Tuscan Bread Salad - The real deal

Stale Bread to taste!

If the Tuscan Bread Salad recipe is not enought for you watch the video recipe in English!

Since there is much ado about very little, because the real Tuscan bread salad is really simple, here you have the original recipe:



Ingredients: Ripe red tomatoes, better if Vesuvian ones, celery (even the leaves if you like them), peeled cucumber, lettuce, just few chopped leaves, basil 10-15 leaves, red onions to taste, one clove of garlic, olive oil, salt, vinegar, black pepper. Last, but the most important, the bread, one whole loaf of STALE artisan bread. Why stale (not moldy!!) ? Because you have to wet it and squeeeeeeze it with your hands so that it becomes moist crumbles and larger moist chunks. Fresh bread gets moist in a whole different way, and it just becomes soggy bread. If you have fresh bread, dry it in the oven.
To wet it, break it in large pieces, let it soak in the water until you feel the water has arrived to the core of the piece. Remove the pieces from the water and sqeeeeeze away the water with your hands.
Put all the bread in another large bowl, and throw in there all the previously chopped up vegetables.
Add any vegetable to taste and to have a uniform consistency.
Add salt, oil, vinegar (quite a bit of these last two) and sprinkle with black pepper.
Toss very very very well, then let it rest 10 minutes in the fridge. Toss again and then serve.
Makes for even more tasteful leftovers!!!

Lucretia Borgia Castle

Stay at the Castle
of Lucretia Borgia

Right at the Tuscan border overlooking the Trasimeno lake is the Castle of Lucretia Borgia, a famous historic castle where the Borgia family used to spend their Summer retreats when they decided to excape the already chaotic city of Rome.
Without any doubt this is a romantic Castle, whose most ancient section, the merloned tower, was built around the year 1100.
From the wide terrace one can gaze at the immense landscape of the Trasimeno lake, dotted with inhabited islands and surrounded by a myriad of little towns. The sight at night is absolutely gorgeous, when the light come up and reflect on the lake's water. The calm of Castle Lucretia Borgia is broken only by the sporadic voices of the fishermans that one can spot from the lamp lighting their way on the waters.



I can tell you all this because I had the pleasure to spend one week in September at the Castle Lucretia Borgia. It is possible to stay at the castle by the week, as we did . Inside the Castle Lucretia is very large and can accommodate 14 people providing all comforts. The decorations are mostly original from the period when Lucretia and the Borgia family stayed there. Frescoed ceilings, carved stone staircases, wall tapestry, paired with comfortable and functional furniture. Each bedroom at Castle Lucretia Borgia communicates a warm feeling due to its antique hardwood floors and original furniture.
The garden of Castle Lucretia Borgia is humongous, with an oak woods,italian garden, tennis court, and swimming pool, which are all very private. The swimming pool is a lovely hang out place, with a wet bar and white canopies to define the shaded areas.
The elegance of it all is confirmed by the fact that many decide to have their wedding at Castle Lucretia Borgia. Indeed, the many terraces and cured garden spaces are an everyday treat.
I definitely would recommend visiting or staying at Castle Lucretia Borgia, as it truly represents a classy step back in time and a unique stay from where to explore Tuscany.

Tuscany Portal to Italy

In Tuscany you can find monuments and art of every period of time. Etruscans were the first inhabitants who let monuments and theaters all around Tuscany and Umbria. Romans also left many monuments like theaters and Baths. During Medieval times in Tuscany there were the most rich and powerful towns of Europe. Siena is an example of rich Medieval Gothic town and Florence an example of rich town of "Rinascimento", Lucca, Arezzo, Livorno and Pisa were also powerful. These towns and cities have produced exceptional architects, scientists, writers and artists like: Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Vasari, Dante, Macchiavelli, Giotto, Michelangelo and many others.

A part from its history, art and culture, Tuscany is also famous for is Nature and its products like the famous Tuscan olive oil and its wines like Chianti, Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalciano and many others super Tuscan.

More informations about what to visit is available in this blog, more information about where to stay is available at this address: Hotels Italy

Massa Marittima Tuscan Hidden Jewel

Massa Marittima! Unique Town to Visit.

