How to visit Italy

Travel for tourism is freely permitted between regions in the yellow zone. The national certificate allows people to move freely even between territories in the red or orange band.

Who can do it

In order to do so, it is necessary to have a certificate of vaccination – with both doses and only with vaccines authorized by the EMA – or a certificate of recovery from Covid or a swab (molecular or antigenic) with negative results carried out in the previous 48 hours.

Welcome back to Italy

“If there is a country intertwined with tourism, which thrives on tourism, it is ours”, underlined the premier. “The time has come to book your holidays in Italy, and of course we can’t wait to welcome you again. The world wants to travel to Italy. The pandemic has forced us to close, but Italy is ready to welcome the world back,” said Draghi, then said the premier addressing foreign tourists.

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Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

It stands in the exact place where the ancient Roman amphitheater, dating back to the 2nd century AD, once stood. and of which the square still retains the traditional elliptical shape. During the Middle Ages, Piazza dell’Anfiteatro was the privileged meeting point of the Lucca society. Here, in fact, citizens’ meetings took place systematically. Today the square remains a very central meeting point, with many shops and bars created inside ancient premises. Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is accessed through four arches placed in different points.

Piazza Napoleone

Its origins date back to 1806, when, with the city invaded by Napoleonic troops, it was built at the behest of Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, sister of the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The square was dedicated to Napoleon and a statue erected in the center of it was dedicated. However, the monument that more than any other distinguishes Piazza Napoleone is the splendid Palazzo Ducale. Built in the 15th century, an enormous personal residence of Castruccio Castracani, an ancient lord of the city.

Piazza San Martino

The square opens in front of the asymmetrical facade of the thirteenth-century Cathedral of San Martino, which with its deep portico, the whiteness of the marbles and the inlays of the columns, create a unique scenographic effect. However, this square-churchyard is not proposed as a closed space, but as the introduction to a succession of other spaces that open on the sides and behind the apse of the church, so as to make it the fulcrum of an original, lively environment urban.

Piazza San Michele

Built at the end of the 11th century, the Church of San Michele stands in the center of the homonymous square, in the heart of the city of Lucca, and more precisely in the place where the ancient Roman Forum of the city once stood. Also for this reason the church is often identified with the name of San Michele in Foro. The architectural structure is typical of a Pisan Romanesque style church, with a Latin cross plan and an internal structure composed of three naves, on the external facade at the top is the statue of the Archangel Michael.

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Castagnaccio, a VIP among Tuscan desserts

Castagnaccio is one of the best known traditional Tuscan sweets. It was once considered a real street food, and its origins are presumed to date back to the 16th century. A legend about the famous chestnut cake It is said that Castagnaccio is also the keeper of a legend. In fact, it is said that the rosemary needles present inside are actually a filter of love. Anyone who eats a slice of chestnut, offered by the hands of a girl, will fall in love with it instantly. You just have to try!

Ribollita or Zuppa di Cavolo

The best known Tuscan dish based on black cabbage is the satisfying and appreciated Ribollita. It is a Tuscan recipe, which perhaps represents the symbolic example of recycled cuisine of peasant origin, which is the basis of our regional culinary tradition. Just think that the ribollita, it is said, was a dish prepared on Friday, the day in which all the leftover vegetables of the week were cooked together, with stale bread (which we remember, it was at the time, baked once a week).

Porcini mushrooms

Mushroom lovers look forward to the arrival of autumn, to give free rein to their culinary creativity. In fact, these fruits of the undergrowth, in addition to giving the dishes an intense, particular and delicious taste, are a very versatile food rich in properties. The Tuscan recipes with mushrooms are so many and varied, although the undisputed protagonists are the porcini, the kings of the Tuscan woods. However, you will also be able to appreciate other types of mushrooms, often underestimated, but absolutely fragrant and tasty such as sloe and champignons. Also not to be overlooked are the ease and speed of preparing mushroom-based dishes. We can summarize that, with minimal effort, absolutely delicious dishes are created.

The cecìna or chickpea cake

You should know that it has been told since the dawn of time, of an eternal diatribe between two enchanting Tuscan cities: Pisa and Livorno. So geographically close to each other, they share the same sea and the same area. At the same time, deeply tied to their origins and traditions, so much so that they want to distinguish themselves from one another. The cecìna is such a source of pride for the city of Pisa, that it has requested the attribution of the DOP denomination. The origins of cecìna and chickpea cake go back to distant times, there are evidence of recipes already among the Greek and Latin population. As is well known in the Arab world, the use of chickpeas had been cleared for some time. It is assumed that during the Middle Ages, thanks to continuous contacts with the Maritime Republic of Pisa, the use of this legume was introduced in our territory.

