Total Tuscany

As we get ready to celebrate Labor Day in the United States, we take time to celebrate a labor of love for a couple of expats who took a chance 10 years ago. Ashley and Jason Bartner are the creators of La Tavola Marche. They explain their business the best on the the home pate of their website.La Tavola Marche is a unique culinary experience where you actively participate in Italian culture through seasonal activities paired with local artisans, farmers, and wine makers while staying in a 300 year-old farmhouse agriturismo. If you are willing to muddy your feet, we'll guide you off the beaten path where you will see Italy at its roots. We combine searching for the best seasonal local ingredients, hands-on cooking classes, and the conviviality of the table to help you connect with the people through their food, culture, and terra.From the hustle and bustle of New York City to the simple life of the Italian countryside; Ashley and Jason have never heard the word "fail." After honeymooning in Italy the two decided this was the the life for them and with a definite "can do" attitude and a desire to offer a unique experience to tourist they started La Tavola Marche.In this edition of the Total Tuscany Podcast, we talk with Ashley about the journey she and her husband  have been on. The ups and downs of owning a business in Italy; starting with what Ashley calls Kindergarten Italian to where they are now.  Has it been easy? No! But getting what you want never is. A lot of us wish our dreams would come true, Ashley and Jason made theirs come to life.La Tavola Marche offers the total package when it come comes to the giving tourists the relaxed Italian countryside experience.Farming, lodging, cooking classes and most of all great people!Normally, this podcast is about places in Tuscany, well we aren't afraid of going outside the region for a good story to tell.  From the Website:Travelers who want the best of central Italy are now heading for Le Marche, the third region, alongside Tuscany and Umbria that makes up the area. The region lies on the eastern side of central Italy, between the Adriatic Sea and the high Apennine mountains. Much of it remains unspoiled by mass tourism. The Adriatic coast has been known as a sun and beach mecca for years. However, inland, perhaps more so than anywhere else in central Italy, you will find places where time really has stood still. Enjoy the podcast and leave your comments below, we would love to hear what you think.

If you are a regular listener of the Total Tuscany Podcast, you have heard us interview Helen Farrell before. She is editor of the Florentine, an English-speaking news magazine based in Florence. The publication was founded in 2005 and now has a circulation of over 10,000/month; The Florentine reaches over a quarter of a million people online every year.Helen is back again to talk with Travis and Pat about the latest publication from the staff of The Florentine. The Tuscan Times was an idea that has finally been turned into a reality. The first edition was published on July 16th to rave reviews. The Tuscan Times utilizes English-speaking correspondents and ex-pat's living across the region to share their stories. The Tuscan Times really is an inside look at the entire region with stories and suggestions so we can all enjoy Tuscany to the fullest.In this podcast, you will hear Helen tell the story of how the Tuscan Times came about and what the future holds for the publication. Tuscany continues to capture the hearts and imaginations of travelers from all over the world; the work Helen and her staff is doing brings everything to life.

That's an a very good question and one I wish we had an easy answer to give you. It's been almost two months since our last podcast and for us it seems like even longer. When we got back from Tuscany in March things were moving at a rapid pace and time just got away from us. Did we have a Tuscany hangover? I don't know if I would call it that, maybe it was a deep depression of not being able to spend more time in Tuscany and see more people and places. In the last couple of months, we have produced some videos from our trip and we encourage you to watch them for ideas of what to so when you visit Tuscany.We are excited to get back at it with a brand new podcast with a lovely person, Nardia Plumridge publishes the website "Lost In  Florence." A native of Australia, Nardia has been living in Florence since 2010 her website captures the essence of what Florence is all about, art, craftsmanship, authenticity. She describes it best as the following comes from her website.The slightly hidden, less touristic, more authentic discoveries: wine bars, café joints and places for the perfect meal; artisan shops, boutique hotels and much more. Whether you live in Florence or are visiting for a few days, Lost in Florence has many discoveries waiting just for you. This year we are expanding to include cities outside Florence but with the same philosophy: boutique and unique offerings to discover the true essence of a city. Often the best travel experiences we have are when we take that little back street and get lost... in the most adventurous sense. This website is an alternative travel place to gather the right information for you to plan your perfect stay... plus meet some local artisans on the way.Nardia does a great job come capturing what we all want when we think about and visit Tuscany, the authenticity of the region that has so much history. I'm not going to lie, there are plenty of tourist traps in Florence and things that look authentic really aren't. It's easy to get caught up in the moment and the atmosphere and buy a souvenir from a street vendor or market only to find what you purchased was "NOT" made it Florence.The artistic authenticity you are looking for in Florence, and all around Tuscany is there, but you have to look for it. In fact, you may just have to get "lost" to find exactly what you want. Let Nardia be your guide, listen to this podcast for great tips and tricks. Stay up to date with here latest finds by going to her website on a regular basis. You can also follow "Lost in Florence" socially: FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterest

The last thing you want when you go to Florence is to get ripped off. Sure there are plenty of authentic artisans practicing and perfecting old world technics that produce art and crafts that are of the highest quality. But don't kid yourself, for every "original"  piece of art you find there two more like it that are fake and probably made is China, not Florence. 

