a natural look. In addition, pick more aged-looking items to increase the Tuscan feel.

Your floors are an important element, but are the most costly one to achieve. Historically, country Tuscany kitchens have always had terra cotta tiled floors, which are both excellent for insulation and decorating. A less costly and valid alternative is using wooden floors, especially those in large planks that go nicely over your existing floors. Marble and other stones are also a choice, but surely very costly.

Your kitchen cabinets should be painted white with an antique finishing touch. If you have plenty of natural lighting you may also use a dark wood, leaving the wood veneer visible. A fast and inexpensive trick to achieve a visual effect is changing your cabinet handles with decorated ceramic ones, or other Tuscan looking kinds.

Employ wrought iron in functional elements as wall sconces and other lighting, pot racks, and wine bottle holders; however, do not overdo it and privilege simple shapes to over decorated items.

Use a straw canisters for your fruit, clay pottery for your dry legumes, glass flasks stripped of their straw bottom for flowers, wooden holders for utensils. Always combine the usefulness of items with their warm decorating essence. With these few steps your Tuscany kitchen will be soon a reality.