Last Days of Summer - Tuscany Road Trip | Italy

Making the most of the last days of summer exploring Tuscany on a road trip.

A 3 hour drive down from Emilia-Romagna to Umbria through the mountains, the roads illuminated by the near full moon. Parked up for the night in what turned out to be a great spot, we awoke to the sunrise in misty pastel shades across the tranquil waters of Lake Trasimeno. After a peaceful lakeside morning it was time to hit the road and explore the area. Open air showers and during off in the sun. We then spent the afternoon in Assisi wandering down shady, cobbled streets and following our noses which eventually led us to a pizzeria.

Fiery skies accompanied us out of Assisi and down the hill… dark, thunderous clouds to our left and a burning sunset to our right. Wind whipped through the cab, time to stop for a quick picture.
Winding Tuscan country road took us back to the lake where we set up camp for the night, prepared a waterside dinner and savoured the tranquility of the place and the evening.

Adventurous smiles across our faces as we hit the road, ready to continue exploring. Quick stops in the medieval wonder of Montepulciano before carrying on through the Val d’Orcia. Just off the main road a shady clearing between vineyards made a lovely spot for lunch and a lazy afternoon rest in the hammock. Occasionally, a tractor would pass by otherwise we just relished the stillness of a balmy, September afternoon between the vines,

We reached Florence by nightfall, stopping briefly for a coffee and to see the sunset on the outskirts of Siena. The moon was full, Piazzale Michelangelo was nearly empty and the glittering city lights mirrored the starry sky above us. What a welcome. Mushroom risotto prepared for dinner on the banks of the Arno, which also turned out to be a stunning breakfast spot at dawn the next morning. 7am church bells proudly chimed as the sun climbed out from behind buildings and took her place in the sky. 

Lovers recording memories and leaving their mark on Ponte Vecchio. The bustle of locals and tourists in the centre of Florence on a Sunday morning, surprises around every corner. ​

PHOTO: DIOGO BAPTISTA
TXT: KGL