We Have Moved!

Come join us over in our new 'home'.........

http://villasintuscany.wordpress.com/

Villas in Tuscany December Specials....

December is such a fun month......

Grown up kids and mini adults alike love the run up to Christmas with all the glitz, parties, sparkly bling pretty much everywhere you go, yes even your local coffee shop!

What did you get in your advent calendar this morning??



People get back in touch with those they don't hear from very often (if at all...) during the year, everyone gets into a party mood and start thinking of presents and decorations, bite size party food and bubbly party drinks, then the ''oh my goodness, am I going to get into my dress by new years?''....... haha!!

So we've also put together some amazing ideas for you to take advantage of before the start of the new year.

One Thing to Note - you will need to contact us directly to be able to take advantage of some of these amazingly special offers, as not all are available on the website, because they are reserved for you as your bonus to following the blog!

Which means these are exclusively for you, and anyone you choose to forward our blog to.

Let's pull the first special out of the ViT Christmas sack.......




Woohoo - A Super Saver!!!
This is for the beautiful Villa di Collina.

Book by 31 December and visit between now and 26 February 2011 and you will get a stunning 15% off.




Next up - An Early Bird!!

Again, for Villa di Collina.

Book by 31 December and visit between 26 February and 2 July 2011, and you will receive 10% off the regular price.

More to come soon!!

Enjoy,

The ViT Team.

Last Minute offers for 27 November

Just put up some last minute offers (some up to 30% discount) for the week of 27 November.

If you would like to book a property on offer for longer, please contact us directly and we will organise everything with you.

You can find all the last minute offers HERE.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Christmas and New Year Celebrations

Christmas is a coming,
the goose is getting fat,
so much to do in Tuscany,
it's really where it's at......

There are signs of travel to Tuscany for Christmas and the New Year, which is great, so we'll be posting which properties are still available (at time of posting - after that nothing is guaranteed!) and any special and last minute offers that come up.

We already have a couple of great deals for those who travel before 31 December, and also for those who book before the end of year.

Keep posted so as not to miss these fabulous opportunities........

Updates on Villas in Tuscany

The blog is going get busy from now on in......

As well as ''What's On'' we'll be featuring properties once a week, so over the weeks to come there will be another way of viewing villas / apartments / estates for anyone interested. 

This will take a bit of time to build up, so if anyone would like to know about any property in particular, or a type of property then we can accommodate that.

We'll also keep you updated on any ''Specials'' going, either for a quick getaway, an early bird booking, or long term let, so sign up if you don't want to miss anything.

You can always follow us on Twitter, and pick up info on Facebook too.

November in Tuscany - Weekend 13 & 14 November

Here's a line up of weekend events for 13 & 14 November.

Sinalunga (SI) - Centre

This is a definite winner!!

A mini formula one with 9 Rioni (teams) and 4 go carts and 1 back up.

Saturday is set up in the morning and then test runs in the afternoon.

Sunday is race day!!!

Figline Valdarno (FI) - Agriculture, Environment, Food
There's loads going on here in and around the centre.

Florence - Piazza Santa Croce
Extra Virgin Olive Oil in abundance

Scarpiera (FI) - Circolo MSL
Truffles galore - with pasta, meat and the famous Tortelli Mugellani

Bagni a Ripoli (FI) - Via Roma
10am - 7.30pm Olive Oil

Pontedera (PI) - Via Rinaldo Piaggio 82
Pisa Unica Terra di Vino - Wine festival

Pisa - Piazza Chiara Gambacorti
Local products

Massarosa (LU) Stiava
Horse Chestnut festival

Anghiari (AR) Town Center
Novello wine, stalls and stands, Antique Fair, and much more

Viareggio (LU) Circolo il Fienile
Wine and dancing.

Camaiore - Montemagno, localita' Piopetti
Horse Chestnuts galore

Camaiore - Lungomare Lido di Camaiore
Local products

Montespertoli (FI) - Parco Urbano
White Truffle festival, wine and oil

Borgo San Lorenzo (FI) - Foro Boraio
Truffles, meat, wine and local delicacies

Pergine Valdarno (AR) - Town Centre
Oil, bruschette, paintings, ceramics, artisan products

Pian di Sco' (AR) - Town Centre
Oil and Horse Chestnut festival


This is just a general idea of what there is out there.
Prices, if relevant, may not be included, so check before going.

