#tuscan village

[giuliabuilds]

Hello everyone, Giuliabuilds here!

I’m back with a new build: here’s another italian inspired one, and this time I've built a whole village, with no CC!

It’s built in the beautiful world of Tartosa on a 50x50 lot, with multiple apartments, a restaurant, a coffee shop, a flowers' shop, a book shop and so much more (even a church with a wedding venue inside)!.

I’ve used no CC gallery art by: MOONL1GHTSEEKER, CocoSims2205, Katrindekleine, FruitLoops40.

It’s CC free and all the packs I’ve used are listed down below + all the instructions to download it. I hope you’ll like it!

CHECK OUT THE SPEEDBUILD VIDEO AND TOUR ON MY CHANNEL!

Use the moveobjects cheat before placing the lot!

You can find this one on the gallery by searching my ID giuliabuilds ✨ (or by clicking here)

or:

DOWNLOAD GOOGLE DRIVE DOWNLOAD SFS

How to download:

Choose the mirror you prefer between SimFileShare and Google Drive (both ad-free).

Download the file and unzip it.

Place all the files in your Tray folder (…Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Tray).

That’s it! Load your game and this lot will be in your library✨

It contains objects from:

Growing Together.

High School Years.

Cottage Living.

Snowy Escape.

Eco Lifestyle.

Discover University.

Island Living.

Seasons.

Cats&Dogs.

City Living.

Get Together.

Get to Work.

Werewolves.

My Wedding Stories.

Dream Home Decorator.

Realm of Magic.

Jungle Avdenture.

Parenthood.

Vampires.

Dine Out.

Spa Day.

Paranormal Stuff.

Nifty Knitting.

Tiny Living.

Moschino.

Laundry Day.

Fitness Stuff.

Bowling Night Stuff.

Backyard Stuff.

Movie Hangout.

Cool Kitchen.

Perfect Patio.

Booknook Kit.

Basement Treasures Kit.

Greenhouse Haven Kit.

Country Kitchen Kit.

Bathroom Clutter Kit.

Everyday Clutter Kit.

Pastel Pop Kit.

Desert Luxe Kit.

Little Campers Kit.

Blooming Rooms Kit.

Industrial Loft Kit.

Free Holiday Pack.

@maxismatchccworld ❤

[federicagiordanophotography]

[harpersessentials]

+30 CC-FREE LOTS FOR TARTOSA

I don't know if it happens to you - but I often find myself with a sudden urge to rebuild worlds - Even though I'm the worst sim-builder and sim-decorator in the whole history of Sims 😋 And in my quest for lots there's one thing that stresses me out all the time: where will the builds fit in the map?! 🤯 Therefore, I have been creating some personal lists with favourite lots and I thought why not sharing them with you too!

Below I leave a list of my absolute-favourite cc-free lots for Tartosa (and their respective location in the map). A selection of builds made by amazing and astonishingly creative architect simmers. Thank you all for sharing your builds with us!

