I am late with my Italy Blogging Roundtable post (also nothing new, lately…), but I have been thinking about this topic for weeks, at least since I read that and another couple of articles on the subject and exchanged a few comments with the other ladies in the roundtable.

I am the only Italian in the group (well… “made in Italy”, I should say) and reading about the way in which non-Italians see the situation of women in my country has been very interesting. I have to say I was at the same time surprised and not at all surprised.

Many of the “criticisms” were based, I believe, on deep cultural differences. But when one discusses this type of topic and speaks of “change”, or need thereof, one should always remember that what makes a culture a culture is exactly this type of cultural-specific aspects. If you are wondering what I am talking about, I invite you again to read the article I mentioned above, which focuses on aspects such as the fact that Italian women are slaves to fashion and the need to appear always at their best even just to run to the nearest shop to buy a loaf of bread (please Elizabeth, forgive me for the extreme simplification…!).

Some other aspects I have seen criticized in various articles are in my opinion universal – not just typical of Italian women (e.g. the need to look good to attract potential partners) or of human beings in general, for that matter… We do not leave in a vacuum: we always wonder what other people think of us. Our brain has even developed dedicated cognitive abilities, and they are exactly what makes human being different from other less developed forms of life.

I will not go over the many points that I have already discussed on Elizabeth’s blog, but  I will spend a few words on this gender equality ranking everybody mentions and which sees Italy perform very poorly (not “Africa poorly”, but not “Sweden brilliantly” either…). According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2012, Italy ranks 84th in terms of gender equality. The criteria on which the report relies are:

- Economic participation and opportunity – outcomes on salaries, participation levels and access to high-skilled employment
- Educational attainment – outcomes on access to basic and higher level education
- Political empowerment – outcomes on representation in decision-making structures
- Health and survival – outcomes on life expectancy and sex ratio

I should say that living in Tuscany, I have realized that I have a “distorted” idea of many social issues. Let’s face it: we have a very good lifestyle here and some matters that are of no concern here might be totally different in other parts of the country. Anyway, looking at the points above, this is what I think.

It is true that in some positions men might be preferred to women. I know for a fact of situations in which women candidates have not been chosen because the employer feared that, once secured the job, they would immediately start a family and leave them to pay benefits and a second salary for a substitute. This is despicable and unfair. But again, I am ready to bet, there are similar situations and concerns everywhere, not just in Italy.

Other than this, I have never witnessed, or heard of discrimination in terms of work positions among my friends and acquaintances. Most of the women I know, as a matter of fact, work, either as employees or as owners of their own businesses. Nobody I know has been discriminated because of their look, but again all my friends are beautiful! LOL And none of them ever applied to jobs where you needed “bella presenza” (on this matter too, see my comments to Elizabeth’s post).

In terms of salaries, I am not sure how you can discriminate against women… salaries depend on the job you have, and are determined at the national level. In terms of high-skilled employment, again I am a researcher. Most of the associate and tenured professors in my department are women. Some of my best friends are employed in the Ufficio Comunicazione of the University, one is an air-traffic controller, another is a fabulous lawyer, some are doctors, with managerial roles too, and several others have created and run successful businesses. I might be lucky, or more simply I know a lot of hard working ladies who have University degrees and a great brain.

I am tempted to say that the sectors where you see few women are the sectors where only few women participate to begin with. All you have to do is step in a classroom of any of the scientific (engineering, physics, maths) degree courses: female students are remarkably outnumbered. But the women who do succeed in those degree courses, well, some of them become Vice Councellor first, and Minister of Education later. Women do have the same opportunities in terms of education in this country. And they do generally better than their male colleagues. It is rather than many women decide to study humanities and there are simply no jobs in humanities.

Moreover, it should not be forgotten that many girls decide to dedicate their time to the family instead of dedicating it to career. Also, we Italians do not like to live far from home, and that necessarily reduces opportunities. Choosing to devote time to the family is sometimes a necessity (often), sometimes a choice. And I am sure this aspect of our culture impacts on those numbers quite heavily.

I don’t know much about political empowerment (or involvement). In this case too, I think there are more men than women who are genuinely interested in politics. I see student representatives and they are mostly men. And I am talking in terms of candidates and participants too meetings too. You certainly need a certain personality to go into politics and I believe women are usually too honest and practical not to get frustrated after 10 minutes in any political debate! LOL It is certainly striking how good looking all the ladies in Berlusconi’s party are. That is suspicious… Also, I will not even comment on Berlusconi and how sexist he is. That and the fact that most Italians (men and women) do not find that unbearable and unacceptable is the real problem, I believe. Not the fact that women dress up to go to the toothless baker’s shop.

