Tuscany in autumn with summer temperatures

When autumn has Germany firmly in its grip, there are still autumn holidays to escape the dreary gray and soak up the sun before the long winter. That's what Dominika H. and Albert J. from Bavaria said to themselves and spontaneously booked a trip to Tuscany with us for themselves, their two daughters and Labrador mix Bruni, which we report on here:

Leave straight after school

The car is already packed at the door when Fidelia (9) and Mariella (7) come home from school. So everyone get in and let's go. After about five hours, Lake Garda is reached. It's time for a stopover with dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we continue towards Terricciola, where... Holiday home in Tuscany Everything is already prepared for the four sun-hungry Bavarians. With every kilometer the temperatures rise and when they arrive the sun shines from a deep blue sky. “Mamma Irene” awaits her guests at the house and after eating, the two girls and Bruni quickly forgot about sitting still in the car for so long in the large, beautiful garden…

Experience Tuscany up close in autumn

Now it's time to explore the surroundings. The afternoon walk takes the family to Terricciola Estate with its stately mansion.

Dominika and Albert have registered for a wine tasting and are tasting the fine wines from their own wineries. After dinner in the estate's “Trattoria Toscana” we go back and everyone falls into their beds happy and content.

Because the next day there is a big village festival in Terricciola, where holidaymakers can experience Tuscany up close.

The afternoon later takes Dominika, Albert, Fidelia and Mariella to the city center San Gimignano, which with its historical buildings has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. Of course Bruni is always there and is welcome everywhere.

Halloween in Italian

Monday is Halloween, for which the two girls have specially packed their spooky costumes. After a trip to the town, which is about half an hour's drive away Volterra, one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany, the time has finally come. Similar to Germany, the former Irish tradition of Halloween is also celebrated in Tuscany in autumn. Fidelia and Mariella quickly learned “Dolcetto o scherzetto” - which means “sweet or a joke” - and go door to door with a few children from the village through Terricciola. Overall, the yield of sweets was huge. The two were a bit surprised when they received a few slices of delicious Tuscan ham from the village butcher instead of sweets.

Tuscany up close again

The next day is mom Irene’s birthday. She is turning 70 and has invited her guests to the family celebration Terricciola Winery Participate - you can hardly get any closer to the Tuscan way of life. The temperatures in Tuscany in autumn are still in the T-shirt range, so people party, eat and drink inside and outside until late into the night.

Getting up the next morning is not that easy. But for today the visit from Saturnia on the program. With Dry bathroom, a thermal bath ruin from Roman times, and its impressive thermal springs Mill waterfalls “open air”, Saturnia is one of the first Etruscan cities in Italy.

Cook like Italian moms

With almost summer temperatures, the last day of vacation for the four Bavarians has already begun Villa SeSto Fiorentino .

They have booked a cooking course where they want to learn to cook like a real Italian mom. And Dominika, Albert, Fidelia and Mariella cooked it themselves...

…and then enjoyed with a served dinner: The menu

• • Fiori di zucca fritti with Mozzarella di Bufala and acciuga (fried zucchini with buffalo mozzarella, anchovies and basil)

• • Tagliatelle al sugo d'anatra (ribbon noodles with duck ragout)

• • Coniglio arrosto (roast rabbit with sage, rosemary, lemon peel and garlic in wine sauce)

• • Carciofi fritti (fried artichokes)

• • Piselli alla fiorentina (florentine-style young peas with garlic, lemon zest and parsley)

• Fondente al cioccolato (dark chocolate flan with cream and strawberries)

Dominika and Albert were particularly impressed by the bouquet of Vino Rosso (made from 60 percent San Giovese and 20 percent each Pugnitello and fragrant Malvasia Nera grapes), which is served with the meal and is produced in-house by the host, an agronomist by profession.

But you can't have too much of the good drink, because the next morning after breakfast you have to say goodbye. But after so much sun in Tuscany, winter can safely come in Bavaria.