Tuscany vacation

A Tuscany vacation has always been on top of my bucket list! As a movie buff, I have dreamt for many years to visit the filming site of many of my favorite movies, to name just a few: Romeo & Juliet by Franco Zeffirelli Tuscany is located in central Italy, and its capital Florence is one of the most romantic cities in the world, and is home to the Duomo basilica, the unparalleled Renaissance art and architecture, including amazing works by Michelangelo and Botticelli, and many stunning landmarks.

How to get there

The easiest way is to fly into Florence airport (FLR) or Pisa airport (PSA) and rent a car. Remember that in Europe, most cars have manual transmission, so if you are not used to it, make sure to request for an automatic car. <

Where to stay

Depending on your flight arrival time, you could drive directly to your rental place from the airport before dark (don’t count on well-lit roads), or stay first for a day or two in Florence to explore this beautiful city. This is guaranteed to set a romantic mood for the rest of your trip. Hopefully before you arrive, you have searched and booked a rental house or accommodation and know where to go. I would recommend to print out the directions or carry a map even if you have GPS as this may not work in some rural areas.

What did we do and where did we go?

I traveled with a group of 12 friends from Germany. To plan our Tuscany vacation, the guys went on a reconnaissance tour the year before to find this perfect rental location for us. The historical stone main house and annex are on a hill with sweeping views, swimming pool, large modern kitchen with island, indoor and outdoor dining and seating area, barbecue grill. Back in the crusades era, pilgrims used to walk by this property on the way from France to Rome. Next we decided on the sleeping arrangement. Two of the accommodations were like apartments with their own living room, kitchen and bathroom. One of the accommodations used to be a chapel with high ceiling and a loft sleeping area (so cool!).  The other rooms were standard-size, comfy and with attached bathroom. In the end, to be fair, the rooms were assigned by lucky draw. There were a few wineries within walking distance and the supermarket is a short drive away. Check out myposts with recommended outings, eateries and activities in Tuscany!

What did we cook for dinner?

We tooked turn cooking delicious meals with local fresh ingredients… and enjoyed our meals al fresco with local wines, limoncello and grappa… The food was just out of this world!

Amazing fresh ingredients, burrata cheese, plumb tomatoes, crisp asparagus and greens, a true delight! <img class=”wp-image-1989″ src=”https://14669.maiso Caprese platter with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and balsamic pesto drizzle

Glorious fresh pasta with truffle shaving

Charcoal grilling meat and sausagesRosemary fragrant grilled meat           

Where did we hang out?

Breathtaking view of Tuscany hills from the house

Idyllic swimming pool setting

Does this post inspire you to visit Tuscany? If you have been to Tuscany, what was your favorite memory? Don’t forget to check out my other Tuscany posts and food tour… We hope you love the products we recommend. Just so you know we may collect a compensation from the affiliate links on this page if you decide to shop from them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

We hope you love the products we recommend. Just so you know we may collect a compensation from the affiliate links on this page if you decide to shop from them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.