Finally,  I think in terms of health and survival we are doing pretty well (touching wood now…).

Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that everything is perfect, that Italian women have no issues to solve. Not at all. What I am saying is that some of these issues are not issues at all for Italian women. And that is not a deadly sin.

Also, I am the least feminist woman out there, so I am very bad at defending gender equality. I do believe in equal rights and responsibilities, of course. But I also believe that in the real world, women should not feel the pressure of having to want to do the same things as men do. I am perfectly happy doing the laundry if I don’t have to bother repainting the house or bringing the wood for the stove in.

Moreover, women should not feel ashamed to be glad if a man opens the door for them (right Jessica?). Everybody knows we can open our own door and change our own light-bulbs, but little acts of chivalry are a nice way to acknowledge the fundamental role of women in society.

I do not believe that doing what men do is progress. Being allowed to do that if one wants is, but then women are women and men are men. We are so different and in many ways. Embracing this difference is nothing but natural and rewarding.

Renegotiating responsibilities is right, and I think it is also happening fast. Italian men will get there if women ask them to. But I still know lots of women who would rather die of exhaustion than have their husband organize their kitchen. We must respect this attitude too, and we must respect cultural attitudes when they are a choice and not a burden of course. Having a career that keeps you out of the house all day is not the top priority for all women out there, just like having children is not. Real progress is when a woman can choose the type of role she wants to occupy in society and I believe in Tuscany that is pretty much the case.

Now back to some trivia… this is a cultural/travel blog after all!

There are not many things that women and men did or do differently in Tuscany. They have traditionally shared chores in the countryside. Of course, house chores were carried out by women, but men were in charge of the heavy duty stuff. Here are a few things Tuscan (wonder)women do or used to do differently from men.

Tuscan women do not swear blasphemously. Here people swear a lot, and I am talking blasphemy. Women generally don’t. Blasphemy is generally condemned, but people are resigned to hear Tuscan men of all ages swear. That is hardly acceptable in women. We all do have a pretty colourful eloquence though.

Tuscan women do not go hunting. That is the last male territory.

Tuscan women did not get drunk. It is still true of the older generations, but gender equality has reached the younger generations in this concern I am afraid…

Tuscan women used to go to church on Sunday morning, while men went to the bar. And they would fight about it. Now most people go to the bar… both men and women. And they fight over the latest reality show instead.

Tuscan women used to eat last if they had guests: first they had to make sure everybody else was taken care of.

Tuscan women used to not slice bread, cured meat or cheese. That was a man’s job, and in most families (like mine), it still is.

Italy Blogging Roundtable

This is the 20th post in a monthly series called The Italy Blogging Roundtable. Here you can find the posts of the other bloggers who participate in the roundtable. Our topic this month was “women“:

• ArtTrav – Being a woman in Italy… in the Renaissance
• Brigolante – Italy Roundtable: In Memoriam
• Andiamo – Being a Woman in Italy: It’s Complicated
• Italofile – Coming soon
• Driving like a maniac – This Woman’s World

Week 19 – The “other” Pisa

To most, saying Pisa is the same as saying the Leaning Tower. However, there is “another Pisa” too, or rather many other ones: the city of the gardens and parks, the city by the sea, the city of the lesser known monuments.

I adore Le Piagge, the park that runs along the river Arno, only a short walk from the old center of the city. It is gorgeous all year round, but in the fall and in the spring especially.

(Photo by biggo84)

The “other” Pisa is a city where you can walk among bamboo…  The Botanic Garden is also a real oasis only steps from the Leaning Tower!

(Photo by Reimfee)

And San Rossore, one of the largest nature reserves in Italy is an amazing place to visit, only minutes from the city center. You can reach it by bus, car or bike, and there are paths that lead through the woods to the dunes on the protected beach at Vecchiano. You can even visit the park on a horse-drawn carriage!

(Photo by tormento&estasi)

Pisa is a city with a long history and lots of beautiful spots to remind people of it. The Medicean Aqueduct is one of the lesser known attractions in Pisa. It runs through the surrounding countryside and then through the city and it has been standing since the 16th century. Most people don’t even notice it, thinking they are walking under an arch or some old defense wall.

(Photo by PolitikBasis)

Pisa used to be on the coast. Now it is only a short drive away. The first spring days are ideal to go take a walk in the nearby town of Marina di Pisa, see the “retoni” and enjoy an aperitivo on the beach.

