Archive for 'Tuscan Coast'

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.

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.

Orbetello Lagoon is one of the best preserved, most unspoiled natural areas in all of Italy as well as Tuscany. This coastal lagoon consists of 1500 hectares of marshland which is separated from the sea on the west and east by two 6km strips of land and by the Argentario headland. The town of Orbetello sits on a third strip of land that stretches into the centre of the lagoon and a bridge connects Orbetello to Mount Argentario, dividing the lagoon into two parts. This all adds up to a visual treat which is both highly unique and supremely beautiful.

With so much to see in this eden-like natural reserve, it's the perfect spot for holidaying nature-lovers. If you happen to fall into that category, just find a holiday rental in Orbetello and get exploring the lagoon.

Aghinolfi Castle is a beautiful Tuscan castle perched on a hilltop with stunning view all around the Lunigiana area and out across the Tyrrhenian coast. This position adds to the beauty and romance of the castle but has also made it an optimum strategic location which has made its history dramatic and complicated. It has also meant that the town in which it is located, Montignoso, has also had a much more colourful history than a town its size might normally have had. The town purchased the castle just over a decade ago and have restored it and opened it to the public as a perfect example of a Tuscan countryside palace. If you have a fondness for castles and beyond amazing locations, find a luxury villa in Montignoso and stop by!

Start the day with a visit to the tourist town of San Vincenzo. This seaside resort has its own Blue Flag beach and is close by to a famous Etruscan archaeological site. San Vincenzo has been inhabited by humans since the Paleolithic Age because of its ideal position beside the sea and proximity to the River Cecina and River Cornia.

Food was plentiful both from the sea and the land because of the mild Mediterranean climate found all year round here. The ancient civilisation called the Etruscans lived in great numbers here and much remains of their influence in the form of buildings and artefacts.

San Vincenzo is a perfect tourist hotspot and is one of the busiest along the Etruscan coastline. Walk along the stunning promenade here and perhaps pop into one of the many tasty eateries beside it for a sublime seafood feast.