Mar 05 2012
Florence hosts a new exhibition on the American Impressionist. Attracted by the fame of Florence a small colony of American artists discovered a different kind of beauty: not only the monuments but also a wilderness full of exoticism. Looking at these painting you cannot help recalling the movie ” A Room with a View” 
Jan 25 2012
This year Florence celebrates the 500th anniversary of the death of the Florentine who gave America its name, Amerigo Vespucci. Celebration and exhibitions will be held in Florence and allaover the world. Let’s recall the life of this famous Florentine. As a Amerigo Vespucci (latinised Americus Vespucius), contemporary and friend of Columbus was the first exploreer realizing that the “indias” were actually a “New World”. Starting his carrer as a clerk Amerigo became the confident of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici, cousin of Lorenzo the Magnificent, in 1492 was as an agent sent to Seville to control the family business branch over there. Getting more and more involved in business of the expeditions to the Indies he was finally invited as an observer in many expeditions. Among his discoveries Vespucci was the discoverer of Brasil, the Guayira region in Colombia. When he reached the area of Maracaibo he saw the indios living in stilt houses, reminding him of Venice he gave to the area the name of “Veneziola” (little Venice) which was going to become Venezuela. Later expeditions had not the same success so in 1504 he sailed for the last time, spending the3 last years of his life in Seville where he died in 1512. Among the locations linked to the life of Vespucci we should remember Montefioralle near Greve in Chianti where one of the houses is claimed to be the place where Vespucci’s family lived.
Mar 10 2011
by Simone Giribaldi, Tuscan Travellers, March 2011
When you hear about Tuscany, you think of rolling hills and great red wines. Well, that’s something you find in Tuscany, but there’s much more.
Our traditions come from far; we can date the origin of our civilization approximately in IX – VIII century BC, with the Etruscans who gave the region the name Toscana. The Etruscans were skilled at exploiting mineral resources and cultivating high quality crops including wine and olive oil.
Tuscan people like their food specialties, their red wines and their land. They like to spend time with friends and family. People still have a strong relation with their territory. There’s industrial activity in Tuscany, but there are still many almost untouched areas, such as parks and forests. Also, Tuscany has many farms and wineries.
In Tuscany you can visit famous ancient cities like Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, and Arezzo, as well as scenic countryside areas like Chianti, Orcia Valley, Casentino, Mugello, and Maremma. You can relax in one of the many resort areas on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and even ski in winter on the Apennine mountains.
The most important city is Florence, which is also the most central located, from where you can start visiting the rest of the territory. From Florence you can catch the main highways, as well as the high speed train to all big cities in Italy. I’m sure you’ve heard about the celebrated Michelangelo’s David and the Uffizi Museum, a collection of the best Renaissance paintings of Italy. They are a must-see, but are not the only things to see.
My suggestion for you is to get surprised by some other “jewels” of Florence, where you don’t need reservations and you can enjoy the visit, not surrounded by people on school trips or big tour groups. Try these jewels:
I would like to introduce you to one of our favorite destinations in Tuscany, on the coast south of Pisa, between Livorno (the major Tuscan port) and Grosseto. It’s the Maremma area, full of Archaeological sites (Etruscans), beautiful sandy beaches and charming hill towns.
You could either go there for one day, or you could stay for three or more days. Starting from Florence, it takes about 1hr 45 minutes to get there by car, so to enjoy a full day visit, you should leave Florence at 8am or 9am.
The first place I suggest you to see is Bolgheri, a lovely village in the middle of the hills, a few miles away from the coast. If you are a wine lover, here you could taste some of the best “super Tuscan wines”, such as Sassicaia, Masseto, Ornellaia, or enjoy a cappuccino at one of the bars, sitting outside and watching the people of this quiet and unexpected Tuscany.
Then, from Bolgheri you can easily drive to the coast, where you will discover one of oldest sites of Italy: Populonia (VII century BC). It was the most important Etruscan port, so here you can visit the Archaeological area, as well as the medieval town, from where you can get spectacular views of the Tuscan coast.
In the summer you can relax, sunbathe and swim at Baratti, the bay of Populonia, where the water is still surrounded by the typical Mediterranean Pine forest.
In the afternoon you could visit two of the nicest hill towns of the area, Campiglia Marittima and Suvereto, both well preserved medieval towns, where you can stroll around in the narrow streets and also enjoy a delicious Tuscan meal.
In this part of Tuscany you can even take advantage of Spas, such as the Calidarium of Venturina, and even more south at Saturnia Spa, or you can join one of the festivals in the countryside, organized by the locals and taste the real homemade food!!
