Tuscany 2018 (Firenze, Siena, Follonica, Pescia)

Note : This short report was written – pro memoriam – many years later from recovered notes.

Day 1 - 2: Florence

Flight to Pisa. Rental car. This is our fourth trip to Tuscany and my third visit to Florence, the city where the Italian Renaissance flourished more vigorously than anywhere else. Flourishing Florence. With its

Duomo, its Uffizi Gallery, its Palazzo Vecchio, its David… and its many churches and art museums, where Renaissance and classical works of art abound.

We're staying in a hotel outside the city center, with a bus stop nearby. After reconnecting with charming Italian squares, beautiful churches, and picturesque bridges over the Arno River, we have a brief rendezvous with Marijke, whom we met on a trip to the Emirates.

The next day, we'll focus on the other side of the river, driving up into the hills where we'll capture fantastic shots of the city and visit Abbazza San Minato al Monte . We'll have lunch at the delightful Chalet Fontana, with its magnificent terrace and garden. The highlight is Piazzale Michelangelo , which offers a perfect, breathtaking view of the towers, buildings, and monuments of this magnificent city of culture.

Day 3 - 5: Siena

About 76 km south of Florence lies Siena. We take the hilly Chianti Route, straight through the Chianti region, where the grapes for the famous Chianti wine are grown. Pure panoramic delight. In Greve in Chianti, we find a fantastic charcuterie shop full of giant cured hams. Italian craftsmanship at its finest!

After the drive through the vineyards, we arrive in Siena, a charming, unique city in its concept (those round streets, albeit a challenge of climbing and descending) and its special atmosphere. Hotel Executive is located in the residential area of Scacciapensieri, three

km from the historic center.

We enjoy the narrow streets and enchanting piazzas. In the uniquely shaped Piazza del Campo, I savor a robust espresso macchiato and a slice of the typical panforte (a fruitcake with nuts). We descend through the lunar-like hills of the Crete Senesi to the coast.

Day 6 - 7: Follonica

Bella 'Mbriana Charme e Relax is a colorfully decorated four-star hotel, just 300 meters from the sea, and highly recommended. Follonica is a charming coastal town on the Tyrrhenian Sea. If you drive to Piombino , about 26 km away, you can take the ferry to the island of Elba, a mountainous island that was once the exile of Napoleon. An island steeped in history. I had already visited the charming harbor of Portoferraio and instantly fell in love with Italy when a man on a terrace there started singing "La Donna è mobile" for us.

We stroll around a bit, go to the beach and visit twice… a small – grand – world: restaurant Piccolo Mondo.

I was blown away. Anyone who follows me knows I've been fortunate enough to "travel and experience" practically the entire world. I never give five stars. Perfection doesn't exist. And everything can be improved. But let's strive for it.

Sometimes paradise comes awfully close. After traveling so many times in Italy, five of which were in Tuscany, I suddenly find myself falling for Italians again (pun intended), a man at that. A place, a delightful restaurant on a jetty in the sea. A well-maintained, wonderfully air-conditioned establishment surrounded by the sea and with a view of the horizon, beaches, and swimmers. A bombardment of fresh fish and seafood prepared and presented in all sorts of Italian styles. Wonderfully fresh wines, and Antonio, the ultimate host-entertainer for 40 years, who, with his flamboyant Neapolitan roots, adds so much to what a restaurant should be: culinary delight, but also an experience. Hot and cold, incredibly fresh frutti di mare, a genuinely crisp Vermentino, and the best (home-distilled) amaro in the world, and I've tasted dozens of them, just about everywhere.

Anyone who is ever around here, you know where to go.

Day 8 - 11: Pescia

On to the medieval village of Pescia. Further north again, not far from Pisa. The highlight here is the international flower market in the Giardino Garzoni botanical garden , with not only

Flowers, but also beautiful butterflies. We're staying at Villa Delle Rosé , housed in an 18th-century building, the former residence of Count Soderini. The style and allure of yesteryear have been well preserved, but the necessary modern amenities are also available. An outdoor pool, a drink on the terrace, and typical Tuscan dishes in the restaurant—it's all you need.

We ride along green hills, covered with olive and lemon trees. The air has a wonderful scent of pine. And we pass through Colodi, also the author's name, which is the author of Pinocchio, where a park is dedicated to this character.

These few days of unpretentious getaway were really a nice, simple and even cheap package.