Costa Toscana

We arrived in central Italy, at Costa Toscana. Oh mei, a natural paradise, and a contrast compared to Venice.

We left Tuscany’s metropolises behind, and instead found the most charming villages and magnificent panoramas. Our route took us right into the heart of Tuscan postcard scenery.

We stayed in a farm house in a very charming location immersed in the Tuscan countryside: only a few minutes from the sea, olive trees and vineyards as far as the eye can see (the lands of Bolgheri).

The house was shaded by pomegranates, oranges, lemons, limes and olive trees. And plenty of mosquitoes. A wonderful green oasis.

Waking up to this… daily… Good Morning 🌞

The villages may have more restaurant seats than residents. Good for us. Love traveling off season.

Castagneto Carducci is beautiful, with its stone houses and the castle at the top. The original name was just Castagneto, then they added Carducci as a tribute to its most famous citizen, the Nobel Prize winner, poet Giosuè Carducci.

Al tartufo, because it’s fall & the season 🤎

A dreamy, hilly road perfectly lined by endless cypress trees. Love the smell of those trees, another childhood memory of holidays in Bella Italia.

The beauty of a sweet moment: tiramisu 🥰

We were lucky again: extended summer in Tuscany, allowing for a last dip of the season in the sea. 26C degrees, sunshine and phenomenal blue sky. Good for us, less good for the farmers. Apparently not a good year for olives… too warm, too many insects.

It’s always special to be at the sea for the first time, to smell the salt, to feel the sand under your feet…

Beach life including ice-cream 🍦

Tuscany is known for its gorgeous villages as well as the beautiful landscape, wine and olives. What it also got and maybe that’s still a bit of a secret: a stunning Mediterranean coast with the most beautiful beaches.

The owner of the farm house is also a farmer and the harvest of olives for oil just started. Hello climate change, harvest time in the past usually started 4 weeks later, in November…

Our days were filled with sleeping in, reading, painting, siestas, beach hopping, dining or just enjoying the beautiful scenery…

The views, the light, the pace, the food, the culture, the art… truly la vita e bella in Italia! ❤️

We wandered slowly and enjoyed the views which stretched endlessly across olive groves and vineyards – perfect for quiet reflection. Tuscany invited us to breathe slower and live simply. In fact we haven’t moved more than 12km within the radius of our farm house. No need. It was just perfect. Peaceful. Relaxing.