Book your Chianti Wine Cellar Tour in Tuscany with Dario Castagno

NYTimes Best Selling Author of 'Too Much Tuscan Sun', now runs beautiful cellar tours at Villa Dievole.

Many guests have been writing in to ask suggestions for wine tastings in Tuscany, so I thought I'd post my personal reccomendation.

NYTimes Best Selling Author of 'Too Much Tuscan Sun', Dario Castagno, is running a fabulous, inspiring and informative tour of the cellars Chianti's most charming estate, Villa Dievole, in Vagliagli, few kms from Siena.

It is really worth taking, as it blends deep insider's knowledge of Tuscan wines and history with real passion, great communication and a truly charming personality.

I truly reccommend taking this tour to anyone who's willing to really touch the soul of Tuscany... with a good glass wine in his hands!

Tours cost only 20 euro per person - a real bargain ;-)

Here you'll find a presentation of the tour in detail.

Watch a Demo Video here

For reservations contact DarioCastagno(@)gmail.com www.dariocastagno.com tel +39337706958

Enjoy your trip planning!

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Tuscany holiday rental mid-week bookings for Summer 2012 | Pure and Authentic Holiday Rentals | Inspiring Retreats - Italian Charm

Tuscany holiday rental mid-week bookings for Summer 2012

La Macina Affordable charming villa rental with gorgeous sea views in Palermo Sicilia

La Macina Affordable charming villa rental with gorgeous sea views in Palermo Sicilia

La Macina is a stone country home set high on the hills overlooking the Mediterranean sea with its endless shades of blue.

Placed above the village of Aliminusa, La Macina enjoys a very private and secluded position with panoramas stretching 360° round and yet is a mere kilometer from amenities.

Outside is a large garden hosting an ancient millstone, hence the name '"Macina'" an inviting fruit orchard and a vegetable garden guests are welcome to use. At the back of the house sits a lovingly tendered vineyard and olive grove.

The house develops over two floors. The groud floor hosts a spacious kitchen tiled with colourful local ceramics, a full bathroom and a welcoming lounge with fireplace, sat tv, hi-fi system, 2 armchairs and a sofa-bed.

Off the lounge, an elegant wooden staircase leads to the first floor. Here are two single and one double bedrooms enjoying magnificen views.

Outside the kitchen a wide pergola hosts a wood oven and a table seating up to 18 guests - very reminiscent of Sicilian feasts!

All in all we really liked this place for its genuinity, the attention to detail, the marvellous views and the lovely people in the village.

You can't miss a visit local farmers who produce fantastic sheep and goat cheeses as well as the famous sheep's ricotta, traditional remedy to any ailment!

READ MORE AND BOOK HERE

Green, Eco Friendly Holidays

Green, Eco Friendly Holidays

As the world’s population embraces green issues more and more, there are increasing opportunities for travellers to take exciting eco friendly holidays around the globe. One of those fantastic destinations is Italy, where millions of tourists have flocked to hotels and villas but have not necessarily been aware of eco-tourism.

The views in much of Italy are amazing, whether it is the heart of the Tuscan countryside, the coastal cities such as Naples or the mountainous ski resorts in the north. A good example of eco friendly holidays is Tuscany learning farm holidays. These are terrific experiences for all tourists very keen to understand more about green issues.

Not only do tourists get the chance to stay in comfortable accommodation in a beautiful part of Italy, but they can also get hands on experience of farm life. Whilst enjoying the panoramic views, guests may have the opportunity to feed the farm animals, make cheese or even get some cooking lessons.

There can be few better ways to experience the Italian countryside than by taking Siena organic farm holidays. Siena is a beautiful area in the region of Tuscany in the northern half of the country and is handily located for fun days out to one of the many vineyards. Italy is so blessed with wine making regions that a visit to some of the vineyards is highly recommended.

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A Pure Green (Living) Magazine

We found an amazing online magazine with a nice "green" twist to it. Celine MacKay of the blog Pure Green has produced Pure Green Magazine, an off-shoot of her blog featuring eco-style picks, new products and ideas, DIY projects, green homes, travel, organic recipes and more! This 3rd issue is all about green holiday ideas and destinations. The pictures are blissful, and the tips are very inspiring and useful. Enjoy the read!