Say yes in Tuscany! 10 reasons why you should get married here

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allthingstuscany/aroundtuscany/files/2012/11/pontile_tonfano.jpeg In the foreigners' imagination, Tuscany is a land of good food, wine, art and beautiful, friendly people. Probably those who want to get married here have in their minds images from the film, "Under the Tuscan Sun", like fields of shimmering sunflowers and medieval hamlets. This is all true, but there are lots more reasons you should consider getting hitched in Tuscany. Here are some! 1) Landscapes People get married in Tuscany for the beautiful landscape, stunning sunsets, for the cities full of history and art, but also for the great peace and tranquillity that region's countryside, hamlets and hills have to offer. The landscape varies a lot in the region; just choose the one that best suits your idea of Tuscany.   The pier of Tonfano, Versilia 2) Historical towns Another possibility is to get married in a historical town, such as Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Volterra or Pisa. Imagine you and your partner while sipping a glass of wine in your wedding dress under the shadow of a famous monument… amazing!   Piazza dei Cavalieri, Pisa 3) Location There are hundreds, thousands of venues you can choose from for your marriage: it can be in one of the Medici Villas (which recently presented their candidacy to become a UNESCO world heritage sites) or in one of the several villas in the countryside around Lucca, Pistoia, and Arezzo. It can be from the top of a terrace of a hotel, surrounded by a city; in a castle; in a farmhouse; or in a place with a panoramic view like Michelangelo Square that dominates Florence. It can be in front of the see or on a island in the Tuscan Archipelago. The list never ends!   Villa di Corliano, San Giuliano Terme (Pisa) 4) Memories Another reason why a lot of people decide to get married in Tuscany is because they have great memories connected to the region: maybe they studied in Florence, Siena or Pisa for a semester as students, or they had such a great time on holidays here. Maybe because they have seen Tuscany on the television or read something about it in a book. Anyway, the fascination with Tuscany is universal and everlasting!   Marina di Pietrasanta Beach, Versilia 5) Wedding attire You know that fashion is one of Italy's many talents and many fashion houses are located in Tuscany. So, it is the ideal place to choose a memorable dress for the bride-to-be, the groom and even the bridesmaids!   Pieve di San Giovanni e Santa Felicita in Valdicastello, Pietrasanta 6) Price Get married in Tuscany is cheaper than you think. You can hire a wedding planner and save money (and patience!) or find the solution that best suits to you on your own. The price depends, of course, on how many people you invite, what kind of ceremony you want, and what kind of catering you request.   Palazzo Mediceo, Seravezza 7) Food & Beverage Food and beverage: we need an entire blog for this! And on such a special occasion, it's really important to fulfill all of your expectations. In Tuscany, it's easy to fall on one's feet: quality is high and there are several special products. Also, the relation between price and quality is good. You can plan a wedding with on a budget without missing anything.   Villa di Corliano in San Giuliano Terme, Pisa 8 ) Location for a bachelor/hen party If getting married in Tuscany is too pretentious for you, you can choose this location for your bachelor/hen party! There are many ways to have fun in Tuscany, such as discos, adventure parks and extreme sports!   Villa Orlando in Torre del Lago, Versilia 9) Marriage proposal or honeymoon Another solution is to visit Tuscany for your honeymoon or before, for your marriage proposal. Tuscany offers you a perfect mix of history, nature, relaxation and charm. There are so many options to choose from.   Pieve di San Marco in Rigoli, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa 10) Finally… Tuscany is romantic! Horse and carriage rides, rides on Arno River, a Vespa ride through the hills, a weekend at the hot springs for two, a kiss on Ponte Vecchio in Florence… and a lot of other things you can enjoy!   Off course you must be careful to take care of the bureaucratic aspects of getting married here (always check with an Italian Consular Officer in your country) and set up an agenda. But, in the end, getting married in Tuscany could not just be a nice idea … but your dream come true! Day and months to get married: post Photo credits: Alessandro Casalini Photographer via Serena Puosi http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allthingstuscany/aroundtuscany/say-yes-in-tuscany-10-reasons-why-you-should-get-married-here/ tagnewstuscany