(Photo by Reimfee)

(Photo by Ross Photo’s)

Pisa is this and more, and deserves to be discovered and enjoyed slowly!

If you are planning a trip to Pisa, don’t forget to check our Pisa apartment!

These first few days of glorious good weather (well, it was high time!), made me think of days like this back when I was a teenager (not too long ago, right?!). Sunday (…here schools are open on Saturday too…) was typically the day for day trips either with the family or with friends. In small villages like mine, Civitella Marittima, where there are only few kids of the same age, you tend to hang out both with people that are a few years younger and a few years older than you. As you can imagine, the first time that your parents give you permission to get in some friend’s car and go on a daytrip on your own, you feel like that is the very first day of your life! And now that I have a child, I can understand how my parents must have felt the exact opposite!

I was lucky enough that some of the “older kids with cars” were my cousins, so I started joining these “Sunday escapades” quite early. Among the most popular destinations, as soon as the weather was mild enough that our mums did not feel the need to make sure we have a wool scarf on at all times (that is, late April or May – Italian mothers are famous for this kind of stuff after all…), we would go to some hot spring.

Tuscany is rich in hot springs (or “terme” as we call them in Italian), which are scattered throughout its territory. And until not long ago, most of them were freely accessible, and safety was not an issue. I would often go to the nearest hot springs on my own when I was in my last year of high school and still living with my parents in the area: the woods along the river were the ideal place to read and prepare my graduation exam. Now I would certainly not deem wise for an 18 or 19 year old girl to sit all alone by the river in the middle of the woods… Too bad. Anyway, most certainly, they are still a fabulous destination for a day trip if you are travelling with friends or with your “better half”, and even if you are travelling alone, provided you avoid isolated spots (which is hardly difficult since they are now very popular and often crowded).

Including all the hot springs in Tuscany in just one blog post would be too much, but here are a few ones I like and which I highly recommend. They are all located in Southern Tuscany and are a gift of Monte Amiata, once a very active volcano, now a beautiful mountain covered in thick beech woods and chestnut groves.

Terme di Petriolo

Terme di Petriolo are the closest hot springs to my home village.

The Petriolo’s thermal baths are very ancient. The Romans knew and appreciated them. Recently, Roman tombs have been found in the area, proof of a long time recognition of the beneficial effects of this water.

It is without doubt that these hot springs were highly appreciated in the Middle age and during the Renaissance period and many important people are known to have frequented the Petriolo thermal baths: the Medici, Lords of Florence, the Gonzaga, Lords of Manuta and leading exponents of the Church including Pope Pious II Piccolomini.

Also of note are the remains of the ancient walls built in 1404 in the typical Sienese architectural style, which are the only existing example of fortifies thermae (fortified thermal baths).

(Photo by Raymond Barlow)

One room of the original baths still exists. It opens onto the river Farma with arches built on octagonal pillars. Besides the hot springs, the Farma river is perfect for bathing and swimming, and the surrounding woods offer many nice spots for a picnic.

At Petriolo it is possible to relax in the natural pools (freely accessible when the river Farma does not cover them) or to spend some time at one of the two spa centers. Terme di Petriolo Spa Center is more modest and inexpensive. Hotel Terme di Petriolo, on the other hand, is a luxury spa center, ideal if you feel like being pampered.

(Borrowing this from Alexandra – arttrav!)

If you decide to visit Petriolo, pay a visit to the medieval hamlet of Pari too, which is only a couple of kilometers (1 mile) away from the springs and it is really neat.

Terme di Saturnia

Terme di Saturnia are the most popular hot springs in the Maremma area of Tuscany. They are located near Manciano and the eponymous village of Saturnia, in the Etruscan hills in Southern Tuscany.

A lengend narrates that the springs originated from lightning bolts thrown by Jupiter during a violent argument with Saturn.

(Photo by ludik)

The most popular part of the springs are Cascate del Mulino (literally the thermal waterfalls by the mill) and Cascate del Gorello the waterfalls of Gorello, which in the local dialects means “little stream”. And as a matter of fact, like in Petriolo, it is possible to enjoy the hot water by the thermal waterfalls and also take a bath in the nearby “river”.

(Photo by Magdalena Gmur)

(Photo by Marano Marco)

At Saturnia, you can also choose to spend a few relaxing days at the beautiful spa center Terme di Saturnia.

Bagni San Filippo

The thermal waters at Bagni San Filippo have been popular since the 13th century, when St. Phillip Benizzi chose a grotto by the hot springs as his dwelling.

