Around Florence
There are many other things to see and do within a few hours of Florence. Here are some of our favorites, and more ideas from other websites.Below you'll find our most recent articles in "Around Florence"
We spent a relaxing winter weekend in Sillico recently - a small hamlet of about 100 people in the region known as the Garfangana (just about a 2 hour drive from Florence). The Garfangana is up the Serchio river valley north of Lucca, and lies between the Alpi Apuane (famous for Carrara marble) and the Apennines. We stayed in a lovely little apartment that is part of a triplex just below (100 meters down the road) the town - there are two rental units, and the owners live in the third. You can find more about the house here (we highly recommend it!). There is also an excellent restaurant in Sillico, Belvedere, with regional cuisine, home made pastas, and a friendly and warm staff. We really enjoyed the dinner we had there, especially the copious antipasti (don't miss it if you get the chance) and local wine (€6 a bottle!).
The Garfangana in general is known for its chestnuts - and surrounding Sillico there are numerous marked walking trails through the forests and hills. Most of the pictures below are from the house and the walk we took in the immediate area. Sorry but I have yet to identify the names of the mountain peaks!
Vinci is a small village about an hour from Florence by car (see map below), and most famous as the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. The town is surrounded by hills with the typical Tsucan landscape of vineyards and olive groves that are much the same as in Leonardo's time.
There is a little piazza with an installation by Italian artist Mimmo Paladino which we thought was interesting the day we visited.
We found a new course (new to us at least) on the web the other day, the Montelupo Golf Club. It looks pretty good for a nine hole - the par is 36 so you get to take the big clubs out of the bag on several holes. The best part is the twilight fee of 20 euros. I will be playing a round here soon I hope and post more about it when I do.
- Florence Golf Club Ugolino One of the most famous courses in the region, in a great location heading down towards Greve on the 222 (the Via Chiantigiana). We have only heard good things about this course, but I am afraid to say that we have not had the chance to play it. Their website (in English) is comprehensive, including directions, rates, and contact details.
- Poggio dei Medici Golf & Country Club This is another excellent looking golf course we would like to play! Located about 25 kilometers north of Florence, in the Mugello region. It is a newer course, opened in 1995, but has quickly built a strong international reputation and is host to several major golf events. Their website is in English and has complete details.
- Golf Club Le Pavoniere This course is just outside of Prato, about 20 kilometers west of Florence. Their website (unfortunately for us English speakers) is only in Italian, but this is a full 18 hole course with the usual amenities.
Poggio a Caiano is a former Medici villa at the foot of the Albano hills. It is on record as being the only surviving architectural structure commissioned by Lorenzo the Magnificent, and became a favorite of his that was used by the family dynasty for centuries. It was also one of the favored summer residences of the grand duchess of Tuscany Elisa Baciocchi Buonaparte, Napoleon's sister, and the possible site of her affair with Nicolò Paganini, who gave concerts in the Villa's theater. It was eventually a summer residence of King Victor Emmanuele II before being turned over to the state.
I take the Eurostar train from Rome to Florence (only one hour and 40 minutes), then change to a slower regional train to Empoli. A caffe latte later and I'm on an even slower two-carriage train with no glass in its windows, to Poggibonsi in the heart of Tuscany. From there a bus to San Gimignano. Within an hour I'll be sharing vino, laughs and tales of the story so far with my friends.
Inside the ancient stone gates of San Gimignano, siesta is over and the place is jumping. The passeggiata (evening walk) has begun and the tiny walled village with its numerous stone towers -- the Manhattan of medieval times -- hums with tourists buying, locals strolling, kids playing. Gelati are being slurped, aperativi tossed back, loud conversations hurled about. The streets are as small, hot and narrow as I remember, but there's an energy here that's exhilarating."
