Florence pays a tribute to Catherine and Maria de’ Medici with an art exhibition in Palazzo Strozzi inaugurated last Friday.

After 400 years Florence celebrates the myth of 2 of her most powerful ladies of the past with a unique collection of monumental tapestries displayed in Paris in the Galleria dei Gobelins in the Castle of Chambord.

15 spectacular masterpieces (some 5 meters high) dedicated to the legendary Queen Artemisia. The event depicted by the tapestries was inspired by the epic poem Historie de la Royne Arthemise (1561-1562) by Nicholas Houel, a tribute to Queen Catherine de’ Medici where Houel combined the events of 2 Artemisie d’antan, both queens of Caria, a region of todays Turkey.

The event is taking place at:

Palazzo Strozzi, piazza Strozzi, Firenze
Hours: Every day 9:00-20:00. Thursday 9:00-23:00. Visitors are allowed in up to 1 hour prior to closing time.
Tickets: Full fare € 10; reduced rate € 8,50 – 8 – 7,50; schools € 4.
Information: 055.2645155, www.palazzostrozzi.org.

Hotel Relais is proud to suggest any one of the following hotels in Florence while visiting this fine art exhibition:

5 star hotels:

• Villa Olmi Resort at Bagno a Ripoli
• Montebello Splendid in central Florence

4 star hotels:

Lungarno Suite in central Florence

UNA Palazzo Mannaioni at Montaione

Hotel Bernini Palace in Fiorence

Plaza Hotel Lucchesi in Fiorence

Historical Residences

Residenza del Moro in Fiorence

Autumn has arrived – time for mushrooms, chestnuts, and truffles, a unique ingredient with a special flavor.

In November Tuscany hosts 2 important events:

XXXVIII MOSTRA DEL TARTUFO BIANCO DI SAN MINATO

15/16 – 22/23 – 29/30 November 2008

The White truffle found on the Samminatesi Hills, known as the food of kings, is found just centimeters from the soil surface, in very few areas where a unique combination of fauna and flora foster and nurture this miracle of nature.

The White Truffle of San Minato Tuscany is featured in selected restaurants of the world and for a very limited period of time during the year.

Here is a list of events dedicated to the White truffle of Tuscany:

23rd edition of the “Mostra del Tartufo Bianco delle Crete Senesi”
8 -16 November 2008

For those of you visiting Tuscany in this time of the year this is a unique opportunity to combine thebest of Tuscany: Cultue and fine foods – any one of our fine Hotels in Tuscany will offre detailed information about these and other events taking place this time of year.

Other events featuring truffles:

25-26 October Barberino del Mugello (not fro from the famous Outlet)

Mostra Mercato del Tartufo Bianco e Nero

26 October Villa Serena Montaione

Mostra Mercato del tartufo e dei prodotti tipici

Over the past few days two of the most prestigious Italian guides edited by l’Espresso have been presented in their 2009 editions: I Ristoranti d’Italia and Vini d’Italia (the latter will be translated into Japanese for the first time this year).

Here is the list of the Top 10 Restaurants in Tuscany listed in the 2009 guide:

Gambero Rosso
Piazza della Vittoria 13, San Vincenzo, tel. 0565.701021 Opening hours: all day; closed on Mondays, Tuesdays; Holidays: November – March; Credit Cards: all; Average Price: € 120,00

Enoteca Pinchiorri
Via Ghibellina 87, Firenze, tel. 055.242777
Website: www.enotecapinchiorri.com
Opening hours: all day; closed: Sundays, Mondays; Holidays: November to March; Credit Cards: AE, BM, CS, EC, MC, VISA; Average Price: € 200,00

Hotel Certosa di Maggiano – Il Canto
Strada di Certosa 82, Siena, tel. 0577.288180
Website: www.ilcanto.it
Opening hours: evenings only; closed: Tuesday; holidays: November to March; Credit Cards: AE, BM, CS, EC, MC, VISA. Average Price: € 90,00

Caino
Via Canonica 3, Montemerano, tel. 0564.602817
Website: www.dacaino.it
Opening hours: all day; closed: Wednesday; Thursday lunch time; holidays: 2 weeks in July; Christimas Holidays. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 130,00

Lorenzo
Via Carducci 63, Forte dei Marmi, tel. 0584.89671
Opening hours: all day; closed: evenings from mid June to mid September; closed: Monday; Tuesday lunch time; holidays: January; last week of December. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 90,00

Bracali
Via di Perolla 2 – Frazione Ghirlanda, Massa Marittima, tel. 0566.902318
Sito: www.bracaliristorante.it
Opening hours: always; closed: Monday; Tuesday; Wednesday and Thursday lunch time; holidays: from January 10th to February 10th. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 140,00

Romano
Via Mazzini 120, Viareggio, tel. 0584.31382
Website: www.romanoristorante.it
Opening hours: always; closed: Monday; holidays: in January; a week in July. Credit Cards: all; Average Price: € 80,00

Pineta
Via dei Cavalleggeri Nord 27 – Loc. Marina di Bibbona, Bibbona tel. 0586.600016
E-mail: lapineta@youritaly.com
Opening hours: always; closed: Monday Tuesday: lunch time; holidays: first 10 days in January; in October. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 60,00

Arnolfo
Via XX Settembre 50, Colle di Val d’Elsa, tel. 0577.920549
Website: www.arnolfo.com
Opening hours: always; closed: Tuesday; Wednesday; holidays: 2 weeks in January; 2 weeks July August. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 110,00

