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Bed & Breakfast Inns in Siena

Nov 3rd, 2010 by

Tuscany is one of the loveliest places to visit, and indeed, it is one of the top tourist destinations in the world for photographers, tourists and artists seeking the best in a Tuscany vacation. This beautiful area of Italy has many places that are a delight to visit, to stay and rest awhile perhaps, but very few areas or towns within Tuscany that can compete with Siena for its combination of historical relevance and natural beauty. Tuscany has many fine examples of Gothic architecture, but this city,  been built on three hills has some particularly architecturally remarkable buildings that are worth seeing.

Siena is an extremely well preserved medieval town, and visiting it is like stepping back in time to the middle ages.  The tourists flock here in order to see its magnificent cathedral that was built in the thirteenth century and has been restored and maintained to preserve its original splendor.  The heart of Siena is the Piazza del Campo which resembles a shell because of its scalloped edges. Other tourist sights worth seeing in Siena are the Gothic City Hall (the Palazzo Pubblico), the Chapel of the Virgin and the Gaia Fountain.  Be sure not to miss these historical places and artistic treasures when in Siena as a part of your Tuscany vacation.

The other great attraction of Siena and of the rest of Tuscany is its marvelous cuisine. No vacation would be complete without sampling the various dishes that comprise a menu of Tuscan cooking, complimented by the local wines that are famous the world over.  Two great restaurants in Siena are the Al Marsili on the Via del Castoro and the Oosteria le Logge on Via del Porrione.
The Al Marsili is situated in an 11th century building, is thought to be the best restaurant in Siena serving a wonderful selection of the local Tuscan cuisine.  The Osteria le Logge, with its wonderful dark wood interior serves such dishes as guinea fowl, duck and fennel and rabbit with capers.  This delicious Tuscan cuisine is served with homemade oils and Montalcino wines and is a gourmand’s delight of Tuscan cuisine.

There are many Bed and Breakfast inns in Siena and they are the perfect place to stay for an extended period of time because they are cheap and comfortable. A Bed and Breakfast Inn in Siena is actually the best way for you to explore the scenic countryside of Tuscany without worrying too much about your budget on your holiday in Tuscany. There are some good prices to be found.  There options available for Bed & Breakfast inns in Siena vary from villas to houses close to the centre of the town to picturesque farmhouses in the lovely countryside. Finding a bed and breakfast inn that suits your budget and personal taste will enrich your  to experience of the charm and life of what is Tuscany.

Villas and bed and breakfast inns, we’d like to recommend include the Santa Caterina  villa once a privately owned villa on the Via Enea Silvio Piccolomini 7, with its comfortable rooms and views over the red rooftops of Siena.

siena-hotels

Villa Patrizia, Siena

We also recommend on the outskirts of the city, the Villa Patrizia on the Via Fiorentina 58, a rambling old villa with simple comfortable rooms with windows overlooking the lovely garden.

There are many bed and breakfast inns and villas in Siena for you to chose from for your Tuscany vacation. Don’t forget to spoil your senses with the delightful foods of Tuscan cuisine.

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Tourist Sights and Hotels in Siena

Oct 26th, 2010 by

Exploring Siena

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San Domenico, Siena

Siena is the prettiest town in Tuscany.  In time’s past, Siena was the rival to Florence, the capital of Tuscany. If you are spending a holiday in Tuscany, you won’t want to miss visiting Siena.  Siena is a medieval town, full of grandeur, most flourishing in its heyday between 1260 to 1348.  If you are visiting Tuscany, begin exploring Siena from its old  historic center and along the old medieval streets which lead to the town square, Piazza del Campo.

But first of all, there are plenty of lodgings, villas, hotels and bed & breakfast inns in Siena for you to book a hotel room.  B&B’s such as the Fonte dei Tufi, is a quiet old farmhouse with a lovely garden.  Windows open up to wonderful views of the Tuscan countryside.  It’s a 20 minute walk from Siena. The rooms at the Fonte dei Tufi come with TV, minibar and air conditioning.  Breakfast is included with the cost of your room.  The staff at the Fonte dei Tufi are friendly, the rooms are large and clean.  Parking is also included or you can take a bus that goes into Siena.

In Siena, you will also find luxury hotels such as the 5 star Grand Hotel Continental with suites starting at 220 Euros.  Or, nearby the Piazza del Campo, there is the NH Excelsior Hotel where clean and comfortable rooms cost 72 Euros and upwards.  There is also the Hotel Italia on the Via Cavour, in Siena.

Exploring Siena?  Then you won’t miss the Palazzo Pubblico, the town hall, at Piazza del Compo with its medieval rooms decorated with paintings of the Sienese School of painters.  You’ll find the Museo Civico with its frescoes.  At the Torre del Mangia you will also find  the large bell tower of the palace.

