• Cortona
• San Gimignano
• Arezzo
• San Sepolcro
• Adriatic Coast
• Formula 1

• Photography
• Food
• Local Events
• Mini-break in Tuscany
• Week in Tuscany

A day trip to the beautiful hilltop town of Cortona is highly recommended. It is a beautiful drive from Tuscan Oasi (approximately one and a half hours) with outstanding views of Castiglion Fiorentina on the way. Once in Cortona, you can stand on the terrace next to the park and enjoy a breathtaking panorama which includes Lake Trasimeno, another place well worth a visit.

Even without its art treasures, this is a good place to visit just for the views, shops and excellent restaurants. Maps are available from reception.

San Gimingnano

Probably the best known village in Italy! It has to be said that its beautiful skyline of towers is something to behold and really does give you a feeling of Tuscany in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The towers were built by the social climbers of the time - each family wanted to boast ownership of the highest. Several towers have since fallen down but enough remain to make this village a real spectacle as you see it on the horizon on your approach.The only problem is that, like Venice and Florence, in the height of summer there are large numbers of tourists and parking is almost impossible. San Gimignano is approximately two and a half hours from Tuscan Oasi.

Arezzo

Approximately one hour's drive from Tuscan Oasi the wealthy town of Arezzo famous for its jewellers and goldsmiths. Near the Piazza Grande are shops bursting with antiques and indeed the piazza is taken over once a month by antique sellers with their "Fiera Antiquaria" or antiques fair.The recently restored frescoes by Piero della Francesca are well worth a visit as are the Duomo, palazzi and museums. Shopping is a major pastime in Italy and all the major designers have shops in Arezzo. But perhaps the best shopping is to be found in the many jewellers' shops in the cobbled sidestreets - ideal for finding the perfect present as you will find pieces here that are not to be found anywhere else.

One of the best-kept secrets in Italy. Shopping, a wonderful swimming pool complex set in a pine grove, a beautiful historical centre, fabulous restaurants, the evening passegiata, a sunny piazza, pretty parks, a surprisingly large cathedral, even an English pub. Sansepolcro offers everything but is not overrun with tourists. Art lovers will know of the famous "Resurrection" fresco painted by Piero della Francesca, a native of Sansepolcro. As a fresco of course, it cannot be exhibited elsewhere, so brush up on your culture and visit the museum to see this startling picture.

The Adriatic coast

Rimini is the nearest resort and only forty miles away. It is a bustling, touristy town perfect for teenagers and the beaches are safe for children. However there are several less well-known resorts along the coast which are well worth exploring.

Cesenatico is a pretty town with its famous canal, designed by Leonardo da Vinci, running through the middle of the main street. There are plenty of restaurants and bars, fish and ice cream being particular specialities (although not served together of course).

Fano and Senigallia are thriving resorts, popular with Italians. The beaches are sandy, very long and very safe. The Adriatic is not tidal and all resorts have their own safe swimming area clearly marked out. It is fairly difficult to find restaurants which sell anything other than fish although pasta is always on every menu.

Pesaro is well worth a visit. This historical city is the birthplace of Rossini and is full of beautiful architecture, upmarket restaurants and plenty of shops.

Ancona is probably the furthest south you can go for a day trip as it is a good two hours' drive from Tuscan Oasi. As a ferry port connecting to Greece, Africa and Croatia, it has a more cosmopolitan atmosphere than many other places along the coast. The Conero peninsula just beyond Ancona is spectacular with fabulous beaches and pretty little fishing villages.

Formula 1

Tuscan Oasi is within easy reach of Imola and Monza making us a good base for anyone wishing to attend these races and to see the Formula 1 museum.

Photography

Tuscan Oasi and the surrounding area are an absolute gift to anyone interested in photography. Wildlife abounds, the mountains can be spectacular, or awesome or gently welcoming, depending upon the light and the time of year. There are rivers, ancient towns and little villages, all types of people from peasant farmers to sophisticated city-dwellers - the list goes on and on.

Food

The overriding factor in life of all Italians! Forget what you have been told about Italians' love of cars, fashion, l'amore, (although all these things matter) - the most important part of their lives is food. School dinners are three or four course meals with a half hour rest afterwards to aid digestion, shops close for the main meal of the day at one o'clock and do not re-open until four o'clock (they close again at eight o'clock for supper). Pizza is rarely served before five o'clock because no-one would ever eat pizza for their main meal. Prizes for raffles, races and most other competitions are always food: a leg of prosciutto being the usual first prize. As certain foods come into season, so they are celebrated: there are festas for chestnuts, mushrooms, truffles, olive oil and even polenta. Our local restaurant holds a nationally renowned truffle festival each October and November when chefs from all over Italy come to produce their own versions of cooking with truffles. All local restaurants have seasonal menus as they all use local produce. Consequently, during the hunting season (September to December) you can choose from wild boar, hare, deer, rabbit and various birds. There are many local restaurants, all with their own particular style which we will be happy to recommend to you. And the best news of all is that, at even the most expensive restaurant, you will rarely pay more than €24 (£15) per head, including a bottle of house wine. Prices range from €8 (£5) to €24 (£15) per head. Ask at reception for details and recommendations.

Throughout the year, but particularly during the summer, every Italian town hosts festas, races, palios, food festivals, truffle festivals, travelling theatre, music, opera etc etc. There are far too many to include here. We decided therefore that the easiest way to notify guests of what they can visit and take part in would be to publish a list of all the events which are within easy reach of Tuscan Oasi- by 'easy reach' we mean within two hours' drive. A copy of this list is available free from reception.

Mini Break (4 days/3nights in Tuscany)

Day 1: arrival in Tuscan Oasi and relax after the trip

Day 2 : morning free for horse riding or walking– departure to discover the nearby Monterchi, Anghiari and Sansepolcro (Piero della Francesca)

Day 3 : Day relax in the Spas of Bagno di Romagna with eventually a visit to the tax free shopping San Marino with its castle.

Day 4 : Departure and short visit to Arezzo or Florence on you way back.

Week in Tuscany (8 days/7 nights)

Day 1: arrival in Tuscan Oasi and relax after the trip

Day 2 : morning free for horse riding or walking– departure to discover the nearby Monterchi, Anghiari and Sansepolcro (Piero della Francesca)

Day 3 : Day relax in the Spas of Bagno di Romagna with eventually a visit to the tax free shopping San Marino with its castle.

Day 4 : Visit to Umbria with  San Giustino (Castle of Bufalini), Citta di Castello, Montone and Umbertide

Day 5 : Morning relax and departure to Castiglion Fiorentino, Cortona and Pierle (and Lago Trasimeno)

Day 6 : Visit to Arezzo and a the evening meal in a typical Tuscan restaurant near to Tuscan Oasi (extra)

Day 7 : departure with eventually a short visit to Florence to those who have never seen it before.