Pienza, Italy: a cultural guide

An essential cultural guide to Pienza, an idyllic Tuscan village that began life as a model Renaissance city.

Tuscan? Tortellini by journalist Oriana Papadopulos, passionate about food and wine! tuscanfood expert…deliciously tuscan

(Via @Tuscanycious on Twitter)

Nativity sparks creativity and inspires some of the best talents in Tuscany.

Visiting Tuscany for Christmas is the occasion to visit places putting on display original and creative presepi – here are other locations with unique nativity scenes:

• Cigoli, San Minato (Pisa), an 80 square meter presepe visitors walk through reaching the cave of the nativity scene.
  Open during festivities from 9:00 to 20:30 – info +39.0571.49442
• Manarola, cinque terre, located between Tuscany and Liguria, is home to a unique ecological presepe powered by solar energy – 300 characters using 15.000 lights: a project developed by a retired railroad worker.
• Borro di San Giuliano Valdarno – a mechanical representation of nativity built by Don Pasquale Mencattini in the 1940s
• Rampolano Terme, close to Siena, home to the Museo Nazionale del Presepe in Santa Maria Assunta, a church in the town center: every year a group of people called “friends of the presepio” choose a different location to set it up
  info: +39.0577 723213
• Bientina, in the province of Pisa, hosts the electronic multimedia presepe attracting large crowds. Free entrance from 16:00 to 19:30 – remains open until January 11^th 2009
• Other places in Tuscany featuring presepi and nativity events:
  • Bettolle, città dei Presepi
  • Veragio, nativity amongst chestnut trees
  • Palazzuolo sul Senio, Mugello
  • Santa Brigida near Pontassieve where a live representation takes place with 50 people in costume re-enacting nativity

Photos by: Scouit.it^TM

The Crete Senesi is an area in the region south of Siena (Tuscany), consisting of hills and woods among villages and includes the comuni of:

• Asciano
• Buonconvento
• Monteroni d’Arbia
• Rapolano Terme
• San Giovanni d’Asso

all within the province of Siena. Crete senesi are literally ‘Siennese clays’.

You can tour the Crete Senesi on board a steam train, departing from Siena touring the countryside. Each stop is a little adventure – discover towns and castles, enjoy typical Tuscany Cuisine and Wines.

These are the dates for the Crete Senesi train departures:

• October 5th – Treno della Vendemmia (Grape Harvest)
• October 12th – Treno del minatore (Miner)
• October 19th – Treno del fungo porcino (Porcino Mushroom)
• October 26th – Treno della Castagna (Chestnuts)

The October 5th tour is dedicated to the farming traditions of Tuscany. After a pleasant ride in the countryside the train will stop at Ascanio Scalo where locals will prepare lunch – a pork based menu, followed by traditional dances and wine tasting in a winery in Montalcino . A ride through the town in a horse-drawn carriage will end the day.

Return to Siena is foreseen at 18:05

There are many possible options to combine train with bike, trekking or other selected wine tasting destinations

Related articles by Zemanta

• Fabulous Funghi – Simple Supper Recipe
• Reader Escapes: Kristina’s Trip to Tuscany submit your own…
• Tuscany Driving the Italian dream

Here at Hotel Relais we strive to make your holiday an unforgettable experience and made a short Video of Tuscany just for you, our Guests traveling to Tuscany for a holiday. Tuscany is the travel destination offering a variety of locations in the chianti countryside or along the shore.

We have had many requests asking where the video has been shot and who did the work and we gladly make the information available here on our blog:

2 of our finest hotels hosted the indoor locations:

• Castello di Vicarello an exclusive luxury hotel, a retreat where you will feel the welcoming, comforting touch of the owners, Aurora and Carlo Baccheschi Berti
• La Suvera Nestled among the rolling hills of Tuscany, Relais La Suvera offers award winning service and a historic 5 star luxury hotel experience

Other locations include:

• La Diaccia Botrona
• Valdorcia
• Villa Mansi
• Villa Pietraia
• Giardino dell’Orticultura in Florence
• Tettuccio of Montecatini

Music: Patrizia Barrilà

Filming took place between January and February 2008, produced by Scoutit^TM