Camaiore (Lucca) will be hosting one of the most important sportive events of this summer: the Versilia Sport Festival scheduled to take place 17-18-19 July.

The Versilia Sport Festival has been described as the Summer Olympics 2009 with 40 different disciplines with the participation of 150 international champions in many areas.

Further information on events and programming here.

Featured Hotels in this part of Tuscany:

• Hotel Byron, Forte dei Marmi
• Hotel Plaza e de Russie, Viareggio

Villa Caruso Bellosguardo is a splendid villa in Tuscany where a number of musical events will take place during the forthcoming month of July:

• July 1, 9:30 PM the dance group Foundacion Flamenca presents flamenca “Andalusia”
• July 8, 9:30 PM the dance group Flamenco Libre presents the show “Sevilla Flamenca” featuring Juan Lorenzo, and Federico Pietrosi, spanish guitar, Dario Carbonel, flamenco dancer and cajon, Lara Franco and Pilar Carmona, flamenco dancers
• July 15 9:30 PM Concert “Senza Confini” with Flavio Cucchi, classical guitar, Juan Lorenzo, spanish guitar e Ganesh Del Vescovo, classical guitar and sarod
• July 22, 9:30 PM the company “Tango Rubio” presents the show “Il Tango dalle origni al nostro tempo” (Tango, from the origins to our days) featuring Adrian Carlos Fioramonti, guitar, Guglielmo Caioli, double bass, Massimiliano Pitocco, bandoneon, Roberta Pierazzini, dacne, Paolo Angelini, dance, Ilaria Niccolai, dance, Marco Massimetti, dance

An aperitif is offered at each event to make your evening most enjoyable

Further information is available by phone by the Associazione Villa Caruso (tel. 055.8721783) or by Email

If you’re interested in exploring this area of Tuscany and seeking an exclusive place to stay, like a historical villa we suggest you consider Palazzo Mannaioni ex Castello di Montaione On the road to San Gimignano, located 30 Km from Ginestra Fiorentina

As I mentioned in my previous post the Opera Festival 2009 has organized numerous events, not only in Florence but also in other attractive travel destinations in Tuscany you may e visiting during your stay.

The Abbey of San Galgano is where Il Flauto Magico by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Saturday June 27, Abbey of San Galgano Chiusdino (Siena), begins 9:00 PM
• Saturday July 18, Abbey of San Galgano Chiusdino (Siena), begins 9:00 PM
• Saturday July 25, Abbey of San Galgano Chiusdino (Siena), begins 9:00 PM

MESSA DA REQUIEM di G. Verdi

• Tuesday July 7, Abbey of San Galgano Chiusdino (Siena), begins 9:00 PM – Chorus and Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

CARMINA BURANA – BOLERO di C. Orff – di M.Ravel

• Friday July 17, Abbey of San Galgano Chiusdino (Siena), begins 9:00 PM

• Saturday July 4, Abbey of San Galgano Chiusdino (Siena)
• Saturday July 11, Abbey of San Galgano Chiusdino (Siena)
• Thrusday July 23, Piazza Varchi, Montevarchi (Arezzo)
• Saturday August 1, Abbey of San Galgano Chiusdino (Siena)

Tickets and more information on events are available at the Opera Festival website.

While visiting this part of Tuscany here are a selection of our top hotels in Tuscany for you to consider:

Our Hotels near Siena

- Hotel Borgo Pretale (Sovicille – Siena)
- Castello di Velona (Montalcino – Siena)
- Castelbigozzi (Monteriggioni – Siena)
- Hotel Certosa di Maggiano (Siena)
- Tenuta di Ricavo (Castellina – Siena)
- Castello Banfi il Borgo (Montalcino – Siena)
- Relais il Vignale (Radda in Chianti – Siena)
- Villa San Paolo (San Gimignano – Siena)
- Relais della Rovere (Colle val D’Elsa – Siena)
- Borgo Scopeto Relais (Siena)
- Hotel Relais La Suvera (Casole d’Elsa – Siena)
- Villa Poggiano (Montepulciano – Siena)
- Campo Regio Relais (Siena)

Our Hotels near Arezzo

- Castelletto di Montebenichi (Bucine – Arezzo)
- Torre Santa Flora (Subbiano – Arezzo)

- Villa Belpoggio (Loro Ciuffenna – Arezzo)

There is excitement in the air and great expectations from the forthcoming Opera festival 2009 which will soon take place in some of the most beautiful and exclusive locations in Florence, Tuscany. The festival blends ballet and music at the highest levels and a breath taking location: Giardino di Boboli with a privileged access from Palazzo Pitti.

