Italy Retreats

Tuscany 

Plush green hills, cypress trees, rolling vineyards, and rustic farmhouses in one direction and sandy beaches and the Mediterranean in the other: the qualities that make Tuscany one of the world’s most visited destinations are plain to see. Yet this triangular region across the middle of Italy has other, special attributes. While the countryside has a dreamy calm conducive to easing down, Tuscany’s gastronomy is also food for the soul. Whether it’s wines from the sun-soaked vineyards of Chianti, olive oil from the olive groves, or local bread, pastas, and truffles, the earthy simplicity of its cuisine is the perfect accompaniment to the mellow rhythms of Tuscan life.

Medieval architecture, history, and art are thick on the ground, too. Florence offers exquisite Renaissance art, monuments, and squares; while Siena serves up gothic brick buildings, cobbled lanes, and the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. Pisa, with its famous Leaning Tower is also nearby, as are medieval small towns like Castelfiorentino and walled, hilltop gems like San Gimignano and Montefioralle.