Tuscany in Our Sights

Our trip to Puglia left a bitter taste—between the trash, privatized beaches, and relentless heat.

But on our way home, a short stop in Tuscany reconciled us with Italy.

This new summer, we’ve decided to add this beautiful region to our itinerary!

As usual for relatively nearby destinations, we’ll be driving via the Col de la Lombarde on the way there and Mont Cenis Pass on the way back.

A chance to kill two birds with one stone: one trip, multiple landscapes crossed.

For our Tuscan stay, we’ve chosen a house tucked away in the Chianti vineyards.

Peace and quiet, barely disturbed by the occasional wild boar or deer!

You’ve probably gathered that we won’t be sightseeing fanatics, even if classics like Siena, Florence, San Gimignano, Pisa, and the Abbey of Saint Michael of the Cluse are on the agenda.

You can find the details of our journey beyond the Alps here.

Happy reading!

And if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate!

Why choose Tuscany?

- A region culturally very rich

- Attractive countryside

- A paradise for food lovers

- An easy-to-reach destination by car from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes or the French Riviera

- Affordable prices despite the area’s fame (though budget for visits accordingly)

The downsides of the trip:

- Way too many people in Florence or Pisa—but honestly, the opposite would’ve been surprising!

- Italian driving, which I found pretty stressful.

- ZTLs (limited traffic zones) and other LEZs (low-emission zones) that require extra vigilance or flawless planning (or avoiding cities altogether for accommodation). This is actually becoming a Europe-wide issue for road-trip lovers.