November in Tuscany - One Day Events

Here's a quick rundown on a few one day events on 13 and 14 November.

Saturday 13 November 

Piteglio (PT) 

Wild Boar dinner at Lanciole from 8pm on.

Sunday 14 November

Fuccechio (FI) 

Ponte a Cappiano from 3pm onwards autumn tasty morsels.

San Quirico di Vernio (PO)

Luciana, from 11.30am onwards, Novello wine and other tasty morsels.

Prato (PO) 

Piazza del Comune, from 4pm onwards, roast chestnuts and a musical concert.

Palazzo sul Senio (FI) 

Piazza IV Novembre, from 10am onwards, local tasty products.

Rufina (FI)

Piazza Umberto I, local products

Montale (PT) 

Piazza Matteotti, from 3pm onwards, Festa delle 3 Farine (Three Flours Fair) with products made from different types of flour.

Fosciandora (LU)

Lupinaia - the Chestnut Festival - loads to do and see in the centre, and Novello wine to taste.

Vico Pisano (PI)

Oil Festival - from 11am in Piazza Cavalca.

Bagni di Lucca (LU)

Fornoli - Festa del Ringraziamento, Harvest Thanksgiving. Morning mass starts with a procession of traditionally dressed people carrying harvest produce to the altar. Stands and music throughout the rest of the day.

Filatteria (MS)

Fagiolata sotto Casa - Beanfest! All types of beans in a vast array of different dishes.

Barga (LU)

Historic Centre - Horse Chestnut festival with other delicacies and Novello wine.

Pisa (PI) 

Area Expo - Novemberfest - German delicacies

Castagneto Carducci (LI)

Horse Chestnut festival, and beer made of horse chestnuts!!

Whilst we take care to make sure details are as precise as possible, Villas in Tuscany does not take any responsibility for listings, nor for any that are not listed.

Please check information and locations before setting out.

November in Tuscany

You might think that once the holidays are over and everyone's gone back to work, the kids are back at school and everything gets a little drab and dreary with the onset of winter, that there is nothing left to do in Tuscany.

Nice try! My goodness, there is SO MUCH to do around the place, especially where food is concerned.

The Tuscans really know how to use the countryside resources and have a great time.
That is what is so special about Tuscany - they still adhere to eating what's in season - unlike many other countries who eat tasteless out of season container shipped produce.

So, I'll take care of filling you in on where to go, what to do, and all you'll have to do is choose which of the many delicious platters to eat, as the chefs/cooks/etc will advise you on which wines go superbly with which foods.

There are so many, so I'm putting them into different blogs.

If you know of any other events, or have one yourself that you'd like us to mention, please post it on Facebook or email me and I will put it on the blog too.

What's on NOW in Tuscany...

What's cooking in Tuscany right now?

With precisely a week to go till October this is what's happening:

Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Antiquariato in Florence - September through to October - a massive antiques fair.

Impruneta's (just outside Florence) Festa dell'Uva (Grape Festival) - 26 September is a great day of popular dances, performances, local produce to taste and a procession of allegorical carts of the four districts of Impruneta.

Castelnuovo Berardegna Wine Festival in Vagliagli - a week long of wine and local product tastings. Traditional dressed men and women accompany the carts during the procession.

Certaldo, near Florence, hosts the Sagra della Bistecca (la tagliata is a delicious cut of steak) e del Fungo Porcino from the 9 September to 10 October over each weekend within that period of time.

24 - 26 September in San Miniato, near Pisa, is the Sagra del Tarfufo Bianco e Fungo Porcino.
White Truffles and Porcino Mushrooms - and on show are the local specialities made with these highly prized foods.

Prato instead hosts a more highbrow affair over the 24 - 27 September weekend. An economics fair with music and exhibitions, and Nobel prize winners speaking too.

