Weather forecast Tuscany

There several services in Tuscany that can provide to you weather forecast but many of them are not trustworthy. Probaly, the best one that provide specific information is www.meteo.it

Italian language school in Florence

When I arrived in Florence last winter and I start to travel around Tuscany, I realized how important is to learn Italian if you want to enjoy the Italian lifestyle. In Florence there were many schools of Italians but after visiting all of them I decided to stay at Koine school. Koine is a special school because the shool as been created by an association of teachers that were dissatisfied with their previous experiences. For this reason this group of teacher create a new type of organization, with different style of working and teaching. I was very satisfied, all teacher that I had during the six months that I spent there have showed professional skills. While studying I have also took day trips with the school in some of the most beautiful places in Tuscany.

If you want more information you can have a watch to their webpage: Kaoine school

Tuscany olive oil

How to choose your Olive Oil

I am not an olive oil expert, but I grew up in Tuscany and I have had olive oil during all my life with my meals. These are my notes. Good quality olive oil is available in Spain, Greece and many regions of Italy. In Italy you will find the best olive oil in Tuscany, Liguria and Umbria where each olive oil producer declares their oil to be the best. As I said before I am not an expert but Liguria olive oil is more appropriate to be eaten with fish while Tuscany's and Umbria' s olive oil is more appropriate for salads (because it is fatter and also more tasty). In Tuscany many of my friends produce olive oil (many people in Tuscany have few olive trees) and I also produce a little quantity of olive oil each year (50 liters aprox) and we do compete each year for the best Olive Oil. This year the winners have been Dominique and Francesca with their Olive oil from Maremma. If you are passing buy the Maremma region you can try to buy a little quantity of their wonderful olive oil: here you have their contact:

Terra Toscana S.r.l.

Casella postale 50

57027 San Vincenzo (LI), Italia

E-mail: information@toscana.com

url: www.toscana.com

Tuscany Villa Nociano

A Lovely Haven near Siena

This weekend we have visited some friends spendingtheir holidays in a wonderful villa in Siena. The Name of this Tuscany Villa is Villa Nociano and it is situated in the Siena area. The Villa is set in the middle of the Tuscan countryside with gorgeous natural landscapes all around. The owner, was very nice and he also prepared a welcome dinner for our friends. The setting is absolute bliss and Siena can be seen from a distance. In fact this villa is only 3 kilometers from Siena. After hanging around all day at the villa, suntanning and having a barbecue outside, we went to San Giminiano for an ice cream and spent the whole night there with few nice bottle of wine sitting in the main square.
The day after we went to Arezzo for a nice tour, but we were eager to return to Villa Nociano to enjoy it again. Sadly the next day we had to return home and work, while our friends anjoyed the rest of the week there.

Tuscan Spaghetti Tomato Sauce

Tasty Spaghetti Sauce

Easy, 123 steps to make a great tomato sauce for your spaghetti atr home.
The tuscan way calls for very simple ingredients and little effort. Nonetheless the resulting taste is great.

For four people you will need half a kilo of peeled canned tomatoes (pastene, cirio, pinecone are pretty good. Campbell's are just bad tomatoes) or canned cherry tomatoes, or fresh red flavourful tomatoes. Three cloves of garlic, a pinch of salt, three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and few lwaves of fresh basil. At this regard I have to warn you: do not use dry basil. It spoils the whole thing.

Open the can of tomatoes, pour the oil in a large frying pan, chop the garlic and set it in the oil until golden. Pay particular attention not to have the garlic become brown or even burnt. Pour the whole content of the tomato can in the pan and stir. Add the pinch of salt. Some also add a little sugar (half a teaspoon) if the tomatoers are not that good.

Let the sauce become a little thicker stirring it every now and then. When it has reached the desired consistency remove it from heat and add the basil leaves that you can simply reap to large pieces with your hands. Stir then cover for five minutes, then stir again. The sauce is ready! Pour the spaghetti in and mix. Enjoy!