Il Pellicano
Località Sbarcatello, Porto Ercole, tel. 0564.858111
Website: www.pellicanohotel.com
Opening hours: evenings only; closed: never; holidays: November to March. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 120,00

The best wines in Tuscany, according to the 2009 Espresso Guide are:

• Bolgheri Sassicaia 2005 San Guido
• Brunello di Montalcino 2003 Biondi Santi
• Brunello di Montalcino 2003 Il Colle – Carli
• Brunello di Montalcino 2003 Poggio di Sotto
• Chianti Classico 2006 Le Cinciole
• Chianti Classico Bilaccio 2005 Il Borghetto
• Chianti Classico Riserva 2004 Capannelle
• Chianti Classico Riserva 2004 Castell’in Villa
• Chianti Classico Riserva 2004 Riecine
• Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio 2004 Castello di Monsanto
• Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano 2005 Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi
• d’Alceo 2005 Castello dei Rampolla
• Il Pareto 2004 Tenuta di Nozzole
• Lupicaia 2005 Castello del Terriccio
• Orcia Rosso Petrucci 2005 Podere Forte
• Redigaffi 2006 Tua Rita
• Rosso di Montalcino 2005 Poggio di Sotto
• Rosso di Montalcino 2005 Stella di Campalto
• Rosso di Montalcino 2006 Tenimenti Angelini – Val di Suga
• Sammarco 2005 Castello dei Rampolla
• Sangioveto 2004 Badia a Coltibuono
• Santacroce 2003 Castell’in Villa
• Vernaccia di San Gimignano Montenidoli Carato 2004 Montenidoli
• Vernaccia di San Gimignano Montenidoli Fiore 2006 Montenidoli
• Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina 1999 Frascole

Halloween in Siena is a new initiative that will make your travels to Tuscany during this time of the year even more fun. Just picture yourself in Siena chasing ghosts, dressed in your halloween costume !

Confesercenti and Confcommercio in cooperation with the restaurants of Siena have organized “Esploratori a caccia di fantasmi” – explorers hunting ghosts, to celebrate October 31^st, the 5^th national Urban Trekking event

A great way to discover Siena in all it’s beauty.

For more information: assturismo@comune.siena.it

and

Urban Trekking (only in Italian, but with itineraries and photos of Siena)

In an uncontaminated and suggestive scenario lies an artistic itinerary of contemporary sculptures.

The Chianti Sculpture Park offers a unique experience in an untouched wood of ilex and oak trees in the heart of Sienese Chianti.

Internationally renowned artists have created imposing contemporary creative sculptures from ideas and styles.

Featured Artists with the Chianti Sculpture Park:

Pilar Aldana Mendez – Colombia
Neal Barab – USA
Xavier Barrera Fontenla – Argentina
Dominic Benhura – Zimbabwe
Mauro Berrettini – Italy
Nicolas Bertoux – France
Benbow Bullock – USA
Roberto Cipollone – Italy
William Furlong – United Kingdom
Anita Glesta – Australia
Vincent Leow – Singapore
Cor Litjens – Netherlands
Federica Marangoni – Italy
Key Nakamura – Japan
Johannes Pfeiffer – Germany
Ursula Reuter -Christiansen – Denmark
Jeff Saward – United Kingdom
Jaya Schuerch – Switzerland
Dolorosa Sinaga – Indonesia
Christoph Spath – Germany
Kemal Tufan – Turkey
Costas Varotsos – Greece
Adriano Visintin – Italy
Yasmina Heidar – Alessandria of Egypt
Kim Hae Won – South Korea

Tuscany is one of the most sought after destinations for the variety and beauty of the landscape, the outstanding wines and cuisine, and … to make movies.

How many time have you wondered where those famous movies in Tuscany were filmed ?

Now you can book a tour of locations home to the most famous move sets in tuscany.

Tours visit a number of famous set locations, including the famous Under the Tuscan Sun by A. Wells in Crotona.

The Montano Family, famous in Florence for the Osteria del Caffè Italiano and the more recent MOBA, purchased a location in via del Proconsolo, a central location in Florence with the idea to open a new restaurant. When renovation works commenced masterpieces from the past were uncovered, including the famous vero volto di Dante.

The restaurant ha since then opened and is a unique location in central Florence, a museum and restaurant where some of the most beautiful frescos can be seen.

The best of Tuscany, artistic and gastronomical in this one of a kind location still under exploration, with an underground privè.

You’ll enjoy typical refined cuisine, and learn all about this historical location with the help of an audio guide available in 7 languages.

For more information: http://www.allemurate.it/

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During the month of August Tuscany features the extraordinary opening of numerous museums – an initiative called “Rinfrescatevi la mente” (Refresh your mind).

Special events allowing you to visit famous museums and less know ones you can easily integrate in your iteneraries and excursions in Tuscany, as there are many different locations and museums to visit:

• Florence
  • Museo Ragazzi di Palazzo Vecchio
  • Museo degl’Innocenti
  • Palazzo Strozzi
  • Horne
  • Stibbert
  • A special evening on August 26^th featuring a guided tour of Palazzo Vecchio
• Pistoia
  • Fortezza Santa Barbara
  • Monsummano Terme: city museum and of contemporary art

• Viareggio
  • Museum of the Marinera
  • Civici di Villa Paolina
  • Gallery of modern and contemporary art

• Siena
  • Santa Maria della Scala

• Chianciano
  • Archeological Museum

• Cortona
  • MAEC

• Vetulonia
  • Civico Archeologico

• Villafranca
  • (Massa Carrara), museo Etnografico della Lunigiana

• Calci (Pisa)
  • Museo di storia naturale

• Prato
  • museo del tessuto

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