Explore Val D’orcia for two days and you are in for the adventure of a lifetime.
Source: Relishing the rolling hills of Val D’orcia in Tuscany
Italian towns vie to lure Jennifer Lopez after she reveals she hankers for quiet life; Nick Squires; Telegraph
Historic hill-towns and villages in Italy are vying for the attention of Jennifer Lopez after she revealed that she dreams of leaving Hollywood and creating a new life in Il Bel Paese (the beautiful country).
Source: Italian towns vie to lure Jennifer Lopez after she reveals she hankers for quiet life
With Wine, Truffles And So Much More, Tuscany Isn’t Just For Summer At Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco; Laurie Kahle
Once the summer tourist crowds dissipate and temperatures start to dip, Tuscany transforms into a quiet place, where guests at Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco near Montalcino can enjoy the magic of the region without the masses.
Source: With Wine, Truffles And So Much More, Tuscany Isn’t Just For Summer At Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco
The Unlikely Story Of How Villa La Foce Revived The Tuscan Countryside; Livia Hengel; Forbes
Discover how Villa La Foce spurred a cultural, social and economic revival of the Val d’Orcia.
Source: The Unlikely Story Of How Villa La Foce Revived The Tuscan Countryside
How This Tuscan Town Celebrates Spring; Livia Hengel; Forbes
Each year, the charming Tuscan town of Bagno Vignoni hosts a contemporary art exhibit to mark the arrival of spring in the Val d’Orcia.
Tuscany Trip Report: Part II; Sarah Page Maxwell; Mile Value
Monteverdi Tuscany Curates Exclusive New Brunello Journey; Lauren Hill; Elite Traveler
Monteverdi Tuscany is hosting its own celebration of the Benvenuto Brunello festival 2019 by offering curated journeys of the wine’s creation.
Source: Monteverdi Tuscany Curates Exclusive New Brunello Journey | Elite Traveler
Val D’Orcia: Cheese and Wine Tasting Tour; Get Your Guide
Visit the enchanting Val D’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the beautiful towns of Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano and enjoy two different wine tastings and savor the famous Pecorino cheese!
A journey to St. Anne in Camprena, the ‘English Patient’ monastery; Vittoria Traverso; Aleteia
Canadian author Michael Ondaatje wrote The English Patient in 1992. Since then, the epic story of Count Laszlo de Almasy, a Hungarian man that suffered severe burns after a plane accident in North …
Source: A journey to St. Anne in Camprena, the ‘English Patient’ monastery
12 Beautiful Biking Destinations You’ll Want to Add to Your Bucket List; Annie Daly; Self
Get ready for the ride of your life.
Source: 12 Beautiful Biking Destinations You’ll Want to Add to Your Bucket List
Did you know you can stay in the place where The English Patient was filmed?; Benedetta Geddo; Lonely Planet
Guided tour around the fantastic landscapes of Val d’Orcia; ItalyXP
Join our excursion in the Val d’Orcia, surrounded by green rolling cultivated hills, to discover the typical products of Montepulciano and Pienza. An area declared World Heritage by UNESCO, loved by the Popes and Emperors, where culture and food traditions come together for a unique eXPerience.
GUIDED ACTIVITY AROUND THE LANDSCAPES OF VAL D’ORCIA HIGHLIGHTS:
- Follow the narrow streets of the Val d’ Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004
- Immerse yourself in the gentle, carefully cultivated green hills of one of the most beautiful natural landscapes of Italy
- Explore the small town of Montepulciano to discover its culture and its most valuable product: the high-quality red wine Vino Nobile
- Discover the small town of Pienza, an architectural jewel of the Italian Renaissance
- Experience the traditions and local festivals of Tuscany: from the “Bravio delle Botii”, a running competition with wine barrels, to the “Cacio al fuso”, also known as “the cheese to the spindle”.
Spring in Tuscany – Insider Tips; Nick Stropko; Context Travel Blog
Avoid the crowds at the beginning of tourist season with our guide to spring in Tuscany, featuring rolling hills, revered traditions, and excellent food.
With rolling, verdant hillsides lush with blossoming flowers and a mild climate, spring is an ideal time to venture around Tuscany. It is, however, also the beginning of tourist season. Fortunately, at 8,875 square miles, it’s also large enough to find hidden enclaves, local favorites, and a few surprises away from the crowds. To make the most of spring in Tuscany, see our guide below, featuring Florentine tradition, a seaside escape, and the gorgeous Tuscan countryside.
Piazza Duomo
The most dramatic Easter commemoration in Tuscany, the Scoppio del Carro, takes place in Florence’s Piazza Duomo. A tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, this ritual is said to have originated when a member of the noble Pazzi family returned from First Crusade.
Cycling the Via Francigena – a modern pilgrim’s journey through Tuscany; Elspeth Callender; Traveller
Being a pilgrim had never appealed to me. Slow suffering for organised religion? No, thank you. But cycling 300 kilometres from Siena to Rome on the Via Francigena taught me I was being as archaic in my thinking as the route itself.
Via Francigena (fran-CHEEDG-ena), loosely meaning the road through France, is a lesser known and longer Camino de Santiago. Since the 8th century, pilgrims have travelled its 1900 kilometres from Canterbury to the Eternal City at the risk of shipwreck and pirates, wild animal and bandit attacks, sickness and starvation. Those days it really was all about the destination.
Never one road but various routes between significant centres and safe havens, the Via Francigena eventually disappeared. In 2009 the Italian government launched a project to recover its section and also developed CicloVia Francigena from Swiss-Italian border to Rome. Hikers and cyclists are encouraged to travel one way.
Relax, Renew, and Have Fun at an Italian Wellness Resort; Marilyn Jones; Grit
t you to relax,” says the desk clerk as I check into ADLER Thermae Wellness & Spa Resort. Located at Bagno Vignoni in the heart of Tuscany, the resort is known as a place of luxury combined with slowing down, pampering, and leisure.
Like everyone else in this fast-paced world, I am looking for all three and I believe at this this 5-star hotel, one of Italy’s leading wellness destinations, I’ll find everything I need for a fantastic stay.
My room is understated and spacious with a fantastic view of the Tuscan landscape. A white terry bathrobe and flip flops are provided and become my official clothing for most of my visit, along with every other guest.
The Grounds
The 122 degree Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) thermal springs pool and a second pool heated slightly by the thermal waters takes center stage in front of the palazzo-style hotel.
Why Massimo Ferragamo Thinks You Should Visit Tuscany in Winter; Hadley Keller; Architectural Digest
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Massimo Ferragamo explains why you should consider exploring the beloved Italian region during the winter months
Most travelers to Tuscany visit during the summer and fall, exploring the sunlit countryside and book-ending the trip with a jaunt to Florence and Rome. But for Massimo Ferragamo—son of legendary designer Salvatore and chairman of Ferragamo USA—and his wife, Chiara, there’s something to be said for the winter months in Tuscany, too. The couple are owners of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, a historic estate (and UNESCO World Heritage site) in the city of Montalcino, whose 17th- and 18th-century farmhouses have been converted into luxury villas available for rent. For the first time ever, the estate will remain open through the winter, allowing guests to experience firsthand the Tuscan season preferred by the Ferragamos. “Around the holidays, Tuscany is an absolutely magical place to be,” says Ferragamo.
