Enjoying Tuscany’s Thermal Spas and Springs (Northeast Tuscany - Pisa and Lucca)

On a trip to Tuscany, you can’t miss enjoying a good bath in a natural environment, especially if it’s in one of the 39 thermal spas and hot springs that Tuscany has to offer.

Apart from exploring Tuscany’s art, culture, history and gastronomy during your trip, you can also enjoy some of the world’s best thermal spas and springs. In fact, there are so many of these spas and springs in such a small area that I’m sure that every one of you would be satisfied. Tuscany has much to offer, from luxurious five-star thermal spa resorts such as Adeler Thermae to thermal springs which are more popular but just as spectacular, such as those in Saturnia, which you can see in the image above.

Throughout the next few blog posts, I’ll talk about some of these thermal spas and springs which I think are worth visiting in order to help you prepare for your trip to Tuscany.

Terme Bagni di Lucca

The rainwater which filters through the rocks is accumulated throughout the passing of the years until it is released towards the surface by a strong pressure. These thermal waters are rich in mineral salts and are some of the few odorless and completely crystal-clear thermal springs. It is told that, in antiquity, these thermal springs would open in the spring, since during this period the phases of the moon would balance the heat of the earth with water, creating some of the best therapeutic effects.

It is also told that, during the 19^th century, many hedonistic aristocrats would enjoy these thermal springs, found in some of the most beautiful villages of Lucca.

If you decide to visit these thermal springs, you could also bathe in two natural steam caves where the temperature varies between 40 °C and 47 °C. These caves are two perfectly conserved natural enclaves where you can enjoy some of the most modern treatments. This center is open all year round.

Bagni di Pisa

Located in the same area of Tuscany, I would recommend that you also visit this thermal spa. Bagni di Pisa is famous for being one of the most elegant places of the past centuries. Here, famous figures such as King 

Gustav III of Sweden, King Christian VII of Denmark, various kings of England, Paolina Bonaparte, Percy and Mary Shelley, Vittorio Alfieri and Carlo Goldoni would enjoy this thermal spa and also play in its casino.

Therefore, if you do decide to visit this spa, apart from enjoying this marvelous architectural enclave which was built in the 1700s, you can also enjoy two thermal pools at 38 °C, a Turkish bath and many other thermal pleasures such as saunas, spas and massages.

Bagni di Pisa, from my point of view, is really spectacular. If you manage to visit it, you should also visit the various lobbies and rooms of the hotel which, to this day, still conserve the glamour and noble spirit of this fantastic place.

As always, I hope that this post has helped satisfy your curiosity regarding some of the unique aspects that this beautiful land known as Tuscany has to offer.

Kind regards,

George

Tuscany's Parks and Nature Reserves

Are you ready to discover new places that you won’t find inside your travel guide? Are you prepared to leave behind Tuscany’s artistic cities, its wine and its villages in an instant?

There exists another Tuscany, one that is authentic and beautiful, where trips are enjoyed and photographed. These are Tuscany’s parks and nature reserves – oases in the middle of nature where you’ll find rare plants and various species of animals. These parks, many of which have access and facilities for disabled people, are definitely some of the places which nature lovers should not miss.

Shown below is a map of the various parks and nature reserves in Tuscany. If you click on one of the butterflies, you’ll be given more information about that park:

View La Natura selvaggia in Toscana in a larger map

As always, I hope that this has been useful for you.

Kind regards,

George

Follow Us on Facebook!

Hey there, friends, we’ve just finished publishing on our Facebook page a collection of the best photos of Tuscany which our fans have shared on our Facebook page.

Below you can see one of the photos…

If you want to see more photos and learn more about Tuscany, follow our Facebook page by clicking the “Like” button in the following link: Tuscany Blog

Kind regards,

George

Contemporary Artists from Tuscany

Dear Friends,

Today, I would like to talk to you about a metal sculptor who lives in Montepulciano and who, for a few years already, has been creating some beautiful sculptures which I think are worth talking about in my blog about Tuscany.

Giulio Pellegrini, as the artist is called, has raised the art of sculpting to a new level, creating beautiful works of art derived from Italian comics and, by playing with light and shadows, he makes these sculptures come alive.

In order to describe what he does, I’ll translate a section of his site for you:

“Chinediferro (the name of his store) began in Montepulciano, a town that has had a central role in the project and which has been the ideal setting for this tryst between metal and ink. The project began in the Palazzo Rizzi during a comic book exhibition showing the works of the comic book artist Danijel Zezelj. During a performance, which merged live music performed by a group of avant-jazz musicians, known as the Jessica Lurie Ensemble, and live painting done by Danijel, I thought about pulling a character out from the pages of his comics and bringing it to life. I’m a blacksmith by trade, and so there was nothing more natural than to use iron, a noble and everyday material, just like how pen and paper are for the comic book artist who created these drawings. The result was a silhouette of human dimensions which cast a giant shadow on the wall…

…to be a blacksmith in Montepulciano does not only mean that you are an artisan, but also that you are in one of the most beautiful places in Tuscany where, for a variety of circumstances, art, music, and comics intersect. This means that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of the greatest artists of Italian comic books, such as Andrea Pazienza, and even Danijel Zezelj…

…All of this allows me to change my profession without actually leaving it, and thus giving it a new lease on life, where iron and ink are mixed to create new works of art… ”

Well, friends, that’s the end of my post on this unique artist known as Giulio, and whom, if you ever go to Montepulciano, you could meet personally by visiting his shop or perhaps even finding him enjoying a glass of wine late at night with his friend, Oste, at the Acquacheta di Montepulciano, a lively restaurant known for its delicious steaks.

