Perhaps the most famous of all of Italy’s 20 regions, Tuscany is known for its rolling countryside, cuisine, wine, art, architecture, sunflowers, and one of the most visited cities in the world—Florence.  Capital of both the region and of Italy’s art world, Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and considered by many the artistic capital of Italy, therefore housing some of the most regarded museums in the country, including the Uffizi.  Likewise, Tuscany has been home to some of the world’s greatest artistic, literary, and scientific geniuses, including Michelangelo, Botticelli, Galileo, Puccini, da Vinci, and Dante—who helped to create the modern Italian language based off of a Tuscan dialect.

The first settlers in the region were the Etruscans in BC times, whose customs were similar to those of the Greeks.  They laid down the basic infrastructure of the region, which the Romans expanded upon when they took over the region in the 1^st Century.  During Roman times, the cities of Florence, Siena, Lucca, and Pisa were formed, and throughout the years that followed, each one developing its own reputation as a cultural center, a banking town, a silk producer, and a port, respectively.  Tuscany continued to grow as a powerhouse both financially and culturally.

Today, Tuscany’s 3.7 million residents enjoy the benefits of the area around them.  Containing 10% of UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage sites, Tuscany’s gems are both in plain, glorious view as well as hidden in quiet villages.

From the beaches of Viareggio to the vineyards of Montepulciano, over 120 protected nature preserves, and a distinct culinary tradition based off of fresh ingredients and generations-old recipes, there is plenty to explore in the rich—culturally, agriculturally, gastronomically, artistically, historically—region of Tuscany.

With summertime glistening on the horizon, there’s no better place to imagine yourself being than on the legendarily beautiful Amalfi Coast.  Or to actually be there.

The Amalfi Coast, located on the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula, is a string of picturesque towns perched atop cliffs and along sandy beaches.  A hotspot for jetsetters and Italians alike, these lemon-spotted, seaside villages are where you can relax, catch some sun, and sip some limoncello—all in between visiting the nearby must-visit sites of Pompei and Hurculeam, busy Naples, and the glamorous island of Capri.

From Positano to Amalfi and Salerno to Sorrento, each Amalfi Coast town offers its own charm—from narrow, strollable streets to classic whitewashed villas and terraced olive groves to colorful gardens.  And in Ravello, high atop the hillside overlooking Amalfi, there is music.  In addition to the annual summertime Ravello Festival, honoring composer Richard Wagner who spent a lot of time in Ravello, the Ravello Concert Society puts on chamber and classical music concerts year-round—all in a casual setting, so no dress-up is required.

We’re currently running a special offer on our Vesuvio Tour (which includes Capri and the Amalfi Coast)—book by May 30 and get a free roundtrip airport transfer in Rome (the anchor city of the tour).

"Il Bacio" by Francesco Hayez is currently touring Italy. (photo via Wikimedia)

Christmas has ended, New Year’s Eve has passed, La Befana has come and gone, but winter’s chill is still in the air.  And though it’s over a month away, it’s time to start thinking about that big day in February—Valentine’s Day.  How about warming yourself up with a little romance by way of one of Italy’s artistic masterpieces, Il Bacio (The Kiss) by Venice-born Francesco Hayez?

Painted in 1859, Il Bacio is considered to be one of the most charming, passionate, and powerful representations of a kiss, but it’s also come to mean a lot more to Italians than just another piece of classic art—it celebrates the unification of a country.  Said to depict a Risorgimento patriot bidding farewell to his wife before leaving for war, the painting commemorates Italy’s liberation from Austria during the Second War of Independence in 1859—complete with red, white, and green clothing worn by the subjects.

Normally on display in Milan, this Italian classic has been traveling around, retracing the great cities that played a key role in the liberation process.  On Sunday, Il Bacio will move from Genoa to the Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Palermo, which will host an exhibition from January 22 to March 12.  Next, it’s on to Turin’s Reggia di Venaria Reale from March 17 to September 11, though it is scheduled to spend June 2, Festa della Repubblica, in Rome.

