For us here in Toronto (and most of North America) this winter has been anything but. Jokes like “Last night I went to bed in February and work up this morning in April” are commonplace in the twittersphere and coffee shops around the city.
Being a skier, you will often hear me complaining about the lack of snow and that this is pitiful excuse for a Canadian winter. Meanwhile our friends over in Italy are experiencing the exact opposite. One of our Local Hosts in Tuscany sent the below photos from Cetona and the lake of Chiuisi to show us just how snowy it is in Italy.
On a recent Skype call with Jessica Russell (Regional Director in Italy) she shivered in her winter jacket from her office in Foligno, Umbria as she remarked ‘I didn’t know I had moved to Canada!’ (see her photos of Foligno below). Looks like for this year Canada and Italy have decided to trade places.
We thought it was time to brush off an older blog post from the archives written by Senior Travel Advisor, Lauren Bunton when she was over in Italy, the last time they had a cold spell in 2007 (see below).
Wishing all of our Local Hosts, partners and colleagues over in Europe and safe and warm rest of winter.
Jessica Barker
Travel Advisor
Under the Tuscan Snow – Travel in the Off Season
This morning I awoke to a Tuscany that had been covered in snow overnight, something which is rare and incredibly beautiful to see at this time of year. The local people who we spoke to confirmed that it has in fact been four years since the last March snow fall. The rolling Tuscan hillsides were even more stunning with the blanket of snow laying on them on our properties we visited this day even more inviting with their grand fireplaces and welcoming and cozy sitting areas.
One such property is Il Lauro to which our visit was a perfect treat on this wintery morning. The owner greeted us at the villa door with hot mugs of tea, a roaring fire and heated stone floors – perfect for warming our chilly feet – which we enjoyed in the open kitchen area that is equipped with a beautiful wood burning fireplace. The owner also took us down for a visit to the amazing jacuzzi at this property, set just a short distance from the home and offering perfect views of the olive trees and lovely garden area. The owner herself had taken a dip in the jacuzzi that morning while the snow fell around her!
As I continue on my travels and drive throughout the region, I am reminded what a great time it is to be in Tuscany. The roads, shops, restaurants and towns are quiet and almost free of other tourists and the properties are warm and welcoming, perfect for relaxing with a good book in front of the fire or a cooking class in the well equipped kitchens. Not to mention that this is considered low season by many of the owners which offers some fantastic rates!
Lauren Bunton
Senior Travel Advisor
If you enjoyed this post and would like to experience Tuscany in the off season, we would suggest the following properties:
Il Lauro - Campo dell’Amato – L’Oliveto