I hope that you found this interesting!

Kind regards,

George

Sausages of Tuscany

Dear Friends,

During a trip to Tuscany, you cannot forget to try our food- especially our ham and sausage, considered to be some of the best in the world.

The king of all sausages in Tuscany is, without a doubt, ham. There are many different cuts of Tuscan ham of all prices; in my opinion, all are good, including those of a lower price. If you would like to try one of the fancier cuts, my recommendation is the famous "Prosciutto di Cinta Senese".

                                                                                                            

This type of ham, comparable by price and flavor to the ham of the acorn-fed Spanish pigs, is considered the best ham in all of Italy. It comes from a special type of pig (that of the picture) that follows a special diet.

The second type of sausage I recommend you try is "Finocchiona". This type of sausage is cured with fennel and black pepper and comes from the loin.

Another delicious sausage is the Salcicce(butifarras). Salcicce can be cut from pig, boar, or deer; however, I prefer Salcicce from pig and cured with salt and pepper. 

One last type of sausage I recommend is called "Soppressata". These sausages are made from the poor parts of the pig and are quite a bit cheaper, but they are also deicious and you can make a great dinner out of these and different types of cheese.

I will talk about the different types of cheese in my next article.

I hope all of this is of help to you on your visit to Tuscany! 

Kind regards,

George

Books about Tuscany

Dear Friends,

Today, I would like to tell you all about some of the most famous books about Tuscany, which I’m sure that after reading them, you’ll have a more pleasant view of our region and which would also be of great help to you in preparing your trip.

The first book which I would like to recommend is Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun.

This book tells the story of an American writer who, after a divorce, suffers from a creative block. Immersed in a profound existential crisis, she decides to visit a friend who lives in Tuscany. Once there, the writer falls in love with a house called “Villa Bramasole” (which literally means “the house which longs for the sun”) and she decides to buy it. However, the villa needs a lot of renovation in order for her to be able to live inside it, but then again, what better place to start a new life than in the region which gave birth to the Renaissance? And thus, the writer begins a new life…

I won’t spoil the rest for you. This novel is a best-seller throughout the world and is a light and easy read.

The second book which I’d like to recommend is A Thousand Days in Tuscany by Marlena de Blasi.

This book is a brief tale about the beauty and greatness of Tuscany. There is even a section with regional recipes. This book is perfect for food-lovers.

Another book, which came out not too long ago, is A Vineyard in Tuscany by Ferenc Máté.

This book tells the story of an American couple who decide to move to Tuscany, buy a vineyard, and produce their own wine. The narrative shows us the beautiful land of Tuscany, the kindness of the locals and the beauty of a life in contact with nature.

If you like this book and would like to read more about Tuscany, you could also buy his second book called The Wisdom of Tuscany.

Well, friends, happy reading!

Kind regards, from Tuscany under the snow,

George

Things to Do in Tuscany

I would like to mention a new service that's available now, which I think would help a lot of you visiting Tuscany.

This new service is a web page where you’ll find some of the most diverse and interesting things that one can do during their trip toTuscany.

What interested me the most about this new service is that it has collected almost all of the activities that one can do in Tuscany on just one page.

You’ll find everything there, from wine tours, hot air balloon rides, cooking classes, and art classes, to horse rides, ATV excursions and many other interesting activities.

What I like the most about this site is the information it gives you about the tour guides, which from my point of view is something that is essential in order to really enjoy the vast cultural history that Tuscany has to offer.

As always, I wish that this information has been useful for you.

Kind regards,

George

The "Unknown" Val d'Orcia

Dear Friends,

In the previous blog entry, I talked about the villages in the Val d’Orcia that are well-known, so in this entry I would like to tell you all about some of the lesser-known towns which are in this beautiful valley.

Let’s start with my favorite town in this valley, La Foce, which is easily reached via a white road from Montepulciano. This town is definitely one of the most magical places in the valley. In fact, in La Foce is where you’ll find one of the most famous images of Tuscany, which you can see here in this entry. The image is of the marvelous mansion of the Origo family, who helped shelter many children seeking refuge from the war and the bombing of cities in Italy during the Second World War.

For the garden lovers reading my blog, I would recommend visiting this splendid villa which opens its garden to tourists every Wednesday afternoon (all year long) and every first weekend of the month (in September, October and November) for a few hours.