Truffles are worth 'investigating' if you have never tasted, smelt or seen one up close.
They are an underground mushroom basically, usually found around certain trees depending on the type of truffle, and look like a cross between gingseng, ginger and a potato.

They are highly prized, the season lasts until January during which bidding and trading for both black and white truffles can reach a veritable frenzy! They're already being sold online from £500 / $780 up for 300g.

The most expensive white truffle to date was bought by a casino owner who paid £165,000 / $330,000!!!
It weighed in at 3.3lbs.

They used to be sniffed out by pigs, but dogs are also used nowadays.

Please contact ViT for more information on villas or accommodation in Tuscany that will either organise a truffle hunt for you, or put you in touch with the local connoisseur when you are there.

Happy hunting!!

Good Web Guide

Yeay! We're entered into the Good Web Guide's ''Website of the Year'' awards!!

The feedback we've had about the site has been constant ever since we started up.

Everyone loves the simplicity.

So, the redesign that is under way will keep true to one of our site foundation stones.

We have entered pretty late in the day, and the new site might or might not be up and running, but you can still give the present site a little love and go to http://www.thegoodwebguide.co.uk/awardfeedback to tell them why YOU love ViT!

We love you too by the way...!!!

If the new redesigned and upgraded ViT isn't ready for the judges this time, the design will certainly be ready for next year along with all the subtle changes we're tailoring for you behind the scenes here.

Should we win this years awards, we will certainly be showing our appreciation to you in some shape or form - we'll sit down and think something up specially for you, our valued clients.

A massive thanks to the Good Web Guide's team for all their hard work!

And a massive thumbs up to YOU,

The Team at Villas in Tuscany.com

La Dolce Vita in Toscana

Italy has a very rich tapestry of traditions and culture which are very much still alive to this day. The Latin vivaciousness is enthralling, thrilling, colourful and extremely tasty, and Tuscany does not lack in any of these at all. These traditions, sights and tastes have played an extremely important part in Tuscan life for centuries, and are not shows put on for tourists just a very real part of life in Tuscany.

So, as promised a good long while ago, I will be doing an ongoing series of what Tuscan traditions have to offer the locals and visitors alike.

I can’t guarantee that I will cover every single event happening in Tuscany, as this isn’t a dedicated ‘’what’s on’’ service, as I’d like to give an idea of the rich culture and of what is possible to do and see around Tuscany.

If anyone would like to share an event they know about, please contact me or post a comment below the blog and I will include it in a new blog.

Cin Cin – to your good health and happy stay in Tuscany.

Viva La Toscana!!

The sun is still shining but everyone's gone a little serious again.

Summer is apparently over, done, finished for another year, kids are back at school, the autumn/winter fashion has been in the shops for at least a month, and Harrods is already selling Christmas paraphernalia - yikes!!

That's all folks, summer is no more.

Says who though?

Go round with a smile on your face and you will always bring sunshine into people's lives.
And of course, the infamous 'Tuscan Smile' has that glint in the eye and Italian feel to it.....

Open a bottle of Tuscan wine you brought back home with you from your wonderful tour round the winery and you've just accessed another piece of Tuscany - one that not only keeps a smile on your face, and of all those that drink with you, but will also give you some invaluable antioxidants to keep you going through the winter months devoid of vitamin D (well, for some of us anyway) until you can get back to the Tuscan pool and Giuseppe, who always picks you up from the airport.

Don't believe the hype.

Don't buy into the doom and gloom of no more summer.

Go online and book your Tuscan early bird now - whatever the weather from now till July, you can smile as much as you like (and more) as you've secured 'your summer' and you will carry that through the next few months on your smile.

Oh boy, it's good to talk Tuscan!!

Cin cin!!

Last Minute Savings for April

Spring is in full swing!

The sun and April showers are fighting for the main stage in the UK, and there is even a bit of snow forecast.

The UK is grey and miserable again, and jackets are back on over the short sleeves that had started to show themselves in the last couple of weeks.

Tuscany, on the other hand, is full of beans.

Yes, there are showers, and yes it is grey some of the time, but not all, and it's getting better as I write.

With the sun out you can kick your shoes off and enjoy the lush green grass beneath your feet.