Make sure you don’t miss a visit to the Casa di Santa Caterina, the house of Siena’s patron saint of which is surrounded by chapels and cloisters.

On the Via Banchi di Sotto, you’ll find the Palazzo Piccolomini, a palazzo built for the wealthy Piccolomini family in the 1460s by the Florentine architect and sculptor Bernardo Rossellino.  Today, it houses the Siena archives dating back to the 13th century.

If you are interested in art, the Pinacoteca Nazionale on Via San Pietro offers a massive collection of paintings of the Sienese School of painters dating since the 13th century.

Also when visiting Siena and exploring its wonders, go to the church, the San Domenico (1226) where you will find an altar and portrait dedicated to Siena’s patron saint Caterina.

Also, not to be missed is the Siena Duomo (1136-1382) which is one of Italy’s greatest cathedrals with Pisan influenced Romanesque-Gothic architecture.  Here you will be able to see a large collection of sculpture by Michelangelo, Pisano and Donetello.  It is truly a magnificent experience to visit.

On July 2 and August 16 in Siena, the Sienese Palio, the most celebrated festival occurs.  This festival dates back to to 1283 and consists of a bareback horse race, colorful pageantry, and costumed revellers.  If traveling to Siena at this time, make sure you book your hotel in Siena far ahead of time because the hotels and B&Bs will fill up fast with tourists.

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Exploring Tuscany

Jul 25th, 2010 by

You will find some of Italy’s most precious art treasures in Tuscany, in cities such as Pisa, Florence and Siena, and the smaller towns of Lucca, Cortona and Arezzo. From the famous towers of the Medieval village San Gimignano or the Renaissance village of Pienza, you are in the heart of the region of glorious countryside with its Cypress trees which dot the Tuscan landscape.  What other landscapes are there for you to explore on your Tuscany vacation?  There are the spectacular mountains of the Alpi Apuane to the soft hills of Chianti and along the coastline, the popular beach resorts such as Viareggio.

tuscany-vacations-countryside

If you really take the time to explore Tuscany, and you have the time, of course, these are the following places you should not miss.  From the marble quarries of Carrara, to the Parco Naturale delle Alpi Apuane, to the hot springs such as the Bagni di Lucca, to the popular resorts along the Versilia coast to the avenue of lime trees of the Via dei Tigli which joins Viareggo with Torre del Lago Puccini to the Medieval  architecture of Lucca’s quiet narrow streets, these are some of the places you should not miss on your Tuscany travels.  If a place ever soothed the soul or inspired creation in the artist, Tuscany is the one:

  • Arezzo
  • Artimino
  • Bagni di Lucca
  • Carrara
  • Hiusi
  • Cortona
  • Crete Senesi
  • Elba
  • Florence (of course!)
  • Garfagnana
  • Lucca
  • Maremma
  • Massa
  • Montalcino
  • Monte Argentario
  • Montepulciano
  • Moneteriggioni
  • Pienza
  • Pisa
  • Pistoia
  • Pitigliano
  • Prato
  • San Galgano
  • San Gimignano
  • San Miniato
  • Sansepolcro
  • Siena
  • Sovana
  • Torre del Lago
  • Viareggio
  • Vince
  • Volterra

How to get around Tuscany?  You can travel by foot, bicycle, train or car.  There are quick four lane roads or highways that connect Florence, which is at the center of Tuscany’s railway and road network, to Pisa, Lucca, Siena and the south.  Along the coastline, you have the A12 highway and the Via Aurelia.  The small roads along the coast are winding and slow.

Train service is excellent in Tuscany and connects with most towns you want to visit.  You will find it is not difficult to explore Tuscany the way you want to.

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Dining in Florence on a Budget

Jun 23rd, 2010 by

Just like everything else in Tuscany and Florence, the food and dining in general is many a splendid thing.  There are many restaurants and trattorie all over the region of Tuscany where you can dine on magnificent food, accompanied by the famous wine of the region of Chianti while on your Tuscany vacation.  For wine connoisseurs, you can even take a  wine tasting tour.  You will even find Tuscany vacation packages which feature mainly dining in Tuscany.  In other words, in Florence and Tuscany, you won’t go hungry and you’ll find much to choose from that is both healthy and delicious.

Tuscan cuisine is made up of foods such as wonderful breads, cheeses, legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables.  Olive oil made from various types of local olives is often used.  Pork and beef is of high quality from local farms.

Try out some of the following restaurants in Florence that you must not miss.  You’ll also find plenty of bars and cafes for a snack, coffee, conversations and relaxation on your Tuscany vacation.  I’ll start with some of the cheaper places to eat, if you’re traveling to Tuscany on a budget.

Sample the Florentine specialty Panini which you can purchase from the tripe seller carts. It can be eaten hot (caldo) or cold (freddo) served with unsalted Tuscan bread.  Cost for this quick meal with a bottle of mineral water is about $3.00.

