Take a holiday to Mona Lisa's backyard on this week's Travel with Rick Steves. We'll examine the enormous appeal of Italy's Tuscany region, and its quieter neighbor Umbria. Rick chats with Cecelia Bottai, a winemaker from Orvieto, about how visitors can experience authentic local culture in central ... about Tuscany and Umbria...

Just a quick post from the road. I'm in Tuscany with Fiona, staying at a beautiful grand hotel on a hill near Montepulciano. Had a horror drive through the rain last night from Pisa, but now we are here it's very relaxing. We've got some serious lunches and dinners to attend, plus a visit to a great biodynamic producer in Montalcino, so I have to go now... Here's the view from our bedroom window...

Well, we got home from out trip to Tuscany Sunday evening. However, my body still thinks it's in Italy. I've been waking up at 3am. I will tell you, I have now become an Italian driver so watch ... Gimingnano and the rolling hills of Tuscany! The place was great for us as it was within an hour ... . I'll write more tomorrow and take you on our journey through Tuscany...

Forum: Antonio Galloni's Italy Report Posted By: Steven Bean Post Time: 04-06-2007 at 04:53 PM

Forum: Social Hall Posted By: K. Lipsey Post Time: 03-06-2008 at 03:16 PM

Forum: Food....and Wine Posted By: T. Klonoski Post Time: 06-17-2008 at 02:21 AM

The weather is really weird in Tuscany at the moment. This afternoon, my kitchen was flooded with water, after what looked like a monsoon blew through Il Borro. It must have rained about three or four inches in about half an hour! I still have high hopes for the harvest...

Posted by Bob Semon: 2000 Giovanni Struzziero Fiano di Avellino "Roseto". I was surprised a the youthful color of the wine, still a bright golden straw. The nose and palate showed typical Fiano honey and quince with s

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