Get the shades on, the sun lounger out, and organise a picnic or a cocktail evening under that warm caress of the Tuscan Spring Sun.

There were some wonderfully hot days already in February, and March has been wonderful too.

So ViT is so looking forward to April and all that it has to offer.

So why not take advantage of the benevolent Italian weather and come over during April with a last minute booking?

With Florence, Siena, San Gimigniano, Montespertoli, Certaldo, Certaldo Alto, Gambassi Terme and many more within easy reach, this stunning villa in particular is a wonderful place to chill out for a week, catch some early rays, enjoy the delights of spring and save some money at the same time.

It's big enough to get a group of friends together and go - any excuse will do!

As always, if you need any help with choosing please contact ViT and I'll be glad to help.

Let's Catch Up....

Ok, When, and Where? Done. Excited? See you there!

Essentially there are no rules to ''Catch Up''. Just agree (!) on a day, a place and a time, which serve as a springboard into the Catch Up Zone, and the rest is open to interpretation and improvisation.

ViT is off on a Catch Up, having just arrived in the UK from ViT-HQ, and is thoroughly looking forward to it all.

Pancake Day aka Shrove Tuesday is now long past (actually 2 days after Valentines Day), we're still in Lent (what have you given up??!!) and Easter is on it's way.

ViT has been recieving emails from people asking for suggestions as to where families and groups of friends can go in Tuscany to enjoy a change of scenery over the next few weeks.

New blogs will be along the lines of ''Easter in somewhere or other'', or ''Easter doing something or other'' etc. In fact, I will write about places people ask about most often first, so drop ViT a line if you'd like a blog on somewhere or something specific.

So, what to do and where to go over the Easter period....

There are many public celebrations to enjoy and Tuscany is a hive of activity; snow is still on the mountains and skiing is great; the days are longer and after 5.32pm GMT on 20 March we are officially in Spring - yeay!!; the sun's strength is perfect for that sun kissed look whilst sunbathing by the pool, and is not too strong for kids to have to be kept out of the sun during the middle of the day; temperatures are on the up and it's hot enough to start having all meals outside (the best way to start the day - breakfast outside under the sun taking in that panorama - oh yes!); Nature's colours are vibrant as flowers are opening up, crops are shooting up, and a new lease of life is bursting forth after the long hard winter we've all just experienced; birds will be in full  song, and little ones of all species will be trying out for the first time their legs or wings or fins or whatever.....!

Spring in Tuscany is a sure fire winner - the place is buzzing with energy, it's not too hot, it's not too cold, flights are cheap, and finally we can all get outdoors and breathe in deeply that fresh positively charged air whilst walking barefoot on the negatively charged grass or sand and really be perfectly in balance with nature and ourselves.

Tuscany comes to life again in full force and courses start up again as well, cooking, chocolate, wine tasting, to name but very few.

Golf, horse riding, paragliding, hot air ballooning, sports galore are accessible, and it's a great time to try something new...

What would you prefer?

A large house for everyone, pool and ample ground to chill out in. Maybe get a chef in for a few evening meals who can cook traditional Tuscan, international or whatever you wish. Maybe organise a masseusse, beautician and baby sitter to come round so the adults can be pampered and totally unwind whilst the kids are entertained.

A set of appartments with communal spaces within the same location, maybe an old farmhouse or very large villa for example, so that whilst everyone is all together there is still a high degree of independance.

All ViT accomodations have pools, bbq, and so much more, it just depends where you'd like to be situated too - completely out in the countryside or near to town.

There are farmhouses, country villas, estates, appartments that cater to all your requirements, so why don't you email me with your preferences and I will send you various options and information on what's going on in that area around the time of your Together-Time holiday.

I think you'll agree that whilst playing catch up in the UK at the moment, ViT is actually ahead of the game where Tuscany is concerned.

Life is good, Tuscany is great, ViT is a Tuscan winner!!

Sassetta

What a start to the week!!
Blue sky, warm sun, a trip to Sassetta and then off to the sea for lunch before heading back to ViT HQ.

