Under the Tuscan sun - My travel diary III.

The last chapter of my Tuscan tour covers Cortona and Florence. Ever since I've seen the American film Under The Tuscan Sun, I wanted to visit this place and guess what, I even found the Villa Bramasole, where the American writer, Frances used to live. Do you recognize it from the photo? Cortona is just how I imagined: lovely, cozy squares, breathtaking views and ultimate Italian lifestyle.

The villa

Leuta Wines - Tasting program in Cortona

Once you are in Cortona, don't miss the chance to visit some of the best wineries in the region. I was lucky to book a last minute appointment for wine tasting at Leuta Wines. Their signature wine is made from Cabernet Franc. They represent tradition and innovation, balance and harmony all in one. The winery was set up by two long-time friends, Denis and Enzo, they left the world of finance and followed their dream. Their fields are located close to Cortona, the land is clay-rich with limestone. You will find here many types of grapes from Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Sangiovese, to white ones like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Incrocio Manzoni. The wine tasting lasts about one hour and you can choose from various packages. The classic package costs 10 EUR and it includes 4 types of wine. They have different tasting rooms depending on the size of the group.

You also have the chance to visit the cellar and taste some types there. The whole place is lovely and nicely decorated. My absolute favorite wine was Syrah from 2015. Since it was aged 12 months in French barrels, that gives a kind of richness to the product. I also felt some pepper and coffee notes in it, while it was well-balanced and elegant with a long ending and soft tannins. If you are really into wines, just like me, I highly recommend you booking an appointment in advance and enjoy the Tuscan wines in a nice surrounding.

Cortona - Home of history and so much more

The beautiful hilltop town is one of the oldest ones in Italy, it was settled down by the Etruscs. There was a period in history when it was under the control of Florence, that's the reason why you may find Medici styled architecture. There are many chruches to be discovered in the cute little town, my absolute favorite one was Madonna del Calcinaio. It's a domed building with Renessaince style built in the 15th century. You can capture a great view of the church from Cortona's center close to the market square.

Piazza della Repubblica is the main square, which is often an important scene of markets and festivals. To me it's the best place to grab a drink and whatch the people around. The square is filled with so much history, the clock tower is original from the 13th century.

I love local markets and I was happy to bump into one close to the main square. The atmosphere was great and so Italian. Local products above all!

For dinner I chose to go to Cortona Bistrot, a family-run establishment. It's a good 10 minutes walk from the main square. You will have an incredible view of the valley around. The food was traditional Italian with a modern twist. Authentic place with style!

View from the town

Walking is the best way of discovering a new place. Being lost is not always that bad after all. I was strolling the little streets in the center for hours: lovely boutiques, chic coffees, ancient houses. I was definitely not ready to leave this place yet.

Florence  - Renessaince art and vibes

Before going back to Pisa, I had one more day in Florence. It's impossible to discover the city within a few days. The list of sights is enormous, you'd better check the museums, churches and programs before your departure. Here I'm focusing on a 'what to visit within one day" adventure. I'm showing you the basics and the best pizzeria in town.

I parked close to Ponte Vecchio, the most photographed bridge, so I started my city discovery there. The medieval old stone bridge is the only one that remained the same structure how it used to be, it still features shops and boutiques. The bridge first appeared in the 10th century, but it was destroyed by a flood in 1117. I've never been standing on such an old bridge before. Thank God it was not damaged during WWII, so we can enjoy the ultimate medieval atmosphere while passing by. Be preapred for crowds though!

Uffizi Galleries probably sound familiar  to everybody, it's the world-famous museum of Renessaince masterpieces. The first museum was dedicated to the art pieces collected by the Medici family. Be aware of the fact that there is always a long queue, no matter which time period you are going.  Buy your entrance ticket in advance, that might help a little, but not much actually, you can still queue for an hour. Once you are finally inside, you will be blown away by the wonderful masterpieces: Boticelli, Giotto, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo. If you really want to see everything, it might take you about half a day to do so.

Did you know that this part of the city used to be the dodgy end? Well, it's not anymore, today it's the posh side.

Florence Cathedral is a Gothic style church from the 15th century with various shades of green and pink, which looks really lovely in this combination. It's still the largest brick dome ever constructed in Europe. There is a crypt under the basilica, it's open for public. The best program is to climb up to the roof and enjoy the best view from there.

What to eat in Italy if not pizza? After such a long day it felt great to sit in a cool pizzeria just chilling. Il Nutino is traditional and offers the best pizza I ever tasted. Choose the house wine and enjoy every bite of your well deserved pizza!

Let's say Good-bye to Italy now, next month I'm dicovering Spain, so join me for new adventures! For Tuscan style wine cellar interiors and decor ideas go HERE. If you are into fashion, natural, sophisticated looks are presented under FASHION.