Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
course find the famous leaning tower of Pisa, the beautiful Duomo and Baptistery, inter-
esting medieval center, and parks are also an alluring prospect for travelers. The town of
Lucca has one of the best preserved walls in all of Italy. In fact, it's a walled city. Visit-
ors can walk and bike atop these walls for a great view of the town's historic center. Cor-
tona was made famous by Francis Mayes book “Under the Tuscan Sun.” It's surrounded
by Estrucan walls that date back to 3,000 years ago. Here you'll find interesting medieval
architecture and beautiful views of the countryside.
For those looking for an amazing wine tasting experience while in Italy, Tuscany should
definitely be on your radar as a place to experience. And if you're a fan of Chianti, then the
Chianti Classico Wine Region is where you'll want to be. This region is situated between
the cities of Siena and Florence and boasts a beautiful countryside, picturesque villages,
and of course, wineries. A fun place to check out is the Barone Ricasoli Winery and Brolio
Castle. It's here at this winery where the formula for Chianti Classico was first invented
and, in fact, it's the oldest winery in Italy. While you're wine tasting, you can also head
over to the Brolio Castle and take a tour of a few of its rooms which are now museums.
Travel Tip:
The Tuscany region also has some great parks to
visit for those travelers looking for the outdoor experience in a
beautiful countryside setting. Check out the National Park of the
Tusco-Emilian Apennines, The National park of the Tuscan Ar-
chipelago, and the Maremma Regional Park, just to name a few!
What to Eat:
Tuscan cuisine is simple yet elegant in taste. Legumes, vegetables, bread, cheese, and
mushrooms play a main role in most dishes here. “Peasant” type dishes are still cooked to
this day keeping with the tradition of using everything available and also reusing leftovers.
A classic example of this “reusing” is in the Tuscan riboliita, which literally means re-
boiled. It's a soup whose origins date back to a time when leftover minestrone or other ve-
getable soups from the previous day are re-heated and have ingredients added to enhance
the taste such as beans, bread, olive oil, and whatever other vegetables may be on hand. If
you're looking to experience white truffles, visit Tuscany in October or November when
they are in season. The Tuscan region is also known for its high quality steaks and pork
products. Wild game can also be found in the local cuisine. Animals such as boars, pheas-
ant, and hares are all included in different varieties of regional dishes. For dessert, you'll
find a common cookie called cavallucci, which is made with almonds, flour, honey, can-
died fruits, and coriander. And you can't forget about the wines! Aside from Chianti, you'll
also find fine choices of Parrina, Sassicaia, Brunello di Montalcino, and Carmignano.
