Linda G. Bass

Sometimes there are treasures to be found in Tuscany that aren’t like any others. Tuscany has its share of fantastic and beautiful castles, but none quite like the Sammezzano Castle in Regello. This stunning estate is south of Florence and …

  Our Tuscan Muse takes us around the beautiful vineyards in Tuscany, where roses grow close to grapes.   The vineyards in Tuscany are breathtakingly beautiful. Rose bushes grace the end of each row, adding to the picturesque scenery of …

Tuscan cuisine is known for its simplicity typically using only four to eight ingredients. “La cucina povera”, or peasant cooking is the origin of all Tuscan recipes. In Tuscany, the elaborate preparation of dishes is not popular. Instead, Tuscans take …

Tuscany is the birthplace of the Standard Italian language. It all started in Florence, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. The Tuscan dialect became the language of the cultured class in all of Italy, due to the influence of the …

Tuscan Muse chooses for us a list of dishes from Tuscany. Go through them and pick yours! Buon appetito! We are often asked by our guests to recommend our favorite Tuscan dishes. Here are a few tasty treats not to …

Parmigiano-Reggiano is the correct name for what most Americans, Canadians and those from the UK call by the name,” parmesan cheese”. Made from unpasteurized cow’s milk, this cheesy delight is not a creation of the Tuscan region. The cheese comes …

As a student trying to learn the Italian language, it is fun for me to learn Italian words that crept into our everyday use of the English language. Typically, if there is a story behind the word, I am better …

Most everyone has heard of King Authur’s Knights of the Round Table and his legendary sword in the stone. King Authur was said to exist in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. Excalibur was King Authur’s sword and was …

Legend has it that in 781, Emperor Charlemagne was camped with his court and army very near Sant’ Antimo Abbey, resting roadside at Monte Amiata. A plague struck and threatened the lives of everyone in the troupe, including Charlemagne. An …

The Fountain of Fontebranda in Siena is a treasure that is often overlooked by visitors to the city. Siena is located in western Tuscany, without a nearby river to provide water for its citizens. This scarcity of water meant that …