Archive for 'Tuscan Coast'

  

Thursday, July 14, 2016
Marina, Porto Ercole
Porto Ercole is a stunning port town in Maremma on the Tuscan Coast. It is a vibrant, lively town with one of the best nightlife scenes in the area and is home to high class restaurants, glamorous bars and nightclubs, chic boutiques, pretty beaches, impressive yachts lined up in rows and colourful buildings crowded next to clear blue seas and skies. The town and its locals are quite unlike the typically humble people of Maremma but, instead, are a little more glamorous and interested in luxury. As a result, you'll find yourself walking amongst exceptionally stylish figures and, occasionally, a celebrity looking to experience the joys of Tuscany for themselves. If you want to do the same, just browse our holiday rentals in Porto Ercole.     Read More
Posted in: Beaches, Localities, Tourist Attractions, Tuscan Coast

  

Monday, May 30, 2016
Bibbona is a Tuscan town, located not far from the coast in Livorno. It has an exceptionally pretty and picturesque historical centre and old town that is centred around the parish church of Sant'Ilario and a preserved medieval appearance. Built on a unique plan, it is formed by a set of concentric circles that are connected by narrow streets and steps.

The result is charming and evokes the long and rich history of the area. The surrounding area of the town is rich in natural delights, such as nature reserves and stretches of agricultural land that produces delicious wine and olive oil, and is peppered with equally captivating little hamlets such as the seaside resort of Marina di Bibbona.     Read More
Posted in: Beaches, History, Landscape, Localities, Tourist Attractions, Tuscan Coast

  

Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Populonia
The Gulf of Baratti is located between the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas, near Piombino, and happens to be one of the dreamiest coastlines in all of Italy. With pristine beaches, beautiful natural surroundings and a rich historic and cultural heritage that goes back to the Etruscans, it is an exceptionally picturesque and fascinating spot.

While there are plenty of activities to enjoy, from diving to listening to live music and swimming to digging for archaeological treasures, this is really the place to go for some serious relaxation.

Almost tropical in appearance and vibe, a villa with pool in Baratti will allow you to have a holiday that borders on the exotic in Italy.     Read More
Posted in: Beaches, Localities, Tourist Attractions, Tuscan Coast

  

Monday, May 16, 2016
Fishing at Marina di Pisa
Marina di Pisa is a seaside town located not far from Pisa. Its beginnings can be first traced back to the 17th century when Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, decided to move the mouth of the River Arno and reclaim land in the area. A hexagonal building surrounded by a moat, called “the Fort”, was then built for the custom traffic. Fishermen's houses probably began to spring up around this building over time but the official foundation of the town itself dates back to 1872. This is when the municipality of Pisa drew up a plan of a grid-pattern town divided by three squares connected to Pisa by a major road. Though the town of Marina di Pisa is not so old as many others in the region, it still has a fascinating history, is exceptionally pretty and is perched in a wonderful coastal location.

If you are looking to get away from it all and enjoy some sun, see and a different pace of life, just find a villa with pool in Marina di Pisa.     Read More
Posted in: Beaches, Localities, Pisa, Tourist Attractions, Tuscan Coast

  

Thursday, February 11, 2016
Torta di Ceci
Once you've found the ideal holiday rental in Livorno and are busy exploring the city and its beaches, make sure to stop and sample some of the local cuisine. Livorno is known for multiple local specialties including cacciucco, a rich fish stew made of tomato and five different kinds of fish and served with a thick slice of bread rubbed in garlic. The dish has become somewhat of a symbol of the town which is understandable, considering it is a port town of seaside resorts and lots of fishing activity. Other Livornese fish dishes include Triglie alla Livornese (Livornese red mullet) and Spaghetti al Nero (pasta with cuttle fish ink).

However, as important as fishing and seafood is to the town, you must also make time to try Torta di Ceci, a chickpea flour “pancake” which is a typical dish of Livorno. It makes for the perfect street food and is tasty, nutritious, cheap and easy to eat as a snack on the move, or as part of a meal. It is made from chick pea flour which is made into a thin batter and cooked in huge round tins in a very hot oven, preferably wood-fired. The resulting pancakes are then sold by waiting and is traditionally eaten in bread as a “Cinque e Cinque” (meaning “five and five”) which refers to the original value of the bread and the torta: five liras for the bread and five for the torta.

There are some important historic Tortai (places where they serve the torte) in Livorno, such as Cecco in the Borgo district, and Gagari by the covered food market. Try one while wandering the city and then finish it off with a Livornese “Ponce”. This is a potent hot drink made from coffee and rum according to a secret formula. The most famous bar in Livorno for Ponce is Civili in Via del Vigna, but it is available everywhere.

If you can't wait until your trip to try out a Torta di Ceci, try out this recipe and daydream about your perfect getaway in Tuscany.     Read More
Posted in: Food and Wine, Localities, Recipes, Tuscan Coast