Did you know that Italy alone counts 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites within its borders, the most of any country on the World Heritage List? Although covering only a small part of the world’s surface, this beloved country offers plenty of beautiful sights, stunning beaches, centuries-old monuments, and a history so rich it makes the rest of the world hide in shame. Among many places you should plan to visit, you must include Tuscany. It’s funny how most Americans I know fell in love with Tuscany after seeing the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”, hoping to move to an ancient villa next to a vineyard and fall in love with Raoul Bova (sorry girls, he’s taken). I’ve visited Tuscany many times, including this past October when my best friend and I spent a girls’ weekend in Montecatini, Lucca, and Siena. Montecatini If you feel overwhelmed and need a day at the spa, Montecatini is the place to go. Revered for its curative waters since at least the 16th century, when the first baths were built here, Montecatini also offers a fine shopping and dining experience. My friend and I stayed at the Grand Hotel Nizza et Suisse and enjoyed it. We particularly loved the afternoon we booked at the hotel’s spa featuring a Jacuzzi, hot steam, sauna, sensory showers and a cozy relaxation room. My mouth still waters when I think of our dinner. A rich appetizer which consisted of typical cold cuts and “crostini di fegatini” (bread slices topped with a savory chicken liver paste—the iconic Tuscan antipasto); outstanding long pasta with pecorino cheese and octopus and, icing on the cake, a pastry cream and Nutella pie. All of this at the welcoming Pellegrini’s Osteria Moderna in via Leoncavallo 11/13. Make sure to pay them a visit!
Lucca Mostly famous for its medieval towers and walls dating back to the sixteenth century, this little city will provide you with an accurate insight on what life in Italy’s small towns feels like. Stroll along the narrow streets, and have cornetto (croissant) and cappuccino for breakfast, which will give you the energy to climb the 225 steep steps that get you to the top of Torre Guinigi. From here you will get a beautiful view of the city and witness a rare event: oak trees grow at the top of this 8 centuries-old tower. Italy’s churches are famous worldwide for their beauty and architecture, and Lucca is no exception. Make your way to the Cathedral of St. Martin, the Church of San Michele in Foro and the Basilica of San Frediano. If you plan on staying overnight, book your hotel or B&B inside the city walls. You’ll be able to walk everywhere and get the full medieval experience! Siena What a gem in the heart of Tuscany! Don’t miss the Piazza del Campo, where every year the famous horse race “Palio” takes place. Rising high above the Piazza del Campo is the bell tower, Torre del Mangia, built in the early 1300s. If you have the stomach for heights and no fear of tight spaces, climb the 500 steps for a great view down onto the square and across the city beyond. Shopaholics revel in this leather goods heaven: my friend and I respectively purchased a fashionable small purse and a pair of stylish, comfortable boots. At the suggestion of a local friend, we had lunch at Antica Trattoria Papei in Piazza del Mercato and were not disappointed. Order the “Pici al ragu’ di cinghiale“, typical Tuscan pasta with wild boar sauce. I hope my post and pictures made you add Tuscany to your travel bucket list! What other Tuscan cities do you love? I am Sarah, I am a freelance travel writer and photographer who specialises in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey and Italy. I contribute and help on several guidebooks to the region and also contribute to newspapers, magazines, travel reference books, and online media. I independently travelled in over 60 countries covering much of Latin America, Southeast Asia, India, Africa, Europe and Australasia in the last 17 years. As a travel writer I love searching out the quirky and odd little details that lie under the surface of a place. I aim to help inspire travellers to go beyond the highlights and venture out. With several years of experience as a tour guide in North Africa, the Middle East and Turkey, and a keen interest in history and politics which shaped this part of the world. via My Sara Beck Notebook https://mysarabeck.wordpress.com/2020/09/17/a-weekend-in-tuscany-medieval-towns-and-typical-food/
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