Tuscany Fall 2018

Italy…the country of love, and fall in love we did! Tim and I, along with brother Scott and wife, Christine, arrived in Rome to start our Italian adventure. We pick up our car and headed for the Tuscany region. Driving in Italy is an experience all its own. Thank goodness this undertaking was left to Tim and Scott! We spent our time exploring hilltop towns, eating, and drinking the local wines, and visiting vineyards, towns and villages. It was a fantastic time. I was so glad I had a chance to toss one coin in the Treva Fountain…it means I will return to Italy again someday!
We started our journey in Rome on a walking tour, covering the Coliseum and Rome’s ancient sites. We toured the Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, viewed the…

Rome

We started our journey in Rome on a walking tour, covering the Coliseum and Rome’s ancient sites. We toured the Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, viewed the Pietà, and saw as many of the art, sculptures and fountains we could during our stay. Of course, we did find time to sample as much of the fantastic foods and gelatos we could!
  • I stumbled on this restaurant on Trip Advisor looking for an upscale roman experience. This restaurant is a true jem and must if you're traveling to Rome. The…

    Adhoc Restaurant, Rome

    I stumbled on this restaurant on Trip Advisor looking for an upscale roman experience. This restaurant is a true jem and must if you're traveling to Rome. The…
  • We visited Ostia Antica, about an hour outside of Rome. It was Rome’s harbor town back in the 7th century BC. The remains of the city were both beautiful and…

    Ostia Antica

    We visited Ostia Antica, about an hour outside of Rome. It was Rome’s harbor town back in the 7th century BC. The remains of the city were both beautiful and…
  • Siena is located in the central part of Tuscany, in the middle of a vast, breathtakingly beautiful, hilly landscape. Like other Tuscan hill towns, it was first…
    September 29-30 2018

    Siena

    Siena is located in the central part of Tuscany, in the middle of a vast, breathtakingly beautiful, hilly landscape. Like other Tuscan hill towns, it was first…
  • Barberino val d’Elsa is situated just outside of the traditional boundaries of Chianti, but this little town merits its ranking in the area of great wines. …

    Barberino Val d Elsa

    Barberino val d’Elsa is situated just outside of the traditional boundaries of Chianti, but this little town merits its ranking in the area of great wines. …

  • Barberino Val d Elsa Accomodations

    Our first stay was at a lovely restored stone barn with an exquisite view on the valley in the town of Barbarino Val d’ Elsa in the heart of the Chianti region.…

  • Chianti Valley

    Just looks at these vistas! The photos don't even do it justice. Down every road was a small family winery and the most beautiful stone villages. One day we…

  • Il Bacio Vineyard

    We spent an afternoon driving through the Chianti Valley and had the great fortune of finding a small family owned vineyard and winery named Il Bacio. The owner…

  • Toiano Commune

    The “ghost” village. There are no shops, hotels or restaurants to welcome you, only the town's ancient walls which loom over the breathtaking countryside. We…

  • Florence

    This was the original capital of Italy when it was first formed. It houses some of the richest artifacts from roman times. you'll find works by all the great…

  • Volpaia

    This stone village with panoramic views over the surrounding vineyards and forests is located in central Chianti, it was another peaceful and relaxing hill…

  • San Gimignano

    Driving down the highway in Tuscany we spotted this village's tower up on a hill in the distance. Known as the Town of Fine Towers. This medieval town has…

  • Pisa

    This beautiful city, our third residence, straddles the Arno river just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. Although Pisa is known for its leaning tower…

  • Pisa Apartment

    Our next location was a fantastic second floor apartment in the heart of Pisa. Across the street was our very own clock tower, which had a wonderful restaurant…

  • Lucca

    One of our side trips from Pisa was a visit to the hill town of Lucca. Another idyllic town, but what sets it apart is the immense city walls surrounding the…

  • Porto Santo Stefano

    What a beautiful little coastal town tucked into the hillside. It probably gets over run during season, but we were late (oh darn!) There was a scenic view…

  • Hotel Villa Domizia

    When planning our trip, I wanted to make sure I spent some time by the ocean. We didn't scuba dive here, but the water sure was clear enough. I picked this…

  • The Food

    From the more sophisticated restaurants like Adhoc to the simple family pizzarias we ate our way through Italy. I was especially atune to all the things we've…