The Florentine is a bi-weekly free newspaper printed in english covering italian news, events, culture, tuscany travel and food, in and around the Florence area – Offers information on:

• Places to Eat (Brunch)
• Cinema
• Culture
• Dance
• Exhibits
• Guided Tours
• Lectures and Conferences
• Markets and Festivals
• Music and Concerts
• Parks
• Theatre

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)