1 - Piccola Luce 20x20

Seascape (Residential) by @96langerlui99

House by the sea (Residential) by @plantsimgirl

Hayes Terrace (Residential) by @xogerardine

Piccola Luce (Residential) by @alerionjkeee

Hayes Terrace (Residential) by @xogerardine

Tiny Holiday Villa (Residential/Rental) by Lazysimie

Piccola Luce Villa by @raylamars

Piccola Luce (Residential) by Pugowned

Mediterranean House (Residential) by @juliafilms

2 - Villa Vigna 30x20

Rosa Discoteca Cafe (Cafe) by @beetlemp3

Villa Vigna (Residential) by @alerionjkeee

Tartosa Castle (Rental) by @theseptembersim

3 - The Old Wood Nectary 40x30

Casa di Fortuna (Residential) by @96langerlui99

Tartosa Villa Family Home (Residential) by Aveline

4 - Rifugio dei Pirati 30x20

Soleggiato Plaza (Restaurant) by @shysimblr

Amorosa's Garden (Residential) by @catsaar

Tartosa Villa (Residential) by Annathini

Rifugio dei Pirati (Residential) by @alerionjkeee

Pirate Cove (Residential) by @96langerlui99

Italian Rustic Villas (Residential) by @giuliabuilds

Old Couple Home (Residential) by @sunnysimsieyt

Tartosan Stone Home (Residential) by schnuck01

5 - Via Romanza 30x30

Villa Sophia (Residential) by @96langerlui99

Tartosa Wedding Venue (Wedding Venue) by SimCubeez

Via Romanza (Wedding Venue) by @salemssimblr

Italian Dream Villa (Residential) by @paleanelo-sims

Via Romanza Villa (Residential) by Wooldrop

Villa Rosa (Residential) by schnuck01

6 - La Coppia Serena 50x40

The Flair of Provence (Residential) by @96langerlui99

Old Tartosa Farmhouse (Residential) by @ghostlycc

Villa La Florence (Wedding Venue) by @xogerardine

Villa Almahada (Wedding Venue/Rental) by @whyeverr

La Copia Serena Redo (Wedding Venue) by Wooldrop

7 - Thebe Estate 50x50

Tuscan Wedding Venue (Wedding Venue) by @giuliabuilds

Villa Firenze (Residential) by @96langerlui99

Tuscan Village (Multiple Lot Options) by @giuliabuilds

Villa del Vino (Residential/Wedding Venue) by @shysimblr

8 - Celebrazione d' Amore 50x40

Mediterranean Restaurant (Restaurant) by @theseptembersim

Il Vigneto Restaurant (Restaurant) by Riemunen

Roman Amphitheater (Wedding Venue) by @ploufzizi

9 - Baia dell' Amore 40x20

Baia dell' Amore (Beach) by @its-opheliasgarden | cc-lite

Baia dell' Amore (Beach) by @alerionjkeee

[matchalovertrait]

A trip to the botanic shop ⚘

This is part of the Tuscan Village by @giuliabuilds :)

[growingstories]

The bike trip

Tomasso, a 27 year old Sicilian man living in Milan. Tomasso had a deep love for and fitness enjoyed running often. He balanced his passion for health with his profession as a real estate broker. Alongside these interests, Tomasso had a deep passion for food and loved to cook. He often found himself exploring the culinary delights of his hometown, Milan, by frequenting nice restaurants.

While Tomasso enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities on his holidays, he particularly loved indulging in hiking, skiing, and bike tours. However, despite being an Italian, he had never taken opportunity the to explore Tuscany. This was mainly due to the fact that his family hailed from Sicily, and his travels were often divided between Milan and his ancestral home or other destinations abroad.

One day, Tomasso stumbled upon a brochure advertising a four-week culinary trip through the enchanting region of Tuscany. The idea of visiting little villages, trying local delicacies, drinking good wine, and relaxing in beautiful hotels beneath the warm Tuscan sun sounded absolutely perfect to him. Determined to embark on this adventure, Tomasso began training for his trip. He dedicated one to two hours each day to wearing a heavy backpack, as well as participating in various fitness exercises to achieve the perfect summer body just in time for his holiday.

When the day finally arrived, Tomasso packed his car and embarked on a scenic drive to his first destination. Much to his delight, he was greeted at a stunning hotel with a glass of Prosecco and a delectable buffet of cured meats and cheeses. Overwhelmed by the abundance of food and the enticing free-flowing Prosecco, he indulged himself to the point of feeling a little tipsy. Just as he was about to retire to his room and rest for his trip, he received an unexpected call dinner for. Confused, as he thought he had already experienced dinner at the buffet, Tomasso found himself faced with even more extravagant dishes. A vitello tonato served as the starter, followed by a large plate of delicious and rich pasta. Just when he believed the pasta was the course main, a great roasted chicken appeared before him. Unable to resist, he ate until he was uncomfortably full. And to his surprise, a bottomless tiramisu was served for dessert. Despite his overflowing belly, he eagerly devoured a second plate. The night was filled with restless sleep due to the excessive indulgence.