About an hour from Pisa, Sassetta has everything - out of the madding crowd, but still close enough to shops, and 'life' to enjoy a bit of everything.
It's close to the sea, half an hour away, and up in the hills so you have an amazing view of the surrounding area.
ViT is sitting right now writing this from a sea front bar on an amazingly sunny day in mid February.
Probably a little cold to swim, but certainly not to paddle and enjoy the sea air and warm sun on my face!
Bliss!

Sassetta is a medieval town that sits right on top of a rock - pretty spectacular to see for the first time when you arrive.
It is steeped in history, and is a wonderful place to go for a wander around the winding alleyways and passageways, see the castle and stop for a drink in one of the bars.
The surrounding area is covered by oak and chestnut trees which give it that timeless feel and shade from the sun in the summer.

There is so much to see and do around here - Etruscan ruins, medieval fortress, the Island of Elba (Isola d'Elba), Populonia, diving, cycling, hiking, thermal baths and spa, then just relax and enjoy the wonderful cooking back at your accommodation.

The photo above was taken today, just before ViT's lunch, at Baratti-on-Sea (so to speak) on the ViT-phone, not bad eh?!

And here's a photo of ViT herself......

Sweetie for the first one to see the sea....!!!!

:D

Food Glorious Food.....!!!

Mangiare is the Italian for 'to eat'.
A long 'a' makes it 'mangiaaare' (add a little theatrical Sophia Loren movement), and just by opening up your jaw to pronounce the Italian word your whole body starts to desire getting that deliciousness off the plate and into your mouth.

Whereas the English word 'eat' (pronounced 'eeet') closes the mouth and jaw and sounds like 'eeeek', which doesn't exactly get the system going does it?

Food for thought..... (I know, I know, but hey!)

The Italians love their food, in case no one had ever noticed, and they really notice if there is a lack of taste as they are so used to locally grown food in great conditions.
The Mediterranean diet has many scientific studies extolling it's virtues and on your holiday you will understand why.

Food is fresh, sourced and sold locally where possible, picked when ready to eat, and there is a good organic movement too.
Alot of places are biodynamic and natural laws and rhythms are followed.
Many people also have the possibility of eating their own home grown fruit and veg.

Worth noting is the fact that many Tuscans won't eat foods out of season.........because the taste isn't as good.
Some are only seasonal - truffles, chestnuts etc.
They live what I'm doing my masters on, what so many others have forgotten, and what, after all, is a natural way of eating.

Here in Tuscany some vines are sprayed with chemicals against this and that, but so many villa owners I talk to are not doing that, in fact they don't use anything and don't have any problems.
The same goes for the olives our villa owners grow.
The taste of Tuscan cold pressed olive oil is just something else.
For those who have never had the privilege of tasting it please try sourcing it as it is so worth it.
Add this oil to freshly picked nutrient packed salad, in season vegetables, raisins, maybe some soaked seeds or sprouts, and you find, there before you, an amazing source of vital force energy.

So many Villas-in-Tuscany.com villas and farmhouses have their own orchards and vegetable patches that guests have access to.
There is just something so beautiful about eating food you know has been grown on the property you're holidaying in, that has been picked 10 minutes before eating it, that maybe you yourself chose and that is bursting with real flavour, not to mention the rest!

Farmers markets are always great to go to, as there is local freshly made cheese, milk, yoghurt, meat, and of course fruit and veg.
You can go there by yourself and wander around buying whatever takes your fancy, or be accompanied by your cooking teacher and then go do the lesson and eat it afterwards.

There are also so many events around Tuscany that you can bet your bottom dollar great food will be there too.
Specialised raw foods are harder to find, and raw & vegan food is not mainstream.
Tuscans know they have the most amazing food, and can see raw as a restriction.
However, when food is prepared with love and is local produce it is a winner every time!

Meal times are an important part of Italian life, it's a social thing.
The preparation beforehand, talking, laughing, joking, even singing all happens around food (ever been to a olive or grape harvest?).
It's family and friends time - so many people around a table all together.
Children and grown-ups alike all join in, and it really brings people back into that community spirit, it's a time to pass down family history, keep communication open, discuss everything in an open manner.
It's a very positive aspect of life.