Here are highlights of the most important events for you to review and attend while visiting Florence:

Aida – Giuseppe Verdi

• Monday June 15, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM
• Thursday June 25, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM
• Thursday July 9, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM
• Tuesday July 21, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM

MaggioDanza

• Wednesday July 1, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM in the framework of the 72^nd edition of Maggio Musical Fiorentino

ZUBIN MEHTA, Messa da Requiem di G. Verdi

• Thursday July 2, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM

Carmina Burana di C. Orff – di M.Ravel

• Tuesday July 14, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM

Roberto Bolle and Friends

• Wednesday July 29, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM
• Thursday July 30, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM

More information on Opera Festival can be found here.

Here are some of our fine Hotels in Florence to make your stay both comfortable and enjoyable at competitive rates !

- Montebello Splendid, offers private parking near porta a Prato
- Lungarno Suites at Ponte Vecchio
- Hotel Bernini Palace near Palazzo Vecchio
- Plaza Hotel Lucchesi on the lungarni.

The Annual Event knows as Cantine Aperte – Wine Cellars Open Doors Day – takes place today May 31^st at Castello Banfi il Borgo in in Montalcino, Siena.

The event will take place in the taverna will be open both for lunch and dinner offering tasting menus consisting of 3 or 5 courses featuring Banfi’s paired wines.

Guided tours (also available in English) of Banfi’s Winery will be available during the day, free of charge wine tasting will be available at the Enoteca-Wine Bar. Our extensive wine tasting list will also be available at a cost.

On July 15^th after (a decade of Jazz music tradition) the Jazz&Wine festival at Castello Banfi will take place.

Special offer for that evening:

• Tasting menu served at the Taverna consisting of 3 courses with 3 paired wines and
• ticket for attending the Jazz concert

Cost € 38,00 per person.

For booking please call +39.0577 877500 ask of Serena or Annalisa.

The Tuscan Taverna Banfi serves local typical and traditional cooking and also the famous Florentine t-bone steak Style of Chianina (the best Italian beef ever!)

During summer dinner is served on our terrace for “al fresco” dining under the Tuscan Moon.

The offer of Castello Banfi has been recently enriched by the opening of the Wine-Bar where in addition to our extensive listing of wine tasting by the glass, Guests will also find plated Tuscan salami and ham, pecorino cheese and fresh baked bread.

The Enoteca-Wine bar is open 7 days a week from 10.00 am to 7.30 pm, the perfect place for some Banfi’s wine shopping, for a tasty slow food snack, or simply for sipping a great glass of famous Brunello di Montalcino wine.

The 2009 Crete Senesi Rally will take place on June 14 – The “Lions Rally del Paesaggio delle Crete Senesi” is a sort of pic-nic on the road open to all those interested in a day out in the countryside.

A “slow” automotive event limited to 50 groups of participants (2 to 4 participants per group), the Crete Senesi rally will start in Siena and find its way through the tuscan countryside with wine tasting and snacks along the way.

Cost per participant: € 40,00 per person – € 50,00 for last minute enrollment.

For more information see www.rallycretesenesi.it (website in Italian only)

Take advantage of our fine luxury hotels in Tuscany to make the most of this unique event.

The 43^rd edition of La Settimana dei Vini (The week of Wines) is under way and was inaugurated on May 22^nd ending on June 19^th.

A complete program of events can be found and downloaded here.

Classico è is wine tasting for experts and wine-lovers, exhibits, music, cultural itineraries and open cellars, a calendar of events all based on the Chianti Classico.

Starting May 30^th Classico è is an 8 day wine tasting event in Tuscany ending on June 6^th

This event is a great opportunity to visit places normally closed to the public. Classico is the pleasure of drinking a glass of wine in the piazzas of Chianti or amidst the barrels of an ancient cellar.

The calendar of events can be found here.

If you are visiting Tuscany and seeking tips on things to do in and around Florence, Il Genio Fiorentino is an initiative you won’t want to miss.

Genio Fiorentino started this past week end and will continue until may 24^th

Events organized for this edition of Il Genio Fiorentino are listed here.

The 5^th editon of the Fenice Festival – International Nine Arts Festival is scheduled to take place in just a few days here in Tuscany, and is hosted by the charming town of Poggibonsi, which is very close to exclusive locations such as Monteriggioni, San Gimognano, and Certaldo.

The Fenice Festival has reached it’s 5^th edition starting on April 29^th and ending on May 3^rd and this year will feature re-makings of well known fairy tales: numerous theatrical events and ballets, poetry, comic strips, and other forms of art, attracting international artists to Tuscany. This edition of the festival will be dedicated to the tradition of fairytales; a theme re-modernised and re-visited by the contemporary artists

The Fenice Festival will feature film projections, and encounters with the artists.

A complete program – information and tickets can be found here.