A photograph of the region through our guest’s eyes
Italy’s DMCs share with DUCO tips on gastronomy, landscapes, and secret treasures
Jennifer Virgilio from Queen of Clubs piques our appetite with a traditional Tuscan delicacy: the truffle. Whether white or black, from the Casentino forests or the hills of San Miniato, these delectable underground diamonds are impossible to resist.
Which Tuscan gastronomic treasure stands out for you?
Italy is famous all around the world for its varied and widely appreciated cuisine, and each region offers up its own local dishes and specialties, boasting centuries of traditions. His Majesty the Truffle is one of the most traditional items in Tuscany. These little foodie gems can almost be compared to real treasure considering their high price tag! Truffles are costly because they’re hard to find and almost impossible to store for any length of time.
Where can visitors sample this precious ingredient?
If you find yourself in Siena, you can’t miss the chance to have a truffle-based meal at Taverna San Giuseppe. This restaurant, highly recommended by the Michelin Guide, offers you a truly multi-sensory eating and drinking experience. Try their homemade tagliolini with fresh truffle or their ricotta gnocchi with pecorino and fresh truffle. If you can’t decide, please don’t be shy… just try them both, like a true Tuscan!
Pair your food experience with a good bottle of Chianti Classico or Brunello di Montalcino, two of the most famous and appreciated Italian red wines from the region. It will be a meal you’ll never forget!
For more information about Queen of Clubs, click here.
Luxury DMC Abercrombie & Kent takes us on a journey along the Via Vandelli, an ancient path through marvelous mountain passes connecting the two home kingdoms of 18th Century lovers.
Where and what is the Vandelli Road?
The 150 kilometer stretch of Via Vandelli, or “Vandelli Road,” is an ancient path connecting the cities of Massa Carrara in northern Tuscany and Modena in the region of Emilia Romagna. Originally, this was a commercial road built by the two dukes of these cities when their heirs became engaged in 1738. The name comes from the important cartographer Abbot Domenico Vandelli, who was commissioned to complete this huge project realized in 1751.
Which are some highlights?
You’ll come across several Celtic huts and pass near the marvelous Lake Vagli and the village submerged beneath its waters as you follow a road built two centuries ago to connect two distinct worlds.
Lead us on a hike…
The itinerary starts from the small village of Resceto, on the edge of the Apuan Alps Regional Park. As you climb, the view soon becomes impressive: the high peak of Mount Tambura seems to keep watch over the path the whole way. A long series of turns quickly leads to higher ground, and the view opens onto the surrounding peaks. When you reach the Nello Conti Lodge, take a moment to relax. From there you can reach the Tambura Pass where the view of the mountains will take your breath away: sharp and stripped of their marble, they give the sense that they will soon plunge into the sea!
For more information about Abercrombie & Kent, click here.
Luxury DMC Imago Artis lets us in on a mystical Tuscan secret: Il Giardino dei Tarocchi, or Tarot Gardens, a surprising sculpture park hidden along the southern edge of the region.
Tell us about a Tuscan hidden treasure?
The most unconventional adventure in Tuscany is a visit to the breathtaking Tarot Gardens, located just south of the city of Grosseto. The gardens are highly recommended for lovers of Modern Art—especially fans of the sculptor Gaudì—though few travelers know about these extraordinary sculptures and buildings off the beaten track.
What makes the gardens so special?
Inspired by the works of Gaudì, in the 1980s French artist Niki de Saint Phalle created sculptures with pâte de verre, or glass-paste, and placed them among the olive groves. A walk through the garden is like entering a dreamland where the artist’s expressive imagination has taken form in the majestic fountains and buildings she inhabited. All the pieces represent traditional figures of the Tarot with the former home of the artist shaped like a towering Empress, one of the most important cards in the Tarot world.
How did you discover this treasure?
We discovered this magical place in the best way: through word of mouth. There aren’t even many signs along the way to reach the garden, which makes the surprise that much better.
How can visitors best experience this gem?
The Tarot Garden can be visited all year long, but the best seasons are spring and fall when the air is clear and the explosions of color on the statues can be experienced more vividly. We recommend visiting with a modern art expert who can shed light on the hidden meanings and symbols behind every masterpiece.
For more information about Imago Artis, click here.
“when i started to see italy from the sea then i understood how beautiful Italy was and of course Tuscany is among one of the most beautiful parts.”
Seal, award-winning singer and songwriter
“how incredible is to be in a region that just has so many beautiful places, beaches, landscapes… I think that we’re absolutely chock-block full of incredible treasures.”
Ondine Cohane, author and jornalist
An Itinerary in Tuscany provided by Toscana Promozione
Thursday
Start your long weekend with a visit to Lucca and do as the locals by renting some bikes to explore the town. With stunning architecture and four kilometres of walkable city walls, the quaint town merges history with a chic exclusivity.
Lucca is also home to one of the most famous shopping streets in Italy, La Via Fillungo, with vintage storefronts boasting both traditional and contemporary designer style. After a perfect cappuccino or espresso in the legendary Caffe di Simo, slip into the Teatro del Giglio, famed for its history with composer Giacomo Puccini, for an evening of Italian opera.
Saturday
Rent some vespas or vintage Fiat 500s for a spin into the UNESCO World Heritage site Val D’Orcia in the heart of Tuscany. Visit charming villages such as Montalcino, famed for its excellents Brunello wines, and Pienza, founded by Pope Pius II as the ideal Renaissance town.
Wander through town to taste local delicacies like Pienza’s famous pecorino cheese straight from the carts of traditional producers in the area. Take the winding roads northward through the postcart-perfect hills past San Quirico d’Orcia to the city of Siena for some nightlife and strolling in Piazza del Campo.
Friday
Head to the coast! The longest side of Tuscany stretches along the Tyrrhenian Sean and boasts fabulous and variegated beaches, from stretches of sandy dunes to rocks and cliffs, with an archipelago of gemlike islands. We love to stroll the beach in Forte dei Marmi in the north.
Peruse the shops in town or put your feet in the sand with a cone of handmade gelato from Gelateria Cervino, the historic local establishment in Via Spinetti offering artisanal gelato for visitors since 1940.
If you’re interested in a change of perspective, you may instead drift toward the harbor to hire a sailboat and skipper for a sunset cruise with an onboard glass of prosecco in hand.
Sunday
The best weekend in Tuscany includes a visit to Arezzo for a veritable treasure hunt. The walled city boasts a rich history, ranging from Etruscan heritage through Roman occupation and Medici rule, and architetural gems containing masterpieces like Piero della Francesca’s History of the True Cross and Cimabue’s crucifix in the church of San Domenico. The bounty of beauty continues in the streets.
Arezzo, the city of gold with an ancient goldsmith tradition, is also home to Italy’s largest antiques fair. Stalls gleaming with antique treasures will tempt you into finding more than one keepsake to remember your stay.
And to top off your Tuscan weekend in dining style, Le Chiavi d’Oro marries innovation with tradition tucked into a refined, yet rustic setting.
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