A weekend in southern Tuscany

Posted on 2009/01/07 21:43:24 (January 2009).

[Saturday 3rd - Sunday 4th January 2009]

Originally we were meant to go to Amsterdam for a short break after New Year's Eve, but the sheer cost of the trip scared me off and we decided to head to a part of Tuscany that we never saw.

I know it's a bit of a cliché, but there is so much beauty around Florence that sometimes it's better to stick around rather than travelling away spending heap loads of money. Chiara was not much convinced at first, as she wanted to go to the Netherlands, but eventually she was convinced.

We set off early on Saturday and we planned to stop in Montalcino (the place where Brunello di Montalcino is made, one of the most famous wines in the world) to have a quick look around a some lunch. The city is nice, but there are far too many wine tasting "touristic rip off" places. Still it was interesting to stop and sample some of the vintages there.

Next stop was San Quirico d'Orcia, a very nice little city where we wanted to go to a church but it was closed because the time was around lunch and I guess that also God needs a rest sometimes... (yes I am being sarcastic...)

After S.Quirico we headed off to Pienza, a very famous village because they produce one of the best sheep's milk cheese around the country. A bit like Montalcino the wine tasting bars were replaced by cheese selling shops, but the city is well worth a visit, the buildings are really interesting (a pope born in Pienza during the middle ages, made the church spend a lot of money on his birthplace) and the village is rather nice.

Unfortunately the sun decided that had enough for the day and set quite early, so Montepulciano (probably the most interesting of the ones that we visited) was done in the dark, but we liked it nonetheless. A special mention goes to the bar where we had a marvellous hot chocolate, a great balm for a day where a bitterly cold wind had been blowing all day...

We then set off to Piazza, where we had our bed and breakfast room in a very nice place, Locanda Toscanini. It was quite late and we didn't know where to go to eat. Fortunately a great restaurant "Le Nane" was open and we had a splendid meal too! Honestly I think that we were quite lucky because the look of the village didn't give us any hopes...

The morning after we went straight to the spa place that we booked and proceeded to spend more than 5 hours doing all sorts of spa related activities. Then, relaxed and rested we went back to Florence, but before going back home we opted for a place that I call the "Luxury Chinese restaurant", in Florence. To be honest the quality is pretty low as other Chinese places in Florence, but the menu is different and the restaurant is nicely furbished with those nice fake looking red lacquered Chinese furniture...

Oh well it was a very good break all in all and we enjoyed it a lot!

That looks to be a superb part of Italy, Lox!! I have heard about Tuscany being beautiful, but some of the photos you took are just sublime. Certainly a part of Europe to be put on the list of places to go.

Posted by Bryan at 2009/01/10 14:22:52.

Bryan: Well, we are very lucky to live in Tuscany and in Florence as an home town... I guess that with a couple of weeks one could do a fair bit of Tuscany, there are places that are absolutely marvellous, such as the ones that I went during this short trip! Thanks for the comment on the pictures :D

Posted by Lox at 2009/01/10 22:02:23.

Yes, Lox, very lucky to live near such a region. Next time you come to Thessaloniki, please do let me know (a few days in advance, though!) and we can get together. Greece also has many "hidden" areas (especially in Epirus), which obviously are off the beaten track but reward the tourist many times over. I will send you a link to my journal entry from January 2008 for Elati and Pertouli (with photos) by email...

Posted by Bryan at 2009/01/11 15:16:00.

Bryan: WOW!!! I couldn't imagine that there were such places in Greece! Some of those pictures look like the US, and I love the boar and deer hanged outside the butcher!! :D Definitely next time I come close to Thessaloniki I will let you know! :P (same for you of course, if you ever come to Tuscany)...

Posted by Lox at 2009/01/11 17:01:38.

I feel a sudden pang of nostalgia. Sob.

Posted by Sheri at 2009/01/13 19:23:26.

Post a comment