Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

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.

One of the more frequent questions we hear is, “What are some activities for children in Tuscany?” So you have rented your self-catering villa or apartment and you have access to a pool to keep the little ones entertained for part of the time, but what do you DO all day?

Aside from the culture you hope they absorb touring the museums and ruins, here are few unique ways for kids, as well as parents, to experience Tuscany and its surroundings.

Pinocchio Park is only 15 km outside of Lucca
In the park, you will see the story of Pinocchio brought to life through art and sculpture. There are also other activities at the park such as puppet making workshops, a butterfly house and much more.

It took some time but finally it is now possible to view the official brochures and guides of the Tourism Promotion Office for the Siena Territory (APT Siena) on line. Well, they do not contain much information but for sure they offer a lot of inspiration through the many big and splendid photos......



Link to the page of brochures and Guides online of the official Website of Tourism in Terre di Siena

If you'd like to experience Siena for yourself consider renting a villa in Siena, Italy.