If you like to travel, discover, savor the tastes and traditions of a new land and all this you don't say do a little shopping, here is a itinerary in Tuscany that I just tried and that I want to tell you. First of all I'll tell you where I started from, from Rimini. A journey of a couple of hours by car, to cross part of Romagna and arrive in Tuscany. A multi-stage path, five to be precise, that I promised myself to tell you here to give you the opportunity to do the same path, or a similar one if you think more appropriate for you.
1. Anghiari
I left Rimini around 9, I stopped for breakfast calmly and went straight to Anghiari, a small town in Tuscany and precisely in the Valtiberina. Famous for the Battle of Anghiari, among other things represented by Leonardo da Vinci in a fresco that has unfortunately been lost, Anghiari is also one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. If you want to do a historical and artistic journey then, you are spoiled for choice, starting from Piero della Francesca which in many of his works represents the Valtiberina. Among these, if you understand to see it in London, The Baptism of Christ, where behind the characters in evidence, the Tiber river rises.
2. Monterchi Madonna del Parto
In the Municipality of Monterchi, I went for one reason only (yes I admit it), to see the Madonna del Parto. In the small village it is also possible to see another small and curious museum, the Scales Museum, but the real attraction of the place is the Madonna del Parto by Piero della Francesca. The fresco is located in the former elementary school of the small village and to access the work, it is necessary to pay a small entrance ticket, cumulative with the entrance to the Museum of Scales, among other things, of € 5,50 for adults , students and groups of 4 €. Arrived up to here, do not miss the small bar and also the restaurant which is located, looking at the elementary school, at the top left, is called A terrace in Tuscany. There on that terrace you will find a very small restaurant, with an exquisite menu and wine list. If you find yourself passing by for lunch time, sit down and enjoy some local specialties, if instead it's just coffee time, stop just for a break, as I did, and then continue along the itinerary.
3. Valdichiana Outlet
From Monterchi al Valdichiana Outlet Village it takes about another hour by car. Once you arrive, however, you can give your best, especially if you are a shopping fan, better if low cost, like me! Valdichiana offers beyond 4000 parking spaces, so arriving by car will not be a problem, and so many of those shops that you may not be able to finish the whole tour in one afternoon. The internal structure is very elegant, spacious and with a touch of color, which does not hurt. I concentrated on the shops that I “needed”, therefore Calzedonia for the costumes from the sea and Intimissimi. The costumes were only € 18 each! While I was there I could not miss a delicious stop at the Lind's store! : D
4. The pici of Forcillo
Really 5 minutes by car from the Valdichiana Outlet Village is the Locanda Forcillo, in Sinalunga. Here, if you started this itinerary early in the morning, you will arrive around 13pm. Remember that the kitchen closes at 14.45pm and that it is really worth coming to have lunch in this quaint little place. At the entrance you will immediately notice that it is a special place. Inside then, you can only confirm this first impression. Pici main dish :) If you are not in good company take the pici all'agliata (obviously with garlic), otherwise excellent also the pici with mushrooms and pici with duck sauce! The price is fair and there will be "the aunt", a lady who is not exactly young, but lively and awake, who will "keep you company" with her Tuscan jokes throughout the meal.
5. Sleeping in Tuscany
This is the last point of the itinerary that, to tell the truth, I have not personally tried. Due to other commitments I absolutely had to return to Rimini the same evening, but having known this before ... I would have stopped to sleep in Tuscany if only I could. One of the places where you can stop, perhaps returning to Rimini as I did, is just Monterchi, so as to take the opportunity to dine at A terrace in Tuscany. If you don't have to go that way, a Siena, Arezzo, but also in Florence the possibilities of accommodation, even low cost ones, are many.
What can I say, did I persuade you to spend a day, or even a weekend strolling around Tuscany?
