Italy Vacation Spots

Are you thinking of taking a dream vacation to Florence or Tuscany? Can you see yourself now, walking on the famous Ponte Vecchio as the early evening lights are starting to reflect off the river Arno. Sipping a glass of fine Chianti, relaxing on a balmy evening, as you watch the sun set over the beautiful city of Florence?

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If you are planning your own trip to Florence or Tuscany, or if you'd just like to learn a little more before you decide to go, read this guide and let Suzzane be your virtual tour guide to Florence and Tuscany!

Volterra! As you drive to this Etruscan hill town the first thing that strikes you is it;s beauty and seeming impregnability. Populated since neolithic times Volterra offers insights into Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval Italian life. Like San Gimingano and Siena, Volterra offers the best of Italian hill towns without the crush of tourists found in her two better known sisters.

This town can be seen in a day, but can also be enjoyed for longer stays as a base for seeing Tuscany. Look for nearby agriturismos if you plan to stay for more than three days. Points of interest include the Etruscan museum, filled with funerary casks, jewelery, and weapons. The Etruscan gate is well preserved and imposing and the Roman amphitheater and Etruscan cemetery are beautiful and fascinating.

Our last visit was before the "Twilight" series and movie made Volterra a household name, so we found it to be charming and not as stuffed full of Tourists and buses. As with San Gimingano, get there in the morning, before the crush. When we went we hit both towns as a day trip from Vinci, where we stayed on an agriturismo. From Volterra it is an easy drive to the coast and Pisa or back to Siena and San Gimingano.

If you are planning a trip to Tuscany, and you want a town that offers a beautiful setting, a varied history, and is off the beaten track (just a little) then you should really think about at least a day trip to Volterra.

An "Agriturismo" is an Italian term used to describe staying on a farm versus staying at a hotel. Far from being a "working vacation", stays at an agriturismo can be rustic and simple to modern and opulent, but always relaxing. Far from having guests help with the farm in exchange for a nights stay, agriturismos offer comfortable, clean rooms (often with kitchens) and many offer additional amenities such as pools, spas, and stables. As working farms you are often provided (for a fee) wonderful meals made with farm fresh produce and meats by local chefs.

Our stay at Agriturismo Santa Maria in Umbria, the last agriturismo we stayed at, was great. We had our evening meals (often pot luck) with Rosaria and Daniel (the proprietors) and their two boys and family. Daniel is a trained French Chef and made incredible dishes. The eight of us had two large bedrooms a WC with shower, and a large open space with a kitchen, dining area, and sitting room. At the time we were there the whole thing cost about 450 Euros for three nights. Rosaria and Daniel even took us into Marchano to the wine co-op as well as the grocery co-op.

Agriturismos are comfortable, friendly, relaxing, and allow you to get the feel of Italian rural life at a slower pace. Most farms are near regional points of interest and the proprietors can share with you a local's insight into those points as well as things not covered in your guide book.

By definition, all agriturismos are outside of city limits so you'll need a car if you intend to get around and see the sights. The added cost of the car is offset by the added mobility and freedom. You can also save money by staying at an agriturismo over a hotel of similar quality in a tourist center. This savings will also offset some of the cost of the car. Remember, to get anywhere will cost you money and before you decide not to use a car weigh the benefits. I have traveled Europe both by train and by auto. I find the trains a great way to travel when I am alone or with one other person, as the traveling party grows a car looks more and more economical.

If you are interested in seeing the "real" Italy, the Italy that the locals enjoy, if you want to see more than just the main attractions, if you want to feel the warmth and beauty of Italy today at a relaxed and easy pace, you need to give an agriturismo a try. Spend some time online and find the agriturismo that fits your travel goals and your personal style. It will be time well spent and will enhance your vacation stay in Italy.

Thanks for reading this article on agriturismos, I hope that you found it helpful. Let me help help you plan your next vacation, whether to Italy or anywhere else. Go to http://www.letsgettravelling.com and grab my FREE Travel Log Report, as well as tools and resources to start planning your next vacation. You can also see other articles and ideas about travel to Italy at http://www.squidoo.com/vacationtravelplanning
Ciao.

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If you like what you have read here, take a few minutes and check out these other travel articles:

Articles -

Train Travel Italy - A Great Way to Get Around
Assisi is One of the Best Places in Italy to Visit
3 of the Best Places in Italy to Visit, Other Than the Big Three
Italy Travel Info - Plan a Better Trip
What's an Agriturismo
It's Smart to Plan That Next Vacation
Finding Vacation Homes to Rent

Links -

Smart Vacation Travel Planning
The "Let's Get Traveling" Site
The "My Airfare Secrets" Site
The Ultimate Florence Guide