(Photo by Paolo Pizzetti)

These are probably my favourite hot springs in Southern Tuscany. Besides the charming pool in the village of Bagni San Filippo, the best part is the amazing thermal waterfall in the woods just outside the hamlet.

(Photo by risotto al caviale)

And the beautiful countryside of the Val d’Orcia which surrounds them is a big plus.

Bagno Vignoni

Bagno Vignoni is certainly unique. Instead of a typical central square, the village buildings encircle a large thermal pool where water reaches 52°C.

(Photo by klausthebest)

The hot springs at Bagno Vignoni were popular among the pilgrims who walked the Via Francigena. Lorenzo de’ Medici and Pope Pio II Piccolomini loved the place too, and St. Catherine of Siena spent quite some time here before becoming a nun. Her mother apparently used to bring her here in an attempt to distract her from her purpose of choosing monastic life, obviously without any success.

(Photo by klausthebest)

Besides the thermal baths, Bagno Vignoni boasts a lovely chapel and a portico dedicated to St. Catherine of Siena and a beautiful church.

(Photo by anto_gal)

A visit to the village of Vignoni Alto, not far from Bagno Vignoni, is a must. The view over the Val d’Orcia is breathtaking.

The “other” hot springs

There are a few other popular hot springs in southern Tuscany, which are quite popular even though not my favourite ones, so I will just mention them quite quickly.

Terme di Chianciano are extremely popular. The life of the entire town of Chianciano revolves around its thermal baths (just like Montecatini Terme in Nothern Tuscany). They were already known back in the middle ages, but their mass-popularity is a recent affair (20th century). The spa center is famous among people who need treatments, so they are more popular among elderly visitors, but there are plenty of spas that offer cosmetic treatments that are most certainly appealing to a younger crowd as well.

(Photo by kharmel)

Rapolano Terme has two nice thermal parks too, with large pools and modern spa centers: Terme Antica Querciaiola and the more popular Terme San Giovanni. The view over the Crete Senesi from the latter is quite remarkable.

(Photo by Daniele Brandi)

Montepulciano and San Casciano dei Bagni have their own hot springs too. Both though, but especially Montepulciano, are beautiful hill towns that deserve a visit more for their architectural beauty and for the views than for their hot springs.

(Photo by intoscana.it)

Finally, I should mention the peculiar Acqua Borra: nothing more than a farmhouse perched on a crazy travertine stone wall with a pool fed by a hot spring. Really peculiar.

If you need a base to explore the many hot springs of southern Tuscany, don’t forget to check our vacation rental between Siena and the Maremma, Casina di Rosa!

Italy Blogging Roundtable

This is the 19th post in a monthly series called The Italy Blogging Roundtable. Here you can find the posts of the other bloggers who participate in the roundtable. Our topic this month was “hills or mountains“:

• ArtTrav – It’s finally Spring in Tuscany
• Brigolante – Italy Roundtable: Spring in my step
• Andiamo – A Room Full of Botticellis
• Italofile – The Roman Spring of Tennessee Williams
• Driving like a maniac – Springing to Confusion

Week 18 – Civitella and its camellias

I am certainly partial, but I believe the square of our little village, Civitella Marittima, is really pretty. There are some buildings that would require a wiser maintenance, that’s true. But on the other hand, there are some corners that are truly picture perfect like this one.

This year, we have had a long, rainy winter. Bad for us (we have almost morphed into fish) but excellent for camellias.

These plants in the main square were glorious this year.

I didn’t have my camera with me, and I do not own a smart phone (yet…), so I had to run to the baker and ask if he could lend me his! LOL

The grey of the old stone bench, which remind me so much of my childhood, when my great-grandmother would sit there and watch me play with the other kids in the square, looked so pretty next to the light pink flowers and the old wine barrel!

If I close my eyes, I can still feel the stone under my child’s hands, and the smell (and taste… when you are a kid you don’t keep your hands out of your mouth for long…) of the wet stone!

And to think than in a month or so, the beautiful pink flowers will be replaced by the white jasmine flowers! I will have to take a few more pictures!

If you plan on visiting Tuscany in April, check our vacation rental in southern Tuscany, Casina di Rosa.

Week 17 – Pisa and the New Year

On March 25th, Pisa celebrated the New Year. Yes, that is correct… 2014 is already here in the city. I have already written about Capodanno Pisano, but since it is one of the many great events that are generally overlooked by tourists, I thought I should write about it again.

