Wood, leather and flowers
When I was a child, craftsmen’s shops (or “botteghe artigiane” as we call them in Italian) were very common. Now the “botteghe artigiane” are a rarity and a resource.
When I was a child, craftsmen’s shops (or “botteghe artigiane” as we call them in Italian) were very common. Now the “botteghe artigiane” are a rarity and a resource.
“Pane e coperto” literally means “bread and tableware” but it is essentially a service charge that restaurants add to the bill for each guest. It is one of the most controversial issues in travel forums. I say it’s part of the Italian way of life, and we have to learn to live with it.
If you grow up in a village in the countryside of Tuscany, you are destined to handle mirrors and olive oil with care, but stepping on poo will never be a problem.
Can you believe that in Tuscany there are still people making agricultural tools with hammer and anvil? Or people making a living by making poles for vineyards? Well, there are. 96 of them to be precise.
An old tradition in Tuscany: canti del maggio, men singing for unmarried girls to wish them good luck in their search for love.
Pisa celebrates New Year’s Day on March 25 with a parade and a sunbeam lighting a marble egg in the Cathedral at midday sharp. A fabulous event that commemorates an ancient tradition!
Epiphany is a religious holiday celebrated on January 6. In Italy, though, we also celebrate La Befana, an old woman, a witch-like character, who brings gifts to the good kids and coal and garlic to the naughty ones.
This blog is written by a born and bred Tuscan who wishes to share her love for this region with as many people as possible. It's about living here, but also about travelling, learning, experiencing, and enjoying life in Tuscany.
It's about feeling at home in Tuscany.
A wonderful opportunity for the independent traveller seeking privacy and a pleasant atmosphere