Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

Many people prefer holidays in Spas as it gives them the chance to not only get away from the humdrum of daily life, but also to pamper themselves completely, really getting rid of that muscle tension that slowly builds up without us realising it.

It is common also to use the Spas as ways to treat medical conditions, the hot springs and salt baths can provide amazing alternative medicinal properties for some people.

The word Spa comes from the Belgian town called Spa which is renowned for its healing waters. In continental Europe a spa was called ville d'eau (town of water). It is used mainly for places that offer hydrotherapy and is noted as being very good for your health. Many professional athletes and top celebrities will insist that the spa is the place to be to experience the true feeling of relaxation.

This is a post for the more adventurous people out there......

Now in Tuscany we also have a great "Tree Top Advenure Park" called "Saltalbero" (the link is only Italian I'm afraid). The park is located in the wood area near Rapolano Terme, a very nice area of Tuscany with also some great spa resorts actually.

The park is open to the young and old with 7 different courses ranging in difficulty and height.

Volterra is such a beautiful town and personally I prefer it to the close by San Gimignano.... Less crowded and so much atmosphere.

This magic city has its roots in three thousand years of history and you will find evidence and traces from every historical period. The imposing Porta all’Arco, the Necropolis, the ancient city walls and the numerous archeological finds conserved in the Museo Etrusco Guarnacci like the famous "Ombra della Sera" (evening Shadow) with its unique profile, the funeral urns and the finely crafted jewellery, bear testimony of the Etruscan period.

I wanted to write about some famous Tuscan people for a while and now Pinocchio comes to my mind.... I think Pinocchio is actually one of the most famous fictional characters in the world !!!

Pinocchio (pronounced [piˈnɔkːjo] in Italian) first appeared in 1883, in "The Adventures of Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi, and has since appeared in many adaptations of that story and others. Carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a small Italian village, he was created as a wooden puppet, but he dreamt of becoming a real boy. Pinocchio is often a term used to describe an individual who is prone to telling lies, fabricating stories and exaggerating or creating tall tales for various reasons.

There is a popular conception that Pinocchio's nose grows only when he lies. Under this condition, the Pinocchio Paradox is an analogy for the liar paradox, expressing the dilemma of what will happen if Pinocchio says "My nose will grow now." If he is lying, his nose should grow, but if his nose grows, then he is actually telling the truth. On the other hand, if he is telling the truth and his nose starts growing, then it will violate the condition that his nose grows when he is lying.. hence the paradox.

I believe that every person that loves Tuscany must go and see the the little walled village of Monteriggioni.

It’s very close to Siena and Monteriggioni is famous for its ancient city walls, a splendid example of medieval architecture built by the Sienese in 1213 as a front line in their wars against Florence and maintained – to this day – virtually intact.

The Tuscan poet Dante Alighieri used the turrets of Monterrigioni to evoke the sight of the ring of giants encircling the Infernal abyss.