A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of cycling through Tuscany with a group of friends. We enjoyed a guided tour through the wonderful landscape, small paths and many hills. In my opinion, Tuscany is the “great equalizer” for biking, as there are virtually no flat roads, you’re either going up or down. My husband was away from school, so he was not able to participate in this beautiful vacation.

By the time we arrived at the beautiful bed and breakfast, located south of Florence, in the middle of a vineyard; I knew that my husband had to visit Tuscany. Anyone who loves wine, history and beautiful scenery must visit and fall in love with Tuscany in their lifetime.

We recently left our temporary home in Provence to spend a week in Italy, a few days in Tuscany, and a few days hiking the Cinque Terre. Our exploration of Tuscany was also from a hotel located in a vineyard. We stayed in the beautiful Borgo San Felice. The vineyard has been in operation for centuries, but in recent years it was purchased and is now operated by Alliance.

Temperatures in early April were still cool. At this time of year, the fields are just starting to turn green and the gnarled vines are showing their first buds. These are the first promises for the future harvest.

So what is Tuscany all about? Wine, History and Countryside

Came It’s serious business in Italy, after France, Italians can boast of having the second largest production (by volume) in the whole world. Italians also love to drink wine, with the highest per capita consumption in the world. Vines have been growing in Italy and parts of Europe for millennia, however organized cultivation began under the Greeks, with viticulture recorded in Sicily around 800 BC. In today’s Italy, there is a classification system with four categories, two for table wine and two for “Quality wine produced in a specific region”. The system from lowest to highest quality is as follows (similar to the US naming system):

• Da Tavola Wine (VdT)
• Typical Geographical Indication (IGT)
• Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC)
• Denomination of Origin Controlled and Guaranteed (DOCG)

There are twenty (20) wine regions in Italy, among which thirteen (13) areas produce-thirty (36) of DOCG wines, these are the most sought after and typically most expensive wines. It probably goes without saying, but we did sample and purchase a few bottles during our brief visit.

Tea historical The roots in Tuscany are very deep. With only a short couple of days in the region, we were able to visit Sienna, Montepulicano, and San Gimignano, and even that was at a breakneck pace. Only Sienna deserves a long visit; the historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is not big and can be easily visited on foot. There is a very good bus system available from the outlying parking areas. Parking in some lots is free and the bus costs one (1) euro.

In Siena, every visitor must visit the Piazza dell Campo, this large shell-shaped public space that dates back to the 13th century and is where the Palio (horse race) takes place on two summer dates each year. Il Campo is definitely one of the best preserved public squares in Europe. The other key site of interest is the Duomo (Cathedral), this impressive large scale 13th century church is well preserved and visitor crowds are now controlled as you must purchase a combined ticket to access the buildings and panoramic view . perspective. The ten (10) euro ticket is well worth the price and seems to control the flow of crowds in one of the most visited cities in Italy. We had to wait about twenty minutes to access the panoramic viewpoint. I’m not much for waiting in lines, however I highly recommend your patience is rewarded with the stunning views.

Sienna is a city of symbols; in each corner there is a plaque or mosaic indicating the Contrada territories or districts. Today there are seventeen contradas, before there were fifty-nine. The realities of managing mini-cities have forced consolidation over the years. The remaining Contrade can take part in the Palio horse race around the Piazza del Campo on July 2 and August 16 according to the rules. Although we haven’t been to Sienna for the Palio, we understand from locals that there is a wild atmosphere surrounding the event and associated celebrations.

Montepulicano and San Gimignano are very well preserved old towns. Montepulicano dates back to 308 BC and requires a good pair of walking shoes to reach the top of the town. Stunning views of the Tuscan countryside will reward your hike to the top. San Gimignano is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town once had seventy-two (72) towers, where eight (8) remain today. There was a settlement at the current site between 200-300BC. The city reached its height around 1300 before the Black Death. The city is still beautiful, albeit a shadow of its former glory. However, San Gimignano is very crowded (even in April) with tourists and almost unpleasant as a result.

Tea countryside it is a series of rolling hills, covered with pine forests, vineyards and countless olive trees. The Tuscan sun plays with the rolling landscape to provide a wonderful, ever-changing feast for the eyes.

In the end, a “Sample of Tuscany” was excellent in confirming that much more time is required to take in the sights, enjoy the wine and local specialities.