Page 32 - Explore - Autumn/Winter 2019

UNDER THE

TUSCAN SUN

here’s no better way to soak up Italian culture We hired a car which was essential for getting Obviously, Florence has enough attractions for
and lifestyle than by staying at a beautiful around Tuscany and we quickly adjusted to driving several days, but allowing just one day we focused
Tvilla in Tuscany. This had been a dream around the country lanes on the opposite side of the our experience on the artworks in the Uffizi Gallery
holiday of mine for many years, which I fulfilled road. We recommend that if you are making a day and the Accademia, then enjoyed a leisurely lunch
when my family hired a villa outside San Gimignano visit to the big cities, leave your car at a local train on a restaurant sidewalk before meandering the
in Tuscany, Italy. We stayed for seven nights and station and commute. We did this for our day trip to streets and riverside to soak up the atmosphere of
during that time we enjoyed leisurely visits to local Florence and it was a relaxing and easy train ride. this magnificent city.
villages and wineries interspersed with a few day
trips to the Tuscan cities of Florence, Siena, Lucca San Gimignano is a beautiful medieval village We visited Pisa and Lucca in one day. Pisa was very
and Pisa. easily recognised by its numerous tall stone quick, because the Leaning Tower was our main
towers at the top of a prominent hill. Being our reason to visit. We then headed to Lucca which
A villa holiday allows you to unpack for a week closest town, we visited it often for sightseeing, is a beautiful city where we hired bikes and rode
and experience life in the surrounding villages. grocery shopping and some delicious meals. around the city walls.
Our villa was divided into four self-contained
apartments that we filled with various family Siena is a must-visit when in Tuscany. Its heart Our holiday in Tuscany was everything we dreamed
members. It was an authentic stone building with is the central Piazza del Campo and there is it would be. Beautiful scenery and weather.
quaint furnishings, lush gardens, spectacular plenty to see. During our day trip we visited the Delicious Italian food and wine. Magnificent
views of the countryside and a generous swimming spectacular Duomo full of beautiful frescoes and historic art and architecture. All with the comfort
pool to enjoy on the hot summer afternoons when sculptures, enjoyed spectacular views over the of our lovely villa as our home for a week.
we returned from sightseeing. surrounding terracotta rooftops and had lunch at
a café on the Piazza.

Mary Buckley, Owner Director of helloworld Travel Milford & Browns Bay, is sold on the beauty
and value of staying in an authentic Italian villa.

30 HELLOWORLD TRAVEL : EXPLORE : AUTUMN/WINTER EDITION