Dining at a Trattorie, instead of a formal restaurant is fun and will save you some money if you are a budget traveler to Tuscany.  You will also find people selling food from food carts in the streets of Florence.

Tuscany Vacation Dining in Tuscany

Dining in Tuscany

Il Latini is a fun place to eat.  Hanging from the ceiling you’ll notice large prosciutto hams, you’ll be surrounded by waiters with an entertaining sense of humor, you’ll sit at long communal tables, dining on ribollita (vegetable soup) and large plates of grilled meat and other staples of Florentine cuisine.  Il Latini is popular with tourists and locals alike.

Dine on traditional Tuscan fare at I’ Cche’ c’e c’e in Florence, dishes such as beef cooked in Chianti wine or tagliatelle with wild mushrooms.  Accompany your meal with bread, cheese and some local wine.   I’ Cche’ c’e c’e is also a fun place to go for a meal in Florence.  In the center of the Trattorie is one large communal table, surrounded by smaller private reserved tables around the outside.  This is a charming, popular trattorie for locals and tourists alike on vacation in Tuscany.

The Sandwich Shop is located next to the Antico Noe – a famous wine bar in Florence.  You can also get food at Antico Noe, but The Sandwich Shop offers sandwiches for up to $3.00.  You can choose from a variety of sandwiches with fillings such as roasted meats, and toppings such as fresh mozzarella cheese, spinach, and roasted eggplant.

Another suggestion for budget meals in Florence is right across the street where there is a falafel/schwarma stand for great sandwiches with that Middle Easter flair.  You can also get a beer here for just $3.00 – the same price as the sandwich.

In the Piazza de Mercato in Florence, dine at ZaZa’s.  The food is good traditional Tuscan fare, such as insalata, crostini, minestra and spiedini.  There’s outdoor seating and wine is served.

Another trattorie to eat cheap in Florence is Il Pizzaiuolo.  The owner is from Naples and brings with him his famous pizza recipe.  The restaurant is loud, fun and you’ll be sitting at long tables with other hungry folks.  The pizza is incredible, and you should arrive early and stay late for a fun night in Florence.

In the Mercato Central, dine at Nerbonne, somewhat buffet style.  Lunchtime serves hot and cold dishes you line up for.  Sandwiches such as Panini are made up especially for you.  The dining area is made up of art nouveau décor, marble tables and wrought iron work.  Delicious sandwiches such a tripe, boiled beef are yummy!  Huge portions are served which will quell any appetite!

For your vacation in Tuscany, there are many delicious places to dine, even if you are on a budget, you can enjoy a heavenly feast of Tuscan fare.  For the rich travelers among us who will be staying at the wonderful villas in Tuscany, there are also plenty of dining in Tuscany options, but that’s another article to come in the near future.

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What to See in Florence

Jun 9th, 2010 by

Florence is definitely worth a visit if you go to Italy and there are some gems worth visiting, even if it means that you have to battle the crowds during the high tourist season in the summer time.  If you are only taking a Tuscany vacation, the city of Florence is your ideal starting point.

There is plenty of gorgeous architecture to witness in Florence.  Florence is the classical city which flourished in the Renaissance.  There is Brunelleschi’s Cathedral, the gothic ‘Duomo,’  and the Ponte Vecchio bridge is a definite must-see, constructed in 1345, making it the first bridge in Florence.  There are beautiful churches and cathedrals, town squares, the mosst famous is the Piazza della Signoria, in the center of the city with a sculpture exhibit. The medieval Palazzo Vecchio is situated on the square.  Lineups may be long, but it is worth the wait to visit these buildings and wonders of the architecture world that is Florence.

Visiting the Uffizi Gallery is the one gallery you must also see.  The Uffizi Gallery hosts the most important collections of Renaissance art in the world and medieval to modern art.  These art works include paintings by Titian, Michelangelo and Raphael.  Bring your camera, like everyone else, to take a photo of Michelangelo’s famous marble statue of ‘David’.

If you are looking for the panoramic views of Florence with the famous Dome and the Arno Valley, get yourself to the hilltops at Piazzale Michelangelo.

For experiencing the nightlife in Florence, don’t miss the Fabio Picchi Teatro del Sale, an eclectic combination of trattoria, member’s clubs and theatre.  There is enough to entertain and excite you for the entire night.  You can treat yourself to music, piano sets or poetry readings.  A delightful way to spend an evening in Florence on your vacation.

Shopping in Florence is also a splendid thing.  Head to the Via Turnabuoni for high fashion classical Italian labels such as Gucci, Prado and Pucci.  At the Mercato Centrale on the Via del Ariento, gourmands will encounter a food paradise.  Fresh and delicious local produce piled high at each stall at the Mercato Centrale including such things as olive oil, cheese, balsamic vinegars, herbs, vegetables and fruits.  Local wines from Tuscany are also sold where you can create yourself a veritable feast.

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