MAPPING TUSCANY

Design hotels in Tuscany - they do exist! The Argentario Golf Resort & Spa excels with something not many hotels in Tuscany's countryside have managed to pull off - tasteful contemporary design.  Tuscan hotels are usually located in centuries-old villas, castles or farmhouses. In the best-case scenario, they will have been painstakingly restored and the interior design is a sophisticated mix of aristocratic joie-de-vivre or a romanticized version of Tuscan  peasant life.  In the worst case, the interpretation has gone awry with lots of velvet curtains, fake antique furniture and heavy-set four-poster beds in an international baroque style that has little to do with Tuscany but lots with a type of interior design invented to pimp up international hotel cha ins. It's a relief that the five-star Argentario resort de cided for a different approach . No more fake Renaissance architecture, but at last a well thought-through contemporary approach to ...

I'm writing a book (which has been published in the meantime). Hence I raise the word count by cutting down on aperitifs (not an easy feat in my Tuscan village ),  and I keep the storyline going  by dodging invitations to Sunday lunch. But when I know that the table will look like this... and the food like this it's hard to resist... Hence we drove to the Chianti and followed the crowd through the woods  to jump into  the midst of the clatter, chatter and laughter of a Tuscan Christmas gathering, which was cleverly interrupted by countryside walks to make sure there was room for more, until - inevitably - the moment arrived, when all the plates were licked and the last bottle of Chianti was emptied and it was time to go home (you said you drive, right?).  INGREDIENTS FOR A TUSCAN GATHERING Lunch was organized by Emiko Davies and Giulia from Juls' Kitchen , who with the help of their respective partn...

I normally wouldn't tell my best friend to come to Tuscany to attend a yoga seminar.  I love yoga and thankfully there is a wide choice for any of its practices all around. And yes, it sounds great to spend a week  bending and stretching with awe-inspiring views over the rolling hills. But it sounds sad - at least to me - to have to forego Tuscany's fabulous wine and food whilst you're out here because of all that downward facing dog.  To make sure I can at last recommend a yoga seminar in Tuscany, the people from It's  Yogafirenze and Villa Le Pianore organize a joint venture stretch with plenty of chances to taste, eat, drink and explore some of the area's best in food, wine, culture and nature.  VINYASA WINE AND WALKING AT LE PIANORE Daily Ash tanga yoga, organic winery visits, great food, guided countryside walks, sightseeing (e.g.  Sant'Antimo Abbey , Tuscany's Romanesque treasure) and a hot dip in Bagno Vignoni .  Join the troupers ...

When I say camping, what do you think of? ... I think of this:   At least since I have seen the lodge tents at the campsite near Capalbio in Southern Tuscany. The moment I noticed these, I've realized that there is camping and camping. Or really camping and glamping.  Campeggio Capalbio is a small and charming campground right on Tuscany's southern coast. Green and welcoming, Campeggio Capalbio is slowly transforming itself from campground to camping hotel. There's still plenty of space for people who just like to pitch their tent, but for the ones who'd like to get the nature vibe  minus the sweating and fretting, there is glamping. Glamorous camping.  Shared bathrooms? That would be camping.  Glamping in Tuscany means your OWN loo. And not just that.  Private lodge tent shower with a view

On top of a green hill Campagnatico seen from the South - East When approaching Campagnatico during stormy weather, one isn't surprised that the Tuscan village got a mention in the book of books: Dante's Divine Comedy . 700 years later, Campagnatico doesn't look too different from what Dante must have imagined - but probably never saw in person - as the ideal backdrop for a scene in the purgatory: a Maremma nobleman's repentance over the errors he committed during his life (too much haughtiness was already an issue in Dante's time!).  Campagnatico seen from Villa Bellaria Picture perfect (probably more so now than in the Middle Ages), the hill town in the Maremma has a lay-back atmosphere. Cats and the elderly sit on benches and the town's only bar tender is busy making Cappuccino, preparing Campari or selling newspapers. Population is low, but still high enough to allow for the survival of two  alimentari (small food stores), a post office, a p...

A listing of gay-friendly hotels, B&B's, restaurants and shops in the province of Siena has been put online by SIENA GAY FRIENDLY. Great news! Or is it?  On second thought it seems sad, that such a list is needed. Was Tuscany more open-minded in regard to homosexuality during the Renaissance than it is today? Southern  Tuscany isn't San Francisco, and no doubt the Pope's view and vicinity isn't of help with any of this; but one would have hoped that in the 21st century Italian hotels don't need symbols or stickers, which credit them for being gay-friendly.  We offer continental breakfast, a pool, accept dogs and do welcome homosexuals. EXCUSE ME? Making gay or lesbian guests feel at home isn't an optional. It really should be N O R M A L, regular, obvious and I-don't-even-have-to-think-about-it behavior for any hotel receptionist, bar tender, shop owner and restaurant chef - even if he or she happens to work inside the Vatican!  But obviously,...