Tuscany has a lot to offer holiday-makers; beautiful scenery, lots of activities and places to visit, and (most importantly), delicious food and drink.
And, for those reasons, it was the ideal spot for our late summer escape this year.
After a long day of airports, delays, flying and driving, we were starting to lag. That is, until we turned off the autostrade and onto the meandering roads through the hills and vineyards, leading up to the picturesque town of Radda in Chianti.
We climbed up the hill roads as the sun began to drop behind the peaks and cast a beautiful light over the stunning views stretching out beyond, as far as the eye could see in every direction. This was the postcard picture I had in my mind of Tuscany - and it wasn't a disappointment.
Neither was Montebuoni - our home for the week - and our charming villa L'Oliveta.
It had been an exhausting day, and it was a relief to arrive to a welcome pack of food and drink from To Tuscany, including bottled water, orange juice, pasta and sauce, bread and other everyday essentials, as well as a lovely bottle of Chianti. We settled in the lounge with our dinner and a glass of red to plan our trip.
Sadly, on Sunday, we awoke to clouds and rain. But we refused to let that stop us and we jumped in our rental car, a fiat Panda of course, and set off on a little adventure.
Our destination: Siena. A beautiful, trendy town just a short drive from us. And, as if by magic, as we arrived in the hustle and bustle of the centre - and purchased an umbrella - the clouds parted and the sun began to shine!
The historic town, declared a World Heritage Site, is famous for its annual horse race and beautiful medieval buldings. But for us it was to provide some culture - and food!
We explored the steep, undulating cobbled streets and squares, stopping for lunch just off the Piazza del Campo, before visiting some of the town's grand churches and ancient buildings, as well as a sneaky gelato stop!
Then, it was off to the beautiful walled medieval hill town of San Gimignano. Just a short drive from Siena, the magical town - perched on the hilltop and known as the Town of Fine Towers - is bursting full of quaint shops, intriguing back streets and stunning architecture.
It also offers some of the best sun-drenched views of the breathtaking Tuscan countryside.
For the evening, we popped into Radda for dinner and settled in a busy little restaurant lit by candles. Our Bruschetta and Crostini tasting starter was a treat and we went for the staple pasta course to fill our stomachs before our heavy eyes eventually signalled it was bedtime!
Another day, another adventure. And this time we were off to Pisa.
Montebuoni is brilliantly located for exploring Tuscany's well-known towns and cities, and for visiting some of Italy's world-famous landmarks.
Pisa, although a little further than Siena at a two-hour drive, was easy to get to and we were soon parked (60 cent for 12 hours!) and hitting the streets ourselves.
The Leaning Tower was much more enjoyable than I had honestly expected. Yes, there were tourists everywhere 'holding up' the tower for the camera and taking selfies. But the sun was shining and the Piazza del Duomo - Pisa's Cathedral Square - was quite the spectacle.
Pisa, however, offered little more than the square itself and a few streets of high street shops and restaurants, as well as a lot of market stalls and souvenir stands. A short half-day visit was all we needed.
Our visit to an Italian supermarket, however, was thoroughly enjoyable and easily could have occupied us for hours! Laden with delicious fresh meat, Italian delicacies and Prosecco we set off for home and a yummy home-cooked meal in our pretty villa, taking in the views as the sun set on another day in Tuscany.
L'Oliveta's kitchen has all the mod-cons and implements to cook a romantic, gourmet meal for two, or a wholesome family dinner. There's also a barbecue in the garden and a gorgeous veranda if you fancy a spot of alfresco dining.
The following day we decided to stay a little closer to home.
We spent a wonderful, relaxing day in Montebuoni, venturing down to nearby village Lecchi in Chianti for a coffee and relaxing by the pool before an indulgent home cooked lunch of Focaccia and Ravioli.
That was enough to give us the energy for the short walk through the vineyards to Casanuova di Ama, a lovely family-run vineyard and farm just across the hills.
Daniela was our host for the event and proceeded to ply us with a sumptuous six-course traditional meal including Bruschetta, Tuscan Crostini and Gnocchi. And, of course, there was a glass of wine for every dish.
Their homemade olive oil was delicious and their table white wine was very easy to drink. But, of course, it was the blend of rich Reserve red and famous Chinati Classico that made the meal. The same can't be said, unfortunately, for the Grappa which ended our dinner - it's definitely an acquired taste!
She told us all about the family history, how the farm worked, and how they got the best flavours out of their grapes. Our visit was insightful and interesting, not to mention delicious, and is a must for anyone visiting the Chianti region.
Thankfully, and a little surprisingly, we woke the next morning without heavy heads - must be the quality of the wine! - and set off on another Italian trip, this time to the beautiful city of Florence, or Firenze to the locals.
The weather was kinder to us and the sun beat down as we enjoyed gelato while wandering the city's streets, each one packed full of history.
A trip to Firenze isn't complete without a visit to the top of the cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore. But it's not for the faint-hearted, those who can't manage a few (hundred) steps, and certainly isn't a suggestion for those with a fear of heights. However, once you finally make it to the top, the views are well worth the effort.
There's lots to do in the city, including ancient landmarks, art galleries and museums, churches, and plenty of restaurants and shops.
But, time flies when you're having fun. And, too soon, it was time to leave Florence and Italy - the sun was setting on our trip to Tuscany.
One thing's for sure, we certainly packed a lot in to our mini adventure - but Tuscany certainly has a lot more to offer to anyone wishing to explore it.
Travel facts:
- Amy was a guest of To Tuscany, which offers more than 725 personally inspected villas. For more information visit the website or call 0121 286 7782.
- L’Oliveta at Montebuoni, near Lecchi in Chianti, sleeps four, has a shared pool and costs from £498 per week for the whole property. Flights cost extra.
- The guided wine tasting experience at Casanuova di Ama costs from €25 per person. For details, go online.
- Amy's car hire was provided by carrentals.co.uk. The website is one of the UK's top car hire comparison sites searching up to 50 car hire websites including Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Sixt and Thrifty.
Seven days car hire from Leonardo de Vinci - Fiumicino Airport, Rome, starts from £8 a day.
