Holiday Travel and Tourism Advisor

Travel writer Danielle Pergament, Italy's Toscana region make exquisite chocolate shop, a small but prestigious masters of the "true craftsmen of Dolce Vita," he says. In fact in this region is renowned for vineyards, Pisa'dan small Italian city of Florence on the way to the construction and presentation of the man's mouth water are the çikolatacı.

Pisa'dan a few kilometers away, a small town called Cascina, DeBondt a very good çikolatacı curious to know. The owner of Paul DeBondt here, this small but elegant shop does not sell anything other than never chocolate. And there is chocolate, and are sold to packaging. There are also a larger store DeBondt'un Pisa'da (Lungarno Pacinotti, No. 5; +39-050-316-0073; www.debondtchocolate.com).

Toscana, 20 century in the second half of the world was one of the most popular pleasure centers. Ties, old houses, has attracted tourists to small towns; pasta, the prosciutto'su, wine and cheese known all over the world. Since the 1980s was born here and a chocolate culture. The grinding cocoa beans, and melt the chocolate into a small factory in Florence, Pisa and Montecatini in the triangle between the spread and there was cause attached to the name of Chocolate Valley.

DeBondt Paul says: "To talk Toscanalılar food, food tasting, food is grown to review. I am Dutch. There is no tradition of eating in the Netherlands. I just have a boiled potato is tradition. Haşlanmış here I can not even talk about potatoes. "

ROBERTO CATINARI doyen

Doyen among young çikolatacı Roberto Toscana'nın role were undertaken by Catinari. Pistoia'da who was born Catinari, work alongside çikolatacı Switzerland in the 1950s have learned. In the case back to the country in 1974 with loads of recipes. A few years later, a small shop which has opened its own name (Via Provinciale, no.378, Agliana; +39-0574 718 506, www.robertocatinari.it). First, he began making chocolate bar, then praline past, soccer trophies increasingly resembles heykelimsi has produced chocolate. This velvety, rich, exquisite chocolate and win at the moment, Chocolate Valley legend has started already ...

Year history based on hundreds of craft tradition in a country proud, the brave step Catinari'nin initiatives. In fact, Italy's history is found in chocolate center Piemonte'nin north. But chic chocolate boutiques La Bottega del Cioccolato'nun in Florence (Via de Macci, No.50; +39-055-200-1609) have Andrea Bianchini, said: "Piemonte chocolate is very traditional ..."

There are two important features of Toscana chocolate. Central Italy 's taste, contains: Lavender, olive oil, and rosemary balsamik. Here, chocolate cocoa beans, cocoa butter, pure vanilla and sugar are made of, that actually Piemonte, in Switzerland or Belgium chocolate is not very different. From South America or Africa, however, brought very high quality of the cocoa is said to be. Back of labor.

He produces the cocoa

A well-known in the village of Pontedera small boutique Pisa'daki the Amedei chocolate (www.amedei.it), South America, like their cocoa produced in the tip. Of chocolate are sold in Florence Amedei'nin. Her sister Cecilia is with the owner Amedei'nin Alessio Tessieri "This is no difference from the wine or cheese," he says. "I learned everything from Venezuelan farmers. Air, rain, altitude, mikroklima the how the product should be collected ..."

Amedei Fabrikası wide from outside, looks like an ordinary farm. Can be entered into with galoshes and bone, everything is sparkling. Alessio Tessieri, some chocolate to seep out of the secret is to travel anywhere to visitors.

On the other side of the valley, formerly a student with Catinari'nin Andrea Slitti'nin shop has Slitti Cioccolato e Caffe (Via Francesca Sud, no.1268; Monsummano Terme; +39-0572-640-240; www.slitti.it). It sold a chocolate shop in a stylish package and a pleasant cafe. Slitti this fall, the shop and there's chocolate courses will soon open a factory. "How about a wine producer is educating consumers, and I will give education about chocolate. Of course I will teach the basics, not everything. Mezar take to have some secrets ..."


Until recently no one Toscana'da chocolate did not do so. Now to eat chocolate in the region has become a regular until machiato caffe. In the last decade Italy's annual chocolate consumption of 4.8 pounds per person reached by folding. Chocolate sales are up 350 million euros. However, Italy's got a feature. Industry and mass production in the face, were always undertaken by families and are craft. Despite the rise in consumption of chocolate may be the only owner of craftsmen that are obsessively smoothly

Umbria, Italy to the point of intersection of vertical and horizontal axis residents a green paradise. That's why people said "the green heart of Italy," he says. One problem, stay in the shadow of famous neighbor Toskana'nın. However, Tuscany is not so crowded and noisy. Ondüleli topografyasını cypress, oak and olive trees, groomed fields and vineyards of a vegetation cover.