The following day began with a sluggish feeling, which Tomasso attempted to shake off with a carb-loaded breakfast. He then set off on a two-hour bike ride to his first destination, a dairy farm. There, he tasted a variety of amazing cheeses, such as burrata and aged cheese, accompanied by rich artisanal bread and fruit fresh from the farm's garden. After another hour of cycling, he arrived at an olive grove, where he enjoyed a delightful olive oil tasting, followed by homemade pizzas. The final stop was a winery, where he indulged in a tasting of many excellent wines, paired with bread, cheeses, and meats. The overindulgence caused him to feel a little tipsy. Fortunately, the tour operator offered the use of a bus to transport the participants and their bikes back to the hotel, allowing Tomasso to enjoy several more glasses of wine. Once back at the hotel, he was met with yet another amazing antipasti buffet, accompanied by Prosecco, followed by a four-course dinner. Despite his attempts to exercise self-control, Tomasso succumbed to the temptation of all the delicious food before him.

The ensuing days followed a similar routine with different locations. However, due to his excessive drinking at the winery, Tomasso found himself skipping the long bike rides. As the days went by, he couldn't help but notice aated blo feeling that never seemed to subside. His normal clothes began to feel uncomfortably tight, leaving him wondering how he had gained weight despite the long bike rides.

By the halfway point of his trip, Tomasso noticed that his once-pronounced abs were now hidden beneath a layer of fat. Consequently, he started skipping even more bike rides, as they were often paired with alcohol-related activities. This pattern continued, and he found himself becoming gradually bigger and less active as the weeks progressed.

By the end of the third and fourth weeks, Tomasso had practically discontinued any form of bike exercise, delegating the task to the tour guide. One day, while glancing at his reflection in the hotel mirror, he saw a full-blown belly staring back at him. Despite his growing size, he had no regrets. The tour had been an absolute blast, allowing him to immerse himself in the amazing specialties and cultural experiences of his own country.

The rest of the summer, Tomasso enjoyed the bottles of wine and various foods he had taken home as souvenirs. Unfortunately, he remained quite inactive during this period. As September approached and he reached for his regular clothes, he realized that none of them fit anymore. He knew it was time to go on a diet.

The following summer, Tomasso decided to book another culinary tour, this time in Sicily. Four weeks of indulgence awaited him, followed by two weeks of visiting family. However, his body had not fully recovered from the previous year's excesses, and he had only managed to shed a few kilos. This time, the bike rides were even more infrequent, while the food intake increased exponentially. The visits to family members provided even less opportunity for physical activity, as Tomasso found himself overstuffed with his mother's and aunt's delicious meals. By the end the of holiday, he had gained even more weight than the previous year, leaving him to question when he would ever manage to lose the excess weight.

[oswincoleman]

A great new interview with Jenna Coleman about her favourite travel destinations.

Some highlights:

Which foreign phrase do you use the most?

“Any French swearword: merde or putain.”

Have you experienced a holiday disaster?

“When we finished Wilderness, many of the flights were down. Ollie [co-star Oliver Jackson-Cohen] and I had to get back home from the middle of the Grand Canyon, so we drove six hours to Phoenix. On the way, we passed through Sedona and this stunning, red-rock landscape that I had never seen before. Stopping for lunch, we were like, How has this ended up being the best day ever?”

Which is your favourite city?

“I’m torn between New York and Florence. Last year we shot Wilderness in New York. It just has its own rhythm, which means you come back feeling exhausted but invigorated. I celebrated my last birthday in different dive bars on a hot balmy night. I love that there is a village feeling in a city, and an ease to being social. And then Florence. I love just walking without a plan, and discovering places such as the Boboli Gardens, and all those grottoes and Renaissance statues.”

[andreablog2]

Honestly my American dream would to be like a high school English teacher who’s married to a dean of students who used to be a White House aide or something and during the summer we go to the same random affordable Tuscan village and I have this thing as a teacher where I’ll single out a student and try to “save them” only to confuse them in life even further and like my original ambition was to be an art historian and the town im in has this historical society im apart of and like it’s these 50-60 something shady old ladies who look down upon me for not acting like a puritan nun but I have more money and charisma and I kind of just put them in their place but fuck up all the time and will like steel artifacts from the historical society to use in my home.

