The narrow and ancient rural roads of Tuscany hide an artistic, historical, cultural and geographical heritage that make this Italian region one of the most beautiful corners of Europe. Our idea in this guide is to get away from the famous medieval cities, such as Siena and Florence, which attract millions of tourists a year, to find more romantic ways to experience it for two.
Ángelo Guzzi and Esther Tejera are the perfect couple to reveal the most charming corners of rural Tuscany. No one better than them, who have lived for more than 20 years among the hills and mountains of the region, to give us advice, ideas, through their experience and experience. The Italian Ángelo and the Spanish Esther, transformed an agricultural estate into Casa Mazzoni, a quiet and peaceful rural house embedded in the Tuscan mountains, halfway between the great jewels of the Middle Ages and the richness of the Italian countryside.
Casa Mazzoni is very exclusive, both in the treatment and attention that is received from the first day of Ana, the person in charge of all the services in the house, as well as in the welcoming and close atmosphere that it offers us, thanks also to the work of support from Herman. It only has 10 rooms, apart from a very select and rich wine cellar, and a kitchen under the command and inspiration of Claudia that, day after day, surprises visitors with a very exquisite regional menu. And most importantly, it is a safe and comfortable port for those who want to receive all the necessary guidance to navigate the most exclusive paths of Tuscany.
How to get there and travel around Tuscany
The best airport to arrive in Tuscany is Pisa because it has more connections, is older and bigger than Florence. An advance reservation of a rental car is essential for those who want to save time and money. The best car model is the smallest one because the roads are narrow and the cities have streets and parking lots with very little space. The road network is perplexing and demands continuous attention from the driver.
Walks between glasses of Chianti wine
To taste good wines, Ángelo highlights two very important wine routes. The first is the Chianti route and the other, par excellence, the Brunello route. The couple recommends visiting wineries and trying wines accompanied by typical regional tapas such as Crostini and Pecorino Cheese. Guzzi says that you have to know how to buy wine because “you can buy a good bottle of Chianti for 5 euros in small wine bars, while in an urban store it can cost 10 times more.” Now beware of the exclusive Brunello wine, its price is high, no less than 25 euros a bottle.
Tuscan food
Tuscany food is very natural and varied, with high quality ingredients: pasta, fish, meat, legumes and vegetables. Spaniards, who are very used to eating late, should know that in Tuscany they eat early. In general, lunch is served between 12 and 2 pm, and dinner between 8 and 9 pm, at the latest. Our guide couple recommends that you cannot miss trying the Ribollita, a typical soup, as an antipasto, the Panzanella, a rich salad made with old bread and vegetables, and to finish off the Fiorentina, a Chianina beef.
Small tuscan towns
Tuscany is well known for cities like Lucca, Pisa, Siena, Florence, Arezzo, but Angelo and Esther recommend little-known little towns “where time stood still” and no less important for their historical value. Among these little gems are the cities of Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Massa Marittima, Sovanna, Pitigliano and Saturnia.
The sea is also part of the romantic scene in Tuscany. Among the exclusive places to walk as a couple are Talamone, Castiglione della Pescaia, Punta Ala Alberese and its natural park, and Porto Santo Stefano.
To get to know rural Tuscany with peace and joy, the couple recommends a minimum stay of one week in this region that, in one way or another, many already know through the landscapes depicted in such famous films as ‘Under the Tuscany sun’ and ‘Life is beautiful’.