Tuscany Holidays
Tuscany apartments, cottages, hotels and villas
Island
How To Get There
There are direct flights to Florence and Pisa from several airports in the UK.
You can fly from Gatwick to Florence on most days with Meridiana.
From Bristol, Gatwick and Luton you can take an Easyjet flight to Pisa on most days including weekends. Gatwick also has a British Airways flight to Pisa on the weekends.
From Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bournemouth, East Midlands and Birmingham you can take a Ryanair flight to Pisa. Their flights from Stansted, Liverpool and Dublin leave Monday-Sunday.
With Jet2 you can fly from Leeds/Bradford, Belfast, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Manchester to Pisa.
At A Glance
When you think of a dream holiday home in Tuscany do you think of rounded hills garlanded by cypress trees, immaculately kept vineyards and olive groves set amidst misty hillsides, acres of tall sunflowers facing the sun, with isolated old farms and elegant villas overlooked by high medieval hill towns?
This is typical Tuscany, and we are in the region’s central area of Chianti, roughly located south of Florence and Siena. Here, the roads are refreshingly slower, giving you a chance to meander and chance upon such wonderful places as Greve, with its delightful 17th century arcaded square - or Spaltenna an Badia a Coltibuono where ancient abbeys have been converted into sumptuous restaurants.
For wine lovers, follow the Strada del Vino signs to exquisite wineries such as Barone Ricasoli or Felsina to sample the finest chiantis.
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Resorts
Cortona, Arezzo
More infoCortona, 5 kilometres away, has a wide choice of the essential shops, banks and chemists, and lots of big-town hustle and bustle. Dont miss the striking Piazza della Repubblica, the main square and favourite place for whiling away a relaxing evening.
Florence
More infoFlorence, capital of the region of Tuscany, has a population of around half a million inhabitants, spreads on the banks of the Arno, between the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian seas, almost in the middle of the Italian peninsula.
Limite Sull Arno
More infoLimite sull Arno, a town on the River Arno due west of Florence, just 25 kilometres away. Vinci, of Leonardo fame, is 20 minutes drive. However Empoli is the nearest town for those necessities of banks, shops and chemists, about 10 minutes away.
Sinalunga, Siena
More infoSinalunga is only five minutes by car and, situated as it is midway between Siena and Lake Trasimeno, enjoys the most varied countryside. There are hills and mountains, thermal springs and spa towns. Within comfortable driving distance also are the famous historical cities of Florence, Siena, Arezzo and Assisi
Strada, Chianti
More infoSome people turn up their nose at Sienapointing out that Rome or Florence would be far more desirable for a long weekend. But you should not be dissuaded. It is a welcome chnage to the frenetic pace of Rome or Florence, and a gentle immersion in Italy’s art and culture.
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The Insider
Regional Food
The Tuscan identity is truly evident in the spectacular dishes that await you. Try and sample the local pasta - ricotta and spinach ravioli al burro e salvia (with butter and sage); tordelli from Lucca stuffed with chard, meat and ricotta. For the carnivore, bistecca alla Fiorentina (a vast T-bone steak cooked rare). Even the humble vegetable is transformed - bietole Swiss chard with olive oil, garlic and chilli pepper. Try almond biscuits from Siena, and a final treat, vin santo e cantucci (almond biscuits dipped into delicious sweet raisin wine).
Local Wine
Tuscany offers a wide range of quality wines, and not just from Chianti. Here is just a small selection of highly recommended names for you to enjoy in a local Cafe or on the terrace of your holiday home in Tuscany: Chianti Classico are excellent reds and some are inexpensive, for example: Grosso Sanese, Castello di Brolio, Castello di Fonterutoli and the more expensive La Casuccia. Other superb red wines include Selvapiena Riserva, Piancornello, Casanove di Neri and Fuligni. Then, from the town of Montepulciano come Avignonesi and Poliziano. Bolgheri Sassicaia to sample. The best white wines are Vernaccia, which is made in San Gimignano, and Bianco di Pitigliano.
Shopping
To capture the real flavour of Italy, sample the chaotic exuberance of the outdoor markets - immerse yourself in the streets and piazzas and savour the dazzling colours, noises and aromas - this is a real Italian experience, even if you don’t buy anything! And if the food tempts you, which it will, you will discover a freshness and quality (and price!) that is unequalled. At the other end of the scale, you can sample the sophisticated delights of shopping for designer goods in Florence, antiques in Siena and Pisa, or local crafts in San Gimignano.
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