Archive for 'Siena'

Rapolano Terme is a charming spa town located near Siena that was founded by the Romans and is still home to two ancient thermal baths, Antica Querciolaia and Terme di San Giovanni, both of which are available to be visited all year round. It is a perfect place to relax and unwind in a pretty Tuscan setting so find a vacation rental in Rapolane Terme and come discover its charms for yourself.

With a small historic centre surrounded by more recent buildings, the town of Rapolano Terme is an attractive and picturesque place set within the rolling Tuscan countryside and surrounded by vineyards and fields. Red tiled roofs top stone buildings with lots of character and, as the centrepiece of the whole town, there are the two beautiful thermal complexes with baths, swimming pools and wellness centres.

Pici are a thick, hand-rolled kind of pasta that look a little like fatter pieces of spaghetti and originated in the Montalcino area of the province of Siena in Tuscany. Sometimes referred to as pinci, they are made from a simple dough, typically made from only flour and water, though egg is sometimes added, depending on the recipe you are following. Like with many Tuscan foods, different families have their own tricks and methods that are handed down over the years and, so, some families will use egg and others will swear against it.

If you have been planning a trip to Tuscany, why not consider the lovely medieval walled town of Monteriggioni? Located near Siena, this already historic and beautiful town is transformed into a festive gem each summer with its famous Monteriggioni Di Torri Si Corona festival. Just find a vacation rental in Monteriggioni and you can take part in the celebrations and get a real taste of the authentic Tuscan experience this summer!

The festival takes place over two weekend in July each year and is one of the oldest medieval festivals in Italy, which evokes Dante’s famous quote about the town that praises its round surrounding wall, crowned by towers: “Monteriggioni che di torri si corona“.

Italy is home to a vast amount of naturally occurring hot springs that are dotted all over the country and Tuscany, in particular, boasts quite a number of them. There is no better way to relax on your holidays than to head to a quiet and pretty spa town for a day and spend some time soaking your worries away in the restorative and therapeutic waters of a hot spring. It is better, still, if it is free to do so and you don't have to worry about budgeting for the day. Luckily, some of the hot springs in Tuscany are free and open and can be visited without purchasing a ticket or planning in advance, whenever you want throughout the day (or night) or year. We have compiled a list of some of the best of the best of these for you to browse. Just get planning your relaxing getaway to Tuscany!

1. Bagno Vignoni

Bagno Vignoni seems to make it on to all of our lists about spas and pretty, little-known corners of Tuscany!

Christmas in Tuscany is a magical thing. There is no shortage of wonderful sights to see, events to attend and foods to try during the festive season.

Of course, if you're interested in food, in particular, there is one destination that stands out as a perfect choice of a Tuscan city in which to spend Christmas...Siena, of course! There are plenty of great options for places to spend the festive period, as we have been discussing in this series of posts, but here are some more of our particular picks of Tuscan cities that make for great Christmas travel destinations.