Well, for sure in Tuscany you’ll never get bored. The region offers attractions for all desires, it’s still a “slow style of life”, where you want to enjoy every word, every bite of food, holding your glass of wine, watching the sunset.
Maremma Natural Park. The Maremma distinguishes itself from other areas of Italy thanks to its variety and wealth of natural environments. In order to protect them, many natural reserves and parks have been established. Here you can enjoy the Mediterranean scrub in all its infinite variations, not to mention the possibility of seeing wildlife of the area.
Massa Marittima. Despite its name there is some distance from the sea and in fact “marittima” does not allude to the sea but rather to the Maremma. Massa Marittima was founded by the Etruscans, like many cities in Tuscany, and is located in the Colline Metallifere so that its history is closely linked to the copper and silver mines nearby.
Castiglion della Pescaia. This is a wonderful village on the seaside and dominates the coast from its Aragonese castle. Inside its walls you still see the Middle Ages look and charm. There are modern bathing establishments where you can relax and sunbath, or hire boats, kite surf or attend a diving course. There is a public beach from where you can admire the wild Maremma and other thin sandy or rocky beaches. After a seaside day the fun goes on at night: typical restaurants where you can taste the genuine Maremma cooking, wine bars, ice-cream, shops … and for the night discos, pubs, and beach parties!
Tuscan Travellers is a tourist services company operating in Tuscany and throughout Italy. The staff has long experience in tourism and can easily help you organize your vacation. We have specialized local guides and driver guides and offer you guided tours as well as day excursions and trips in English, French, Spanish and German. You can visit the hill-towns of Tuscany, as well as the famous art cities the region and of Italy, in our comfortable fully equipped cars and minivans. We’ll make sure you get the most out of your vacation!
Tuscan Travellers – Florence, Italy – By Simone&Stefano Tours
Dec 16 2010
Bartolomeo Ammannati,
Apr 26 2010
La Notte Bianca a Firenze
Apr 19 2010
Wonders of Italy A video from Santa Barbara Montessori School recent trip aorund Italy, we had the pride to show them around in Tuscany
Mar 18 2010
Santa Maria della Scala in Siena will host from the 26 March 2010 up to 11 July 2010 an exhibition that will offer the opportunity to get a complete panorama on the artistic period 1400-1460 in Siena. Starting from the influences of Simone Martini, a whole section is dedicated to the opera of Jacopo della Quercia and his contemporaries. The third section presents works from Stefano di Giovanni known as il Sassetta and his followers, finally a insight on the influence of Donatello short stay in Siena in 1457-1461 on Lorenzo di Pietro known asVecchietta, Matteo di Giovanni and Antonio Federighi. Moreover there are examples of illuminated manuscripts, goldsmith and textiles from this period with a total of 300 works.
For further information Tuscan Travellers we can arrange your day in Siena and book your tickets for the exhibition.
Jan 26 2010
Desde hoy Tuscan Travellers esta disponible en español. Para ofrecerle a todos los hispanohablantes una descricion mas precisa de nuestras Excursiones en Toscana y Italia con conductor guia en Español
Jan 10 2010
Florence museums have recently presented “Un anno ad Arte” a program of six art exhibitions starting from March 25th, that will succeed throughout the whole 2010, which by the way is the fifth centenary of the death of Caravaggio.
Exhibits will be held in various museums in Florence, the fist one will show Medici’s family most precious cameos and carvings. In May it will be the turn of an exhibit on Caravaggio and his followers over a hundred paintings will be exposed among them the famous “Bacco” and “Medusa”. Two following exhibitions will celebrate wedding painting and 19 of the original paintings commissioned by Medici family to celebrate Henry IV death.
In July “Vinum Nostrum” will look back at the world of wine and to its influence in art, history and society, moreover part of the exhibit will be devoted to the antique tools of wine producer.
Finally an exhibit on sculptor Giovanfrancesco Rustici, Leonardo da Vinci’s disciple, author of Florence baptistry bronzes.
Six different opportunities to discover hidden sides of the enormous Florence artistic and historical heritage, please check our website Tuscantravellers.com for booking and further travel suggestions .
baptistry Barberino cameos caravaggio chianti Donatello in Siena Early Renaissance in Siena Espanol Toscana Italia chofer conductor guia events Exhibitions in Siena Florence Jacopo della Quercia lamole leonardo medici Outlet rustici Sales siena Siena from Florence terrace Tour Tuscany Tours from Florence Vecchietta vinum nostrum Wine
