Travel Tuscany Guide

Nothing is more romantic to an American housewife as the prospect of a Tuscan villa. With the best of Mediterranean weather year-round, fertile hills, fresh food and friendly faces Tuscany is a sort of European dream-land. Nobody leaves Tuscany without dreams of a summer or retirement home draped with grape vines and surrounded by Tulips.

The birthplace of Da Vinci, and commonly regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Tuscany is as artistic as Italy comes. With landscapes like paintings and buildings like temples, it is no wonder that Tuscany is sought after by painters and artists from around the world. Open your easel in a field of sunflowers and let the radiance of the Mediterranean sun fill you with inspiration. Tuscany has long been cultivated for both food and beauty and its natural elements, combined with the grooming of its artistically-inclined residents, have created one of the most beautiful spots in the world.

The fields and hills of Tuscany are littered with beautiful, vine-covered stone farm houses, some which have been resided in perpetually for the last 500 years! Many of these classically quaint dwellings have been converted into bed and breakfasts and rental homes. In addition to the farm houses, real castles can be found in the Tuscan countryside which can be toured and some of which can even be rented. Tuscany was a favorite vacation spot for Italian royalty and nobility throughout the ages, and anyone can see why.

If it's history you are interested in, Tuscany is an excellent place to explore. While Rome was inhabited for the last 2,000 years, the many roads leading there often cut through Tuscany. Some of the Etruscan roads have existed since before the time of Christ and have been left amazingly intact. Some of these roads lead you through scenic forests and even into deep caverns. These incredible caverns are virtually never visited by tourists and are dotted with rich green moss, trickling waterfalls and stairs carved by the hands of an Ancient civilization.

Tuscany is home to many successful crops, most notably grapes. Tuscany produces many delicious wines and Italian Chiantis. While in Tuscany, try taking a tour of local wineries. For a nominal entrance fee, most wineries offer tours, tasting and snacks in a beautiful setting. In some areas, bicycle tours are available in which you, along with a knowledgeable guide, ride bicycles from winery to winery for a delightful and delicious day of exploration.

Tuscany offers a relaxing and classic Italian country holiday for all. Come and see for yourself why no one is satisfied with just one visit to this beautiful land.

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