Monterosso al Mare
Crystalline water, plentiful restaurants and small hotels and the area’s only sandy beach make Monterosso al Mare the most resort-oriented stop of the Cinque Terre. The last of the five villages along the Cinque Terre strip, Monterosso al Mare is the most visited, largely because it has the only sizable sand beach and the biggest hotels. Though it can get very crowded with tourists during the peak summer months, Monterosso is still delightful. The old town area, separated from the more modern resort area by the Aurora tower, is home to the ruins of a medieval castle and San Francesco church, which houses an important Van Dyck painting of the crucifixion. Day beds and umbrellas are available for rent on the crowded strand, popular with both tourists and locals, especially midsummer.
The Tuscan landscape design style blends charm and Old World beauty with modern flair and elegance. This sophisticated, yet simple, theme for outdoor living space has made Tuscan landscape design quite popular, especially in affluent communities. The beauty, as well as the practicality, of a Tuscan garden complements today’s lifestyles and homes.
The plants, trees, and other flora that is incorporated into a landscape design are really the defining elements of any garden theme.Tuscan garden plants are very distinct and extremely important if you are planning a Tuscan style outdoor area.Tuscany is a central coastal region of Italy, known for its breathtaking scenery and relaxed, farming culture with an emphasis on vineyards.
Shade Relief and Privacy with Tuscan Trees and Shrubs
Trees and shrubs are a vital part of any relaxing outdoor design. Most of the trees native to Tuscany are evergreens, giving your home a lush, Mediterranean appearance year round. The following trees and shrubs will compliment any Tuscan landscape design…
The artistic curves and twists of Live Oak branches will provide wonderful shade and add character to your Tuscan garden.
Your Tuscan landscape design will not be complete without the symbolic Italian Cypress tree.
These grand evergreens make wonderful privacy barriers around your yard and add to the magnificence of your home.
Olive trees are also signature plants of Tuscany that should be a part of your design.
Showcase a variety of citrus trees, berry plants, and other Tuscany garden plants around your patio and terrace, using large terra cotta planters for a rustic Tuscan flair.
Tuscan shrubsmake wonderful hedges and look terrific along the walkways in your garden.
Boxwoods, bay trees, the yew tree, and other plants of Tuscany that are easily pruned make terrific topiaries for a contemporary touch to your garden design.
Palm trees can be incorporated into your Tuscan garden.RealPalmTrees.com carries a wide range of palms including many that can withstand the cooler temperatures of the Mediterranean nights in winter. They deliver to 48 States in the USA including worldwide and will arrange freight shipping for large specimens.
Canary Island Date Palms, European Fan Palms, Pindo Palms, Windmill Palms, California Fan Palms and Sago Palms are just some of the many that do well in a Mediterranean climate.
Smaller specimens are great in urns for both inside and out or under the canopies of larger trees. Large palms placed in rows produces a bold statement and can help lead the eye to an accent point. Palms are also great used near swimming pools to create a private oasis.
Leslie Halloran
Please check out my website at: www.lihdesigns.net
“A frog in the well does not know the sea.” – Japanese Proverb
Tuscan Herb and Vegetable Gardens
Traditional Tuscan gardens were designed to be just as practical as they were beautiful, providing an assortment of fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables that filled the air with a sweet aroma and were used in the kitchen to prepare the rich Tuscan cuisine. Most contemporary Tuscan garden designs feature these same aromatic plants.
Italian herbs can be grown in a variety of containers and make attractive arrangements with very little effort.
Rosemary, sage, basil, and thymeare all common Tuscan garden plants.
There are a number of other plants that can be incorporated into your landscape design to add to your Tuscan atmosphere, including the distinct smelling lavender plant.
An Italian vegetable garden can be tastefully integrated into your Tuscan garden design and can provide you with a selection of fresh foods for your kitchen. Tomatoes, eggplant, colorful bell peppers, and exotic artichoke plants are perfect additions to your Tuscan backyard. The vineyards that scatter the Tuscany countryside can be recreated in your own outdoor area with delicate grape vines.
Choosing the Right Tuscan Garden Plants
There are a variety of Mediterranean plants that can add the charm of Tuscany to your landscape design. Selecting the right combination of these plants, with the ideal planting layout, is crucial to designing a rustic Tuscan garden that blends with the elegance of your home.
You will want to carefully position lush evergreen shade trees, majestic topiary hedges, and enchanting Tuscan fruit trees in the most ideal places, while leaving room for the fragrant herbs, soft lavender, and colorful vegetables that complete your Tuscan style garden.
Creeping vines and fragile flowers, like wisteria and pastel roses, and the rustic charm of grapevines are just as important.
Artimino
Resembling a perfect painting, Artimino is picturesque and beautiful. Nestling in the green hills of Tuscany, Artimino is quaint and medieval and has been known for its famous Medici ‘Villa La Ferdinanda’. Ranging over the wine producing area of the Vino di Carmignano, the wine of this region was declared s a noble wine by the Grand Duke Cosimo III de’Medici.
