Although Volterra remains a quiet, off-the-beaten-path town… it boasts medieval, winding streets and gorgeous views from its hilltop perch. Volterra’s roots date back to an 8th century B.C. Etruscan settlement; big parts of the defensive wall they built in the 4th century B.C. are still standing, as is the 3rd century B.C. gate into the city! But that’s not all for the ancient side of Volterra. Here, too, are remains of an ancient Roman amphitheatre and bathhouse, as well as the renowned Museo Etrusco Guarnacci, boasting numerous Etruscan finds from the area.

Siena is an historic city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena. Unesco has declared the historic centre of Siena a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation’s most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008. Siena is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race held twice yearly.

There are many museums displaying artworks of Duccio Boninsegna, Iacopo della Quercia, Francesco di Giorgio and Beccafumi. Piazza del Campo, with Mangia Tower, is surely one of the most beautiful and exciting squares of Italy. The gorgeous Duomo (XII – XIII cent.), has a white marble facade with green and red marble inserts. The Palio is held the 2nd of July and 16th of August. Jockeys ride horses with no saddle for a few seconds race. These are exciting and much anticipated races.

When you see Pitigliano, it’s like turning the pages of a book of fairy tales set in the Middle Ages. The town is built on a promontory surrounded by bright green valleys, grooved by the Lente and Meleta rivers. The high tufa cliffs are chiseled with a thousand caves and tower-houses. The houses are built on a tufaceous drum in the same jutting vertical as the sheer cliffs which make the city wall almost superfluous.

This, however, in no way detracts from the splendid military structures such as the 13th Orsini palace. The town takes pride in its heritage: the Prehistoric period, with its tombs discovered along the city wall and in the surrounding area; the Roman period that left behind the town’s name, Gens Petilia; the Medieval period of the Aldobrandeschi, lords of the Maremma for almost five hundred years; the Renaissance grandeur brought by the noble Roman family, the Orsini; and, after a brief Sienese interlude, the Medici and their heirs, the Lorraine who stimulated a phase of modernization.

Another key to the appreciation of Pitigliano is the famous Jewish ghetto. This extraordinary town has been called “Little Jerusalem” because of its large and active Jewish population that settled there beginning in the 15th century. Today the Synagogue is once again open to the public, both for worship and a visit, after extensive restoration. The interesting Jewish Cemetery, the unleavened bread oven, the cellar carvedinto the rock where Kosher wine is produced, the Kosher butcher, the cleansing baths for women and the cleaners are all open to the public.

The town is surrounded by important archaeological sites, from the ancient vie cave to the various necropoleis and primitive villages. Without doubt, the most important necropolis is Poggio Buco, the largest Etruscan centre on the Fiora. In addition to the remains of the original city, numerous varieties of tombs have been discovered, among which the monumental cliff tombs such as the Tombadelta Regina (the Queen’s Tomb). The wine production is another good reason to visit this land.The vineyards, fertilized by volcanic tufa and thousand year old humus, produce prestigious white DOC wines. The caves and tombs cut intothe tufa rock are used as cellars for the wines’ preservation and aging. The olive oil as well, produced by cold pressing, has few rivals on the national and international scene.

Located in the gorgeous Val d’Orcia, a hilly region renowned for its hiking, Pienza itself is such a gem, it’s been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Pienza owes its beauty and fame to Enea Silvio Piccolomini born in Corsignano on 18 October 1405 and elevated to Pope in 1458 taking the name Pius II. During the course of his Papacy, he changed the ancient Castello di Corsignano into a Papal residence in the Renaissance style. Pienza was planned and constructed under the supervision of Bernardo Gambarelli.

Pienza is a rare example of Renaissance town design. Often described as the “ideal city” or the “utopian city”, it represents one of the best planned of Renaissance towns, where a model of ideal living and government was attempted, based on the concept of a town able to satisfy the needs of a peaceful and hardworking populace. It represented the so-called utopia of the “civitas” cherished by utopian thinkers for centuries. Pienza’s location in the centre of the Val d’Orcia, a wonderful and untouched valley, helps the town to embody the fundamental principle that humanistic architecture attempted to incorporate – the balanced relationship between Man and Nature.

Nowadays, Pienza is part of a territorial system called “Parco artistico, naturale e culturale della Val d’Orcia”, which aims at preservation of the extraordinary artistic heritage of the five municipalities which constitute it: Castiglione d’Orcia, Montalcino, San Quirico d’Orcia, Radicofani and Pienza. The centre of Pienza was completely redesigned by Pope Pius II in Renaissance times. He planned to transform his birthplace into a model Renaissance town. The architect Bernardo Rossellino was commissioned to build a Duomo, papal palace and town hall, and the construction was completed in three years. It’s also where Zeffirelli filmed Rome and Juliet. Pienza has a population of 2,500.

