Italy Travel Tours

Posts Tagged ‘Massa-Carrara’

Some say the best private tours Italy are those that occur in Tuscany.  Situated between the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and the Tyrrhenian sea, the Tuscan capital is world-beloved Florence.

Other smaller capitals of the provinces include Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena.  All of them a rich with history, art, architecture and culture, and all are worthy of a visit with a well-informed and confident tour guide.

Tuscany has a variety of topographical features.  Much of Tuscany is hilly and mountainous, but the area near the sea is flat in stretches.   Whether you want to relax at the scenic beaches or enjoy the local flavor of wine and cuisine, there is something for everyone in Tuscany.

The first time visitor often goes straight to Florence.  And who can blame them?  You can use any mode of transportation to get around.

Why not consider a visit to the Abbey of San Miniato al Monte?  From the Piazzale Michelangelo, you proceed on foot to the abbey for a step back in time to a devout and religious experience.

The Academia Gallery is a second must-see stop on your tour.  Ordered by the Grand-duke Pietro Leopoldo, the museum houses a collection of magnificent tapestries revealing the story of creation, as well as plaster busts by Lorenzo Bartolini and Luigi Pampaloni.

Most everyone has heard of Michelangelo and even Donatello, though American youngsters may think the latter is a Mutant Ninja Turtle.  In truth, the real Donatello was a sculptor and his works are displayed at the Bargello National Museum on Via del Proconsolo, 4.  When you book a trip with a private tour guide, you don’t need to worry about how to find these places.  Your knowledgeable guide will bring you right to the door.

With private tours Italy, all you need is a camera, a credit card, and an open mind to all the experiences that await you.

The beauty of Christmas in Tuscany is unforgettable.  Combine history with excellent cuisine and wine, add your loved ones to the mix, and you have all the ingredients for a Christmas holiday you will remember all your life.

Christmas Shopping Tuscany

Italy is more overtly religious than most English-speaking countries.  Christianity and particularly Catholicism are part of the fabric of everyday life.  As such, there is no controversy surrounding municipal religious displays and traditional foods are enjoyed by all residents and visitors alike.

If you are fortunate enough to travel to Tuscany at Christmastime, one of the most traditional foods is panettone.  This is a cake filled with nougat or torrone, candied fruit and panforte, a candy-like confection that is topped with honey, almonds and hazelnuts.  The nuts make it quintessentially Italian as most Christmas season dishes include nuts of one kind or another.  Traditional Italians believe nuts increase fertility.  Honey is another common holiday ingredient.  With a new year approaching, honey is believed to make the New Year “sweet”.

Pannetone Cake Tuscany

Christmas festivities in Italy begin in early December with the Santa Lucia celebration December 13th.  The customary dinner on the eve of Santa Lucia includes Bollenti or Necci, crepes of chestnut flour with a special cheese.  Chestnut trees are abundant in the Northern Tuscan provinces of Massa-Carrara and Lucca, and in South Tuscany on the Amiata Mountain.  Chestnuts have a proud history in Italy as they were used to feed needy people during times of difficulty, particularly during World War II.

Ironically, it is these peasant dishes that are enjoying a renaissance throughout Europe.  These simple but wonderful recipes are now prepared by world-class chefs in Italy who command the highest price for what was a staple of the poor.

You will find marvelous new experiences as you experience the ancient history of Christmas in Tuscany with your family.