Many property owners tell me that guests love getting involved with the preparation of meals, and whilst some nights they will go out to restaurants, others they will stay in and get someone to prepare for them, do it themselves or even organise a cooking class.

So much of the time we take food for granted, and just think of it as delicious fuel, but there is so much more to it, and Tuscany has a subtle way of making you realise and appreciate food in a totally different light.

Whatever your way of eating, there is so much the Tuscan earth can provide for you to enjoy to the max on your vacation.
Contact ViT to find out which villas, apartments and farmhouses have organic home grown produce.

Buon appetito!!!

Montepulciano - wine, spas and breathtaking panoramas.

So here ViT is in Montepulciano for a few days checking out the area for you, such a tough job!

It's not the greatest of weather by summer standards, but it's February and ViT doesn't mind at all visiting our published accommodation in this sort of weather.
In fact we appreciate that if a villa or farmhouse looks great in the rain, with no flowers etc around then it's going to be stunning when in full bloom, and both the villa and farmhouse were fabulous.
Both of them have amazing panoramic views.

The villa has an infinity pool and it's own fruit trees you can pick your breakfast off! The interior design and furnishings are definitely not your ordinary run of the mill, and the shower heads are those amazon rain forest types. No worries about pressure either, the whole set up was purpose built and everyone could have a tropical shower and not notice a difference.
Bliss!

The farmhouse is very cosy and well thought out. Different seating areas follow the shade, so you breakfast in one part, move 10 mt to lunch under another shaded area, and evening meals are around the bbq area. The pool is the longest I've seen and is so inviting for swimmers and those who like to sit in shallow water alike - one end of the pool is about 20 cms in depth and nice and wide so you can sit and cool off without having to waste energy keeping yourself afloat. Also great for small kids to paddle in, but they need to be supervised at all times as it does get deeper.

Driving around yesterday in the Castiglione D'Orcia area was just spectacular.
The fields are bright green at the moment, and there is snow on the higher up hills.
Unfortunately, someone forgot to charge up their photo phone so only a couple of photos before it shut down.
Today, we're fully charged up and ready to go.....

Nearby there is Monte Amiata where you can ski, and now is the perfect time.
More snow is forecast too.
After a hard days skiing with an empty bottle of red in your backpack you could head back to your farmhouse accommodation, apartment or villa (loads of choice around here) for an apres ski aperitivo already waiting for you, or go straight to the baths to avoid any muscle aches the morning after.
A day skiing, a day with your favourite wine, time in the baths, a day in Siena, Montalcino, then Pienza, and don't forget to visit S. Anna in Camprena.
With so much to do around this area you might have to prioritise unless your here for a couple of weeks.

Cin Cin!

Villas-in-Tuscany.com, Tuscan Times and YOU……

I’ve been inundated by people wanting to know whether Villas-in-Tuscany.com (known affectionately as ViT) is changing it’s name over to Tuscan Times.
Ok, inundated is a little exaggerated but it’s a great question and one that ViT'd like to address right here, right now!

Tuscan Times is the title ViT has given to this blog as it recounts anything and everything that goes on in Tuscany. This can mean your times in Tuscany, ViT’s times in Tuscany, events and everything that ViT has listed in the brief outline up top of the Blog.
I guess ViT could have called it something else, but Tuscan Times it is, as ViT believes it captures the essence of everything will be blogged on.

www.villas-in-tuscany.com is not changing it’s name, but it is in a phase of being completely revolutionised, revamped and restructured - the 3 R’s.
It’s a great project to be working on, and ViT can’t wait to see the final results, and, of course, will keep you updated with the new features and changes as and when.

ViT site has already the Facebook badge up and the blog link too and these are the first improvements that are obvious, but believe ViT when I say that there is a veritable hub of activity going on in the background behind the scenes that will be visible at a later stage.

All very exciting!

Properties will be showcased in a different manner to the present one, searching for accommodation will be omnilateral as opposed to unilateral at the moment.
You will be able to see what interests you and find accommodation that way too.
Information on places to go, things to see, what’s what and who’s who so to speak.

