Tuscany is world famous for its beauty and its culture. It is worth a visit at any time of the year, but if you're in Stigliano this spring here are some top tips for getting the very best out of your holiday.
Why is spring such a great season in Italy? Where to start?
Of course, one obvious one is the weather.
In the spring, the Tuscan sun is already shining warmly and you are guaranteed to have better weather than you would in England at this time of year. During April the temperature is starting to creep up and in May it can even reach the 20s.
This is great for if you're out exploring. It is much more comfortable to be walking around while the weather is mild and sunny rather than in the stifling heat of the summer. You'll be able to get out, see the sights and make use of the whole day!
Landscape
Spring sees new growth and flowering fields. The region is loved for its countryside and picturesque farmland; in spring all the colours begin bursting to life. Why not visit the Maremma Natural Park? It's located on Tuscany's west coast where the rolling hills, pine woodlands and fields descend gently towards the cliff-lined coast. Or take a stroll in the Alto Merse Nature Reserve, a fantastic place for nature. It's crossed by the River Merse and has an incredible range of habitats, from wetland to deciduous woodland.
Produce
There will always be great food and produce in Tuscany. The food festivals or sagre that take place throughout April and May are sure to tempt you into trying new and interesting flavours.
From the smaller celebrations like the truffle market in Volterra, or a little festival of trout in Loro Ciuffenna to larger festivals: the annual Val d'Orcia wine festival is a good one, as is the Spring Festival in Castiglione della Pescaia which takes place along the seafront. Castiglioncello's Foodies Festival is a three-day extravaganza of talks and demonstrations as well as lots to taste and try. Find out about it here www.foodiesfestival.info.
Gardens
Tuscany is really loved for its gardens. This is a great time of year to see them come into themselves. There is a fantastic botanical garden and herbarium in Siena that is free of charge and the botanical garden of Pisa is the oldest university botanical garden in Europe!
There is a pretty iris garden in Florence that starts looking colourful from April and is open daily with no charge for most of May. Don't forget the famous Boboli Gardens while you're there too! There are stunning botanical gardens all across Tuscany, you're bound to find a beauty and they shouldn't be too busy at this time.
Which brings us to…
Low season
Despite all the many charms of Tuscany in the spring, it's still quieter here than in the summer, when the youngsters are off school. So make the most of the low season and get a nice lot of sight seeing done while there are fewer people around forming queues or wandering into the background of your photos! You'll find it easier to visit the key attractions: museums, cathedrals, churches, monuments and town centres will all be considerably quieter.
To find out how to stay in the beautiful little village of Stigliano, an easy distance from Siena, Florence and Pisa, simply pop your details in at the bottom of the page.
