Tuscany Alfresco

Tuscany is a land of warm honey-toned light where countryside and cityscape blend in an idyllic setting. This premier region of central Italy has remained virtually unchanged for centuries—blessed by nature and renowned for its art and history, picturesque medieval villages, and ethereal landscapes that are some of the most photogenic in the world. In Tuscany, exceptional photographic imagery is always close at hand, with timeless vistas enveloped by the celebrated gossamer light that falls on this land.

We begin in the historic heart of Florence—the cultural center of Tuscany. Centuries-old Piazza della Signoria, center of Florentine political life, features an open air gallery of lens-catching statues and the impressive medieval town hall, Palazzo Vecchio. Images of the Ponte Vecchio, with its characteristic 12th-century overhanging shops, reflect in the Arno River. The colorful Duomo and nearby Campanile tower rise above the city—an eternal landmark—and we capture panoramic images of the city from the high overlook of the Piazzale Michelangelo in morning and evening light.

From our convenient base in Pienza we explore southern Tuscany with our cameras. Here, deep-green cypress trees pierce the blue Tuscan skies, line meandering rural roadways, and stand as sentinels beside isolated rustic sunlit stone farmhouses. On the softly-rounded hilltops, fortress-walled villages and towns seem to float in the sunlight. Ancient olive groves hug undulating hillsides, and green fields are punctuated with brilliant red poppies in springtime. Patterns created by terraced fields, walls of stucco and brick, and tiers of tiled rooftops inspire abstract compositions. Medieval towns overlook a checkerboard of blossoming cherry, peach, apple orchards, wildflower carpets, and row upon row of grape trellises in the vineyards.

To the north we explore the hilly Chianti region, where meandering country roads wind through a varied and richly photogenic tapestry of woodlands, manicured vineyards, silver-green olive groves and medieval hilltop towns. The thirteen prominent stone towers rising high above the skyline of San Gimignano, and the beautifully-preserved walled city of Monteriggioni set amidst carefully-cultivated fields, yield striking images of this timeless land. In each new town, we discover winding alleys, picture perfect window boxes and bucolic vistas that take your breath away.

We take time to enjoy a Brunello di Montalcino or a Chianti Classico and sample the farm-fresh cuisine of this fertile region where the harmonious blend of sun-bathed townscapes and pastoral landscapes constantly inspires our photography. In Tuscany, exceptional photographic imagery is always close at hand.