Category Archives: Days trips

The coolest place in Tuscany?

Posted on August 21, 2013 by From a Tuscan Villa

These scorching hot August days have us desperately seeking cool. With its shade and icy cold pools Orrido di Botri is probably the coolest activity we’ve found. Orrido di Botri is a nature reserve in northern Tuscany and in summer … Continue reading →

Posted in Bagni di Lucca, Beach and River, Days trips, Garfagnana, Summer, Tuscany, walking in Tuscany | Tagged adventure, Bagni di Lucca, canyon, Garfagnana, Italy, Lucca, mountains, Orrido di Botri, river, Tuscany, walking in Tuscany | 2 Comments

a poke around Lucca Antiques market.

Posted on February 19, 2012 by From a Tuscan Villa

This weekend was the Lucca antiques market. I had some specific items I hoped to find, but as is often the way I didn’t find quite the right thing. But really it was more of an excuse for a poke … Continue reading →

Posted in Days trips, Events, Lucca, Tuscany, Winter | Tagged Antiques, cathedral Lucca, Italy, Lucca, Lucca Antiques market, market, Sunday Lucca, travel, Tuscany, winter in Tuscany | 21 Comments

The charm of Lucca’s shops

Posted on February 8, 2012 by From a Tuscan Villa

A recent question on a travel forum asked what was so great about Lucca, why did so many love the town? The other day I had to wait around for a while in Lucca on a very cold morning. To … Continue reading →

Posted in Days trips, Food in Tuscany, Lucca, Tuscany, Winter | Tagged bakeries, buccelato, cenci, centro storico, Italy, Lucca, shopping, shops, slow food, travel, Tuscany, winter in Tuscany | 33 Comments

Marble, Bronze and Beach – Pietrasanta, Tuscany

Posted on January 6, 2012 by From a Tuscan Villa

Still feeling a bit wintry today, so I’m continuing my look back at last summer’s sunshine and trips to the beach! One very hot afternoon we wanted to go somewhere not too far, somewhere we hadn’t been before, with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beach and River, Days trips, Summer, Tuscany | Tagged art, beach, Forte dei Marmi, free beach Tuscany, Italy, marble, mountains, Pietrasanta, sculpture, travel, Tuscan coast, Tuscany, versilia | 10 Comments

Beyond Tuscany – Lerici, Liguria

Posted on January 4, 2012 by From a Tuscan Villa

As the New Year starts I find myself looking back over 2011 and I’ve realised there were many other places I meant to share and didn’t get the chance at the time. January is a quieter month so I thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beach and River, Beyond Tuscany, Days trips, Liguria, Summer | Tagged beach, castle, Italian riviera, Italy, Lerici, Liguria, Portovenere, sea swimming, travel | 8 Comments

A beach in Tuscany.

Posted on August 10, 2011 by From a Tuscan Villa

These hot summer days all my time away from Villa Rosalena seems to involve getting in water somehow. Beach, river, pool, lake, anywhere cool! Yesterday was to Marina di Vecchiano. This is the beach we go to most often. Reason … Continue reading →

Posted in Beach and River, Days trips, Summer, Tuscany, Uncategorized | Tagged beach near Pisa, free beach Tuscany, Italy, Marina di Vecchiano, photography, River Serchio, travel, Tuscan coast, Tuscany | 8 Comments

Beyond Tuscany – The Cinque Terre- an unusually short day trip!

Posted on June 19, 2011 by From a Tuscan Villa

This Wednesday we made one of our craziest day trips, one that shouldn’t have worked or been possible yet ended up as a brilliant day. I love visiting the Ligurian coast, rugged and dramatic, yet easily reached from northern Tuscany. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Tuscany, Days trips, Liguria, Summer | Tagged Boat trip, Cinque Terre, Italy, La Spezia, Liguria, Monterosso al Mare, Portovenere, Riomaggiore, Train, travel | 9 Comments

Lunch in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Tuscany

Posted on June 3, 2011 by From a Tuscan Villa

My sister is visiting. She doesn’t eat vegetables! But she likes cheese. So a cheese based lunch was in order. We headed half hour northwards to Osteria Vecchio Mulino in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. It serves cold platters of local food: … Continue reading →

Posted in Days trips, Eating out, Food in Tuscany, Garfagnana, Tuscany | Tagged Castelnuovo, Garfagnana, Italy, Lucca, slow food, travel, Tuscany, Tuscany restaurant | 13 Comments

Tuscan cave on a rainy Sunday, Grotta del Vento

Posted on February 21, 2011 by From a Tuscan Villa

Rain! We tend not to ‘do’ rain. But with 3 of the 4 of us in post virus lethargy we needed a trip to give us a boost. So having sent a number of past guests to the Grotta del … Continue reading →

Posted in Days trips, Garfagnana, Winter | Tagged B&B, Bagni di Lucca, bed and breakfast, Garfagnana, Italy, Lucca, travel, Tuscany, villa | 3 Comments

Mushrooms and truffles, Slow Food of the Tuscan mountains

Posted on February 9, 2011 by From a Tuscan Villa

If you go to Silvio, and order the tasting menu (menu degustazione) you will believe I’ve let you in on a secret, one of those ‘hidden gems’ of clichés. For this is one of those out-of-the-way places, that looks like … Continue reading →