[abramsbooks]

RECIPE: Arugula and Toasted Pine Nut Pesto (from Pasta Veloce by Frances Mayes and Susan Wyler)

Makes about 1½ cups (360 ml)

Ingredients

5 ounces (140 g) baby arugula

⅓ cup (80 ml) extra-virgin olive oil

½ cup (70 g) pine nuts

2 cloves garlic, crushed through a press

½ teaspoon crushed hot red pepper

½ cup (50 g) grated pecorino Romano

⅔ cup (160 ml) pasta water, or more if needed

Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Put the arugula in a blender or food processor. In a small heavy saucepan, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the nuts, reduce the heat to low, and toast until they are very light brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the nuts and hot oil over the arugula.

Add the garlic and hot pepper. Pulse to a coarse puree. Mix in the cheese. Add the pasta water and puree to a saucy consistency. Season with salt and black pepper.

From the famed author of Under the Tuscan Sun, the most delicious Tuscan pasta recipes that can be made in the time it takes to boil water and for the pasta to cook

Frances Mayes is known for transporting readers to the charming Italian countryside in her bestselling books. In Pasta Veloce, Mayes brings that irresistible Italian flavor right to your home with 100 of her favorite pasta recipes. These well-loved recipes blend traditional Italian technique with magic from the Mayes and Wyler home kitchens where experiments are always in progress.

Pasta is the most versatile food on Earth. And if you do it right: fast! Pasta Veloce offers a multitude of under-30-minute, luscious recipes, all accompanied by Mayes’s evocative text. While there are numerous pasta cookbooks, few feature a true Italophile’s passion and eye for detail that can get a dish to the table in, as Mayes describes, “the time it takes to boil water.” From a Tagliatelle with Duck Confit, Chestnuts, and Coffee Reduction to a glittering Capellini with Golden Caviar to the perfect vodka sauce, Pasta Veloce is your guide on those nights when you’re ready to skip the whole production of it but still want to eat like royalty in a rustic Italian village.

For more information, click here.

[readerbookclub]

Hello everyone, I finally have a new book list! So sorry this is so late, I've started uni again this month, and things were a bit hectic. Anyway, this theme has been requested for a while, so I hope you enjoy!

As always, please vote for your favourite book using the link at the end of the post :)

Still Life, by Sarah Winman

Tuscany, 1944: As Allied troops advance and bombs fall around deserted villages, a young English soldier, Ulysses Temper, finds himself in the wine cellar of a deserted villa. There, he has a chance encounter with Evelyn Skinner, a middle-aged art historian who has come to Italy to salvage paintings from the ruins and recall long-forgotten memories of her own youth. In each other, Ulysses and Evelyn find a kindred spirit amongst the rubble of war-torn Italy, and set off on a course of events that will shape Ulysses's life for the next four decades.

As Ulysses returns home to London, reimmersing himself in his crew at The Stoat and Parrot -- a motley mix of pub crawlers and eccentrics -- he carries his time in Italy with him. And when an unexpected inheritance brings him back to where it all began, Ulysses knows better than to tempt fate, and returns to the Tuscan hills.

With beautiful prose, extraordinary tenderness, and bursts of humor and light, Still Life is a sweeping portrait of unforgettable individuals who come together to make a family, and a richly drawn celebration of beauty and love in all its forms.

The Bone Maker, Sarah Beth Durst

Twenty-five years ago, five heroes risked their lives to defeat the bone maker Eklor—a corrupt magician who created an inhuman army using animal bones. But victory came at a tragic price. Only four of the heroes survived. 

Since then, Kreya, the group’s leader, has exiled herself to a remote tower and devoted herself to one purpose: resurrecting her dead husband. But such a task requires both a cache of human bones and a sacrifice—for each day he lives, she will live one less.

She’d rather live one year with her husband than a hundred without him, but using human bones for magic is illegal in Vos. The dead are burned—as are any bone workers who violate the law. Yet Kreya knows where she can find the bones she needs: the battlefield where her husband and countless others lost their lives.

But defying the laws of the land exposes a terrible possibility. Maybe the dead don’t rest in peace after all.  

Five warriors—one broken, one gone soft, one pursuing a simple life, one stuck in the past, and one who should be dead. Their story should have been finished. But evil doesn’t stop just because someone once said, “the end.”

