‘Art, History and Culture’

Tuscany vacation: discover Tuscan art, history and culture.



A Revolution in Oil

La Toscana: English, Made in Tuscany, Tuscan cooking, Wine and food tours

The Antinori family does not need introductions: their name is synonym with an absolutely unique wine. From some time, however, the youngest daughter of Pietro Antinori, Alessia, together with business partner Martini Bernardi, has dedicated herself to olive oil and in a decisively innovative manner. From this the oil “Novizio” (Novice) had been born. The [...]


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Tuscany Artisans – Ceramics

La Toscana: English, Florence, Made in Tuscany

Focusing on Tuscany, and Florence in particular, which has always been a town of excellent workshops, to the point that Riccardo Marasco, a Florentine himself, dedicated a song characterising Florence as an artisan – Firenze bottegaia – the chorus of which goes: Firenze bottegaia di quando ero bambino e già ne andavo fiero di esser [...]


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The Cherries of Lari

La Toscana: English, Made in Tuscany, Pisa, Tuscan cooking, Wine and food tours

Lari is a small town of 8000 inhabitants situated near Pontedera which is famous for its cherry production. Nevertheless, for Lari and the surrounding area, the cherry is more than just a vocation. In fact, the residents of Lari have never considered the cherries as a way of generating income, neither have they ever considering [...]


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The Sienese Pig

La Toscana: English, Made in Tuscany, Siena, Tuscan cooking, Wine and food tours

And to think, they risked becoming extinct! The pig breed cinta senese had almost disappeared after the second world war, with its breeding yield having also dropped to a dangerously low level, until, during the 1990′s, people realised that this breed of pig produced such beautiful meats, and so the breed was re-born. The name, [...]


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Lampredotto in Florence

La Toscana: English, Florence, Made in Tuscany, Tuscan cooking, Wine and food tours

Does sightseeing and admiring works of art work up an appetite? Afraid that a day touring Florence will be too much for your empty stomach to take? Don’t worry though, as in Florence all you will be surrounded by local venders selling Lampredotto, which is a traditional dish in the region of Tuscany. In Tuscany, [...]


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The PGI of Emmer Wheat in Garfagnana

La Toscana: English, Lucca, Made in Tuscany, Tuscan cooking, Wine and food tours

A part of Italy only known by food experts; Garfagnana. Where Emmer Wheat comes from, which is the oldest of all known crops. In recent years though, the crop has had a bit of a resurgence, and is on plates again, not only in Tuscany, but all of Italy. The unexpected rebirth of this product [...]


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The “marroni” of the Mugello

La Toscana: English, Florence, Made in Tuscany, Tuscan cooking, Wine and food tours

September’s grape harvest, and all the festivities which come along with it, was the last happy celebration of what little remains of the summer season. Now, however, Autumn has definately begun and the prospect of cold, grey weather is becoming a reality. Nonetheless, do not dismay as October too has its own surprises in store [...]


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Tuscany in the Movies

La Toscana: English, Tuscan culture and traditions

If there is a land that is particularly loved by directors of films and documentaries, this is without doubt Tuscany, which was quickly discovered and exploited by the world of cinema for it’s beautiful locations. Tuscany’s career in the cinema began at the beginning of the 1900s, and in order to mention all the films [...]


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Francesco I: a doomed King

La Toscana: Florence, Tuscan characters

Francesco I (1541-1587) is one of the most well-known members of the famous Medici family. Yet, this man, who became the grand duke of Tuscany in 1574, was never very popular with his subjects, the citizens of Florence. In fact, it seems that they actually celebrated the news of his death. However, such a respect [...]


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Ilaria del Carretto in Lucca

La Toscana: Arts, Churches and monasteries, English, Lucca, Tuscan characters

The San Martino Church in Lucca is a true Romanesque masterpiece, with its beautifully carved grey and marble front facade, which is actually a great porch and its ample bell tower which leans ever so gently against the church. This stunning facade, made up of a series of columns, is perforated like lace and projects [...]

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Dances with wolves

La Toscana: Churches and monasteries, Tuscan characters

This is the tale of a holy man who led a life locked away in a bitter solitude whilst performing miracles, like the taming of a ferocious wolf which up until then had regularly devoured the poor inhabitants of the local village. However, you would be mistaken if you thought this was the story about [...]


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Filippo Lippi

La Toscana: Arts, Florence, Tuscan characters

A painter. A brilliant artist. A story of Filippo Lippi (1406 – 1469). It’s too much to be one of the first to understand the revolutionary capacity of Masaccio, who died young and single at just 27 years old. The little survivors make faith in the convent of Carmine in Florence, and the so-called Madonna [...]

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