Tuscany Untouched Tours

Andrea recently travelled to Tuscany, one of the most romantic and beautiful regions in the world. Visiting this quaint location was like taking a time capsule to the Medieval ages, where one only needed to take a hike up one of its trails to experience sweeping views over sublime castles and breathtaking landscapes below.

Tuscany Untouched Tours (TUT) took us off the beaten path to experience Tuscany through the eyes of a local, thanks to having a team of experienced guides who are all natives of the region. Apart from the guides, the locals I came into contact with welcomed us with an air of genuine hospitality, and I felt totally at home as I threw myself with abandon to the whole experience of sumptuously rich cuisine, hearty wine and homely energy.

La Grandiosa Toscana Tour with Tuscany Untouched Tours

Touring Grandiosa Toscana with TUT was an experience I’ll never forget. The seven day tour commenced with a journey through the Casentino Valley, a little known town that dates back to the Old Roman Empire. Here, we got to experience interesting sights and sounds that ended with a visit to the ancient monastery of the famous Saint Francis of Assisi. Staying in a charming farmhouse, I got to enjoy quiet mornings taking in the serene landscape and rugged beauty of the countryside. It had a tranquil atmosphere and yet was merely a few kilometres from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

The following day, we got to enjoy an authentic Italian cooking class, a fun experience through which I gained my ‘honors’ in Italian cuisine.

The whole experience was filled with much fanfare and laughter, and ended with a satisfying climax of delicious cuisine with homemade pasta and quality vino.

Being an ocean lover, our excursion to a small quaint beach was one of the highlights of the trip. Bordered by lush greenery, with white sands and brilliantly blue water, it was like a scene straight out of a travel magazine, and the best part is that we got to interact with even more locals at the beach, who were only happy to share culture with us through music and dance.

Another interesting place we were taken to was a famous vineyard, where we met the owner, a passionate man whose verve for grapes gave me a glimpse into what living a contented life really looks like. He proudly took us through the history and heritage of his family’s vineyard, the process of winemaking, and finally guided us through the tasting of the prized vino itself.

Speaking of tastings, we got to taste Tuscany’s local produce at its peak, when we visited some of its small villages during festival season. This sensuous experience was further enhanced by the mysterious tales and ancient folklore that the villages shared with us, as we enjoyed the colorful and jovial mood created by the countryside’s summer festivities.

Throughout my stay in Tuscany, I got to experience all its lesser-known attractions, and yet that didn’t take away from the beauty of its modern culture. From high-end boutiques tucked away in quaint cobblestone streets, to luxury stores and Michelin-starred restaurants, contemporary Tuscany seems to have taken the baton in creating a future forward culture that is steeped in its own traditions.

I can honestly say that Tuscany stole my heart. With its idyllic setting, the dynamic culture, and its reverence for beauty and art. It was all a truly unique experience and I felt incredibly privileged to have been a part of it, thanks to Tuscany Untouched Tours. I couldn’t have thought of a better way to end the trip than with a fresh Continental breakfast overlooking some of the most stunning views I’ve experienced.