Hello my friends. I want to talk about our visit to a small town called Castagneto Carducci. On our way there we encountered a surprise, a procession organized by a group called Corte di Soccorso. This organization handles emergency aid services in Italy. Interestingly the procession was heading in the same direction as we were. Since we weren’t familiar with the roads, we ended up following the procession, relying on navigation to guide us along the way.
One charming detail about this place is the benches strategically placed to frame the stunning views. When you sit down and look around, you’re greeted by breathtaking scenery and an open sky. Castagneto Carducci offers a few notable attractions, such as the Casa Carducci Museum and the Olive Oil Museum. However, since vehicle access to the town center is restricted, we explored it on foot.
While I was there I realized I’ve grown somewhat accustomed to these beautiful landscapes. The magnificent hills, churches and architectural wonders no longer leave me as awestruck as they did the first time. What used to feel overwhelmingly stunning has now evolved into a quieter sense of admiration. Of course, nature remains enchanting, but I suppose this is a matter of getting used to it.
These lands have been inhabited since ancient times and were once used by the Etruscans. I always say the Etruscans had exquisite taste. They were such a fascinating civilization. As I’ve promised before, I will dedicate a detailed blog post to the Etruscans one day. I already have some ideas forming and this project is definitely going to happen.
They distribute free dog waste bags here to keep the streets clean, with the slogan Whoever cleans, sows the seeds of civilization.
To maintain order police officers are on duty, but everything is time-limited: only from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. This speaks volumes about how peaceful and safe this place is. It’s a fantastic spot for both tourists and locals. With its historical charm and the narrow streets characteristic of Tuscany's hilly regions, the town is utterly captivating. And yet, it remains a vibrant place where people genuinely live. If you want to experience the authentic Italian lifestyle, I highly recommend visiting Castagneto Carducci.
We also visited one of Tuscany’s most photographed spots: the famous cypress-lined road. Finding parking was a bit challenging since it’s a small town with constant movement of visitors. On our second attempt, we managed to find a spot and began our walk toward Bolgheri. I had big plans for Bolgheri: first, to buy some wine for home and, of course, to enjoy a glass of wine in a piazza (probably its only piazza.). I was determined to make the most of our mini-vacation with a packed itinerary.
We stopped by a leather bag workshop where they design and produce everything locally. Being a fan of designer bags, I picked up a few pieces. You might spot me with one of these on future trips. Bolgheri is also famous for its perfumes, though this time, they didn’t impress me much. Never mind that, because it was time to sample Bolgheri’s renowned red wines. While I’ve tasted these wines before, this was my first time trying them right here in the heart of Bolgheri.
We completed the final stage of our little getaway: we bought wine, walked back to the car and headed home. Our weekend was wonderful. At this point, it’s the perfect time to bid you farewell. Wishing you all an amazing day, a great week and a lovely weekend.
