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EXCURSIONS
La Fonte is ideally situated for guests to discover Tuscany and
all it has to offer.
San Gimignano:
Known as the City of Towers is 8 km from La Fonte. It is a UNESCO
heritage site and one of the best preserved medieval towns in
Europe. It is one of Italy's most visited cities and offers the
tourist a magnificent window onto medieval life. There is a large
choice of restaurants, you can taste the local "vernaccia" wine
and enjoy one of the huge choices of ice cream at the "world champion
ice cream" shop in Piazza Cisterna.
Certaldo Alto:
Certaldo is just 4 kilometres from La Fonte. The original medieval
town is perched on the hill above overlooking its more modern
extension and is truly worth a visit. It is charming, small and
because it is such a well kept secret, mass tourism and souvenir
shops are nowhere in site. One can get to it by the cable railway
or on foot. There are some lovely restaurants with great views
and a stroll through the town on a balmy summer evening is "pure
Tuscany".
Florence:
This medieval city which has more are per square meter than any
other city in the world is situated on the banks of the Arno river.
It offers a rich array of medieval and renaissance history which
reflect its past as one of the most important centres of commerce
and banking in Europe. The choice of museums and architecture
make the city one of the most beautiful in the world.
Siena:
This delightful city is worth a visit even if you are on a very
short visit to Tuscany. The main square or "Campo" is where the
Palio horse race takes place twice a year. Shaped like a fan with
its beautiful medieval municipal buildings and "Mangia" tower
it offers a truly lovely site. The Duomo is probably one of the
most beautiful cathedrals in Italy. Shopping on The Corso offers
an extensive choice and pleasurable experience of city life.
Lucca:
Lucca is one of Tuscany's best kept secrets. Its charming alley
ways, a wealth of elegant 15th and 16th century buildings and
a daily rhythm have remained undisturbed by the 21st century.
This wealthy city is surrounded by an enormous fortress-like wall
built in the 16th century. It offers visitors a great opportunity
to walk on or cycle around the city. For antique lovers, Lucca
has a huge open air antique fair once a month.
Monteriggioni:
This tiny medieval town is entirely surrounded by its original
fortress like walls. The walls extend for 570 metres, there are
fourteen towers and two gates - one facing Siena the other Florence.
Perched on a hill, it was originally built as a look out post
and for the defence of the Val D'Elsa valley.
Volterra:
Situated high on a hill that seems to touch the sky, this ancient
Etruscan fortress town is full of tiny alleyways and streets that
wend and wind to the main square. This city featured in the "Twilight"
saga, has retained its slightly chaotic charm. The views overlooking
the surrounding valley from the city walls are spectacular and
wandering through the town's streets one still gets a feeling
of what life in the town was like centuries ago. For centuries,
Volterra has been known for its beautiful alabaster and there
are still numerous artisans making and selling their wares in
the city shops.
Montepulciano:
Montepulciano is best known for its Vino Nobile. Every inch of
the hills surrounding the town are covered with vines producing
the famous red Brunello. It has a lovely central piazza and offers
many lovely works of art and architecture.
Pienza:
This is a little gem of a town sitting high on a hill overlooking
the Val d'Orcia which is just like the scenery seen in the film
"The Gladiator" It was very important during medieval times due
to its strategic position. The town was transformed from a medieval
town into a papal residence in Renaissance style by Pope Pio 11
in 1459 and one can still enjoy looking at the the fine golden
coloured stone buildings and palazzi today. The small alleyways
are full of artisan shops and restaurants serve the local wines
and salames as well as the "Pecorino di Pienza" which is a locally
made goat's cheese.
The Coast:
The Tuscan coast abounds with beaches both public and private
which offer a huge variety of sea side relaxation, beautiful coastline
and restaurants offering wonderful fish menus to suit all tastes.
Walking and Cycling:
For those guests who enjoy cycling and walking there are is an
endless choices of routes to choose from which offer the most
spectacular views around every corner. The numerous hills, some
of which are very steep mean that a careful choice of route should
be made before setting off. There are several books on the cycling
and walking routes around us. The local tourist office is also
a good source of information for walkers and cyclists. Bicycles
and scooters can be rented in San Gimignano.
Shopping:
Tuscany is famous for its leather, glass ware, terracotta products
and an endless variety can be found in nearly all the small towns
and villages. In Florence and Siena there a shops selling all
the most important brand names which have made Italy the fashion
mecca it is. There are numerous fashions outlets where high fashion
clothes can be bought at very reasonable prices. Volterra is famous
for its alabaster, Montelupo Fiorentino for its ceramic ware,
Colle Vald'Elsa has superb crystal and cut glass. "Lo Scoprioccasioni"
is a useful book for "shopaholics" with information about the
best shops and outlets to visit.
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