The tradition dates back to the 18th century, when Pisa (just like Florence) had its own calendar, which was different from the Gregorian calendar. March 25th is the day on which the Catholic Church celebrates the Annunciation: the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus. A new era was to begin for the world, and so it was also the perfect day for welcoming the New Year.

The new year officially begins when a sunbeam strikes a marble egg placed in the Cathedral, above the beautiful pulpit sculpted by Giovanni Pisano. The sunbeam enters the beautiful church from a small round window located in the chapel of San Ranieri: a very ingenious solar clock!

There is a parade in period costumes and from this year, fireworks and celebrations in the street at night. If you plan a spring get-away, Pisa should be on your short list. Make sure to visit our vacation rental apartment‘s website!

Week 16 – Over the clouds… almost!

Today we woke up to this gorgeous view. It was almost like being over the clouds! Except that it was fog!

And then the sun came out of the clouds!

If you want to be able to take a walk and see views like this, check our vacation rental house in Tuscany!

However, we were sorry we were not in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower in green for St. Patrick’s Day’s celebrations!

(Photos by nadinecross)

Now that my project about Tuscany over the seasons is over, I have decided to start a new project: Tuscany through my eyes. Well, more or less… I am planning on publishing one or more photos of Tuscany every week, and not just some beautiful photos, but images that “match” the way I see my beautiful region at that time of the year. I will publish photos that I have taken and photos that I have not taken but I wish I had! 52 posts to show you Tuscany the way I see it and feel it. Here are the other posts in the series.

Week 15 – Rain, rain and more rain

Rain, rain and more rain. I haven’t seen a blue sky in Pisa for days…

(Photo by Stefano Parlanti)

The result is that over the past few days the river Arno has looked like this…

(Photo by coffee shop)

(Photo by Lorenzo Paladini)

(Photos by Marco Volpi)

Scary and impressive at the same time!

If you plan on visiting Pisa, take a look at our Pisa vacation rental apartment, Behind the Tower!

I have wanted to write about Monte Amiata for a while, and when we decided to dedicate this month’s Italy Blogging Roundtable to “mountains”, I could not think of a better chance to do it.

Monte Amiata is the highest mountain in Southern Tuscany and it is located in the southern part of the region. I have grown up looking at its majestic shape from my windows, like most people in southern Tuscany. This ancient volcano, now extinct, can be seen from the famous hill towns south of Siena such as Pienza, Montalcino, Montepulciano and Cortona, but also from the hilltop villages of the Upper Maremma such as Campagnatico, Cinigiano, Roccastrada and our village, Civitella Marittima.

Besides being a familiar presence, Monte Amiata is also a place that holds great memories for me.

People in the area escape to its highest slopes to get some relief from the heat of the summer. My parents and uncles and aunts used to organize day trips to the mountain all the time when we were young. We would set off in the morning with our picnic baskets, blankets and toys and come back late in the afternoon when it would get too cold up there.

I have always loved these days out, and to this day, the beech forests and the chestnut groves on the top of Monte Amiata are still some of my favourite places on earth.

(Photo by odell_rd)

(Photo by ptrshr48)

My cousins and I would “explore” the woods, climbing up and down the big rocks covered in moss, digging holes in the dead leaves, gathering sticks for the fire (you could still light your own grill back then – now there are public facilities where you can bbq so as to limit the risk of fires as much as possible). The fun was usually spoiled by the sudden appearance of a large spider or by one of us getting hurt! We would then go back to where our parents were and lay on a blanket, playing cards, listening to music or reading a book. And after you had been running around, nothing was nicer than a nap under a warm blanket, in the cool mountain breeze we would be dreaming of soon enough, once we were back at home in the heat.

Part of the day was usually spent at Prato delle Macinaie, a large lawn at the bottom of one of the ski slopes (obviously closed in the summer). There were lots of other kids there we could play with, bars where we could get ice-cream, and the chair-lift that takes to the top of the mountain, another favourite. There is a large metal cross up at the top.

(Photo by Giglio 66)

In the evening, if our parents did not feel ready to go back home, we would stop either in Castel del Piano or Arcidosso for dinner. Both are cute little towns with a few restaurants and shops and some nice medieval buildings. Arcidosso has a castle too.

(Photo by Francesco Monari)

My love for Monte Amiata has never changed. We even chose it as our location to get married. We got married in a little church in the middle of a chestnut grove that I used to visit on those day trips: Pieve di Santa Maria ad Lamulas.

