This summer’s vacation took me to the rolling green hills of Tuscany and Umbria in the heart of Italy. I was joined on this trip by my good friend Pam Schultz who traveled to Ecuador with me two years ago.

The first few days of the trip were overcast with a few sprinkles, but then the sun came out. Though we traveled in late May and early June it actually was a bit warm a few days.

I’ve traveled to Italy in the past, but those trips focused on the major cities of Venice, Florence and Rome. This trip was a totally different experience. Other than a day trip to Florence we were off the beaten tourist path enjoying medieval cities and hills and valleys covered in wheat, olive groves and vineyards. The colors were incredible and my photos can’t really do the scenery justice.

We had four 3-night stays with day trips from each location. Three of our hotels were in or next to ancient walled towns. One hotel was a villa in the Tuscan countryside. You couldn’t ask for better hotel locations. Walking through these little towns was wonderful. Everywhere you turned there were amazing little shops. The town of Pienza is known for pecorino cheese and walking through the streets just made you hungry. Our final night was at an agroturismo (farmhouse hotel) just outside of Rome.

The residents of these walled cities had little, if any, yards so their front doors and windowsills became their gardens. Herbs, flowers and succulents were everywhere. You would swear each resident was in a contest for garden of the week.

The food…what can I say…awesome! Most meals on the trip were included and the lunches and dinners came with never-ending wine! We certainly were never hungry, though that didn’t stop me from having a gelato or two or ten. Our free evenings included pasta at an outdoor cafe on the piazza in Lucca and pizza cooked in a wood fired oven in Pienza. Did I mention the wine…and beer? Pizza is paired with beer in Italy!

We had cooking lessons on two occasions. One was hands-on with a very classy lady where we prepared pasta sauce, a chicken, ham and cheese dish and tiramisu made with pineapple (light and refreshing). The other started out in the countryside learning how a local family hunts for truffles. We then learned about their pecorino cheese-making followed by a demonstration from their sweet old Italian mother showing us how real pasta was made. As we watched, we had wine, salami, cheese and crustinis with truffles and olive oil on top. This was followed by a meal of salad, the pasta, Italian sausages and ice cream for desert. Did I mention we had wine as well?

One afternoon we visited a winery owned and run by a woman. After visiting her wine cellars and learning about the winery’s operations we had a wine tasting with “light lunch.” That turned into 5+ glasses of different wines and delicious finger foods.

There were too many other adventures and discoveries to describe.

For those looking for beautiful countryside, food, wine and medieval cities I would definitely recommend a trip to Tuscany and Umbria. I hope you enjoy my photos of the highlights of this trip.

Dates: May 21 – Jun 4, 2015
Tour Operator: Overseas Adventure Travel

Tour map – Tuscany & Umbria: Rustic Beauty in the Italian Heartland

Church of San Michele in Foro, Lucca

Balcony in Lucca

Decisions, decisions

Lucca’s Duomo (Cathedral of San Martino)

Torre Guinigi (Guinigi Tower), Lucca

Torre Guinigi (Guinigi Tower), Lucca

Panorama of Lucca from the top of the Torre Guinigi (Guinigi Tower), iPhoneography

Wine cellar at the restaurant in Lucca where we had our welcome dinner.

San Frediano Basilica, Lucca

San Frediano Basilica, Lucca

San Frediano Basilica, Lucca

Dinner in Lucca on the Piazza Anfiteatro

Carrara marble quaries

Carrara marble quaries

Carrara marble quaries

Fresco in the Carrara Cathedral

Lucca

Lucca city gates

Pastry shop in Lucca

When you don’t have a yard you make beautify hanging gardens from your window. Lucca

View from my hotel room in Lucca

Palazzo Pfanner, Lucca

Palazzo Pfanner, Lucca

Palazzo Pfanner, Lucca

Palazzo Pfanner, Lucca

Pasta shop in Lucca

Florence

Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, Florence

Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, Florence

Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, Florence

Panorama of Florence. iPhoneography

Modern art in Florence

Ponte Vecchio, Florence

Reproduction of Michelangelo’s David in the Piazza della Signoria, Florence

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

Mercato Centrale, Florence

Vacuuming the streets of Florence

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

Florence

Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence

Mercato Centrale, Florence

Modern art on the recycling bin in Florence

Tuscan countryside

Chapel in San Galgano

San Galgano

Ruins of The Abbey of San Galgano

Ruins of The Abbey of San Galgano

Ruins of The Abbey of San Galgano

Ruins of The Abbey of San Galgano

Rain is approaching

Chiusdino, our lunch stop.