In this edition of the Total Tuscany Podcast, we talk to Laura Morelli. She has just released here second book in her Authentic Arts series. "Florence, A Travel Guide to Fabrics, Frames, Leather Goods, Maiolica, Paper, Woodcrafts, & more." 

Laura is here to help! This guide is like one we have never seen before. Most guides tell you where to go, where to eat and maybe some off the beaten path shop the writer had a good experience at while visiting. Luara digs in deep with boots on the ground using her vast knowledge and experience in Italy to provide you the information you need to make an informed purchase. The great news about this book, there is also a companion guide that comes with your purchase in the form of an e-book.  This companion guide is going to be continually updated by Laura and will tell you where to buy authentic goods. 
Armed with a Ph.D. in Art History from Yale, Laura's passion for authentic art and skilled craftspeople dates back to when she was a teenager. She has been documenting her journey ever since and enjoys sharing her expertise with you.

We could go on-and-on about Laura and why you should buy her book. But don't take our words for it, listen to Laura on the podcast and decide for

It's human nature to be curious about where we came from. When we start to diagram our family tree, just how far back can we go and where does that lead us to? 

In this episode of the Total Tuscany podcast, you hear from a professional genealogist, Mary Tedesco. Mary was a host on season two of the popular PBS series, Genealogy Roadshow and is the founder of the website Origins Italy.

Mary can help you trace  your family heritage in any country, but her specialty is Italy. Mary speaks fluent Italian and travels often to Italy to conduct client genealogical research and visit family. Mary is also the co-author of "Tracing Your Italian Ancestors" an 84-page Italian research guide published by Moorshead Magazines.

Chances are you have tried Ancestry.com or even 

A trip to Italy is supposed to be like a dream, a get away to a relaxing life with no worries, great food and great wine. Bob Cullinan has visited Italy several times, finding new and exciting places to explore and feeling more comfortable  in his surroundings each trip. Bob enjoys embracing the culture and living like a local when he is there. It was in late January of 2015 that Bob's latest Italian dream trip turned into a nightmare.
Driving his rented Vespa through the streets of Rome, Bob was in a serious accident that left him laying in the street, banged up and unable to walk at a rather busy intersection. If you have ever been in Rome and experienced the flow of traffic, you can imagine the horror Bob was thinking before he was able to assess his injuries from his accident. Crazy drivers, and lots them in cars and on vespas heading right for him and not appearing to slow down. Yes, Bob was in shock!

Listen to the podcast as Bob goes into great detail of what caused the accident and what happens after.
We are getting ready to take our next dream trip to Florence. On our previous trips to Italy, nothing has gone wrong, everything went as planned.

After hearing about Bob's story, it left us asking ourselves the question, what if? What if we are in an accident? What if we need to call an ambulance. What if we have to go to the hospital? These are questions we've never asked ourselves before and never planned for.

Accidents can be prevented, but not all of them and they can happen to you...They can happen to us!

In this podcast Bob not only tells the fascinating story of his accident, but gives some practical advice and steps we can all take to be prepared for the worst.  Are you planning a trip in the near future? If so, listen to this podcast to feel safer, more secure and prepared!

Are you looking for the perfect Valentine's Day gift? How about a trip to Tuscany! Well, it's not all expenses paid,but our good friends at Parker Villas are having a spring sale that can save you money and leave you with memories that last a lifetime.Here's the deal, April and May are two of the best months to visit Italy. Everything is in bloom. The attractions are a lot less crowded and prices are lower.  When you book with Parker Villas between now and February 27th you get: 

2 nights free when renting a participating villa for a selected week.

A free wine and cheese basket on arrival.

Returning Parker clients earn a 50 or 100 Euro credit towards any villa meals or cleaning.

Again, you can only get this offer if you book your villa by February 27th, 2015.Full disclosure, we are past Parker Villa clients and couldn't be happier with the service, selection, and quality of villas. In our latest podcast with Parker Villas owner and President Mario Scalzi, we discuss the latest trends in villas. Besides the spring sale, why NOW is the time to travel to Italy. Here's a hint, it's a Euro thing.Now is the time! Don't put it off any longer, the best way to say I love you for Valentines day is by renting a villa and taking a trip to Tuscany! We would like to hear your comments, please leave them below. Also, take time to share this podcast with friends and family.

