Tuscany is a visual as well as a savoury feast. My journey took me to the beautiful and well known cities of Florence and Pisa. The history and landmarks were just as I had imagined. I happily toured the respective Duomos, gazed at the David, viewed the sunset from Ponte Vecchio, took photos at the Leaning Tower and strolled along the Arno River which majestically flows through both cities which are 87 kilometers (54 miles) apart. Just as impressive were the cities of Siena, San Gimignano and Lucca. Siena, with Gothic architecture (acquired between the 12th and 15th centuries) has well maintained streets echoing its medieval history. The Duomo was built in the Gothic style and the marble floors, uncovered only at certain times of the year were spectacular. Sunset with an aperitif in the Piazza del Campo is not to be missed! San Gimignano with its cobblestone streets winding between the high walls retains its feudal atmosphere with 14 of over 70 original tower-houses remaining. Lucca was a Roman colony and walled city famed for having 99 churches at one time. It is charming and people live and work here with fewer crowds than the more well known cities in Tuscany.
Another highlight was a day trip in Cinque Terre with its colored houses along the coast of the Ligurian Sea where we stopped in the cities of Lerici, La Spezia, Portovenere, Portofino for sunset and pesto pizza in Santa Margherita Ligure. Another day we drove part of the Via Chiantigiana with lunch in the enchanting city of Greve and stopped in Panzanno with beautiful panoramic vistas. The trip began and ended in Milan, where I had my first Italian pizza and found my new obsession…Aperol Spritz (simply called Spritz in Northern Italy). I’ve struggled to find words that express my journey in the Tuscan countryside that have not already been written. Perhaps I fell in love with Italy because the Italians seem to embrace the very things I believe are part of a good life; food, wine, social connection, art, mountains and the sea. I highly recommend you experience it for yourself!