For the time being that information will be found here in the blog, so ViT’s going to be very busy scribbling away for you.
Let ViT know if you would like anything specific that hasn’t already been addressed, which is pretty much everything at the moment!!
That way ViT can scribble away for YOU and your questions directly , otherwise I’ll just keep burbling away as I’m presently doing.

You are ViT‘s inspiration, that’s why I’m writing, so you can find out as much about Tuscany as possible before visiting, or be reminded how wonderful Tuscany is and keep that special Tuscan feeling with you.

Because YOU’re worth it!!!!!

;)

Baci baci!

A Fine Tuscan Chocolate Romance

Oh yes, carnivals are still going on all around here, and then just as the facepaints and costumes get put away San Valentino is upon us.

How do you say ''it''?
I love you?
Te quiero?
Ti amo?

Do you express yourself with a dozen roses delivered to your loved one's desk at work?
A romantic or saucy text?
A hand written letter for those who reminisce of the chivalrous golden times?
A dinner prepared at home with a top notch bottle of red?
A few days away in the Region of Romance Tuscany is so suited to?

Tell your loved one to pack hand luggage only and whisk yourselves away for a wonderfully womantic weekend (thank you Wossie) in the Tuscan hills, or Florence or any other citta' romantica you wish to stay in.

So many romantic locations and accommodations to choose from to suit all your desires.......well, let's keep it decent here!

But how would you love to visit Willy Wonker's chocolate factory (so to speak)??
How about a course in chocolate?
Surprise your loved one with a finger licking good time and a local bottle of wine.
By local ViT is, of course, referring to a DOC Tuscan Grape!!
Visit the Chocolate Valley, it couldn't be easier seeing as it is situated around Pisa and Florence, perfectly placed for airports, trains and highways.

Chocolate and Wine, and a Candle Lit Dine
Is what you need to say 'You're Mine'....
(not quite how ViT'd say 'it', but a little artistic license makes it all rhyme nicely...)

ViT is here to help you find the perfect accommodation, restaurant, wine or chocolate tastings to make San Valentino sparkle with that 'pzazz' these Latin Lovers are famous for!

Baci Baci

Tuscan Times are Picture Perfect...

Tuscan Times this morning started off with that amazing winter light. The last few days have been a little misty to say the least, but hey, mist around here makes like an Ansel Adams photo.

We had mist and some rain whilst further up north (Milan, much to the disgust of friends there) it was snowing again.

Villas-in-Tuscany (ViT) headed east instead to go to an absolutely stunning place, Bibbiena, to see one of the properties on the site and meet with the owners.
Started out great, but the further up it went the mistier it got.
A smattering of snow on the ground then got deeper the further along the road ViT progressed and it was snowing too!

One thing in Tuscany to permanently keep in the car during winter are chains for the wheels, which of course the ViT-mobile didn't have - yikes!
Well, didn't think for one minute I was off into Winter Wonderland did I, otherwise I'd have taken the Arezzo route, which I did on the way back down.

I did wonder at one stage if I was going to have to turn around, but holding the faith the ViT-mobile and I suddenly popped out of the Snow Queen's garden to a view of a dry and sunny valley - most welcome!

The villa is an absolute gem, in lush countryside, and we had a quick 'jar' of their limoncello to get some blood circulating, or that was the excuse anyway!
You feel straight away at home there as the atmosphere and Zizi' are just so welcoming.
They source and use all local products, so everything is fresh and tastes as it should.

Do listen to Zizi's directions and don't count on your gps one thousand percent.
'Doris' (the GPS dame) and I had a bit of a barny after she guided me to a road in a nearby town which had a set of street steps ''The Italian Job'' would have been proud of, as the only through way.
Doris was convinced that was the only way to go, the ViT-mobile on the other hand thought better of it.

So today ViT has stayed put as it has been warm enough to be in a light jumper out of the wind, and perfectly sunny for a Vitamin D top up.
Not chancing another snow adventure without skis, and besides, with a circus acrobatics workshop in the afternoon and M's hot chocolate afterwards there wasn't much that was going to coax me out of the warmth and sun!!!

Off tomorrow to a magical castle near Florence......

Che magia la Toscana!