Our first trip to Tuscany was in 2009. We are going to be very honest here, we both brought our kids. Seven in all! We are in agreement that the experience had a profound effect on their view of the world. However, looking back we could have done things differently to make THEIR vacation more enjoyable. It's amazing how selfish we parents can be! Why wouldn't an 8 year old boy appreciate the alabaster in Volterra along with the craftsmanship behind all the wonderful pieces of art? Oh, because he is 8!If you are taking your kids on your next trip to Tuscany, you MUST contact our friend Molly McIlwrath. Her specialty (among many) is conducting workshops for kids centered around art in Florence. A mother of a five year old girl, Molly makes Florence come alive for the young and even the not so young.  Using her vast educational background in Italian literature and art to customize an experience the whole family can remember. Not only will you and your children learn something, you might create a masterpiece!

Molly grew up in Stockton, California but she really has been an Italian at heart since the age of 12 when she first visited on a family vacation.  How big of an influence was the trip? Well she started studying the Italian language in high school then eventually studied abroad in college. One thing led to another and as you will hear in this podcast, Molly met her husband in Italy and they are now living just outside of Florence. 

Her latest project is the launch of her new website, letterartemente.com. If you are looking at it and trying to pronounce it, good luck! We won't even make you listen to the the podcast to decode it. LetterArteMente translates to literary, artistic, landcapes.  Molly takes a short train ride from her home in Pistoia to Florence and as she says on her website, it is this Tuscan landscape where LetterArteMente begins and draws its inspiration.We hope this podcast inspires you and we look forward to your comments, please take a moment to tell us what you   think by leaving your comments below. 

We are convinced that if Giulia Scarpaleggia lived in the United States, she would have her own show on the Food Network. Right now, (at least in our opinion) she is producing one of the best food blogs in the world! It's packed full of creative recipes, wonderful Tuscan dishes, fantastic photos and videos that will make your mouth water.Giulia's journey to the kitchen started when she was just a kid, preparing meals with her grandmother and mother. But like all good adventures, the story of getting to your destination is full of detours and crossroads. Thank goodness they have all led to Juls' Kitchen!

Giulia is not just a writer and a photographer, she's a teacher. She conducts small, intimate cooking classes on her family's farm. These experiences can be customized to fit your lifestyle and expectations. The options include vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan courses. All classes include a Juls' Kitchen apron so you can remember your authentic experience when you are trying your own Tuscan recipes in your own kitchen.

Juls' Kitchen is located between Siena and Florence, as she says, in the heart of Tuscany. Giulia is a self proclaimed dreamer; she's had inspiration in many different aspects of her life that you hear about in this podcast. She is as authentic as the Tuscan countryside and her passion for quality food and memorable experiences shines through when you hear her talk. We want to know what you think of this podcast, please leave your comments below. Also make sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

One of the most common questions readers of this website ask is this. Is it hard to drive a car in Tuscany?

When we show you a road sign like this you are probably struggling to pronounce the names of the towns and you need to know the numbers are not miles but rather kilometers. I think readers are somewhat surprised and yet relieved when we reply to them and say NO! Driving in Tuscany is not hard, in fact it's pretty darn easy. The great thing about renting a car and going out on your own is that it gives you a lot of freedom!  If you were stuck to a bus schedule, a train schedule or a tour group you just wouldn't have the same experiences. 

But this doesn't mean you shouldn't plan ahead and take time to know the rules of the (very narrow) roads in Tuscany. In this edition of the Total Tuscany Podcast, we share our experiences behind the wheel in Tuscany. Have all the experiences been perfect? No! But that makes for a more memorable trip.

Again the experiences we share in this podcast are our own. Here are some of the topics we discuss if you are looking for answers. 

Renting A Car

Do You Need A GPS?

What About Insurance? 

Manual or Automatic

Parking, Yes Parking

Driving In The City

Road Signs

Narrow Roads

International Drivers License 

Filling Up With Gas: Liter vs. Gallon $$

If you are going to Tuscany from the United States, you will notice everything is smaller! The cars are smaller, the roads are narrower and the parking spaces are tight! One thing we did not cover in the podcast but need to mention here, pack light! If you are renting your car at the airport, remember a Fiat 500 can only hold so many bags!We would love to hear your driving stories from Tuscany or anywhere in Italy and Europe. Please leave your comments below, our listeners always have the best stories!