After the publication of the hugely successful Under the Tuscan Sun a couple years back, a fun book by a Chianti guide appeared with the title Too Much Tuscan Sun. Dario Castagno writes that he does not intend to criticize the book by Frances Mayes, but simply came up with a catchy “in” title for his collection of stories about accompanying tourists in central Tuscany. Those who have the opportunity to visit this region more than once and have taken the time to explore beyond Florence, Pisa, Siena, and Lucca know there are many levels to the Tuscan experience. Of the 20 Italian regions, with all their various heritage and attractions, probably none is quite so rich as Tuscany with its combination of seaside, hills and hill towns, forests, art, folk culture and traditions, and cuisine. And of course we have the Tuscans with their pride, self confidence, and humor.
Summer is not the busiest time for us, so recently I was able to take some days to visit friends south of Siena and leisurely wander through and explore the countryside. My outing was filled with beautiful hills towns and the spectacular seaside. There are many great places to visit and to live around the globe. As many people know, Tuscany is one of them. Fortunately the political leadership has been rather good regionally and, in most parts, locally at caring for and promoting what nature and our predecessors have left us. There has been good use of national laws regarding the development of rural tourism, whose time seems to have arrived with the always increasing interest in nature, in retreat, and in genuine, and in local foods and traditions.
At Casa Cares it is interesting to note how guests make use of our setting. This ranges from intense programs that permit no tourism to guests always on the go, some hitting the top attractions while others searching among the dozens of lesser known gems: hill towns, Etruscan heritage, nature reserves, wine cellars, beaches, islands, and much more.
Too much Tuscan sun? Only if the leadership is poor, the guest is moving too fast, and the sole objective is profit.
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