The Pieve has a long history. It dates back to the 9th century, even though it was severely damaged by a fire in the 13th century and then supposedly rebuilt by the Templars, who used to stop here to rest on their way to Abbadia San Salvatore. The church has a central nave and two aisles separated from the nave by some huge pillars. At the end of each aisle, there is an apse, and the central apse houses a gorgeous wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. A legend says that this statue was miraculously spared by the fire, despite being made of wood. For this reason, it is worshiped by many in the area.

Another legend narrates that it was sculpted by lightning hitting an oak under which a shepherd was seeking shelter during a storm. Contended by several towns, it was placed on a mule with the understanding that the town where it would have stopped would have kept the statue. The mule went back to the woods where the oak originally stood and knelt down on the threshold of the church. The two holes left by its knees are still visible, and some trace the name of the church back to this “event”: the locals call it Pieve della Mula, that is, the church of the mule.

(Photo by MikeCochran1)

The name though derives in fact from an ancient Latin word meaning “stream“: there is a “little stream” flowing by the church (“lamula” from “lama” – stream of water), and surfacing in an ancient fountain just outside the church. The fountain is at the bottom of a staircase and it is crowned by a basrelief representing a snake, traditionally connected with the Mother Goddess, source of life, a Celtic symbol.

The church is rich in mysteries and legends. One of the pillars is decorated with darker stones which form a spiral. This is said to be a warning and a reminder to the people praying there: it is the symbol of ascent and descent, of passing from the earthly pleasures to more spiritual ones. The pillar, located in the darkest point of the church, is the symbolic trait-d’union of earth and heaven, the “axis mundi“.

(Photo by MikeCochran1)

The same symbolism, dedicated to the travel of men through life, is found in the window behind the altar. It is decorated with a zig-zag motif which symbolizes the difficult path to heaven.

Another interesting thing is the presence of some older stones sculpted with motifs of Celtic and even Norse origins. It is possible that they were part of a previous sacred building, probably destroyed and converted into a chapel long before the Pieve was erected on the same grounds. Including parts of previous buildings is quite typical of medieval churches. When a new church replaced a previous one, a few stones were used in the construction. They were frequently placed upside down so as to symbolize the “seeding” of the sacred. The Pieve contains several of these stones and other really interesting bas-reliefs (two knights fighting, a little dog, the flower of life in a circle, etc.) representing symbols that can be traced back to the Celtic tradition.

On the first Sunday of April, the Pieve hosts the very ancient Festa della Pina, literally the festival of pines. Young men give a pinecone placed on a decorated stick to the young girls they intend to court. If the girl who receives the present is interested, she gives the young man a biscuit shaped as a ring, which symbolizes acceptance to be courted.

Monte Amiata and Pieve ad Lamulas are an easy daytrip from Casina di Rosa, our vacation rental in southern Tuscany.

Italy Blogging Roundtable

This is the 19th post in a monthly series called The Italy Blogging Roundtable. Here you can find the posts of the other bloggers who participate in the roundtable. Our topic this month was “hills or mountains“:

• ArtTrav – Abetone: the closest ski resort to Florences
• Brigolante – Italy Roundtable: The Colfiorito Marshlands
• Andiamo – Italy Roundtable: Why do we love Italian hill towns?
• Italofile – The Seven Hills of Rome: What Are They and What Can You See?

Week 13 – Blossoms

This year we have had a long, cold winter, so the countryside is a bit “behind”. By this time of the year, usually the fruit trees are in bloom and the wheat is bright green in the fields.

This photo was taken last year on March 6th.

This was the same tree this year on March 3rd.

The weather has changed a lot over the past few years. We get much more rain in the winter, and summers are usually longer and hotter. This type of change has a remarkable impact on the rhythms of nature. It is becoming harder and harder to rely on traditional knowledge as far as farming goes. On years like this, the vegetable garden is still abandoned, olive trees have barely been pruned, strawberry plants are just starting to grow.

Trees are still leafless, but the fields are already green and covered in daisies.

If you are planning a trip to Tuscany at this time of the year, bring good boots and check our vacation rental near Siena!

Week 13 – Rainy days in Pisa

This year, we are having a very rainy winter. A cold one too, with several snowfalls. Not in Pisa, though: snow in Pisa is a rare thing. Rain, though, we have had plenty this year.

(Photo by bobgarage)

I have to admit that I find Pisa really charming even under the rain. And when the rain stops, the colours are just gorgeous.

(Photos by MyTourTuscanyExpert)

(Photo by Martine_A)

If you are thinking of visiting Pisa, why don’t you take a look at our Pisa vacation rental apartment?