Travis’s Tuscany, Simplified
EAT, BIKE & SEE THE SIGHTS
“I know Tuscany really well as I have holidayed there for decades and now I am lucky enough to call it home,” says Travis. “One of the delights of spending so much time there is exploring and discovering places that are not on the usual tourist route. Or you can relax with a glass of wine from our own vineyard by the infinity pool and just take in the marvels of the landscape.” Here are some of Travis’ favourites that she always shares with her guests.
Tuscany is synonymous with wine, the Brunellos, Chianti, Super Tuscans and the fantastic Nobile di Montepulciano. The vineyards of the latter surround our property. There are hundreds and hundreds of vineyards that offer tours and winetasting from the biodynamic wines of the estate of Avionessi, the glories of Castello Banfi or the vineyards of Castello di Brollio in Chianti.
Explore the medieval hilltop villages where you will always find busy local bars and cafés. My favourite pastime is to sip a glass of vino or two and watch the everyday life of the locals while sitting in the piazza.
Next comes eating – food is a religion in Italy and no more so than the cuisine of Tuscany. This is regional depending on the area of Tuscany you are in. I am in the eastern part of the province 90 minutes from the sea. The meals here are vegetable, bean
and meat-based. Fish is not a staple
here because in the old days, it would have taken awhile to bring the fish by horse and cart, and it would have gone bad before it arrived. So we travel to the beach restaurants to enjoy Mediterranean fish. You will find world-class restaurants in often the tiniest of villages. The best way is not to Google but to explore a place and ask the locals.
Shopping is always a favourite with the ladies who come to our retreats at Villa Reniella. Tuscany is famous for its linens, leather goods, jewelry and cheeses. We are surrounded by ancient towns such as Pienza,
Montepulciano, Cortona and Montalcino, all of which have incredible shopping. There are many designer outlets in the factories that surround Florence, most well-known being Prada in Montevarchi.
Florence is the grand dame for galleries and museums, but it is busy and crowded. There is so much to see in the small towns. Within a 10-minute drive from our villa, you will find San Biagio, a massive Renaissance church that is quite magical. Bagno Vinioni, an original Roman bath town, is spectacular. And we have the locations of so many movies – Sant’Anna in Camprena where they shot The English Patient, Borgo Scopeto where Letters to Juliette was made and The Gladiator was filmed in the wheat fields near my place. A must
is ancient Cortona, the home of Under the Tuscan Sun.
One of my favourite activities is biking around the white dirt roads that crisscross Tuscany. The hills that make this region famous can be daunting, so the E-bike has become popular here. We rent them locally from Urban Bikery in Montepulciano – the E-bikes bring the fun back into biking the “hills of Tuscany.” www.tuscangetaway.com