10 Reasons Why Autumn is a Great Time to Discover this Part of Italy.
Tuscany is a bucket-list destination for so many people and it is easy to understand why Boundless Life selected it as their third destination. Fall (autumn for us Brits) is an excellent time of year to discover the region - perhaps even the BEST time!
Here are 10 reasons why our 3-month Fall cohort (September-November) could be the perfect time to explore Bella Italia!
1. Weather
September is really a ‘bonus summer month’ here in Tuscany. Plenty of sunshine and a light jacket should be all you need. October and November see the transition into a still mild autumn and the landscapes transform into a renaissance painting-esque sea of red, orange and gold.
2. Wine Tasting
No trip to Tuscany would be complete without sampling the wines of the region. From Chianti to Montepulciano, the foliage of the vineyards is transformed and now is the time to enjoy the fruits of their labour. La Vendemmia, the grape harvest, begins toward the end of September. Many vineyards open their doors for tours and, of course, tastings. These are usually accompanied by wonderful local food pairings including our next highlight…
3. Chestnut & Truffle Season!
Foodies delight! Autumn is THE time of year to enjoy nature’s bounty. The region is famed for its chestnuts and Fall is when they are harvested and celebrated! Marroni are an especially delicious variety that are eaten roasted, boiled or in various treats that are prepared with chestnut flour.
“Crastatone” is the Glastonbury of the chestnut world. This ancient festival takes place in Piancastagnaio in late October.
If truffles are what you seek you have the opportunity to join private truffle hunts to sniff them out or enjoy the Truffle Festivals that take place throughout the region in November.
4. An Explosion of Nature
A hike around the Casentino National Park will reward you with a concentrated burst of autumnal colours and the scent of mushrooms. The beech and chestnut trees that cling to the slopes of the Apennines are transformed as their foliage moves through a spectrum of warm tones.
5. Discover Lucca - without the crowds of summer
The magnificent walled city of Lucca is within easy reach of Boundless’ base in Pistoia - just a 40 minute train ride away. Hire a pedal ‘car’ and work those calves as you get a unique view of the city from the top of the walls, surrounded by the yellow hues of the many trees.
Visiting Lucca at this quieter time of year means you can really feel like a local. Sample some ‘buccellato’, the local sweet delight, from one of the traditional pasticcerie.
6. A Photographer’s Dreamscape
The autumnal light and the abundance of colour makes for the perfect combination to capture Tuscany at its most glorious. Whether you are a casual, amateur photographer or a professional in the making, life through a lens at this time of year is exquisite.
7. The Hot Springs Feel Even Better on Cooler Days
The famous thermal springs of Saturnia and Montecatani Terme are quieter during autumn and nothing is better than soaking in their healing waters on a cooler day. The pools of Cascate del Mulino in Saturnia are free to enter! Yup, gratis! Amazing.
8. New Olive Oil
November sees one of Tuscany’s most prized exports being harvested: olives! Tasting visits at the numerous mills allow you to sample the super green intensity of the new season’s oil.
9. Views Abound from Tuscany’s Hilltop Towns
Take advantage of the cooler air and gentle autumn breezes to venture up to one of the multitude of Tuscany’s hilltop towns - where you can survey the olive groves and vineyards below in their full fall splendour.
10. Unfettered Florence
Florence’s summer crowds begin to dissipate in autumn and classical music concerts take over the city’s churches and historic opera houses. The Tuscan capital also celebrates its co-patron saint (Santa Reparata) with a mediaeval procession towards the Duomo.
TIP: Although this is not unique to Fall, it is worth noting that on the first Sunday of each month, state-operated museums like the Uffizi, Galleria dell’Accademia, as well as Palazzo Pitti and Giardino di Boboli are totally free to visit!
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