Quirky Tuscany - Another way to explore Italy’s finest region
Posted by Guest Author on Sun 18th January 2009 at 03:18 AM, Filed in Europe
Hailed as the birthplace of the Renaissance, Tuscany is a wonderful mix of stunning architecture in quaint towns and villages, great food and glorious landscapes criss-crossed with Italian vineyards. It is therefore not surprising that many choose to explore the region through sight-seeing, walking, cycling, wine-tasting and feasting on Italian cuisine.
But Tuscany has a lot more to offer than your run of the mill activities and we’ve listed just a few:
Truffle Hunting and the Truffle Festivals - Hailed as ‘the diamonds of the kitchen’, truffles are the most valuable fungi out there and some are even worth more than gold! To really get involved you can go on a truffle hunting trip with a ‘trifolau’ or truffle hunter as your guide. For a more laid-back approach, there are the truffle festivals that coincide with the appearance of the first and most valuable white truffles. The Tartufo Bianca di Alba and San Giovanni d’Asso festivals run from the end of September through to November and are a great place to buy or taste these earthy gems. See Alba Truffle Festival article for more detail.
Tuscany by Vespa – What better way to explore Tuscany’s romantic countryside and quaint villages than on its most famous vehicle: The Vespa? Guided tours are available through for example Chianti’s wine region, with plenty of stopovers for pizza, cappuccino, shopping and sight-seeing.
Ballooning - For a really great view of Tuscany, take to the skies! Ballooning is enough to get your heart rate going wherever you are, but there is something really special about gliding over the Tuscan countryside from the silence of the skies. Welcome Siena are a local company offering private tours, where you can discover the hidden beauty of Tuscany.
For a comprehensive guide on what Tuscany has to offer, you can visit To-Tuscany, who specialise in holiday rental villas in Tuscany and Umbria where you can also create your own, personalised e-book travel guide.
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