Holidays in Tuscan villages:
where time stands still.
Castagneto Carducci: pure poetry
Elena looks through a book of poems. “Did you know that?” she asks Marco.
“The poet Giosuè Carducci once called Castagneto the unforgettable place of his childhood.” When you come to Tuscany Hotel Alle Dune for your holiday, this Tuscan village, a medieval jewel, is just minutes away. Stone-paved lanes, artisanal boutiques, the scent of wine and sea salt, immortalised by the poet in verse.
(And by the Macchiaioli painters in their artworks.)
Two rows of cypress trees reach towards the sky. Marco drives a little slower, Elena rolls down the window: “It’s like stepping into a postcard.” The famous Viale di Bolgheri, whose praises were sung by poet Carducci, is only 15 minutes away from our hotel. Five poetic kilometres that lead to the medieval village, the Sassicaia wineries, and the traditional osteria restaurants where time seems to move more slowly.
(Snapping a photo is a must.)
The Viale
dei Cipressi:
iconic.
Three ancient Tuscan villages
not to be missed.
“Which village shall we visit tomorrow?” asks Elena.
The Etruscan Coast is home to medieval villages where time seems to stand still. Stone-paved lanes, fortresses overlooking the sea, small squares with history in the air. Choose your favourite from these ancient Tuscan villages.
The red-brick castle of this village praised by Carducci is the first thing to catch your eye. Romantic lanes, wine bars where you can sip Sassicaia, and artisanal boutiques.
One of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, surrounded by cork oaks and vineyards. Cobbled lanes, the Rocca Aldobrandesca fortress, and the cloister of San Francesco: a magical place.
The only Etruscan city right by the sea: a charming place overlooking the Gulf of Baratti with the Rocca degli Appiani fortress and views of the Tuscan Archipelago.
Tuscan culture:
a journey back to the origins.
Marco reads aloud from the guidebook: “Populonia was the only Etruscan city overlooking the sea.”
The Etruscan Coast owes its name to this extraordinary people who lived here from the 9th century BC. Imposing necropolises, acropolises with views of the islands, museums that contain millennia of history. A unique heritage, waiting to be discovered.
The house where the poet spent his childhood: period furniture, manuscripts, and memorabilia that tell the story of Giosuè Carducci’s life and his bond with this land.
A journey to the heart of the earth: medieval mines, a little train that descends into the tunnels, and the millennia-old history of copper, lead, and silver mining.
An open-air museum between the Gulf of Baratti and the promontory of Piombino. Impressive Etruscan tombs, the Roman acropolis, and paths with a view of Elba.