Sure enough Massa Marittima is out of the big touristic spots. Nothing against the latters, but Massa Marittima really deserves a lot more, seriously. I have been in Massa Marittima just by chance, while I was going to Follonica by the sea in Tuscany. I was following the old panoramic road (a must do, slow motion!!), when I had the feeling I was getting lost and saw this group of houses on the top of a very high hill, and decided to ask for directions there. Massa Marittima presents itself as the typical Tuscan village, from a distance. On the top of the hill, with a church at the very top of it all. Red, it was with its bricks and tile roofs. But at a closer look the stone walls, low arches, raised gardens and cobblestone streets, make it seem like a little sea port on the top of a hill.



When I got there I met a recurring medieval celebration in the main piazza where the Duomo cathedral is. It is a Cross Bow competition in Medieval costumes. The parade was lovely, very truthful to its original. The marvellous setting also helped feel the true Medieval atmosphere.



The people in Massa Marittima were lovely to me, and tried explaining what was going on, although my Italian is not so good, and their English was a little faltering. I had a good time and ended up having a delicious lunch in a typical Tuscan trattoria. Sadly I cannot remember the name of it, but I found out a portal on Massa Marittima that has all you need to visit end enjoy this wonderful town during the best time of the year. The website is www.massamarittima.info the portal about Maremma and tourism in Massa Marittima.
I found out this site to be very useful to gather all the info I needed before returning to Italy and pick the best time when I needed to be in Massa Marittima.
Massa Marittima deserves to be discovered, and it's well worth a visit.

Road of Castles in Chianti

Castle Road in Chianti

There is a unique road in a unique region in a unique land in the world. That road is the Castle Road in Chianti. Unrolled between Gaiole in Chianti and Pianella, this panoramic road counts 25 Km (17 miles) of breathtaking views and historic spots where a full day could be spent in harmony with nature and oneself.



There are not enough words to describe the sensations one feels as soon as the eye meets a castle mounted on a rock in the middle of cultivated hills that seem to move with the sun light and accompany your eye towards this culminating point. The soundtrack is the fresh summer breeze and the chirping of birds, as cars rarely pass by here, or if they do, they often go so slow to taste the view that you hardly recognize their presence.

Meleto Castle is one of them. Not the classic huge castle, this towered structure preserves all the romantic history that characterizes this land. Beautifully adorned with frescoed ceilings (added in later centuries), and surrounded by acres of vineyards and olive groves, it still belongs to the same family after so many generations. Here it is possible to get married in a castle, as the owners do rent it out for this purpose.



The other remarkable structure is the Brolio Castle. Owned by the Ricasoli family of Florence since before the year 1000 and after the conquest of Florence up to today, this castle is the typical huge merloned structure with maighty wings and towers. The inside is a museum you can visit Monday through Friday by appointment only. The telephone number is +39 0577 7301. It preserves beautiful furnishings, paintings, and gardens kept intact since the death of the Barron Ricasoli at the beginning of the last century. The Castle is a world-famous producer of great wine, the Brolio Chianti.
Produced since the year 1121, this wine has bettered with time. When you travel on the Chianti Castle Road you can gaze at the never ending hills covered with precious Brolio vineyards.
To contact call +39 0577 7301



Another castle you must visit is the Castle of San Polo in Rosso, a lovely hamlet that used to be part of the Ricasoli Brolio territory, but was later conquered by the Sienese state.



Not far from here is the Bossi Castle, where another great Chianti wine is produced.

The Castle Road in Chianti starts close to Pianella, near Siena. You cannot miss it in any travel guide.

Tuscany Vacations

As every year I go to visit my friends in Tuscany during this period of the year (march) when prices are lower and there are not so many tourists. I find Tuscany especially beautiful when spring is coming because the landscape is like an blossoming flower there days I have been in Siena in the house of Federico (a friend of my that I have known during my Erasmus in Siena 2 years ago). Siena is always beautiful and keeps its Medieval charm. During the weekend we have been to Volterra www.comune.volterra.pi.it a very nice Medieval town between Siena and the Tuscan sea.www.fontemartino.it