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The famous Leaning tower of Pisa

Nonetheless referring to the Leaning Tower most people worldwide have in mind the incredible lines of the ‘Torre pendente’ of Pisa. Tourists flock to the informally named ‘Piazza dei Miracoli’ (Miracles Square) to admire the medieval masterpiece and possibly to take the ritual picture propping up the tower; some of them bravely take on the 296 steps to climb the tower and finally enjoy the fabulous view from the top. One of the recurring questions asked by the visitors was: is it unintentionally tilting or was it designed to be leaning? In general we don’t have much information about its construction but we know for sure was a mistake, a very lucky mistake. What is even more surprising and what the majority of tourists ignore is that the ‘Torre pendente’ isn’t the only leaning tower of Pisa! Actually the soil consisting mostly of sand and clay is the cause of inclination of another two bell towers.

The leaning tower of San Nicola Church

Specially famous for the Fibonacci sequence which is one of the most famous formulas in mathematics, the church of San Nicola is located in via Santa Maria. The original octagonal bell tower, the most characteristic of the city after the Leaning Tower, dates back to the second half of the 13th century and is slightly inclined and buried with respect to the current floor.

The leaning tower of San Michele degli Scalzi Church

The church of San Michele degli Scalzi is instead located in the homonymous square in the east of the city. The typical square-based bell tower is in stone in the lower part, while in the upper part it is in brick. The facade is decorated with Islamic ceramic basins from the 12th century. Placed on the side facing the Arno river, it leans strongly with a slope of 5% (more than the famous leaning Tower of Pisa).

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Discover Florence

Capital of Tuscany, Florence reveals priceless riches, from the exuberant palaces bequeathed by wealthy patrons who once traded to the masterpieces of the great masters of the Renaissance who populate its renowned galleries. On the banks of the River Arno, the river that divides Tuscany from east to west, luxurious boutiques sit alongside humble artisans’ workshops, all guardians of know-how handed down from generation to generation over the centuries. Do not miss the calm and charm of the residential suburbs beyond the alleys of the popular Oltrarno district, located on the left bank of the stream from which it takes its name.

Savor the best Tuscan wines

Recognized for its modern blend wines and controlled designation of origin, Tuscany has a remarkable concentration of wine growers. The Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Vernaccia di San Gimignano are just some of the emblematic wines from its fertile valleys. During a stay in Tuscany, it is essential to stop in the most beautiful vineyards of Chianti, where the winding roads on the slopes of the picturesque hills and their greenery compose some of the most beautiful postcards of Tuscany.

Walking the hills of Chianti

In the shade of the great oaks and chestnut trees, or along the iconic cypress paths, this rural region is a must for a trip to Tuscany. Long land of conflict between Siena and Florence, the Chianti now enjoys a tranquility appreciated by visitors come to see the wealth of its medieval villages, castles and gourmet addresses, not to mention its historic cellars where you savor among the best cuvées of the planet. Discovering the region on the back of the legendary Vespa motorcycle will remain a long-lasting experience in your memory, or flying in a hot air balloon at sunrise is an experience you will not soon forget! Fly over vineyards, valleys and villages, before landing for a lunch on the grass accompanied by Prosecco!

Discover Pisa

The Leaning tower of Pisa is one of the places of interest of Pisa but the city is not limited to that. On the same square as the tower of Pisa, the Piazza del Duomo (also called Piazza dei Miracoli), is the cathedral of Pisa and the baptistery. Even though the vast majority of tourists visiting Pisa are confined to Piazza del Duomo, visiting Pisa is not all that. Visiting Pisa is also taking the time to stroll through the colorful streets of the historic center.
The banks of the Arno are just among my favorite places in Pisa. The colorful houses, bridges and reflections in the Arno make it a beautiful place. Take the time to go up the banks of the Arno!
In the historic center of Pisa, we find the typical architecture of Italy and often very colorful buildings. Without necessarily having a well-defined objective, take the time to walk there, to lose yourself in these alive and colored lanes. Here are some places to see:

– piazza delle Vettovaglie, very lively, especially during market days
– The Museum of the ancient Roman ships
– piazza dei Cavalieri, certainly one of the most famous squares of Pisa after the piazza dei Miracoli
– the very pretty chiesa di San Zeno
– the Borgo Stretto and its arcades, one of the most commercial streets of Pisa

You can discover all these places by strolling through the alleys of the center of Pisa.