Another magical and unknown town of the valley is, without a doubt, Radicofani. This town is famous as the refuge of the infamous bandit, Ghino di Tacco, who, in the Middle Ages, managed to kidnap an abbot and convince the Pope to pardon him. This town is located on top of an immense hill and overlooks the valley from its walls. A visit to the tower of Radicofani will literally leave you breathless once you’ve reached the top of it, where you’ll enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view.

Another town which conserves its beautiful medieval heritage is undoubtedly Castiglion d’Orcia, where a stroll through its streets will return you to the Middle Ages. You will definitely love visiting this town.

A drive through these three places, whether in a car or on a motorcycle, in the winter, spring, summer or autumn, with rain or shine, will not leave you listless. Throughout all the seasons, this valley maintains a beautiful energy which is impossible not to catch while passing through these three towns which are not as well known as the others, but just as beautiful.

As always, I hope that all this information has helped you plan, in the best way possible, your vacation in Tuscany.

Kind regards,

George

The Val d'Orcia

Dear Friends,

Today, I would like to talk to you all again about this beautiful valley in the south of Tuscany, called the Val d'Orcia, a place that, in my opinion, everyone should visit on their trip to Tuscany.

This valley, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located between Monte Amiata and the Trinoro Valley, and the rolling hills of Pienza and Montichiello, and offers various sites of interest which one should not miss if they're doing a route through Tuscany.

The most distinguished town in the Val d'Orcia is, without a doubt, its "imaginary capital", Pienza, which overlooks the whole valley with its towering walls. Pienza is located in a place so beautiful that even the Pope fell in love with the area and spent a significant number of Church funds in order to create a project for the “Perfect Renaissance City”. If you would like to learn more about this wonderful place, I would recommend that you check out: Pienza

The second famous town in this valley is, without a doubt, San Quirico d’Orcia. Before talking about this place, it’s important to point out that the road that connects these two towns passes through a landscape of immense and incomparable beauty and which cannot be missed. The scenery that you’ll witness passing through here has been used as a setting for such blockbuster movies as Gladiator, the English Patient, and Twilight, among others.

San Quirico, like Pienza, has a number of sites of cultural, artistic and religious interest that you could visit. For more information, check out: San Quirico d'Orcia

Once you have visited Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia, the route through this part of Tuscany continues towards Bagno Vignoni, an ancient village famous for its thermal waters. The road between San Quirico and Bagno Vignoni passes through some of the most magnificent scenery that is still beautiful at any time of the year, and I would recommend that you drive slowly and carefully because I’m sure that you will find tourists who have stopped alongside the road in order to immortalize this beautiful landscape with their cameras.

Bagno Vignoni, unlike the other towns, does not have a historic center, but it does have two incredible thermal baths (one of which is only open to the public in the summer) which are worth visiting, in order to enjoy a 35 degree bath surrounded by gorgeous scenery. To learn a bit more about this town, you can read this: Bagno Vignoni

If you wish to see more photos of the towns mentioned in this post, I would recommend that you visit our Facebook page: Tuscany Blog. There you’ll find a lot of photos from these beautiful places. Also, if you become a fan of our page, you can become a part of our group and be able to use our forum to ask questions, advice or comment about your own experiences in Tuscany.

In the next post, we will talk about the “unknown” Val d’Orcia and its less touristy towns which only we Tuscans know about.

Kind regards,

George

Christmas in Florence

Dear Friends,

Spending Christmas in Florence is quite possibly the best way to experience Tuscany and its capital during this magical and special time. All of the towns in Tuscany, especially Florence, have this certain enchanting and captivating glow during Christmas.

The Florentines tend to celebrate this festive period with various open-air markets, which the Italians call "Mercatini di Natale", or "Christmas Markets", where artisans from all over Italy come to sell their products, and in particular, delicacies.

In Florence, these "Mercatini di Natale" can usually be found in Piazza di Santa Croce, and you'll meet artisans from the north of Italy, as well as from Germany and other Northern European countries, selling various artisanal products and food.

For those of you who love shopping, I would recommend visiting the famous Via Tornabuoni, where you will find the most exclusive Italian fashion shops and international labels. Of course, during Christmas, all these shops are all the more elegant than usual because of their luxurious and lavish Christmas decorations.

Another place where you'll find shops worth visiting is Florence's permanent market, located in Piazzale San Lorenzo, near the Duomo. This market is open all year long and is the ideal place to shop for the finest leather, which Florence is famous for.

During Christmas, enjoying a stroll across the beautiful Ponte Vecchio is a must, the oldest and most famous bridge in Florence, where all the Italian Jewish jewelers sell their jewelry and collection pieces.

During Christmas in Florence, I also recommend visiting the many churches and cathedrals of the city, being that Italy is a Catholic country, it's interesting to enjoy the various Christmas preparations at the sites of worship.

Finally, my friends, I hope that you'll find a lot of useful information in this post, and that it'll help you discover Tuscany and Florence during Christmas.


Kind Regards,

George