The discovery of the landscape and culinary delights is the best way to discover the treasures of Tuscany. From October 10, till November 8, 2009 the medieval streets of the picturesque Etruscan town of Volterra turn into a street festival for foodies. In addition to ham, salami, honey, chocolate and wine, the precious white truffle is the star among the local specialties.
During the fair the market of the world-famous White Truffle from San Miniato will take place on Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, and on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1st, 2009. Visitors will find here a lot of truffle specialties like truffle cheese, truffle salami and truffle chocolate.
On Saturday, November 7th, and Sunday, November 8th, there is everything about chocolate. The Chocolate Valley of the Valdera is one of the major chocolate producers in Europe. Even Queen Elizabeth of England buys her chocolate from here. Besides the exhibition of the sweet treats, there will be a presentation about how chocolate is produced. There are also many funny activities in which the visitors can participate such as a truffle-hunting with experienced truffle hunters and their dogs.
View from the river Arno up to the Monte Pisano; Foto: alidada
The Monte Pisano seems like a southern foothill of the Apuan Alps and extends over almost 15,200 hectares between the provinces of Lucca and Pisa. It is one of the oldest mountain ranges of Tuscany and is bordered by the Serchio River in the west, the plain of Lucca in the north, the Lake of Bientina in the east and the River Arno in the south. From its summit one can enjoy breathtaking views of the Apuan Alps up to the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. Read the rest of this entry »
Festival of the White Truffle in San Miniato from September 26 at 7 pm till September 27, 2009 11pm
An old saying, that the children of San Miniato are yet taught, says that in the underground of Dodero, Montoderi and Poggioderi there is a golden calf. The golden calf is actually mentioned in the medieval documents of the Historical Archives of San Miniato. It may seem strange, but in this triangle of Valdegola is the heart of the White Truffle of San Miniato, which value can be compared with gold. Brillat Savarin once wrote: “The truffle makes women more tender and men more amiable.” Read the rest of this entry »
The Valdera offers its visitors not only a rich heritage of art, history and traditions, but also the possibility of making the acquaintance of unique medieval villages of Etruscan origin, where man and nature meet in harmony. During a walk along the Wine Road of the Pisan hills you will encounter the charming and romantic villages Palaia, Peccioli, Lajatico, Terricciola, Chianni and Capannoli. As in a trip by the time machine you can enjoy the life here of yesteryear. Since the Middle Ages, the area seems to have fallen asleep like Sleeping Beauty. Read the rest of this entry »
The Castle of Lari is probably the only medieval castle in Renaissance style in the province of Pisa, which is still habitable. The castle is now owned by the municipality of Lari and served in the past as a court of Tuscany and the Italian state. During the Roman Empire there were also held inquisitions against witchcraft. The castle is located on a hill, which has been populated since the ancient world .
The fort has probably already existed among the Lombards and was, according to documents, rebuilt by the powerful family of Upezzinghi, fierce opponents of the Pisan, from 1230 to 1287.
Soon, however, the Upezzinghi were forced to obey the Pisan maritime republic and in 1289 the castle of Lari came again under the control of Pisa.
The castle was partly donated to the Archbishop of Pisa and the remaining part was purchased by him.
The southwest side of the castle dates back to the time of the Pisan government. The remaining structure was renovated by the Florentines in various stages. Further renovation works were completed by the Habsburgs from 1725 to 1775.
The current structure
In the courtyard we see on the right side the church of the castle, while on the left side the prison can be seen . On the opposite site there is the main wing of the castle. Its facade is decorated with various emblems of the vicars of Lari. In the middle of the courtyard stands a beautiful cistern. At the end of the courtyard stands the Palazzo dei Vicari with a monumental facade.
A two day adventure trip through the medieval Tuscany
During your holidays in Tuscany we offer you an eventful visit to the Era Valley. We will visit the romantic town of Lari, its castle and a traditional pasta factory. You will stay overnight in a romantic farm. More info: Palace and Pasta
Olive oil has a very long tradiotion in the history of mankind, which indeed dates back to the fourth millennium BC. The popularity of olive oil rose even more when the American nutritionist Ancel Keys pointed to the health benefits of olive oil in his international studies. Italy and especially the part of Tuscany, are one of the leading oil producers on the international market. Read the rest of this entry »
Volterra, a city of art, history and culture, enchants its visitors not only with its architectural beauty from the time of the Etruscans, but it is also a paradise for lovers of the traditional rural Tuscan cuisine. The initiative Volterra & taste helps you to get to know and to taste the delicious agricultural products of Tuscany. Read the rest of this entry »
From September 15th to October 9th, there will take place the seventh edition of AnimaMundi in the beautiful surroundings of the Cathedral and the Monumental Cemetery of Pisa. Great international artists offer the finest church concerts on the Piazza deiMiracoli. All performances are for free. Foto: Patrick MayonRead the rest of this entry »
For many years, Pontedera has been a centre of agriculture, industry and commerce. The brickworks were of great importance. Expertly made by hand, the bricks used to be transported by large boats on the River Arno to the provinces of Pisa and Livorno. Since 1920, Pontedera has been closely linked to the Piaggio company, the largest manufacturer of two-wheeled vehicles in Europe. Read the rest of this entry »
Nestled in the beautiful hilly landscape of the Pisan hills, there is the natural oasis of Santa Luce, 6 km away from the eponymous town. The artificial lake came into being at the beginning of the sixties, when the company SolvayChimicaItaliaSpA, had built a reservoir for the accumulation of water. Read the rest of this entry »
View from the river Arno up to the Monte Pisano; Foto: 
Foto flickr; 
Foto: flickr; 
In the courtyard we see on the right side the church of the castle, while on the left side the prison can be seen . On the opposite site there is the main wing of the castle. Its facade is decorated with various emblems of the vicars of Lari. In the middle of the courtyard stands a beautiful cistern. At the end of the courtyard stands the Palazzo dei Vicari with a monumental facade.
Foto: flickr; 
Foto source: flickr; 
From September 15
Foto: 