Hot öne taken last summer this year Umbria'da bağbozumunu. Therefore, the fall season of the sun's rays, and examined its melancholy feel without making a trip in the month of October in the world-famous producer of wine brands and winery to see the possible ties. Another important product of the region are also worth seeing yağhane the pressing of olive oil. Wine and historical works as the cathedral of Orvieto is known for, a suitable starting point for excursions. The region's most famous wine brand, and some Antinori'nin production plant from the volcanic valley, where a platform of yağhane rising. Orvieto, at the top of this platform. This medieval cathedral city of crowning the structure. 300 years of construction, starting 1290'da. On the left side of "Il Giglio d'Oro" restaurant (0763.341903) reasonable prices (today, almost every city of Istanbul the prices more reasonable), you taste the food of the region, the cathedral of the black-white laminated front and was decorated with reliefs can review the log. Establishment of this city, extending Etrüsklere been carefully preserved buildings and streets ortaçağlardan up a network of underground cellar of ruins are worth seeing.

Cathedral of St. kuşlarla TALK

The most visited town in Umbria region Assisi, famous son of St. Francis's memories until today as well able to preserve its architecture. Basis of the inner wall equipped 1228'de dropped the frescoes in San Francesco Basilikası'nın he committed to the poor in the lives of saints are displayed. Compassion, patience and St. Francis of known alçakgönüllüğüyle show table conversation with the most famous of the birds. And to create a two-story cathedral church different from basilikayı else in town makes. Combined at the point of three valleys in the 13th rising edge Assisi'nin north century Rocca Maggiore Castle is sitting on top of all the environment looks. Sunset from the castle walls, or Assisi'nin breathtaking.

In TABAK TRÜF, in CASTLE MUSIC

Spoleto Festival, the number of summer music festivals each year increased between the oldest and famous. Since 1958 the spirit of classical music enthusiasts, the ear is saturating. Leave your car in the parking lot to the entrance of the town. Concerts in the area of the town embracing the summit of the hill, La Rocca Castle Walk slowly towards the concert area. The chirping of the day every time going through the square Piazza de Mercato, Spoleto Cathedral in front of the cafe, one of Piazza del Duomo'ya, you have to break. While sipping Cappuccino'nuzu browse around, you'll see the town's pensioners. After completing Promenadlarını, square top of the evening listening to the orchestra played nostalgic parts is neighborhoods chat, tea, coffee or drink alcohol are the.

Dinner for Duomo'nun slightly down from a terrace in the valley in the foothills of the city's "Il Ristorante Panciolle" ye (0743.224289) can stop. Watching the sunset from the region's products truffle (trüf), ie where the enriched mushroom can taste local food. Then, Piazza del Duomo or the city of La Rocca fortress in the peak of the 5-10 minute walk to the concert area can be found.

LIKE TWO VILLAGE bibelot Medieval

Ninety per cent of the hills that remain Umbria'nın Middle village, almost all of the towns and cities to protect them from enemies and mug to the top of perch. Typical Seating plans: The main square in front of the cathedral and its surrounding shops, restaurants, cafes, bars. Down the narrow streets of the square stone or brick, extending from 3-4 storeys, with their courtyard homes. Intersection of streets in the fold and you suddenly can go teeny squares, churches, libraries, monasteries, municipalities, public buildings like museums, fountains and statues.

When we ride on such a plan Umbria'yı Citta delle Pieve'yi center is nakşet have acquired. The town has grown the most famous painter Perugino's (1450-1523) Rafael'in also became teachers. In the main square of the town after you make your breakfast of cappuccino and croissant'dan in churches across Perugino'nun can see the frescoes, the narrow streets of Italy from your waiter is 80 cm. You can ask the path of the Vicolo Baciadonne'nin. Feel the rhythm of the town and want to see the texture in the afternoon take a tour of the main street. Nested generations: young people with a crutch or a wheeled chair to visit the elderly in nine grandchildren is going to look; grandfather taught the boys to ride a bicycle or playing ball with them.

Citta delle Pieve'nin very close, the gene was decorated with vineyards on the valley of the hill climbing perch was surrounded by walls and Panicale medieval village of Paciano's got two trinkets. In recent years, has been repaired, so to speak was one of the museum. "A living museum," he can not, because most of the houses have been snatching by aliens, the majority of the villagers had emigrated to Italy's big cities. Excluding the summer months, usually in silence, and the old village dominated. Nevertheless, the region's experts in getting basket boutique, ceramics, lace, tulle and knitted products such as can receive and you can forget these two restaurants have the flavor of the terrace you can eat dinner at home:

Paciano'da "La Loggetta" (075.830144); Panicale'de "Lillo Tatini" (075.837771).

Umbria, far from crowded tourist centers, Italy's natural, architectural and cultural richness to the kitchen to taste a few days on a tour of a region ideal.