CASTIGLIONE DELLA PESCAIA: APERITIVO HEAVEN AT THE COAST

Never heard of my favorite bar in the beautiful Tuscan coastal town Castiglione della Pescaia? Understandably. Even though the bar is in prime position in front of the small harbor, there's not much else to be seen than the odd Fishermen having a quick drink before unloading his boat and a few holiday-makers strolling up and down the harbor front. And that's exactly where the charm of this bar lies.

Perfectly unspectacular - bar il Porto, in Castiglione della Pescaia

Why bother with crowded bars in Portofino or Capri if you can sit in front of the much more authentic Circolo Marinai? With the elderly couple who runs the bar service can a bit slow and the interior design hasn't been changed for ages. So what?

Sit down, have your Campari (or an alcohol free Crodino) and you'll finally understand what the concept of Dolce Vita is all about.

Where: Castiglione della Pescaia, in my opinion the most beautiful town on the Tuscan shore.
When: The bar is normally open daily during high season (April to October).
What else: Weather allowing have a swim or a stroll at the beach. Castiglione della Pescaia has one of Tuscany's best coastline.

Bicycle and boats at Castliglione della Pescaia's harbor

colored fishing boats at Castiglione della Pescaia's harbor

Visualizza Aperitivo heaven at the coast in una mappa di dimensioni maggiori

WINE AND ARCHITECTURE: PETRA WINERY BY MARIO BOTTA

Southern Tuscany is home to a handful of wineries, which are often described as wine cathedrals. The Petra vineyard near Suvereto (by architect Mario Botta) is an interesting example of this new approach in winery architecture. At Petra the world-class architect went beyond designing an impressive wine cellar, but also included the outlay of the vineyards in his aim to form a contemporary agricultural landscape. Main building of the Petra Winery in Suvereto If it is true that the way to good wine starts in the he vineyard, it is also true that only the quality of the cork, the design of the label, and the beauty of the bottle shape will bring the consumer's experience to full circle. Taking this thought further it's obvious that the birthplace of a good or even fantastic wine, is yes the vine and its grapes, but also the winery building in particular and the whole estate in general. If you know any of Botta's works, you'll recog...

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Storytellers at the Todo Modo bookshop in Florence

I may not be religious, but I totally worship the Todo Modo bookshop in Florence for its beautiful interior design, central location - a ten-minute walk from the station and Ponte Vecchio - and the cafè hidden among shelves and plants hanging from the roof. UqBar serves some of the best lunches to be had in Florence - especially for people who'd love to forego the usual Tuscan fare for a delicious miso soup . But Todo Modo does another thing well. The shelf-filled spaces in the back can be turned into a small theatre which makes for a great event space among all the books. I had my Across the Big Blue Sea book presentation there and was back last month for a Storytellers night - the first event of a great new series. Linda and Steve, the team from the The Beehive Hostel in Rome have decided to take their storytellers nights to Florence, and Todo Modo has agreed to host them. Whether residents or just travelling through, English speakers will have great fun...

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SAN BIAGIO AT NIGHT - JUNE 7, 2019

San Biagio at night (with Montepulciano in the background) Day or night, San Biagio, il tempio di San Biagio, is always a looker. But it's a special treat to be able to visit the interior of the church all through the night. As one of 150 churches in Italy, Montepulciano's famous temple church will stay open through the night for the ' La Lunga Notte delle Chiese' event. Concerts and various cultural happenings will take place during the long night of churches on June 7, 2019 from 9.15 pm. Check the event website for details of the participating churches in Tuscany and all over Italy.

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