Welcome back to Six Weeks of Summer: Postcards from Italy where we take you on a journey to our favorite and most captivating destinations in our home country of Italy. This is our tribute… our love letter. We hope that you feel inspired and that this series instills that magnificent sense of wanderlust that always leads to the best adventures.
As an added bonus, throughout the series, every purchase at Shop Aurifil containing one or more Color Builder collections will be entered for a chance to win a prize package valued over $550! Package includes goodies from Aurifil, Moda Fabrics, Oliso, OLFA, and Soak.
“My idea of heaven still is to drive the gravel farm roads of Tuscany, very pleasantly lost.”
– Frances Mayes
As the summer temperatures rise in the cities, Tuscany becomes the perfect escape. Life is always good under the Tuscan Summer sun– relaxing days by the pool, leisurely strolls down winding dirt roads, and warm nights set to the rhythmic and soothing soundtrack of the cicadas and crickets.
We begin our adventure with a drive through Maremma, one of Tuscany’s best kept secrets. It is made up of a vast stretch of countryside, with sprawling beaches along a sparkling blue sea, and a series of idyllic towns that ooze history, almost as though they were created within a fairy tale. We delight in a leisurely drive down the coast, taking in the salty air, with Monte Argentario as our ultimate destination. It is a magnificent headland surrounded by the sea and connected to the coast by two artificial strips of land, the Orbetello dam and the tombolo di Gianella.
Views of the Thyrrenian sea are best from the 18th century Frati Passionisti convent, allowing us to look out on the whole of the Tuscan archipelago — Giglio, Montecristo and Elba. With the dark green mountain hues against the clear blue sea, the colours of the bougainvillaea and oleanders in bloom are even more stunning. We take it all in and descend, ending up at a cosy spot at Porto Santo Stefano for seafood and a refreshing aperitif.
We hop back in the car and head back toward our agriturismi (country house) in the Chianti region, a not-to-be missed destination during a tour of Tuscany. Stretching between the provinces of Florence, Siena, and Arezzo, it features rolling hills and dazzling panoramas, which for centuries have been devoted to the production of wine and olive oil. We find a hillside vineyard offering an evening wine tasting and sip varietals while watching the sun slowly dip below the horizon.
We head home to retire for the night, knowing that morning will bring breathtaking views of the sun cresting the hills beyond while we take our espresso al fresco.
FUN FACTS
- The Italian language originated from the Tuscan dialect
- Tuscan cuisine is based on the land and recycling. Some of its most famous dishes reuse leftover ingredients – ribollita (literally ‘reboiled’ vegetable and bread soup), pappa al pomodoro (tomato and bread soup), and panzanella (bread and vegetable salad).
- Vespas are from Pontedera in Tuscany and the Piaggio (manufacturer of Vespa scooters) Museum is located in the town.
- Tuscany has 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Tuscany produces about 1/3 of Italy’s leather, which is used for clothing, shoes, and accessories. The biggest area of production is in Santa Croce dell’Arno, between Florence and Pisa. Florence is known for high-quality leather and its leather goods make excellent souvenirs.
Our Tuscany set features 3 shades of 50wt thread in 2214, 1133, & 1104. They coordinate perfectly with the Fig Tree Apricot, Amelia Orange, and Mango Solids by Moda Fabrics shown above. For a bit of creative inspiration, make sure to grab the Italian Color Builders EPP Pattern (shown above) by Aurifil’s own Kate Brennan and the Tuscany block (shown below) by Alyssa Thomas via the buttons below.
As a reminder, over the next few weeks, every purchase at Shop Aurifil containing one or more Color Builder collections will be entered for a chance to win a prize package valued over $550! Package includes goodies from Aurifil, Moda Fabrics, Oliso, OLFA, and Soak. Winner will be randomly selected and contacted via email after the close of the series.
