Valdarno in Tuscany, a landscape of deep contrast

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June 15, 2010

tuscany With some parts of Tuscany, you already know exactly what you’re going to get. After all, popular culture has buried certain images in our heads time and time again about what it should look like to be experiencing the real Italy. You might be picturing rolling dusty hills with endless vineyards, and you might be figuring out what bottle of Brunello you plan on drinking when the pink Tuscan sun starts setting. You also might expect to find the right luxury resort near Siena, where a potentially handsome stranger might ask you to dance or to enjoy some quiet guitar music while you dine on handmade pasta.

And while all of those are great pictures to have in your head before jetting off to Italy, it is important to know that there is a whole lot more out there, and that Italy itself is an incredibly diverse country, with countless different regions that couldn’t possibly look more different. This is, after all, a country where the national language couldn’t even be enforced except with the introduction of television. In Sicily, it’s all volcanoes and blood oranges, while up in Tuscany, it’s rolling hills and vineyards.

There are some serious differences just within the region of Tuscany, too. With its location close to the pine forests of northern Italy, where cork is harvested and wild game still roams free, there is something special about Valdarno. You can enjoy those pockets where it is more vineyards and cheese tasting, but there is also a more rustic and medieval feel to things, even when you happen to be hanging out at a resort with a pool in Arezzo. The truth is that Tuscany is known for many different things, but the purpose is definitely to explore all of them if you are serious about travel, not just stick to those cliches. It is definitely possible to fall in love with Italy just by seeing Tuscany, but it is worthwhile to explore beyond the Tuscany that you would come to expect, into the deep forests of Valdarno.

The best thing about the growing popularity of more obscure parts of Italy is that those travelers who are in need of some serious luxury while enjoying a completely different environment will be able to find places that cater to their needs. It’s not a rare thing to find a luxury resort near Florence, Italy these days, since people are understanding that it makes sense to provide those five-star accommodations while still being close to the more low-key approach that has kept these comunes alive. The traveling public definitely understands the purpose of finding that perfect resort with a pool in Arezzo, but also wants to be able to tuck into a plate of impeccably prepared local delicious and not worry that it is going to be yuppified and gentrified.

So if you’re looking for unforgettable views and a truly diverse landscape that will be striking the moment that you set eyes on it, then you need to try to break away from the typical path that takes travelers through Tuscany, and give the valley region of Valdarno a chance as your base for exploring the Tuscan countryside.

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