Each year at this period, the 3rd week of October, me and my ex colleague take a week off and travel around Italy. This year it was time to visit Tuscany.
(last year the same period we toured in Sardinia)
Our trip started from the airport of Bologna, that provides a good base to visit many places.
To drive to our first point, to Colle val d'Elsa, it took less than 2 hours. Pretty central place; almost all the Tuscany is to be visited in 2 hours by car/bus from this valley.
We booked a nice hotel, with the view and were satisfied in all ways: even the restaurant at our hotel appeared to be excellent. Unfortunately we didn't enjoy other services such as heated pool, jacuzzi and Sauna. Nor did we use the services of the beauty saloon.
We kept ourselves busy visiting places of interest, such as: San Giminiano, Siena, and Arezzo. And by request of my ex colleague; Perugia and Orvieto.
After our 3 night stay in the area of Brunello di Montalcino, one of the most exclusive Italian red wine, we decided to head towards to the Maremma coast, precisely to Piombino. Piombino is an old industrial city that is yet not quite organised for tourism: few nice hotels, some fairly good restaurants, and very little night life.
Most restaurants close their kitchen at 10 pm after witch, not even a dog is to find in the streets.
The day after our arrival, we took a ferry and visited the Island of Elba; once a residence of Napoleon.
We used the local public transport, starting from Portoferraio. Portoferraio has plenty to offer. A beautiful old town with it's harbour and cultural interest; most areas by feet to be reached.
We had our lunch in one of the many bays, at Porto Azzurro, heading towards mountains for the coffee and back to where busses leave, waiting our ferry to get us back to Piombino.
On our way back to the central part of Tuscany, we first visited Torre del Lago; Puccini's hometown with his museum. After witch we had luch at Viareggio, famous for it's Carnival and then we drew to Pisa.
Our last town to stay at was Pistoia, where we took a hotel room. We both thought that the choice for the hotel was excellent, not just due to the room we had, but also for the peace Pistoia offers.
Pistoia turned out to be very interesting small medieval town and people were really nice and helpful. Not to forget to mention of many restaurants just around our hotel.
First we visited Florence arriving downtown by car, because we wanted to drive around and admire the view too, but due to the maintence works it took too long to arrive to find a parking lot and we nearly arrived too late to our appointment to visit the Art Academy and see the Statue of David.
The organisation of the ticketing system of this particular site is really confusional.
The day after we took a train from Pistoia, and in 35 minutes arrived at the main rail way station of Florence.
My Finnish-Italian friend waited us and leaded us through Florence's history and main attractions, pointing us to a quiet square to enjoy our lunch.
Back to Pistoia and to our enjoyable meal with the local T-bone steak in one of the best rated restaurant
At the day of the departure we catched the local market and took some Funghi Porcini mushrooms back home as souvenir among the typical local pasta, Pici Toscani. What a way to end up our vacation.
If you are looking for a week trip to visit Tuscany, you might loose a lots of time with
"do it yourself" vacation. An inexpert traveller would need a triple of our time to be able to see the whole Tuscany in a way we just did in one week.
Book me, and save some time and money.
More photos of Tuscany
Photos by author; please ask permission to share them
For group reservations, such as hotels, transfers, entree tickets and guide services, contact:
info@kairos-travel.eu
Feel free to comment your Tuscany experience below.
(last year the same period we toured in Sardinia)
 |
| sun set in the valley |
Our trip started from the airport of Bologna, that provides a good base to visit many places.
To drive to our first point, to Colle val d'Elsa, it took less than 2 hours. Pretty central place; almost all the Tuscany is to be visited in 2 hours by car/bus from this valley.
We booked a nice hotel, with the view and were satisfied in all ways: even the restaurant at our hotel appeared to be excellent. Unfortunately we didn't enjoy other services such as heated pool, jacuzzi and Sauna. Nor did we use the services of the beauty saloon.
We kept ourselves busy visiting places of interest, such as: San Giminiano, Siena, and Arezzo. And by request of my ex colleague; Perugia and Orvieto.
 |
| San Gimiano |
After our 3 night stay in the area of Brunello di Montalcino, one of the most exclusive Italian red wine, we decided to head towards to the Maremma coast, precisely to Piombino. Piombino is an old industrial city that is yet not quite organised for tourism: few nice hotels, some fairly good restaurants, and very little night life.
Most restaurants close their kitchen at 10 pm after witch, not even a dog is to find in the streets.
The day after our arrival, we took a ferry and visited the Island of Elba; once a residence of Napoleon.
We used the local public transport, starting from Portoferraio. Portoferraio has plenty to offer. A beautiful old town with it's harbour and cultural interest; most areas by feet to be reached.
 |
| the harbour at Elba |
We had our lunch in one of the many bays, at Porto Azzurro, heading towards mountains for the coffee and back to where busses leave, waiting our ferry to get us back to Piombino.
 |
| idyllic house at Torre del Lago |
On our way back to the central part of Tuscany, we first visited Torre del Lago; Puccini's hometown with his museum. After witch we had luch at Viareggio, famous for it's Carnival and then we drew to Pisa.
 |
| Babtistery of Pisa |
Our last town to stay at was Pistoia, where we took a hotel room. We both thought that the choice for the hotel was excellent, not just due to the room we had, but also for the peace Pistoia offers.
Pistoia turned out to be very interesting small medieval town and people were really nice and helpful. Not to forget to mention of many restaurants just around our hotel.
 |
| Capture of the doors at Pistoia |
First we visited Florence arriving downtown by car, because we wanted to drive around and admire the view too, but due to the maintence works it took too long to arrive to find a parking lot and we nearly arrived too late to our appointment to visit the Art Academy and see the Statue of David.
The organisation of the ticketing system of this particular site is really confusional.
 |
| David is everywhere |
The day after we took a train from Pistoia, and in 35 minutes arrived at the main rail way station of Florence.
My Finnish-Italian friend waited us and leaded us through Florence's history and main attractions, pointing us to a quiet square to enjoy our lunch.
 |
| The view from the Old Bridge of Florence |
Back to Pistoia and to our enjoyable meal with the local T-bone steak in one of the best rated restaurant
At the day of the departure we catched the local market and took some Funghi Porcini mushrooms back home as souvenir among the typical local pasta, Pici Toscani. What a way to end up our vacation.
 |
| Funghi Porcini |
If you are looking for a week trip to visit Tuscany, you might loose a lots of time with
"do it yourself" vacation. An inexpert traveller would need a triple of our time to be able to see the whole Tuscany in a way we just did in one week.
Book me, and save some time and money.
More photos of Tuscany
 |
| San Giminiano |
 |
| Perugia |
 |
| Arezzo |
 |
| Arezzo |
 |
| Siena |
 |
| Siena |
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| Siena |
 |
| Florence |
 |
| Pistoia |
 |
| Florence |
 |
| Florence |
Photos by author; please ask permission to share them
For group reservations, such as hotels, transfers, entree tickets and guide services, contact:
info@kairos-travel.eu
Feel free to comment your Tuscany experience below.