In the Lives of Puppets, by T. J. Klune

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots--fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They're a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled "HAP," he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio-a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio's former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic's assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

Author TJ Klune invites you deep into the heart of a peculiar forest and on the extraordinary journey of a family assembled from spare parts.

Empress of Forever, by Max Gladstone

A feminist Guardians of the Galaxy—a smart, swashbuckling, wildly imaginative adventure of a rag-tag team of brilliant misfits, dangerous renegades, and enhanced outlaws in a war-torn future.

A wildly successful innovator to rival Steve Jobs or Elon Musk, Vivian Liao is prone to radical thinking, quick decision-making, and reckless action. On the eve of her greatest achievement, she's trying to outrun those who are trying to steal her success.

In the chilly darkness of a Boston server farm, Viv sets her ultimate plan into motion. A terrifying instant later, Vivian Liao is catapulted through space and time to a far future where she confronts a destiny stranger and more deadly than she could ever imagine.

The end of time is ruled by an ancient, powerful Empress who blesses or blasts entire planets with a single thought. Rebellion is literally impossible to consider--until Vivian arrives. Trapped between the Pride, a ravening horde of sentient machines, and a fanatical sect of warrior monks who call themselves the Mirrorfaith, Viv must rally a strange group of allies to confront the Empress and find a way back to the world and life she left behind.

A magnificent work of vivid imagination and universe-spanning action, Empress of Forever is a feminist Guardians of the Galaxy crossed with Star Wars and spiced with the sensibility and spirit of Iain M. Banks and William Gibson.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family--and a new love--changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for....

Please vote using this link.

[jeanbie]

WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU #1 ★ masterlist.

pairing: erwin x reader

genre: lovers / lovers to nobodies au | warnings: angst, set the night before his demise in season 3, she/her pronouns for reader | wc: 533

note: once again, i pulled this from my old fanfic archive, so any similarities to other works (specifically this same series on my old blog) is intentional because it is in fact me :) enjoy anyway!

⏤ Imagine the first time they say I love you. Imagine the words resting quietly on the air, spoken in time with the rising sun and the soft whispers of morning.

It had been a final wish.

A final promise that had him shuffling his feet across his hall and into the cuddle of his shoes, socks rubbing at the toes as he dragged himself to your door and knocked once. A silence followed and the door had opened, a warm glow of tuscan sun bleeding out onto the welcome mat beneath his feet, and then came the smile that he remembered falling in love with, and the honey colours he was seeing on his eyelids hours after falling asleep with his arms wrapped around you, ankles curled and limbs entangled.

It was the last time, after-all. 

In contrast to the summery, pineapple hues that painted his mind last night, Erwin wakes up feeling pewter. The curtains roll slowly and silently by the window opened on a hatch, and a lavender sunrise leaks across the sky above the small house he once knew to memory. Now, he can hardly recall where the secrets he used to swear not to tell lie anymore. 

A sigh escapes his lips and he winces, being sure not to awake the presence of another body wrapped up in a plethora of ivory bed sheets. His eyes flicker down to the way you curl so nostalgically into his left side, your forehead buried into the curve of his ribcage, uttering not a whisper in the ungodly hours of the morning. His calloused fingers come to brush away the strands of hair that fall over into your closed eyes, the feathery movements making you squirm, shuffling further into his body as if you could get any closer. Erwin sucks in a breath, a large one, and allows himself ten more delicious moments of remembering your face. A silence ensues once more as the distant sound of birdsong hangs over the sleeping town. 

Erwin Smith, a man who in his youth once swore that from the minute he laid eyes on you, wearing a dress your auntie made and mismatched socks, he would marry you; Erwin Smith, a guy who in the first year of his military career returned to your village and protected you against a bully and got a fistful instead of you- no, no, Erwin Smith, a guy who always knew what he had and never took advantage of it, the boy who shone brighter than the aura of the girl with the two braids, the boy who fell in love with someone so unexpected and so beautifully unaware of her own capability– he props himself up onto one elbow and stares in what could be described as sadness. 

His eyes find themselves clouding over at the picture-perfect sight of you in a position he once loved so dearly…and you swear that when you awoke hours later, you could still feel the ghost of his fingertips brushing across your cheekbones and the feeling of warm breath against your earlobe, lips pressing butterfly kisses of anchor against it, and the fading words of “I love you” leaving his lips for the first and last time.

