Archive for 'Curiosities'

Since you have managed to get to another Friday (well done, it's been hard lately) and since it has been a while, we thought we owed you another Italian cocktail recipe to congratulate yourself and toast the weekend. Especially as things start to slowly open up once more and all seems a little more hopeful, it is a perfect time to bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen and look ahead to holidays in Tuscany that seem nearer by the day...

Sgroppino is a frozen cocktail that resembles a slushie or smoothie and is one of many cocktails that is said to have originated in Venice. While thought to have been originally a digestif served up to Venetian nobility, the exact origins of the drink are unknown but one thing is certain: it is a perfect summer refresher! Enjoyable both in its own right after a long day of work or as a palette cleanser between courses (if you are recreating a Tuscan feast at home to bring a little bit of Tuscany to you for now), this is light, delicious, completely refreshing, and incredibly easy to make. Here's a recipe to make it at home until you can enjoy the real deal while holidaying in Tuscany!     Read More

Lots of kids are interested in animals and lots of adults have fond memories of childhood visits to zoos so, whether you are travelling in Tuscany as a family with children among your number and are looking for something that they'll definitely enjoy doing or you simply want to know where you can go to see animals in Tuscany, then we recommend a day trip to the Zoological Gardens of Pistoia, or Pistoia Zoo.

This rather special 7-hectare zoo in Pistoia is home to more than 400 animal species and is especially dedicated to conservation and education. Created in 1970 thanks to Raffaello Galardini, Pistoia Zoo was established in a wooded area in the beautiful hills around the city of Pistoia and inaugurated on the 19th of April. There are around 600 animals living in the zoo and, among them, there are about 65 species of mammals, 40 species of birds and 30 species of reptiles. Some of the residents are more common animals often found locally that will be familiar, such as pigs, guinea pigs, oxen, donkeys, horses, goats, cows, rabbits, and other domesticated animals but other residents are from much further flung places and are not commonly found in Italy or Europe such as jaguars, polar bears, Rothschild's giraffes, Zebras (including baby Jordy who was born last year!), rare Madagascan ring-tailed lemurs, red pandas, penguins, elephants, lions, tigers, ostriches, Kookaburras, wallabies, meerkats, otters, pygmy hippos, monkeys, reindeer, crocodiles, pythons, turtles, tortoise, vipers, iguana, emus, flamingos, and more.     Read More

Off the coast of Tuscany you will find some incredibly beautiful islands that can feel like a whole different world unto themselves, a little slice of what seems not unlike paradise on earth. Among the cluster of islands that hug Tuscany's coastline, the most famous is, undoubtedly, is Elba Island, the place to which Napoleon was infamously exiled. The second biggest island of the group, Giglio Island, is also well-known, particularly among those who have spent time in Tuscany and on the Tuscan Coast. However, the next largest island of the bunch, Capraia Island, is much less well-known, which is truly a crying shame as it, too, is a rather extraordinary beauty with lots and lots to offer the discerning tourist who finds themselves exploring the region.     Read More

As you explore the beautiful landscape of the Chianti region of Tuscany, you are likely to stumble upon all sorts of surprises and incredible hidden gems from pretty old towns that are centuries old to amazing views that look like a postcard come to life to tiny little vineyards producing amazing wines. It is why you should always keep your eyes open and be prepared as you travel around: you never know what you might find!

One such incredible gem that you might discover while exploring Chianti is the Parco Sculture del Chianti, or Chianti Sculpture Park. Located well off the regular beaten path for tourists, in the middle of an oak wood between Pievasciata and Vagliagli, around 10km north of Siena, the park was created by Piero and Rosalba Giadrossi on 7 hectares of wood and opened to the public in 2004 as a parkland and outdoor gallery space that follows the ancient Italian tradition of creating site-specific outdoor artworks.     Read More