Small chapel we saw during a short hike on the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrim road.

The garden shop. Just loved this cute lady with her rainbow umbrella. Greve in Chianti

Tuscan countryside where we had a hands-on Italian cooking lesson

Lovely little market, Greve in Chianti

The colors of Italy

Hors d’oeuvres before our cooking class

Colle di Val d’Elsa

Colle di Val d’Elsa

Classic Mini, Colle di Val d’Elsa

Colle di Val d’Elsa

Colle di Val d’Elsa

Colle di Val d’Elsa

Colle di Val d’Elsa

Colle di Val d’Elsa

Little church next to our villa hotel in the Chianti countryside.

Sculpture at the church in Siena’s Snail Contrade (ward).

Piazza Il Campo, Siena

La Contrada della Selva, Siena

Decoration on the town hall in Siena

Tuscan countryside

Piazza Il Campo, Siena

Duomo of Siena

The last supper, Duomo of Siena

Duomo of Siena

Ceiling of the library at the Duomo of Siena

Odd decoration at the Piazza Il Campo, Siena

Palazzo Pubblico, Sienna

Tuscan countryside

Gargoyle in Siena

Vitaleta Chapel, Val d’Orcia

Vitaleta Chapel, Val d’Orcia

Pecorino cheese shop in Pienze

Cathedral of Pienza

Wine store in Pienza

View from Pienza

Spices

Town hall of Pienza

Market day in Pienza

Pienza

View from Pienza

Winery visit with wine tasting and light lunch. We tried five excellent wines. The winery is owned and staffed by women. Villa S. Anna Montepulciano.

Villa S. Anna Montepulciano

Pizza and beer after a long day, Pienza

Tuscan countryside

The shops were all just amazing.

Villa S. Anna Montepulciano

Montepulciano

Montepulciano

Montepulciano

Shoe store in Montepulciano

Montepulciano

Old well near the San Biagio church, Montepulciano

Etruscan city of Sorano

Loved this little boy on his hobby horse, Pitigliano

Pitigliano

Pitigliano

Pitigliano

Duomo of Pitigliano

Pitigliano

Pitigliano

Etruscan necropolis of Sovana

Sovana

A very strange water fountain, Sovana

The colors of Italy

Cathedral of Pienza

Pienza

Isola Maggiore in Lake Trasimeno. We took a boat trip here for a visit and lunch.

Isola Maggiore

Isola Maggiore

Lake Trasimeno

Isola Maggiore

Isola Maggiore in Lake Trasimeno

Trevi

Sausage shop in Norcia

Why yes, I did make an offering.

One of the Monks at St. Benedict’s Monastery taking a photo of our trip leader with his iPhone. The church is quite progressive these days. Norcia

Norcia

Beware of hares with guns, Norcia

Scheggino

Trevi. We spent 3 nights here and out hotel was at the top of the hill

Tired kitty next to Saint Emeliano Church, Trevi

Artwork covering some renovations in Trevi

Trevi

Trevi

Trevi

Saint Francis of Assisi

Pilgram or beggar…you decide, Assisi

Assisi

The Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

Umbrian countryside

Pettino

Truffle hunting experience, Pettino

Umbrian countryside

Pasta lesson and final product at a family farm in Pettino. After the lesson we had dinner there including this fresh pasta.

Sausages with our pasta for dinner

Umbrian countryside

Park of the Monsters. This was built in the late 1500’s

Wine, the nectar of the gods.

Scary steps near hotel in the Roman countryside

Our hotel for the final night in the Roman countryside

Sparkling wine before our farewell dinner. Cheers!, Salute!, Cin cin! to a wonderful vacation. Ciao Y’all!