TUSCANY: WINE, FOOD AND RELAX

First Day

I travel a lot but I keep thinking Italy is a must to visit and this time I had a chance to visit a part of Tuscany not so known by me. I traveled with my lovely dad as I had to share with a person a  coupon  for weekend in a 5 stars hotel in Chianciano Terme. I supposed to be there one week earlier just to relax after India but destiny, coincidence moved this trip one week later. We spent our time in this awesome hotel where we got all we need to relax in the wellness center including gym, spa, Turkish bath and more.

After relaxed in that center where my dad had a nice massage too, we went out for dinner.. well low season so be ready to walk around a lot before finding this yummy restaurant where  you can try Tuscany cuisine but pizza too.

Second Day

 

The day after started with a buffet breakfast where you can eat till die lol so we decided to walk around to discover old town of Chianciano: its very tiny so you need few time to visit main points then we took the car for a tour in Valdorcia.

First stop was Rocca d'Orcia nice medieval village very close by Castiglione d'Orcia where we visited Rocca a Tentennano and the village: small but very beautiful. On the way to San Quirico d'Orcia we had a stop to the famous thermal baths of Bagni Vignoni known since roman time with also interesting ruins of country life in past centuries.

Bagni Vignoni

San Quirico d'Orcia is a very nice village, main spots are Collegiata and San Francesco Church, it's so nice walking around these small medieval roads and palaces. We spent time in a winery too buying some presents for next birthday of my brother in law.. Wines are so famous and you have to taste Brunello di Montalcino or Nobile di Montepulciano, red wines tasty with fruit flavors.

 As we had a very big breakfast we decided to move little bit more till Pienza. Wow Pienza is Unesco heritage as it has a well-preserved old town and it's also famous for pecorino cheese.

Of course first stop was in an Osteria to try this cheese: we had an assorted pecorino cheese meal and one portion of grilled pecorino too and of course you can't go to Tuscany and do no try vinsanto with cantucci :)). After this light lunch ;), we discovered the beautiful main square with the Cathedral, Piccolomini Palace and Borgia palace: its very relaxing walking along corso Rossellino and you can also walk along the medieval walls where we were surprised to find Via del Bacio (kiss).

Last stop it was Montepulciano, if you can ask for the pubblic parking area close to Piazza Grande otherwise be ready to walk a very sharp uphill road before reaching Piazza Grande main attraction of this town. You can visit the Dome and Palazzo Comunale in this square. The fountain in this square is famous too as we shot here New Moon from Twilight series. We ended up the day after another wellness session going to same restaurant and tasting the famous Bistecca alla Fiorentina and Pici al ragù

Last Day

Time to say bye to this wonderful province but we had still time to visit big thermal baths and we tasted mineral water, very good for kidney diseases. On the way home we decide to stop in Cortona another famous medieval town in province of Arezzo. It is also famous to be the place where the famous italian singer Jovanotti lives.

We visited a sanctuary first then we had a walk in the center. It was the day of market so town was very lively and we enjoyed a lot walking around and main spot is Piazza Signorelli with famous Palazzo Comunale but you have many churches to visit and nice walk around the town too discovering abbey, church and etrurian/roman ruins. Last stop was in Umbria very common place to have a visit before coming back home: it's Norcia where we found the national black trufle fair so why not ending up this trip with a delicious mezze maniche alla norcina... I really enjoyed this trip and spent wonderful time with my dad as he can't travel as much as I can.. the next trip..? we'll see ;)