The Etruscans named the area as Artumeno in the 8th century BC. History has recorded Artimino in its annals as numerous Etruscan burial chambers were found in the areas of Comeano and Poggio a Caiano around Artimino. The Roman style is still found in the names of the villages and the farmhouses in this area. The Castle of Artimino was constructed in the Middle Ages during the 10th century. Due to the focal strategic point of Artimino there were constant tussles between Florence and Pistoia. In the middle of the 14th century, Artimino came under the rule of Florence.
Beautiful as a natural park, Artimino and the areas around it was bought by Cosimo I de’Medici. He named the area as ‘Barco’, and desired to create a game reserve there. The park stretched over the hilly regions of Artimino till the edges of Vinci and was called the ‘Parco Reale’. The Medici family considered it their hunting grounds and constructed a wall around the park to prevent the game from escaping. Hunting was considered an enjoyable sport as well as a lucrative form of entertainment due to the fact that the skin and meat of the game was valuable.
The Grand Duke Ferdinand appreciated the beauty and value of Artimino and took charge of the cultivation areas and the houses of Artimino to create the royal ‘fattoria’ or the estate. The royal architect Bernado Buontalenti, was commissioned to build a beautiful palazzo that could house the entire court. What transpired was the gorgeous Villa La Ferdinanda in 1594. With incredible architecture, this amazing villa was structured at Poggio a Caiano. The lovely villa is just 15 minutes away by car from Prato, the capital of the province and also from Montelupo Fiorentino and Vinci. The awesome city of Florence is just 20 minutes away from the villa.
The village of Artimino is guarded by a huge tower that was used as a look-out by the “protezione civile” or the civil authorities for fires or if they were going to be attacked by enemies. With the harmony of linear form and lovely features, the Villa La Ferdinand possessed the fantastic architecture of a 100 chimneys built at various angles in different forms and shapes. This was incorporated as one of the villa’s incredible features due to the fact that Ferdinand who loved to hunt could keep his guests warm always. The Villa houses grand ballrooms, enormous suites, small chapels, wine cellars and the Etruscan Museum.
Adorned by lovely frescoes by Pontormo, Andrea del Sarto and other famous artists, the Villa La Ferdinand has two adjacent buildings. One of the buildings called the ‘Corridoio’ or Corridor housed the grooms, valets, and servants, but has been converted into the Hotel Paggeria Medicea as seen today. The second building is the “Palazzo del Sig. Biagio Pignatta” is constructed in the same style as the first building. The Palazzo del Sig. Biagio Pignatta has been named after the valet of the Grand Duke Ferdinand I, who lived on the first floor. The ground floor was originally the riding stables of the noble family but has been transformed into the famous Restaurant Biagio Pignatta offering delicious international and traditional cuisines and the wines of Artimino.
The area of Artimino comprises of 732 hectares out of which 72 hectares face the South and are used as the wine growing area with the cultivation of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trebbiano, San Colombana, Mammolo, Occhio di Pernice varieties of grapes. About 400 meters away from the Villa La Ferdinand, the fattoria in the medieval village produces the famous Barco Reale and the Vin Santo wines. The olive groves evolve over 180 hectares with the fattoria producing the renowned cold pressed oil. Visitors can enjoy traditional snacks served at restaurants in the village of Artimino with its ancient stone buildings, quaint shops and Romanesque churches. Artimino offers the spirit of the medieval ages and the essence of natural beauty.
Massarosa is famous for its splendid natural environment. Well-known since prehistoric times, Massarosa was inhabited during the Roman period and was so important that we still today find evidence of the ancient Roman Baths at Massaciuccoli. The environmental outings all along the famous Lake Massaciuccoli are amazing. There are the important habits connected to the ancient traditions.
Roman villa and old thermal baths Antiquarium
In Massacciuccoli Antiquarium are shown evidences of roman history, among which a beautiful mosaic floor. The visit to the museum is linked to the visit of the Roman villa within the thermal baths where in the summer takes place the review “Lune di Musica” (Music Moons). Already during the Roman period, the place was the seat of an harbour that afterwards became a marsh due to the withdrawal of the sea. the Massaciuccoli lake became a L.I.P.U. oasis. The lake, that was once an ancient coastal lagoon, became today the most important damp area in Tuscany (2.000 hectares).
Nature park of Migliarino San Rossore
The vast lake that the town stands on is the Lago di Massaciuccoli, a unique bird reserve that is part of the nature park of Migliarino-San Rossore. Boat trips around the lake are on offer on Piazzale Belvedere Puccini, usually with a Puccini soundtrack.The oasis can be visited on foot going along a pile-work pathway that goes across the marsh and allows to observe the most characteristic environment of the lake, ideal for bird-watching lovers. Visits are possible on canoes, small boats and even on boats (departure from Viareggio).
Gastronomy
The area boasts numerous traditional food festivals, including pupporina, tordello, porcini mushrooms and polenta. We can eat there as well some interesting special dishes from Roman times :
Garum (sause from fish)
Mulsum (wine with honey)
Pane ficatum (bread with figues)
Torta di farro (cake from farro cereal)
Castagnaccio (cake from nuts)
Leslie Halloran
Please check out my website at: www.lihdesigns.net “A frog in the well does not know the sea.”- Japanese Proverb
