Tuscany - Chianti,best food and wine - by Jill

Last weekend we had the good fortune of traveling to Tuscany to inspect one of our latest properties in the heart of Chianti - Rocca di Castagnoli. Possibly due to the fact that the Palio was on in Siena (only 30 minutes away) Chianti was a true paradise, hardly a soul to be found anywhere, and after a two week heatwave in Rome the signifcant drop in temperature in the countryside was a great relief. The point to this blog is that in a restaurant in Radda in Chianti, we found absolute perfection, its name - Chiasso dei Portici, Telephone 0577 739270, not only was the food ecceptional, the wine, the service and the ambiance in the beautiful garden terrace probably the best we've experienced in 5 years in Italy. Don't miss this restaurant if you're in the area. We also truly enjoyed the stay at Rocca di Castagnoli, a working vineyard that produces award winning wines (of which we sampled and purchased their chardonay and cab sav that were irresistable). The owners have recently renovated a medieval tower into rooms with ensuite bathrooms and the borgo (tiny town) into self catering apartments, they've done a great job, added a beautiful swimming pool and the prices are very very reasonable. This property has a level of privacy and tranquility not always found in this type of accommodation - highly recommended.

Tuscany - Still full of surprises, Castiglione della Pescaia - by Angelina

After 10 years of being a tour director throughout Italy and Sicily - I really thought I knew every nook and cranny of this country, so just imagine my surprise when I "stumbled" on an absolute jewel of a town last weekend!

We all know Tuscany is beautiful, no secret there. Its wine country is magnificent, its art cities (Lucca, Firenze, Siena, San Gimignano, to mention but a few) are amongst the most fascinating in the world and the richness of the food is only matched by the hospitality of the people. Most Europeans (namely Germans and the Dutch) will also tell you that the Tuscan coastline (Tirrenian Sea) is also very much worth visiting offering long white sandy beaches and clear blue waters. The most famous coastal destinations are the Island of Elba, Argentario (Porto S. Stefano & Porto Ercole) and Capalbio.

So where is the surprise?

CASTIGLIONE DELLA PESCAIA
Province of Grosseto, 220 km North of Rome and, 168km Southwest of Florence

This area of Tuscany is specifically known as the Maremma Area and is characterized by flat open spaces (at least compared to other areas of Tuscany know for "endless rolling hills") long horned cattle, and cowboys - lets just say the Wild West meets Italian beaches!

This medieval fortified town is perched on the side of a hill that casually stumbles into the sea. At the foot of the town soft, sandy beaches framed by magnificent Umbrella Pinetree groves lead you into each direction making the vision truly beautiful.

When strolling through the ancient streets, sooner or later you are bound to tackle the steep climb to the top from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Islands of Elba, Giglio and Montecristo. No need to worry though, there are plenty of Enoteche (Wine bars) and Trattorie to help you make the 15 minute walk very, very comfortable!

The town is at its best at sunset when everyone strolls in off the beach in search for a much needed 'Aperitivo' - an elegant Italian version of Happy Hour where drinks are served (at full price!!) accompanied by a buffet of cold and warm finger foods.

Overall I would say that it is a town for families and the 20-30 somethings crowd alike, as it offers a relaxing atmosphere by day and plenty of places to "see and be seen" at night!!