Tuscan Rooms blog

Hi everyone,

Its been a fantastic week to remember with tuscanrooms with special trips to concerts to appeal to all tastes.

It started last Thursday night at the famous Lucca Festival which had already hosted stars such as Mark Knoffler, Jeff Beck, ZZ Top to name but a few.

Thursday it was the turn for Paolo Nutini a native of Paisley. Scotland but with strong family links to Barga which is only 20 mins away from tuscanrooms.

We took a party of six to Napoleon Square in Lucca making sure we arrived early for pre concert dinner in one of the many restaurants in Lucca.

The square began to fill and at 9.30pm the concert began.

I have to be honest at this point I had not really heard much of Paolo Nutini but I think Anton and Jane who were with us were possibly his greatest fans and now I understand why…He was brilliant.

Next it was Friday 23rd July a new party of concert goers including Sonia a great friend of ours and Rebecca a fantastic Australian chef and new friend of tuscanrooms. Tonight was the turn of Simply Red and their Farewell tour (or maybe not) . 

Tonight the square was supposed to be an all seated concert but that lasted for about 2 songs from the band then everyone was on their feet and joining in as Mick Hucknall sang all the favourites and the whole band really seemed to be enjoying themselves. The square rocked in the heat of the night.

Napoleon Square Lucca has got to be one of the best venues for concerts. the setting is fantastic. you can sit at a restaurant at the side of the square and walk in and out and you get a great view from wherever you are.

Keep an eye on this blog and things to do page on the website in January 2011 when I will let you know what the line up is for July 2011 Lucca Festival ( normally 2nd and 3rd weeks in July)

OK now we get to the big one.

Andrea Bocelli in the open air Theatre of Silence ( Teatro Del Silencio) in Lajatica which is his home town.

 I started planning this trip in November 2009 having been lucky enough to go to the concert in July 2009.

I managed to get hold of a number of tickets early ( a whole row in fact) and also some interested clients to tuscanrooms.  

Sunday 25th July was the day and I wanted to make it special for all those going so arranged a pre concert meal in Bagni di Lucca then a private coach to the venue and Prosseco and sandwiches before the concert.

Seventeen people had arrived for the event including friends from the uk and Australia.

I can not really put into words how beautiful the venue is and how fantastic the concert was. We had also managed to keep a secret from the guests as to who would also be appearing with Andrea Bocelli right up to the last moment ( Colette even started a competition off to see if anyone could guess)…the disbelief on their faces when they found out it was Jose Carreras was a picture in itself.   

I hope the following pictures give you some idea of what a great trip this was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today we took a party to Volterra.

Easter is now upon us and we have people in for the Easter Weekend. So today we set off under blue skies and sunshine to the hills of southern Tuscany through the Chianti wine regions then high up into the hills past Lajatica the home village of Andrea Bocelli where he is performing a live concert on 25th July in the Teatro di Silencio.

We will be returning here to see the concert in the open air Theatre on 25th July with more guests as I have arranged a Bocelli concert package. ( I still have access to a few tickets if anyone is interested)

We arrived at Volterra at about 11.00am the panoramic views are fantastic and our guest just stood and stared out over the Tuscan countryside.

Volterra is a town of great architectural interest located 1770 feet above the sea level, between the rivers Bra and Cecina here in Tuscany, Italy. The main features are two fine castles and numerous Etruscan remains. The ambience of Volterra is extremely attractive, easily rivaling that of the more famous Tuscan destination of San Gimignano

The Cathedral (Duomo) of Volterra, consecrated by Callistus II in 1120, was enlarged by Andrea Pisano in 1254, and again in 1576. The high altar is adorned with sculpture by Mino da Fiesole.

Among the pictures is an “Annunciation” by Luca Signorelli, and there are pictures by Benvenuto di Giovanni, Leonardo da Pistoia, and others. In the baptistery (1283) are a font by Sansovino and a ciborium by Mino da Fiesole.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA “NEW MOON

More recently Volterra has become well known due to the novel and film The Twilight Saga New Moon

The novel and film of this name are set partly in Volterra. The film, starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner, retains the setting, presumably to stay consistent with the novel and because the Volturi vampire clan take their name from Volterra

This was the highlight of the visit for Shona, one young girl in the party as she was an avid fan and knew everything about the book and the film and could immediately recognise the locations mentioned in both. Today was a great trip out to Volterra with a really good lunch in one of the many restaurants ( a 2 course meal of pasta followed by roast pork and including drinks all for 12 euro) I will definitely bring guests back to eat here.

The afternoon was spent checking the many shops selling local alabaster products, great local produce ( cheese and wines) and even Twilight Saga products for Shona.

After ice creams, coffee and a visit to the local chocolate shop with hand made Easter Eggs a very contented group made their way home to tuscanrooms.

Happy Easter to all

Paul and Colette

Welcome to tuscanrooms new blog page.

In the coming weeks I want to tell you about Bagni di Lucca,us and how we came to this beautiful part of Tuscany.

I want to introduce you to some of the local characters who make this village so unique.

I will also give you a guided tour of the area from the sandy beaches of Viareggio to the snow capped mountains of Abetone, from the arts of Florence to the leaning tower of Pisa and from the vinyards of Lucca to the marble mountains.

Hopefully you will then understand why we fell in love with Bagni di Lucca and restored this beautiful building from a soda syphon factory to the tuscanrooms you see today.

I hope it will help when deciding on your next or first Tuscany holiday.

To all the “friends of tuscanrooms ” who have visited and stayed with us in the past I look forward to your comments and any pics and I will publish them here.

Happy New Year to all

Paul