Archive for 'Day Trips'

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

It is well-known that Tuscany is one of the best destinations for truffle lovers to visit, it is home to San Miniato, which is famous for its annual globally-renowned truffle festival, and there is no shortage of truffle-based dishes and food products to choose from in Tuscan stores and restaurants. However, if you were thinking about booking a vacation rental in San Miniato and spending some time in Tuscany and exploring her food culture, then there is a particular company that you should probably know about: Truffle In Tuscany. If you are interested in Tuscan truffle recipes or how to find truffles in Tuscany, then this is an ideal company to look into as they arrange a variety of different truffle-based activities and itineraries.

Established by Massimo, a San Miniato native who has truffle-hunting in his blood and comes from a long line of truffle enthusiasts, Truffle In Tuscany started as a personal passion and is now a leading truffle tour operator that allows visitors and tourists to experience the truffle and food culture of this beautiful part of Tuscany. There are a variety of tour options to choose from, depending on your particular interests.     Read More

Bolgheri is probably most famous to many as a wine area. Located in the province of Livorno, it was a long-time producer of wines but none of its makers were especially well-known. After an event organised by Decanter, in 1974 in which a 6-year-old Sassicaia won over an assortment of Bordeaux wines, the area has become much more well-regarded, though still not especially well-known internationally. However, in addition to her respected wines, Bolgheri has a lot more to offer visitors. This beautiful little town is impossibly charming and quite the looker, full of character, a foodie haven, steeped in history, and rich in culture, plus it’s only 10km from the Tuscan Coast. So, if you’re looking for a relaxed destination that has it all but is also a little off the beaten tourist track and incredibly peaceful, just find a vacation rental with a pool in the Bolgheri area and come explore all that the village has to offer for yourself.     Read More

Podere La Chiesa is an instantly recognisable winery set amongst the rolling hills of the province of Pisa in Tuscany due to its main building with its unique architectural character: a beautiful modern structure that looks somewhat like a block of Swiss cheese with round openings that perforate the exterior. Located near the village of Casanova, 30km south-east of the city of Pisa, it is a celebrated place where excellent wines are produced and where said excellent wines can be sampled on wine-tasting tours of the premises. Just find a vacation rental in Pisa and make the trip out to this beautiful place to experience it all for yourself!     Read More