Tuscan Weekend

It was almost at the end of September when my father organized with the help of tuareg viatges a weekend in Tuscany. The agency organized for us a 4 days and 3 nights tour all over the more beautiful villages and Towns in Tuscany. The first day when we arrived in the morning at Florence airport a mini bus pick us up and let us to an excellent hotel in the center of Florence (sorry I can not remember the name), we left our bagages and a guide took us all over this great city that is Florence. We visited Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo della Signoria and Santa Croce Cathedral were many famous people like Machiavelli and Dante are buried. The second day we visited Siena and Sangiminiano two very nice Medieval towns very ell kept. The third day we had a walk around Arezzo and Cortona, two very nice Etruscan towns were movies like life is beautiful were set. The last day we had a last walk in Florence before taking our flight back to Barcelona at 15.30 pm. The organization of Tuareg Viatges was really excellent, thanks to them we really could appreciate this trip.

Tuscany Maremma Coast

Last weekend I have been in Maremma with my girlfriend, at San Vincenzo a very nice village on the Tuscan coast. San Vincenzo is very nice in this period of the year because there are no tourists so you can fell how real Tuscan life is. Restaurants that in summer are always full and busy were almost empty and only local people were there so than food and service were much better than in summer. On Sunday it was very sunny so we spent the day on the Baratti beach than in the afternoon we spent the day visiting Populonia where ruins from Etruscan civilization are still well kept. The bed and breakfast were we slept on Saturday was not that good however on Sunday night we slept in a very nice bed and breakfast called Poggio ai Santi.



Poggio ai Santi overlooks the Tyrrhenian coast, at the level of the island of Elba, from its gorgeous garden you can enjoy a fantasic landscape, the apartment were we stayed is called la stalla. Me and my girlfriend we found it very romantic. On Monday, before leaving we had a great breakfast with home made marmalade and home made bread prepared by Francesca the owner. Francesca and Dominique, the owners, were also very kind to us. I would strongly recommend this place for everybody who wants really the best when he goes on holiday. Here you have the link:www.poggioaisanti.com

Civitella del Lago

Enjoy the nature Tuscan spots!

Last weekend I spent 3 days with my family at Villa Cornacchi a very nice place close to Siena. Rooms and Services were exelents. Casa Cornacchi is close to Arezzo and Siena and since we have been many times to Siena we spent the all Saturday and Sunday visiting Arezzo and Cortona two very nice towns in south of Tuscany not vey well known for international tourism. We left vey early Monday morning because dad had to came back to work. Giacomo, the manager was again very kind to us and he served breakfast very early in the moring. If you would like to pass a weekend in Tuscany Casa Coracchi is surely for his position and its good value for money a nice place to stay. "Here you have the link: www.cornacchi.com

Villa Asciano Tuscan Villa

Unforgettable Villa near Siena

When we decided about where to stay in Tuscany it was quite a difficult task to get it just right. We are a family that loves peace and tranquillity, in addition to privacy. The beginning idea was to rent out a whole villa with pool and have it all for ourselves, but we soon changed our minds. The private villa rental provides a good deal of freedom movement (I mean, if you wanted to go about naked, you could...) but a farmhouse provides just as much freedom, especially Villa Asciano. The Villa is very big and offers six spacious and tastefully furnished apartments. If you are a big party of 22 people, you could also rent it all out and enjoy it, but if you are a smaller group of people you can comfortably stay in different apartments and enjoy all the privacy you need.



You could also take advantage of the Olivo + Vite combination. We adopted this solution the first year we stayed at Villa Asciano, as we were a party of 10 people. Four comfortable bedrooms and a sofa bed gave us all the space we needed, plus three full bathrooms (one with a gorgeous countryside view from the bathtub), and lots of living space, two fully equipped kitchens...in one word very satisfying!!!



The two gardens with bower and tables outside to sit and enjoy a good meal with our loved ones was a daily gift. The hammock hanging from two secular cypresses provided a shaded craddle where I could doze at the lullaby composed by the fresh Summer breeze and the cheerful robins. God I miss it! At the end of the week we were so relaxed and totally stress-less that our return trip went by almost in a dream state. We had to wake up with the big city life noise, a hard reality to come back to, let me tell you. But I know Villa Asciano is still there, and next year we'll go back for our third time. This time I want to visit Siena everyday.

Gold in Arezzo!

