Tuscan Travel: When to Go

“When should I travel to Tuscany?” is the question I am often asked. Well, I can tell you for sure that January is the worst month to spend time in Tuscany. My friend just came back from her honeymoon on January 16 th, 2006. Tuscany was her first choice as she thought to recapture the magic she had once experienced there. She was surprised to find the weather cold and damp and our Tuscan friends hibernating. Gone were the long dinners with great food, company and music! On a good note, there were no line ups to get into the churches and museums and so for art tours it may be a good time to go.

The Best Months to Visit Tuscany

So when is the best time to travel to Tuscany, to rent a farmhouse in Tuscany and to taste the wine and incredible food? May is a lovely month in the Tuscan countryside. Spring is well under way and the fresh green leaves of the grape vines and olive trees are stunning. There is a special light in May and the Tuscans have woken up. They are ready to continue their dolce vita. There are less tourists in May than in the summer months of course. I personally like the tourists. Not the crowds, but the ones you notice really stepping out of themselves and being awed by the beauty everywhere. After all I am regrettably not a Tuscan and therefore would be considered a tourist. June is warmer and can get quite hot however it is also a good month in Tuscany. There are always outdoor festivals going on in June.

Mid-September into early October is a fantastic time to visit. The days are warm and the nights are cool. Now you can experience the grape harvest called the vendemma. Every town seems to have a harvest festival. There is great celebration in the air. There are opportunities to go truffle and mushroom hunting and the food is fantastic! Try a truffle pasta or Porcini mushroom pasta, they are incredible!

July and August

I have always loved July in Tuscany. Everyone is celebrating life and getting back to the basics, what’s important. Family, friends…enjoying life! Try taking a nap during the hot afternoon hours as the Tuscans do, it is quite refreshing! It can be very hot reaching to 40 degrees Celsius but it is a dry heat and a little shade does wonders for your refreshment. (a word to the overheated, try to avoid Florence during a heat wave, because the city lies in a valley and therefore the heat is trapped and of course the city is made of stone which both absorbs and reflects the heat). During the summer months there are many festivals and concerts to choose from.

August is hot and busy. It is the vacation month for many Tuscans and therefore you may notice closed restaurants and stores. If you want to see tourists flooding Florence and Siena then come in August. However, I say… August in Tuscany is better than anywhere else…..

Karen Hibovski