Tuscany is the 5th largest region in Italy and Florence is the capital of the Tuscan (Tuscano) region. Tuscany is also the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance full of rich history, medieval walled villages and some of the most delicious foods and wines, that I have ever tasted. Here’s the thing I was under the impression that Tuscany was a town or village. As I searched into Florence being our next stop after Milan, I kept looking for the distance between Florence and Tuscany to no avail. Finally, I looked up Tuscany and to my surprise discovered it is a region with 10 provinces and 273 municipalities. Interestingly enough I spoke to several people back in the U.S. that also thought Tuscany was a town or village. After spending the past month in Tuscany, I can confidently say it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited.

Charles and I choose to start our Tuscan adventure in Florence, which is a busy, touristy city, filled with museums, art, statues displayed in parks, gardens, and plazas. If you’re not careful Florence can take you down an overwhelming rabbit hole of history and culture, it’s everywhere. There is even a Pharmacy Museum in Santa Maria Novella, which Florence’s main train station. Personally, I feel Florence has a much higher tourist vibe than Milan, maybe because of its proximity to Rome.

The apartment where we stayed was about 20 minutes outside of the City Center which was perfect because it allowed us to have the balance of a local vibe away from the busyness. Although there were no Cathedrals in the immediate vicinity of our apartment there was a castle just around the corner.

Our week in Florence included the first Sunday of June which allowed us to visit a couple of museums and sites for free. Many museums and galleries are free on the first Sunday of the month. Charles and I decided to go see the statue of David and visit the Boboli Gardens where Charles did Tai Chi. Often times we watch YouTube videos for inspiration and to learn more about the areas we are visiting, which is how we learned about the Odeon Cinema and Bookstore. Also, we were introduced to the concept of wine windows from a YouTube video. After visiting the Cinema Bookstore during the daytime, Charles and I decided that we would return for a date night. The new movie "Micheal” was showing, and even though we had already seen it, we had never viewed it in a bookstore. As we strolled through the city center heading to the cinema on our date night, we happened upon a wine window and of course we stopped for wine!

Our week exploring Florence added a beautiful layer to our Italian adventures we enjoyed delicious food, culture, and rich history. Charles and I agreed without hesitation that we would return to Florence if the opportunity presented itself. After Florence we continued our journey under the Tuscan Sun in Pistoia (Pee-stoy-yah). We had never even heard of Pistoia before, as its one of the many beautiful places missed by a lot of tourists, here in Italy. Pistoia is a city full enchanting beauty and so far, my favorite destination in Italy. Pistoia is only about 19 kilometers from Florence (Firenze) and just a short 35-minute direct train ride away.

Upon our arrival to Pistoia, it felt as if we had traveled back into a time of long ago that had been re-mixed with modern touches. Our apartment was smack in the City Center just steps away from Duomo Plaza. Since Pistoia is a very relaxed town with more locals than tourists, staying in the city center was the perfect location for us. We walked around the city with ease and everything we needed was just steps away. The charm of our apartment in Pistoia made it one of my favorite places of all times. Shout out to our host Andrea for making our stay welcoming and inviting us to return anytime.

The 3 weeks we spent in Pistoia, was a time of ease, relaxation, and creativity. Charles and I each started new writing projects in Pistoia. Stay tuned! During our stay in Pistoia, we decided to take a day trip to Lucca which was about an hour train ride away. Lucca was full of tourist, and the vibe was a bit overwhelming coming from the peace and ease of Pistoia. We did however enjoy exploring the town of Lucca and its beauty. Charles and I spent the day bike riding along the path around the top of the city’s wall, climbing the over 200 stairs to the top of one of the towers and taking in a breathtaking arial view of Lucca. We also enjoyed pizza at a cafe while people watching in the plaza just outside of Saint Micheal’s Cathedral. Admittedly we had fun in Lucca, but we were happy to return to the peace and calm of Pistoia, by the end of the day.

Pistoia offered us a real time experience of a medieval Italian village. As we explored the underground city, the many Cathedrals, the hospital museum, and simply the streets of Pistoia in all of its charm, we felt as if we were in another time in history. Our favorite past-time together was sitting on the stairs in Duomo Plaza with our nightly gelato. We also enjoyed the morning markets and the lovely cafes and bakeries that did not charge tourist prices. As our time in Pistoia came to an end Charles and I decided to return to Florence and plan our next moves.

I am typing this blog while sipping my coffee in our amazing Florence apartment. Once again, we are staying outside the city center, this time we are staying near one of the many Universities. It’s a busy area with local vibes which is totally different than the busy tourist areas, for us we find it a more authentic and enjoyable experience.

Tomorrow is the first Sunday in July, Charles and I are excited to take advantage of another free day to explore more museums and galleries. Truly we have enjoyed life under the Tuscan Sun, stay tuned to follow our adventures.

Check out our Love Drops Podcast on YouTube for video glimpses into our ongoing journey and be sure to tune into Love Drops Podcast to hear amazing guest from around the world share their stories.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting the journey however resonates for you!

Blessings and One Love Diane / Charles

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“Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. Having courage and showing courage mean we face our fears. We are able to say, “I have fallen, but I will get up.” ~Maya Angelou