Undiscovered Arezzo, Medieval town in the South of Tuscany


Arezzo is a very nice town in the south of Tuscany not yet known by massive tourism. The town was very important during Medieval times and competed with Siena and Florence for the control of central Italy and especially for the Tuscan region. Many Italian artists were born in this town and many of them lived there like Vasari and Petrarca. Vasari developed many important architectural projects for Arezzo and the Pope. Petrarca with Dante and Boccaccio are the funders of itlian lenguage.

Arezzo is also a town where you can still have nice meals for a very affordable price, not only outside the historic center, but also in the city center. In the main square there are a couple of very good and inexpensive restaurants like le "Loggie del Vasari" restaurant.


Every Saturday there is a big and important antiquites market that is worth a visit.

More information about Arezzo can be found in the official web page of Arezzo www.arezzocitta.com

View Tuscany from a steam-engine locomotive

I must say Tuscany has a truly distinctive charm, a certain loveliness that pervades quite nearly every corner and square of its landscape. Perhaps one thinks about a coach congested with people on their way to work or a bullet train. But we rarely consider a slow moving, luxurious in its pace, steam engine locomotive. Nowadays we don't have time for that, or so it sadly seems. Yet when one is traveling and on vacation, one should like to fall back into that time when things were slowly cultivated and enjoyed. I for one try to bring this philosphy to my life on a daily basis.

I was so fortunate to one day happen upon a notice for il treno natura. Itwas serendipity, pure and simple. At the time I was staying at a delightful villa, Villino Nociano, in Siena with my family and fiance. So I headed out to the train station and asked about il treno natura, I was lucky to know that the following weekend, three days before we had to depart for the States, a special event was planned. I was able to book a reservation for all 7 of us at 25 euros each. At first it seemed somewhat pricey, but I don't think I would have been able to forgive myself for not taking up on this opportunity. It turned out to be quite spectacular in a calm and inspiring sort of way.

I cannot recommend a more delighful way to spend a saturday or sunday. This is a trip back in time and peace one should not miss.

Accademy of Etruscans

Cortona and the Etruscan Accademy

Of the many things to do in Tuscany is visiting the Etruscan Accademy in Cortona Toscana. The accademy of Cortona Toscana is a wonderful example of unkown museums, and yet noteworthy, in Tuscany.



The accademy in Cortona Toscana is also paired with the museum of the Etruscan Accademy in Cortona Toscana. It originated in 1727 by the will of a group of wealthy professors of Cortona Toscana. The scope was and still is to promote and finance the study and development of archeological studies and discoveries, and the preservation of antiquities in general (note that Cortona Toscana is in the province of Arezzo, a very famous town for its antiquities and gold).



The library and the museum of the Cortona Toscana Etruscan Accademy are the main source of income and of interest. A very interesting and renown painting is the "Musa Polimnia" which is said to be the protectress of the arts of Cortona Toscana.

Although the main aim of the Etruscan Accademy is the development of archeology in general, it mainly concentrates on the archeology of Cortona Toscana.

The address is
Etruscan Accademy Piazza Signorelli, 9 - 52044 Cortona Toscana(AR)

Bread for all tastes in Traditional Tuscany

Tradition and taste

in Tuscan Bread

When I got to Tuscany I had heard about the Tuscan Bread a lot, and I had also tried it sometimes in some Italian Restaurant where I live, but it didn't compare to the description that my friends had given me about Tuscan bread as it's made in Tuscany.
So, my trip to Tuscany started out (after having settled in a beautiful villa near Siena)in a nice restaurant in Siena, at Trattoria da Divo. The dishes were gorgeous, but the thing I wanted to try was the oven baked Tuscan bread: it was DELICIOUS!!

The owner of the restaurant is a very easy-going lady that happens to know a lot about Tuscan bread. She told a little about the ancient origins of the Tuscan bread. It seems like it started from the baking of acorn flour, and eventually developed to the modern state (made of wheat and other cereal flours) around the year 1100. The peculiarity of Tuscan bread is that is the only Italian bread made without salt. In my opinion Tuscan bread is good that way, as Tuscan food is so tasty itself.



I wanted the recipe to make Tuscan bread at home in my brick oven and impress my friends, but I could not find anyone able to tell me the exact recipe. It seems like Tuscan bread, "the good one", comes from oral traditions and will stay that way.