Tuscany Luxury Holidays 2018 & 2019

Tuscany in a nutshell

Did you know that one of Tuscany’s nicknames is ‘The Pantry of Italy’? Well you do now and if that name alone doesn’t have you grabbing your cutlery and boarding the next flight out, we don’t know what will!
Late spring through to mid-autumn is one of the busiest foodie periods in Tuscany’s year. A particularly prominent form of entertainment during this time are the regional ‘sagra’ festivals held in each town. These are food celebrations which showcase the harvest of each place, such as Lari’s cherry fair. If you don’t have time to visit all of them we recommend Bibbiena’s La Sagra Delle Sagre in June, which has mini-stalls representing all the regions produce so you can see everything in one place.
Of course, you couldn’t possibly leave Tuscany without sampling at least one drop of wine. There are so many tours available your mind will reel with each offering fabulous additions like wine tasting sessions, gourmet meals, cheese pairings and more
Did someone say cheese pairing? Nothing compliments a good Tuscan wine than a Pecorino formaggio. A speciality of this corner of Italy, the produce is made using 100 percent whole sheep milk and is renowned for its creamy texture and spicy flavour. To take a look at the production of this delicacy and grab a few wheels to take home, Monteroni d’Arbia in Siena is an ideal spot.

Soak Up the Culture

You’ll be so full of culture by the time you leave Tuscany that you’ll be quoting Dante and waxing lyrical about the Renaissance for years to come. But when you’re not taking stock photos at ‘The Leaning Tower’ or next to the statue of David, there are a hundred other ways in which the Italians celebrate their history that you can get involved in.
Throughout the year in Tuscany there are festivals and carnivals as old as the Etruscans which are the perfect way to get a little culture lesson in amongst a lot of fun. One of the most popular is the Giostra del Saracino, or Saracen Tournament, held in Arezzo's Piazza Grande twice a year. Expect colourful processions, knights’ tournaments and medieval fare.
If you want to have a hands-on experience of authentic Tuscan culture and rub elbows with the locals, grab your mates and join in with the vendemmia (seasonal grape harvest). An iconic moment in the country’s calendar, this September reaping of the vines is a fun day with great company and rewards (in liquid form).
A cultural site that’s saturated with romance and history, a day trip to Cinque Terre is a must for everyone. Particularly for couples, the area’s Via dell’Amore (The Way of Love) in Riomaggiore is a stunning walkway between two villages where you can make your love everlasting, like generations before you, with a lock or inscription on the rock face

Although there are a multitude of beachy paradises awaiting you here, many of them require a payment before you’re allowed to access them whereas beaches signposted as spiaggia libera are ‘free’ for public use. This means there are plenty of places to escape from the crowds on private stretches which have all the facilities you need, already paid for!
For a family-friendly day in the water, the beaches of Val di Cornia are sandy, sparkling and super-fun spiaggia libera that the little ones will enjoy for the rock pools and gentle currents and grown-ups will love for the sun worship opportunities.
A recently discovered treasure by visitors to the Tuscan coastal route, Maremma’s beaches are popular among locals and offer diverse marine life along with gorgeous shores. An ideal spot for some scuba diving in the reef, you can indulge in any number of watersports here.
Not exactly a beach but still worth taking a dip, the thermal springs and pools of Saturnia are a must for any aquaholics. Available all year round due to their toasty 37 degree waters, these Roman baths come with excellent opportunities for Instagram shots and scenic vistas.