Much more than the home of Florence or of rolling countryside, Tuscany is also the home of some of Italy’s most beautiful, and fascinating, towns. Whether you’re considering a day trip from Florence, or just hoping to make your base in Italy somewhere off the beaten path, here’s a list of Tuscany’s top ten towns.

Lucca – In a word, Lucca, located just an hour’s drive west from Florence, is lovely. Graced with medieval streets and a ring of Renaissance-era fortification walls — today, a bike and walking path — Lucca’s architecture is some of the most exquisite in Tuscany. If you think Florence’s Duomo is elaborate, just wait till you see Lucca’s Duomo or its Church of San Michele in Foro, which look like they were created out of icing! Don’t miss the Piazza Anfiteatro, a ring of medieval buildings on the site of an ancient Roman amphitheatre (some of it still remaining). Here, too, is where the composer Giacomo Puccini was born.

Ivrea, a town in northwestern Italy is most famous for its traditional carnival celebration. The core of the Carnevale di Ivrea is the famous Battle of the Oranges where thousands of citizens are divided into nine teams who them violently pelt each other with oranges. These orange battles occur on the traditional carnival days of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Held every year in late February, the celebration revolves around a 12th century legend of a miller’s daughter who refused the local duke’s “right” to spend a night with each newlywed woman in his domain and instead chipped off his head. This refusal lead the commoners in the town revolting against their rulers, they then stormed and burned the palace. Each year a young girl is elected “Mugnaia” and plays the role of Violetta, the miller’s daughter who still today, honored as a local symbol of freedom.

Today’s Carnevale di Ivrea took its roots during the time Napoleon ruled the region. Until this time, each district in the city celebrated its own carnival separately; but it was changed to combine all of them into a single city-wide party, and when the area returned to Italian rule, it continued as one large celebration. The Battle of the Oranges symbolizes the towns’ liberation from its rulers and the teams of Aranceri (orange handlers) are either representing the commoners or the duke’s allies during the three-day citrus conflict. The duke’s allies take their positions on their horse drawn carriages and battle against the nine opposing Aranceri teams who are on foot. The teams in the carriages are geared up with humongous helmets along with other protective gear; the citizen teams wear their traditional costumes along with some protective gear minus those silly helmets. The use of oranges during the festival is a relative new addition; particularly since oranges are not grown in the area and over half a million pounds of oranges have to be shipping in from Sicily. Previous festivals had used apples and beans until sometime in the early 20th century when the last switch was made.

Sadly spectators can only watch. If you are looking to get into the mix you will have to plan ahead and sign up to join one of the nine teams. Anyone who wants to take have fun but not get pelted with oranges should rock a red hat, this marks you as a spectator instead of a target. At the end of the Carnevale di Ivrea, a ceremony is held in front of town hall to announce the winners of the orange battle that is then followed by an awesome bonfire. So make sure you pack some citrus friendly clothing, be prepared to party for three days and make your way to Ivrea.

Livorno’s Pallio dell’Antenna is an ancient race held since medieval times. This July race consists of four rowing boats battling it out for the prize. The race culminates with one member of each team climbing on the antenna, a stake driven in the water 10 meters high, to win the Palio, which is the classic “purple cloth.” 

With a distance of 600 meters the race lasts for a duration of 6 minutes.

To qualify for the Palio dell’Antenna, the vessels, which represent Livorno’s quarters, compete against each other in a pre-palio race called Palio della Terrazza Ma scagni. The first four boats must then row clockwise within a designated area of the sea before heading for the pole.

Prior to the race there is a historic costume parade with seventeenth-century clothing. The parade starts at the heart of the city culminating at all’Andana of the Rings.

No Bulls – Just Barrels

Each Italian festival has its own particular charm, but if you are looking for a curious and original event, then I suggest the exhilarating spectacle offered by the “Bravio delle Botti”, an annual event that always takes place in Montepulciano on the last Sunday of August.

The wonderful and scenic medieval city of Montepulciano located south of Siena and boasting spectacular panoramas, becomes the special setting for this amazing exhibition.  The “Bravio delle Botti” is an exciting race between the 8 “contrade” (districts) of the town that seek to win the “Bravio”, the painted cloth banner depicting the city’s patron saint. The winners receive the “bravio” at the end of the race.

The competition is very challenging and will literally take your breath away; the contestants for each contrada push huge and heavy “botti” (wooden wine barrels) for about a kilometer uphill along the narrow streets of Montepulciano’s historical center. Each barrel is pushed by two strong “spingitori” or pushers up to the finish line that is right in front of the beautiful Duomo inPiazza Grande.

“Il Bravio delle Botti” is steeped with the town’s traditions, its origins going back to the 14th century when the race was actually run on horseback! Only in more recent times the race has been transformed in a competition with barrels. Indeed, since Montepulciano is famous worldwide for its fine red wine “Nobile di Montepulciano”, the idea came about of using wine barrels for the districts to compete against each other.

Il Bravio delle Botti can be a perfect excuse (if one was needed!) to visit one of the most beautiful art cities of Tuscany and enjoy local traditional dishes and the superb wine of Montepulciano while enjoying a special event for the locals.