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AUTHENTIC TUSCAN FOOD � MORE THAN JUST PIZZA AND PASTA

http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png Authentic Tuscan Food – More Than Just Pizza And Pasta Italian food has been extremely popular in recent decades. Go to any English speaking country and their streets will be filled with chain Italian restaurants, most of which serve the same kind of dishes while trying to capture the rustic, cosy qualities of a real Italian. However, when you visit a place like Tuscany, you'll realise that there's more to the local cuisine than heavy pasta dishes and cheese sauce. Staying in a self-catering villa can allow you to discover the joys of authentic cooking, whether you prefer cooking for yourself or visit local restaurants. Here are just some of the culinary delights that await you in the region. Markets in Tuscany If you've decided to spend a couple of relaxing evenings in your villa, then you'll want to stock up on fresh produce, and the markets in Tuscany are the best place to do this. Luckily, getting around Italy is easy enough, as most tourists choose to go for a hire car. There's a different market for everyday of the week, meaning you can buy food that's as fresh as possible. Living on the classic Mediterranean diet is easy when you're staying close to a market. Try some fresh fish under the grill or on a BBQ, salads with plenty of fresh tomatoes and a drizzle of locally produced extra virgin olive oil. Be aware that Italian markets have a different etiquette to what you're used to at home, so don't insult traders by haggling or grabbing their produce. They will be happy to choose the best produce for you, as long as you're friendly and polite. Learning simple recipes You won't want to cook anything too elaborate while you're on holiday, but luckily Tuscan cuisine is fairly simple, and most recipes rely more on the quality of the food rather than your method. Try making a local dish such as La Fettunta, toasted bread rubbed with a garlic clove, topped with a few drops of olive oil and then seasoned. Simple to make in your villa's kitchen, yet authentic enough to go with any dish. Fresh pasta can be cooked quickly, and you don't need to mess around with heavy sauces. Just make a simple sauce with chopped tomatoes, garlic and fresh chilli, toss into the pasta with some clams and you've made a delicious, local dish, ready to be enjoyed with a glass of wine while admiring the view. You could even dress up your dishes with some Independent restaurants You don't have to spend a lot of money to find authentic, fresh food in Tuscany. One of the highest recommended places in Florence is All'Antico Vinaio, which serves nothing more elaborate than sandwiches and wine, yet is a must visit for anyone in the area. This is because they use the highest quality of ingredients, with wonderful fresh bread and local proscuitto, salami or cheeses. Look out for smaller restaurants selling traditional Tuscan pizza, cooked in a wood fired stove and with a thin crust. It's certainly different from the pizza you get at home, as it allows you to enjoy the toppings, not just eat stodgy dough. Go for pizzas with local meats, porcini mushrooms and plenty of fresh basil for a real taste of the region. Culinary tours One of the joys of the Tuscany region is being able to take tours, trying lots of different food and wine, and perhaps choosing some ingredients to take home. There are organised truffle hunts, where you are taught how truffles are found, then get to cook and eat any that you find. Drive around to the different independent olive oil manufacturers, tasting their wares and perhaps picking up some bottles as gifts for family and friends. There are tours for lovers of cheese, allowing you to try several kinds of pecorino – sheep's milk cheese, amongst others. An organised tour is a relaxing way of enjoying wineries, as there's no worry about driving yourself home after too many samples. Stock up with the classic Chianti, or some Vin Santo to serve with dessert. Perfect for enjoying in the comfort and privacy of your villa in the evenings. There are so many gastronomic delights in the Tuscany region, that it's hard to try them all in one trip. Start simple, then try some more elaborate dishes, and you'll soon be impressing your friends back home with your knowledge of truly authentic Italian. Buon appetito! via (author unknown) http://www.tuscanenterprises.com/Blog/id:35/ tagnewstuscany

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Tuscany through my eyes – Week 4

http://www.athomeintuscany.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/01-e1352843583766.jpg Now that my project about Tuscany over the seasons is over, I have decided to start a new project: Tuscany through my eyes. Well, more or less… I am planning on publishing one or more photos of Tuscany every week, and not just some beautiful photos, but images that "match" the way I see my beautiful region at that time of the year. I will publish photos that I have taken and photos that I have not taken but I wish I had! 52 posts to show you Tuscany the way I see it and feel it. Here are the other posts in the series. Week 4 – The floods There is not much I can add to these images. Three days of crazy rainfalls and Pisa went under water on Sunday. On Monday the rivers Albegna, Fiora and Ombrone overflowed invading towns (Albinia above all), fields, and roads.On Saturday Marina di Massa and Carrara had suffered the same destiny. (The river Farma over the natural hot pool in Petriolo) (Pisa on November 11 2012) (The Aurelia road south of Grosseto on Monday November 12 2012) (The road between Orbetello and Marsiliana in the Maremma) (The soccer field in the village of Istia d'Ombrone) (Marina di Grosseto) (The town of Albinia, south of Grosseto, in the Maremma) (San Martino Sul Fiora – Pitigliano) (River Fiora) (The countryside of the Maremma) People have died. Others have lost everything. There is nothing else to say but that it is time to face the problem of climate change for real. The Tuscany I see this week is a sadder place, but ready to get back on its feet and just as beautiful as ever. If you want to help If you want to help the people of the Maremma who have lost everything, please donate through Paypal (no account is needed, you can use your credit card too). The portal PortoErcole.org has a yellow button on its home page "Donazione" under the big red title "Emergenza Albinia". Thank you for your generosity. Even 5 euros will help. via gloria http://www.athomeintuscany.org/2012/11/16/tuscany-through-my-eyes-week-4/ tagnewstuscany

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