Take a deep breath in Tuscany
My journey back to Tuscany started when my uncle turned 99 years old. So in April, I booked a train ticket to Florence.
When I was a kid I spent many summers around Livorno with my family, It has been 8 years since I put my foot on Tuscany soil but finally this year without the pandemic or any excuses I decided to go back and visit my uncle, and feel again at home. My grandpa was from Tuscany so I have quite a big family in Tuscany, my surname is from there, and going back to a place where I don’t have to spell it every time I book a table at a restaurant, it feels good. and I had to go somewhere far away from Alba.
I looked for a glamping tent by the sea, and I found a beautiful eco-village near Bolgheri (LI): the Paradù Resort.
Located by the Coast of Tuscany, you feel part of nature, on a beautiful planet full of energy where the waves are small the beach is long and very clean, the earth is vibrant and the food and wine are delicious with a long tradition, at least for me. As a kid, I used to eat ” la schiaccia” ( focaccia bread) on the beach every morning and a good plate of spaghetti with clamps for dinner; I continued the tradition with my teenage son.
The typical day started with yoga on the beach, and long walks on the beach soaking in the sun of Tuscany. At the end of the day, I had a wonderful spaghetti with clamps at the restaurant beach watching the sunset with a glass of wine. what else?
After a week at the beach …go to Florence!
I’ve spent a lot of time in Florence, but this time was unique! We stayed at la Foresteria Valdese in a charming area of Santo Spirito “oltr’Arno” one of the most vibrant areas in Florence. We had l’apertivo at “Il Santino“, dinner in Piazza Santo spirito breakfast at “Il Santo Forno“. Then, early morning at The Uffizi and afternoon walking around Florence: walking by the house of Galileo Galilei and Dante. Reading the Italian history on walls, street and feeling wonderful.
According to my own experience, here are the 5 Reasons Why Tuscany Is the best place to take a vacation in Italy right now.
1- Discover the golden beaches – which are long and wide. After the Versilia, you can find a lot of free beaches with beautiful “pinetas” behind them. Don’t forget to go to a seaside restaurant that offers daily fresh fish menus typical of the Mediterranean culinary tradition, served in a relaxing and informal atmosphere.
2- Taste Chianti in the splendid area where is born – Chianti Classico has a fruity taste, with a marked acid tendency that enhances its freshness. The Chianti cuisine draws on the traditions of the two provinces to which it belongs, Florence and Siena, presenting aspects of exceptional uniqueness.
3- Admire the masterpieces of Renaissance art in Florence – Florence preserves an exceptional art heritage. In Florence lived Cimabue and Giotto, fathers of Italian painting; Arnolfo and Andrea Pisano, renovators of architecture and sculpture, Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Masaccio, initiators of the Renaissance and Leonardo and Michelangelo, universal geniuses. Their works are collected in the many museums of the city: the Uffizi is the most selected art gallery in the world.
4- The cuisine – The cuisine of Tuscany is all about simplicity — keeping it fresh, and incorporating seasonal produce, legumes, meat, pasta, and cheese with traditional local flavors authentic to the land.
5- Chees– The most famous cheese of Tuscany is undoubtedly Pecorino Toscano, a traditional Tuscan soft or semi-hard cheese made from whole sheep’s milk and characterized by a rustic yellow rind. There are so many different kinds to taste with honey and a good glass of red wine.
Now, you can understand why I chose Tuscany!
Namaste, Viviana
Yoga Holidays and Travel 