Thinking about squeezing in a trip to Italy this year?  There’s no better time than right now—when the weather is warming up, nature is coming alive, and the country’s biggest tourist destinations are calm before the summer tourism storm.  It’s the perfect time to travel in Italy, and this is when all of the locals come out to play.  So if you want to see Italy at your own pace, get an authentic feel for how Italians live, and truly experience la dolce vita, April is your month.

You’ll feel as if you own Florence’s Boboli Gardens as you stroll through its grounds, catching glimpses of color as its magnificent flowers start to bloom against the backdrop of Pitti Palace.   As you relax the day away at a café in Venice’s Piazza San Marco, there will be more pigeons than people to watch in the square.  In Rome, you’ll feel like royalty as you walk right in to the Coliseum, the Vatican, and the Pantheon without having to wait in long lines.  And you’ll catch yourself looking for for-sale signs during your blissful travels through Sorrento, Capri, and Sicily, because where else could possibly be a better place to relocate?

When you add in the fresh food, the light-jacket-needed weather, and the great deals that abound, you may want to consider making Italy in April an annual event.

With all of this talk about Valentine’s Day, who doesn’t have chocolate on the brain?  And for Italians, there’s no better place to satisfy a sweet tooth than at one of the many chocolate festivals across the country.  Filled with seminars, competitions, tastings, cooking classes, and, of course, endless exhibitions of chocolate, these events draw hundreds of thousands of people each year. 

 If you and your sweetie don’t have plans yet for Valentine’s Day, hop a plane to Rome for a 4-day getaway weekend and check out the Cioccolentino festival in nearby Terni—home of Saint Valentine himself!

 Here are some other chocolate festivals around Italy:

Artisan Chocolate Fair
Florence
February 4-7
Held in Piazza Santa Croce, this annual festival features locally made products, including chocolate teas, coffees, and other beverages, as well as chocolate in the more traditional solid form.

Cioccolentino
Terni
February 11-14
The home of Saint Valentine hosts one of the biggest annual chocolate fests in Italy, packed with bingo games, book readings, plenty of tastings, workshops, lots of activities for the kids, and jazz concerts.

Festival del Cioccolato
Volcano Buona di Nola, Campania
February 13-21
Just outside of Napoli, this free choco fest boasts over 200,000 visitors.

CioccolaTÒ
Turin
February 22-March 3
With chocolate competitions and tastings, this festival hosts local Piedmont chocolatiers, including Lindt and Ferrero—the maker of Nutella.

Eurochocolate
Perugia
October 15-24
The biggest chocolate festival in Italy—and perhaps even the world—this festival is famous for its exhibits, cooking classes, banquets, and the Eurochocolate Awards.  Perugia isn’t just the chocolate capital of Europe, it is also home to Baci, those delicious hazelnut-filled chocolates.

Cioccolosità
Monsummano Terme, Tuscany
January – February 2011
Though this 3-day event that ties in with Italy’s Slow Food Movement already took place this year, mark your calendar for next year.

On the average day, Venice is charming and romantic with its picturesque canals and narrow, cobblestone streets that wind through traditional Italian buildings in a surprisingly navigable maze.  But for ten days every February, the city transforms into a magical playground full of mystery and excitement.  It’s Carnevale!

This year, from February 6-16, Piazza San Marco, normally filled with pigeons, will be packed with revelers enjoying the daily dance lessons, concerts, games, exhibits, and, of course, food that make the Carnevale celebration in Venice one-of-a-kind.

Don’t expect to find any bead-tossing or feather-clad dancers here.  During this much classier version of New Orleans and Rio, you’ll see children and adults alike throwing confetti in the air while wearing ornately jeweled masks that are as much masterpieces as the mosaics on the façade of the San Marco Cathedral.  As the sun goes down, keep an eye out for people walking around in costumes straight out of Don Giovanni—each one more elaborate and beautiful than the next—who will silently pose for a photo as soon as a camera is pointed in their direction.  As they continue on, passing by the Doge’s Palace sitting elegantly on the Venetian Lagoon, you won’t be able to help but wonder if you are in the presence of royalty.

But where are these mysterious people going?  Perhaps to one of the many costume balls being hosted around the city.  And now here’s your chance to join them for an unforgettable evening during Venice’s prime cultural showcase:

http://www.ciaoitalytours.com/tours.php?tour=394