[in-tenebris-et-in-solitudine]

Dreaming of escaping to la dolce vita. What I wouldn't give to hop on a plane and disappear into the Tuscan countryside for a few months. Wander quiet cobblestone streets, sip cappuccinos in piazzas, and watch the sunset over ancient ruins. No agenda, no responsibilities - just me and the beauty of Italy. Forget everything for a while and get lost in another world. Maybe we could explore it together? Two wandering spirits embracing the freedom of no plans. We’d split a bottle of chianti over long lazy meals, dance at local village festivals, and make unforgettable memories. Let’s leave it all behind for a while and escape to where the heart is always full and the only schedule is indulging the senses. A presto, bella Italia!

[matchalovertrait]

How could you not feel the romance in a beautiful Tuscan village?

This Tuscan Village was made by @giuliabuilds! There's so much more of this stunning build that I didn't get to show.

[bondshotel]

🇮🇹 𝟵 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧-𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀...

How many have you been to?

1️⃣ Venice: Get lost in the labyrinthine canals and alleyways of Venice, a city built on water.

Keep an eye out for hidden gems, like Libreria Acqua Alta, one of the most unique bookstores in the world, with books piled high on shelves and even bathtubs, a quirky defense against the occasional acqua alta!

2️⃣ Gargano: Trade your gondola for hiking boots and explore the rugged beauty of the ancient Umbra Forest in the Gargano National Park.

After your hike, cool off on the white-sand beaches of the Baia delle Zagare, where the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea laps against the shore.

3️⃣ Salento: The Southern-most province of Puglia, the Salento is full of white-washed villages. Dive into the crystal-clear Adriatic, where colorful sea life puts on a dazzling underwater show.

Afterward, savor orecchiette, a local pasta shaped like little ears, a delicious reminder of the region's culinary heritage.

4️⃣ Sicily: Witness the fiery spirit of Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano. Then, explore the Valley of the Temples, where ancient Greek ruins whisper tales of bygone eras.

And don't forget about the beautiful beaches! Sicily has plenty!

5️⃣ Coast of the Gods (Calabria): Unwind on the idyllic beaches of the Coast of the Gods, where the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea meets dramatic cliffs.

This is one of the quietest and most pristine coastal retreats in all of Italy.

6️⃣ The Amalfi Coast: Wind your way along dramatic cliffside roads that hug the coastline, stopping to peek into pastel-colored villages that cascade down the mountains like colorful confetti. Experience the ultimate "Dolce Vita"!

7️⃣ Sardinia: Endless pristine, white-sand beaches where the water shimmers like sapphires. Delve into the island's prehistoric past by exploring the mysterious, beehive-shaped Nuragic towers.

8️⃣ The Italian Riviera: Mingle with the glamorous crowds in Portofino, a postcard-perfect village frequented by the jet set.

Be sure to also explore charming seaside towns, such as the Cinque Terre, Portovenere and Tellaro, where fishermen mend their nets and the scent of fresh focaccia fills the air.

9️⃣ The Tuscan Archipelago: Island hop through a paradise of secluded coves and hidden beaches. Snorkel in crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life, and explore charming fishing villages where time seems to stand still.

Elba Island is the main attraction, home to some of the Italy's finest beaches.

[wonderjourneys]

To Help You Plan Your Trip to Tuscany

Tuscany is a stunning region, somewhere in between Milan (north) and Rome (south). Tuscany is the heartland of Italy and ancient Rome: this was the home of the Etruscans from whom the Romans learned so much about architecture.

Welcome to Tuscany: enjoy.

San Gimignano

The walls around this city have been build in the 13th century. San Gimignano is known for its skyline of medieval towers. Oblong stone shapes overlooking the hilltop town and the lands around it. San Gimignano is located in the province of Siena, a little to the west of Siena itself. This historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And with good reason. Not only is it a wonder to walk through, but as it is not yet too touristy, it is quite the hidden gem.

Val d’Orcia

This is the place to visit, to see the cypress trees. The trees are in the whole of Tuscany, but Val d’Orcia is the hotspot.