Stroll in a medieval village

Let the story come to life before your eyes! Frozen in another era, cities like Volterra, Monteriggioni, San Gimignano and Cortona have been surprisingly well preserved since the Middle Ages. In the shade of the tower houses of wealthy bourgeois families who once fought a war of power, San Gimignano remains the most visited, and charming narrow streets of Volterra or Cortona will charm you just as much. Between the bastions of the medieval ramparts of Monteriggioni, you will appreciate the simplicity of the constructions of yesteryear that have survived over the centuries and helped to create the Tuscany of today.

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Highly recognizable, yet never the same: Tuscany. Alongside cities such as Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, open expanses of vineyards and hills unique in the world, the Unesco heritage landscapes of the Val d’Orcia as its Crete Senesi, where such native species are born that they have given away to unrepeatable products , like the Cinta Senese Dop. Typicality and stories that are also found in small villages, such as Montecarlo of Lucca.

Lucca countryside

Montecarlo, in the province of Lucca, covers 1,559 hectares of land and has a population of about 4,500 inhabitants.
The historic center, well preserved and still surrounded by the splendid city walls, stands on an isolated hill, 163 meters above sea level.
The village, on the ridge of the ridge that separates the Valdinievole from the Piana di Lucca, was built in 1333 to gather the inhabitants of the Community of Vivinaia destroyed by the Florentines in 1331 at the fortress of the Cerruglio.

The wines around Lucca

Perfectly acclimatized, these same vines, besides being declined in purity, are today part of the Montecarlo Doc, obtained in 1969 for the ‘Montecarlo Bianco’ and in 1985 for the ‘Montecarlo Rosso’: the doc in 1994 saw the latest modification of the specification of production.
The Montecarlo Bianco sees the presence of the following grapes: 40-60% Trebbiano Toscano and for the remaining 40-60% Semillon, Pinot Gris and Bianco, Vermentino, Sauvignon, Roussanne, globally considered, provided that at least three of the indicated vines reach individually the percentage of 10%.
The Montecarlo Rosso, on the other hand, is composed of: 50-75% Sangiovese, 5-15% Canaiolo nero, 10-15% singularly or combined Ciliegiolo, Colorino, Malvasia Nera, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabemet Sauvignon, Merlot.

Extra virgin olive oil

Among the typical products of the Lucca region, extra virgin olive oil is certainly the best known, known since ancient times for its delicate flavor and low acidity. In the ancient olive groves there are typically Tuscan cultivars such as frantoio, moraiolo, leccino and pendolino. An exclusively manual harvest, directly from the plant, a continuous milling process within 24 hours of harvesting and the care taken throughout the process make it possible to fully exploit the characteristics of our precious oil. A perfect blend to obtain an oil rich in aromas and flavor.

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The Cinque Terre are the most pristine and fascinating natural part of Liguria and the Tyrrhenian coast. Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso are the villages suspended between sea and land that give life to the Cinque Terre. Clinging with all their strength on cliffs overlooking the sea, these villages are part of a National Park and since 1997 they are a World Heritage Site protected by UNESCO, to preserve this kingdom of wild scents as nature originally intended.

Riomaggiore

It is really suggestive to walk among the characteristic streets of this town, where lights and shadows create very special effects. In Riomaggiore begins the famous Via dell’Amore, a path carved into the rock that leads to Manarola. The path is really wonderful: you will walk in close contact with nature and you will be able to distinctly hear the sound of the waves that hit the rocks. Riomaggiore is a shy country, which can be discovered little by little, gradually revealing the Castle on the hill of Cerricò, which offers a beautiful view of the sea, or the lovely parish church of San Giovanni Battista.

Manarola

Historians believe that the name Manarola refers to an ancient magna Roea, or magna rota, a large wheel of a water mill. In the lower part of the town you can still appreciate the old mill or oil mill, refurbished by the National Park. Obviously the sea lovers will not be disappointed: going down towards the beach you will find small corners of paradise from which you can enjoy a truly breathtaking view.

