Colourful and Picturesque Tuscan Countryside

For years I had been trying to organise a mini-holiday in Tuscany. Finally I managed it and it was worth it. I organised everything myself, from the overnight stays to the itinerary and the stops. My husband and I set off in mid-July and we spent unforgettable moments. First of all, the landscapes are picturesque, they seem unreal they are so distinctive... the contrast of colours, the shapes of the hills, everything is typical of certain areas and every area has its own peculiarity. The Val d’Orcia, the Montepulciano area, the Crete Senesi, the hills of Chianti. You move from landscapes rich in vineyards and green meadows, to endless clay hills, to views characterised by little white roads all full of bends, orderly followed by rows of cypresses, and then medieval villages built on the tops of low hills, truly typical.

These areas offer a great deal also from a culinary point of view: oil, cheeses, wines, soups, fresh pasta, so many specialities that make you feel at home. Just like the hospitality offered by the average Tuscan: it is all a “Yes, certainly”, “Just tell me when”, “Was everything all right?”, “Would you like some more?”, “Did you sleep well?”, “If it’s not right, we’ll change it, of course”... Only if you think of the landscape in which the farm stays are immersed, of the well-being they convey, can you well imagine how you feel spending a few days in these places and with these people. Everything is like being at home, only that at home there is no one taking care of us from beginning to end...:-) It’s almost a bit like coming back from mum’s! Ah, how lovely, I recommend it to everyone! Now I understand why so many VIPs have houses in Tuscany, in the immense countryside...

given the peace they leave behind... Well, back to my experience, as I was saying I organised everything myself, including the overnight stays. I don’t think it is possible to have a bad time in those places, but I have a tip to give you: perhaps I know a way to save you something. Through the website you can find discounted prices. The head of my department at the company where I work made me aware of this website and the possibilities it offers: your company just has to be a member of the Confindustria association, and in this way it has codes available that all employees can use and with which to book on the website. With this method I managed to save 70 euros per person for the trip, and so my husband and I did not give up tasty romantic dinners.

A tip for the itinerary: don’t miss Montepulciano and the whole surrounding area, Pienza, Siena and the Terre Senesi, Valdichiana, Valdarno, Greve in Chianti.