There are roads that are not measured in kilometres, but in emotions… that offer picturesque scenery and so much more, embracing the rolling hills and the stone villages that dot them… the grapevines….the olive groves. We have finally reached Tuscany …and these are those roads. Listening to Ed Sheeran, Anne’s tears are close to the surface…her longtime dream come true. We arrive at our winery (after a beautiful, but at times stressful drive) where we will stay the next couple of days…all part of the dream. We buy delicious local produce to make a grazing platter and with a glass of wine (that we have been carrying half way around Italy) we watch the sun slowly sink into the Tuscan hills.
Planning a road trip through Tuscany is no small task. It is awash with idyllic charm…everything from the architecture to the landscape is captivating….
Dotted amongst the undulating landscape there are so many tiny stone towns whose foundations go back to the Etruscans. Each sits on a hill with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, and many still have castles and towers. There are cypress lined roads, fields of sunflowers (sadly mostly dead at this time) and gorgeous churches… how can you possibly see them all? Each town has something special…which ones do you choose and how many stops can you fit into one day before you lose the relaxation and slow pace of life that Tuscany effuses.
Ihere is no better way to enjoy the myriad of wonders of the region than leisurely dalliances amongst hill-towns, quiet days exploring villages and evenings enjoying the good food and wine Tuscany is so well famed for. It is always tempting to linger …but my FOMO kicks in and my constant search for another perfect village…another perfect picture will likely take us deep into the countryside. Rejuvenating yet adventurous is my hope….but I know my gauge is not like everyone else’s.
It is September when the often talked about and photographed green hills are not a reality…supple hills are revealed to be already-turned dirt, waiting for the fallow winter, readying again for spring planting, while vineyards are just coming to the critical point of harvest… their vines laden with ripe bunches of grapes.
The girls need a break from my constant slave driving pace, so we spend a relaxation day at our BnB doing not much more than enjoy the amazing, constantly changing view.
As Tuscany is a place where the wine flows freely…and we are staying at a working winery we decide to partake in a little tasting… but the staff are nowhere to be found so we head into ‘town’ (Seggiano)…
…for pizza (probably didn’t need one each 😂) and wine…
…and then home to watch that soft golden sunset that covers the rows of vine covered hills in 50 whimsical shades of blush and gold… constantly changing…the picture perfect Eden we all dream Tuscany to be
and I think to myself what a wonderful world 