Corniglia

To reach Corniglia it is necessary to go up the Lardarina, a grueling brick staircase, as many as 33 ramps with 377 steps, or cross a carriage road that leads from the railway to the village. The name Corniglia derives from the Roman colonist Corneliu, producer of the then already known white wine. Corniglia is a precious rough jewel, made up of small alleys and narrow streets carved into the rock, with a beautiful pebble beach, the so-called Spiaggione, caressed by a crystal clear sea that you absolutely must not miss.

Vernazza

The magical and slightly suspended atmospheres of the characteristic and medieval village of Vernazza will enchant you: mysterious and enigmatic alleys, hidden by the small and pretty red, yellow and pink houses, which in the summer are crowded with tourists from all over the world. Considered one of the hundred most beautiful villages in Italy, Vernazza preserves its long maritime tradition, which has seen the passage of important condottieri and sailors. We advise you to arrive in the city by sea, to get to know immediately the beautiful marina guarded by pastel-colored houses. The 11th century lookout tower, the Doria Castle, the Convent Tower of the Reformed Fathers of San Francesco and the Belforte are worth seeing. Wonderful is the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Reggio and its tree-lined square that will invite you to meditation and total relaxation.

Monterosso al mare

Monterosso still maintains its long fishing tradition intact and bears the marks of its struggles on the sea: the Medieval Tower, today the bell tower of the Church of San Giovanni, the Castle overlooking the sea, which includes three round towers, and the Aurora Tower , the last remaining of the 13 towers that in the 16th century embraced and protected the town. Once you have arrived in the narrow and labyrinthine streets of Monterosso, you can choose to entertain yourself in the historical center of the city, where the church of San Giovanni Battista stands out, or to stay in the modern Fegina, with very equipped beaches. In Fegina you can enjoy the Liberty style villa of the Montale family, as well as having wonderful baths. The beach of Monterosso is the largest of the Cinque Terre and in some stretches is sandy and in others rocky.

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First quality extra virgin olive oil

The Tuscan olive oil par excellence is an extra virgin olive oil of the highest quality, which is positively affected by the strong bond with its own land of origin.
To offer the utmost certainty in terms of authenticity, the Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil is subjected to rigorous chemical and sensorial tests. A group of expert tasters – recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture – tests the quality of the food, checking the complete correspondence to the specification to offer the consumer a precious oil, 100% Tuscan.

Certificate of Excellence IGP

Since 1998, the Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil is protected by the Protected Geographical Indication. As established in the Production Regulations, to protect the traceability of the product and quality, all the production phases of the Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil must take place strictly in the territories of Tuscany. More information on www.prezzisalute.com.

Organoleptic characteristics

Starting from the pressing of Tuscan olives, extremely diversified oils are obtained, with substantial variations of flavors: this diversity depends on the geographical location, the composition of the lands that host the olive trees, the climate and exposure to the sun.
The Tuscan olives therefore offer a vast aromatic range, ranging from spicy to decisive, from bitter to fruity: according to the characteristics listed on the label, the consumer can therefore choose the oil that best satisfies his or her tastes and that best suits the approach to food.
Regardless of the olive variety, for its organoleptic characteristics, the Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil is appreciated not only in Italy, but appreciated all over the world.

Types of Tuscan Olives

Tuscany is one of the Italian regions with the greatest olive growing vocation: the Grosseto Maremma, the internal hill and the coastal strip are the areas most destined for the cultivation of olive trees.
Among the varieties (cultivars) of the most famous olive trees, they include:

•     Leccine
•     Frantoiane
•     Moraiole

Leccine olives

From the pressing of Olive Leccino a golden oil is obtained, with reflections and green nuances. On the palate, it leaves a fresh taste, not very fruity but pleasantly bitter and spicy. Experts see notes of basil, mint and other aromatic herbs.

Frantoiane olives

The Tuscan extra virgin olive oil obtained from the pressing of Frantoio olives stands out for its dark green color, with yellow and golden shades. Like all oils originating in Tuscany, even the one produced with Frantoio olives is of excellent quality: on the palate, a fruity, spicy and slightly bitter taste can be seen. It is a fine, sapid and very aromatic oil, which leaves an aftertaste of unripe apple, marjoram, lettuce, almond, grass and celery in the mouth.

Moraiole olives

Even the Tuscan oil obtained from Olive Moraiolo is appreciated for its fruity scent with bitter and spicy notes.

Matching with food

The fruity tone and strong character make Tuscan olive oil particularly suitable for enhancing the taste of grilled red meat, game, boiled legumes, soups of vegetables and all those foods with an intense and lively character.

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