Italy Travel Tours

Posts Tagged ‘Volterra’

With vacations to Italy reasonably priced due to the fall of the euro, now might just be the right time to go. Unlike neighboring Greece, Italy is still open for visitors with just as much history and better wine.

The current exchange rate of 1 Euro to 1.2824 US dollar is most favorable. This dropping of the exchange rate started 5 months ago and should continue throughout the summer.

With this favorable exchange rate, places like the ancient Roman coliseum are less expensive to experience. The waterways of Venice can now be further explored with a private gondola, and the country side where twilight evenings in Tuscany are more enjoyable.

When in the Tuscany region, remember not only was the area controlled by the Romans 2000 years ago, but before them were the Etruscans. You can step back 3000 years when you visit the ancient town of Volterra, which was an Etruscan stronghold.

In the town of Volterra are the small cobblestone alleyways that the ancient people walked while living their lives. You can see and purchase their ancient funeral urns along with works of art from the master carvers of Alabaster.

If a medieval castle is more to your liking, then a visit to Chianti should be on your list of places to visit. This is in the Florence region of Tuscany. While there, you can visit the two wineries that made this area famous.

One of the best things about Italy is all the history a tourist can see while staying in 3 or 4 star hotels that have all the comforts of home each night. Vacations to Italy are like stepping back in time but with an internet connection, so you will never be out of touch with reality.

Give Federica Merli, at TuscanyWithMe.it, a call or send her an email for a preferred custom Italian vacation plan.

To begin Easy Italy Tours it helps to know the basics about this exotic and popular destination.  Many people choose to focus their trip on Tuscany and with good reason.  Novels like “Under the Tuscan Sun” have sent visitors flocking to this region to explore its wonders.

Tuscany covers the heart of central Italy with a population of 3.5 million people.  Florence is the capital city of Tuscany.  Ringed by the Apennines mountains, Tuscany is predominantly hilly but with large plains.

The most famous aspect of Tuscany is its art history and geographical beauty.  The capitals of the ten provinces are Arezzo, Florence, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Pisa, Pistoia and Siena.

Tuscany is easy to access with airports in Florence and Pisa.  A highway called the A1 connects the north with the south.  A11 is the coastal road connecting Florence with the sea.

More scenic are the feeder roads called the Via Aurellia, Via Cassia and the Via Clodia.  If you prefer to experience Europe’s sophisticated rail system, the Milan-Rome line will speed you on your way from north to south through the cities of Prato, Arezzo and Florence.

Tuscany also includes breathtakingly beautiful ports in Piombino and Livorno.  From here tour boats and pleasure yachts set sail for Elba, Corsica, Sardinia and the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago.

With all that Tuscany has to offer, it is difficult to know where to begin.  Many Americans begin in the city of Florence, however Siena and the thrilling Piazza del Campo, and Pisa and its famous Leaning Tower, and the old fortress in Livorno are equally impressive.

There is also an area called Minor Tuscany and this includes tiny medieval villages called Fiesole, San Gimignano , Montepulciano and Volterra.

Contact Federica Merli at Tuscany With Me, to custom design a trip that you will remember for the rest of your life.  No matter where you begin your Easy Italy Tours you’ll have a memorable time.