Cold, wintry weather has me dreaming of my summer days in Tuscany. It has always been a dream of mine to spend some time in Tuscany, Italy, and 2023 was the year we finally made it. The rolling hills, gorgeous landscapes and hilltop villages of Tuscany were all the scenes I had hoped for. Though the days were hot, we could always return to the beautiful villa we rented via Airbnb in Castelfalfi.
Please note that Leela Manners took all the images in this post. I think she did a beautiful job!
Scenes from Tuscany
We stayed at Villa Casa Collina, a gorgeous estate located in Castelfalfi. This location was ideal for exploring surrounding villages and taking in the landscape. Well equipped for hot summer days, with a pool and air conditioning, we met two other families for our five days in Tuscany.
Days were spent in exploration, and evenings were enjoyed overlooking the valley with good food, wine, music and friends. This, I felt, was a once-in-a-lifetime vacation where all the kids were still travelling with us, and time spent with loved ones who live so far away are now few and far between.
Travels through Tuscan Villages
I won’t be so bold as to demand you visit specific places in Tuscany. I feel that visiting the Tuscan region in Italy should be relaxing if you have the luxury of time. Soak in the sites, taste the food, eat copious amounts of gelato, and then watch the light gently change as the day goes into dusk and then fades to evening and night. Even the stars seem brighter there.
I will, however, point out a few highlights of our time there – and there were so many!
San Gimignano
Views over vineyards, award-winning gelato at Gelateria Dondoli, Tuscan souvenirs and winding streets all make San Gimignano the tourist trap it is. There is no shame in being a tourist in Tuscany. Everyone wants to view the most famous sites, after all.
In San Gimignano, we stocked up on oils, balsamic and pecorino cheese. I didn’t see the same sheep milk cheeses in any of the other villages we visited. I wish I had picked up a couple more of these pungent, delicious balls of pecorino. Don’t forget some salami too. Perfect for evening nibbles paired with a wine from Chianti.
I didn’t actually make it to Chianti for lunch. It’s about a 45-minute drive from San Gimignano, and I was so disappointed to miss out, but the teenager took some photos for me, and one day, I hope to make it back there.
Sienna
Sienna is stunning from the lookout on the next hill where we parked and up close as you traverse its winding, hilly streets. One of the larger Tuscan villages, it has something for everyone. Designer shops, art, history and architecture. I won’t lie, it was crowded. It was hot. But it has existed for centuries, and with it comes the history and gorgeous medieval charm. I had been to Sienna once before, many decades ago, but never got the chance to head up to the lookout of the Duomo. I had to do this, even if it meant missing out on another Tuscan lunch.
Getting up there was worth every step, winding up the old stone staircase and ending up, breathless, at the lookout. Views of the Duomo, Il Campo and scenes beyond were stunning. Make sure you buy your tickets and book your time slot before you go, or you may miss out on the view.
So much more to see and do in Tuscany
I always want to leave a place with the feeling that I want to return. And Tuscany will forever be one of those places. Where you stay is key, so selecting a location from where you can explore is vital. We used Airbnb and booking.com for almost all our accommodation. For us, self-driving was also important, allowing us our own time to do as we wanted.
If you liked this post, let me know by commenting. I still have so much to say about our 2023 Summer trip to Europe, but time has not been my friend this year. We visited Frankfurt and Munich in Germany, Zurich in Switzerland, Florence / Tuscany, Perugia / Umbria, Rome and Venice in Italy and Salzburg in Austria. I would love to share more blogs with you in 2024.
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Until next time! Angie
Ps. I had to share this picture as well. I took this one while hanging out the car window, driving through a town on the way to Sienna. I was obsessed with the enormous garlic, and this Fall, I planted some elephant garlic and hope they will grow as large as these.