Tuscany

What would be more relaxing than renting a farmhouse in Tuscany and exploring the wineries that put Italy on the culinary map?

That is exactly what we did with another couple who enjoys good wines even more than we do.

Our temporary Residence in Tuscany

This farmhouse was recently renovated and is part of the Castelfalfi Luxury Resort. The villa is on a golf course, which has its challenges due to the hills, lakes, streams and sand traps.
Castelfalfi itself is a very small medieval  town on top of a hill and offers stores, restaurants and a small grocery store that sells local specialties starting with cheese and salami tartufo, my favorite and also local wines.

Not having been there yet, we visited Pisa, which to our surprise was pretty cool and not too crowded. Maybe it has something to do with it being the off season.

Cathedral in Pisa

From our temporary home we took day trips and visited many of the hilltop towns that make Tuscany so charming. The distances are not to be underestimated due to the winding roads that go left, right, up, down and left and right again in an endless pattern.

We explored Livorno, Bolgheri, San Gimignano, Greve and Lucca, where we had our own private tour guide. He did a fantastic job and gave us a glimpse of the rich history and culture that formed Lucca.

Lucca

On one of these trips we got lost in Colle di Val d'Elsa where we discovered Arnolfo, and enjoyed a truly exciting dining experience, which one would only expect in a large metropolis like New York but not in the middle of Tuscany.

In Volterra we enjoyed the local art of carving Alabaster and in Montalcino we tasted Brunello, what else. And we didn't regret it at all.



Casanova di Neri

Cheers!