Pienza

Marvel in this beautiful renaissance town. This too is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city was there in the 9th century, by another name: Corsignano. Perhaps Pienza is most known for its panoramic views of the Tuscan landscape. A must visit for every tourist is the panorama boulevard around the city.

Lucca

The city with the wall that has never been breached. Located in between Florence and Pisa. Lucca has an intact Renaissance-era city wall. It is called “Mura di Lucca”. It is not literally a wall, but a wide earthen structure. Approximately 4 kilometers in diameter, the Walls of Lucca functions today as a city park around the historic town. Within the walls is the entire world: palaces and squares, towers and churches, narrow streets, water, a prison and the famous Piazza dell’Anfiteator.

Fog over the Tuscan hills

This is what you see, if you are a bird at 6 o’clock in the morning and start to fly. Tuscan hills in the fog. Pure magic.

Siena

The red stone city. Just like other cities, this city was first settled by the Etruscans (900-400 BC). The floor mosaic in the Siena Cathedral of Hermes Trismegistus is a must see. The three time great Hermes Trismagistus may be connected to Greek God Hermes and the Egyptian God Thoth. The Hermetica is a teaching of philosophy and practical magic: the alchemical procedure to make the Philosopher’s Stone. Most noticeable of Siena are the Cathedral and the Piazza del Campo. The Siena Cathedral has that typical white / dark green layers. We see the same in the Duomo of Florence, and Byzantine architecture (like in the German city of Aachen, for instance). The streets of Siena are red and best discovered by just letting fate decide your path. You will be in for a treat at every corner you take.

Monteriggioni

A small walled village. Near Siena and San Gimignano. If you have the time: this is a wonderful place to visit. The medieval town was a front line in the wars against Florence. It is small. It is charming. It transports you to days long past. Truly wonderful.

Volterra

Yes. The home of the vampire royalty The Volturi: from the Twilight saga. But Volterra is a real place. And what a beautiful place. Founded in the 8th century BC, this town can take you through the ages. The ruins of a Roman theatre are in this city. The streets and buildings are stone like in so many Tuscan cities. But every Tuscan city has a character of its own. And so does Volterra. Tall stone structures. Not red as in Siena, but Gray and ochre. With the magic of the light in Italy, it can paint paintings you would love to see.

Florence

Florence. Botticelli. The birthplace of the Renaissance. After centuries of the Church telling people that only God can create, they realised the amazing works of Plato, Aristotle, the Greeks and the Romans. And there was the moment the Humanistic Renaissance was born. Brunelleschi studies the Roman structures and engineered never before seen techniques in creating the Duomo of Florence. Florence is very busy. Try to get to the main attractions early. And then: discover the marvels of this gem of a city by just wandering around. My heart belongs to Florence.

- - MUSIC - - 'Resolutions' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au Be sure to check out his site: amazing work!

[story-dj]

Now on Objkt - 'The Last Autumn' is my only 1/1 spoken word poem on Tezos. A dark elegy to beauty and the permanence of memory amongst death and decay, it asks what comfort we can find as the world slides towards entropy. Words and narration by me, dreamscape generated by AI.

Collect via Objkt.com

The poem reads:

The Last Autumn.

Blackberries wither

On the vine of the Last Autumn;

Shrivelled and aborted

With no birds left to peck their

Hollowed sockets.

Trees sway in panegyric tribute;

A creaking hymn

To the last humans, who

Cluck and peck across the earth

In the Last Autumn.

Spider webs hang, empty mausoleums

Stuffed full of dead flies untouched;

Taxidermied -

A hunched stranger shuffles by:

“Do you remember the sea a beautiful azure?

When the moon hung low over little Tuscan villages?”

But they’ve forgotten language;

Mistranslated between thought and

Speech into silence and befuddled looks

In the Last Autumn.

Heavy industry slumps

Like sleeping giants but never

To awake, no Albion here

No Big Bounce rebirth

In the Last Autumn.

But I sit by the river,

Gurgling and bloated with debris

Just beneath the surface;

Ripe with the memories of everything that was:

Everything that happened

And can’t unhappen.

And it’s all so beautiful,

Even now,

In the Last Autumn.