Tantalizing Tuscany

We all fell in love with Tuscany in a big way. Mile after mile of olive trees and vineyards. Renaissance art in Florence. Beautiful squares in Siena and Pisa. A good glass of wine in the evening. I mean, what's not to like?

The kids adored the dogs at 'Il Sodo', the delightful farmhouse we stayed at. The property dated back to the 15th century and, located on a hill top in the heart of Chianti, was surrounded by the enchanting Tuscan countryside. None of us wanted to leave... 

We climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa and ate delicious Bruchetto drizzled with olive oil. The hubby and I tasted locally produced Chianti wine - I loved it, he didn't - whilst the kids stayed on the farm and swam in the pool.

Dinner was pizza almost every night and none of us bored of it. The absolute best was at the 'Palazzo Pretorio' in the Tuscan medieval village of San Donato in Poggio (below).

Florence was magnificent. We walked for miles. 'Il Palio' was soon to begin in Siena and the atmosphere was electric. We had been advised not to stay for the wild bareback horse race itself but very much enjoyed all the flag waving and pageantry building up to it.
But it was the splendid Tuscan landscape with its castles and country churches, olive groves and vineyards, that did it for me. Really, what's not to like?