On this occasion, the city itself is even more beautiful, totally adorned with flags and decorations displaying the various contrada colours. The day of the race starts early, with a series of suggestive and fascinating ceremonies and events taking place.

The costume parade which winds along the streets of the historical center is a real delight! Knights, noblemen and noble ladies, all in their spectacular costumes, will take you back in time to enjoy the magical and suspended atmosphere of the Middle Ages – truly a unique experienceto enjoy in Tuscany.

Italy is roughly the size of the state of Arizona, yet within this small nation lie a large number of varied and interesting regions. Travelers often seek to visit at least several areas of Italy within the same trip. Here are some tips about transportation that might be helpful for those planning a trip to this glorious country.

Good Maps - Detailed walking maps are an essential item for visitors to Italy.  I like Eyewitness or Streetwise maps.   Many Italian cities are very old. Streets may not have an easily discernable pattern. They may meander. Streets may not have street signs or street signs may be very hard to spot. It is rather easy to get lost in cities where small alleyways are the norm in much of the city. While getting lost is often part of the fun and may even lead to unexpected discoveries, travelers will want to find the way back to their lodging eventually. If you are planning to drive in Italy, a good road map is also essential.   Buy an up to date map for every region and city that you are planning to visit. My personal recommendation is to use a GPS programmed for Europe.  If you do not want to bring your own they are available for rent.  I, personally, never drive in Europe without bringing our my own trusty Garmin, aptly named Goddess.  There are also some GPS models programmed for walking.

Bus Travel – Public bus travel allows the visitor a close-up view of an area. Major Italian cities like Rome are well served by a network of buses. Buses are also a very economical form of travel, with costs per trip typically under 5 euros per person. Bus travel is also ideal for exploring regions such as the Amalfi Coast, where the roads are very narrow and wind along high mountain passages. Many travelers find it dangerous to drive a car on these roads and sightsee at the same time. Buses travel fairly frequently between Amalfi towns.

Car Travel – Some Italian regions are not well served by public transportation, for example, Tuscany. Car travel can allow the visitor to see many more small villages and eliminate reliance on bus and train schedules. Car rental in Italy is available to those with an American driving license. Cars rentals are available at airports and larger towns.  The trusty cab is always a good solution to get around in small towns if you do not want to walk.  Of course, there are cars for hire, but you will pay a high price for that luxury.

Rail – Italy has an extensive network of high-speed trains that travel between major Italian cities such as Rome and Venice. Rail service is generally easy to use even for the American traveler confronting it for the first time. There are many signs in English in Italian rail stations. A ticket may be purchased in advance with an automatic ticket machine. Train service is usually divided into first and second classes. First-class service offers plusher seats and more legroom. Second-class service is pleasant with seating comparable to Amtrak. Trains have toilets. Snacks and light meals are usually available for purchase on board.

All in all, there are many options for getting around Italy!  Go for it!

Capodanno, New Years Day, is a national holiday throughout Italy. So, that will be the day after New Years Eve. Possibly hung-over? First thing you should eat when feeling slightly hung-over is stuffed pigs foot.  Traditionally eaten with lentils – said to represent money and to get your year off to a fine start – the Zampone is taken very seriously in the town of its origin, Modena – the annual ‘Super Zampone’ contest is a serious one.  If the lentils don’t make you feel lucky, then make sure you start off the New Year wearing red underwear, another guarantee of a good year ahead. Honest.

Epiphany, on January sixth, is another national holiday and another day of presents for the good children and lumps of coal for the not so good ones. La Befana is the woman who refused a roof to the Three Wise Men, and the night before Epiphany sees her abroad on her broomstick, searching all over for the new-born Gesu Bambino.

Lucca has a large antiques market (centered around Piazza San Giusto and Piazza Antelminelli) on the third Sunday (and preceding Saturday) of every month. There is also a craft fair, again in and around Piazza San Giusto, on the last Sunday (and preceding Saturday) of every month.

Arezzo has an enormous antiques market on the first Sunday (and preceding Saturday) of every month, centered around Piazza Grande and Piazza Vasari.

Florence has its antique market on the last Sunday of every month in Piazza dei Ciompi.

Late January is Carnival time! Rain time! Carnival is celebrated throughout Italy from the middle of January until ‘Martedi Grasso’, the day before Ash Wednesday. The most celebrated carnival is the one in Viareggio which is certainly the largest in Italy – it also claims to be the oldest, although Arezzo also has claims on that crown – and is probably the largest in Europe. Every Sunday the seafront at Viareggio is host to a huge parade of enormous floats – constructed from papier-mâché.  These carri are animated, complicated and often cruelly cynical of Italian politicians and celebrities. Most small towns and villages throughout Tuscany have some sort of carnival celebration, with costumes, confetti and traditional food and drink.

As you can see visiting Tuscany in January can be an exciting experience and you won’t run in to too many tourists!