The Tuscan Times tells insider stories straight from regional residents. It’s a tool designed to connect Tuscany’s large international population, building a network while bringing the best of the region to the rest of the world.
ABOUT TTT
We’re a small team at The Florentine, but we think big. Over the past 10 years, The Florentine has worked tirelessly to serve the English-speaking population in Florence and the surrounding areas. After a decade of informing, entertaining and connecting this community, we’re excited to extend our reach to the rest of Tuscany. The Tuscan Times is here!
Why should Tuscanyget more attention? Plenty has been written on the Tuscany of cypress trees, Chianti wines and postcard-perfect villas. But those who live or travel here regularly know that this barely scratches the surface of this diverse region. The real Tuscany—as told by the people who live here—is uncharted territory for an English publication.
Read the premier issue of TTT and you’ll recognize The Florentine’s signature style, but with a #Tuscanytwist. Expect an eclectic mix of features that illustrate why so many fall in love with this land as well as events listings to keep you in the loop.
It couldn’t have happened without the enthusiasm and elbow grease of our contributors in every pocket of Tuscany: from the Mugello to the Garfagnana, the Valdinievole to the Valdarno.
The inaugural issue of The Tuscan Times will have a circulation of 18,000 copies. Distribution points include the standard locations (130 in Florence / 3 in Prato / 1 in New York City), along with community hubs in areas like Cortona, Siena, Montepulciano, Grosseto, Pistoia, Pescia, Lucca, Viareggio, Barga, Scarperia and the Maremma.
We’ll return in print with a special Christmas / New Year’s Eve edition on December 3, and our correspondents will remain active on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram. Follow @TheTuscanTimes!
This grassroots project is about building bridges: it’s a space where stories can be told, whether you’re an artist in the Pistoia hills, a student in Siena or a retiree in Chiusi. Get on board and share your local savvy: write to info@thetuscantimes.com.
Next issue of The Tuscan Times: December 3, 2015.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Contribute
Share your story in words, photography and video. Email info@thetuscantimes.com with your ideas and to find out more about The Tuscan Times network.
Distribute
Recommend distribution points in Tuscany: info@thetuscantimes.com
Currently available in New York, Florence, Prato, Cortona, Siena, Montepulciano, Pistoia, Pescia, Lucca, Viareggio, Barga, Scarperia and various towns in the Maremma.
Advertise
Buy it: For more information about advertising in The Tuscan Times: pubblicita@theflorentine.net / 055 2306616
Sell it: Bring back a signed deal or a lead and we’ll give you a cut. pubblicita@theflorentine.net / 055 2306616
Get Social
Get involved in our regular #TTTchallenge on Instagram! Here are all of the details on the first four rounds.
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ISSUE 1 CONTRIBUTORS
ELISA SCARTON DETTI
Elisa Scarton Detti is an Australian journalist and blogger (maremma-tuscany.com) who came to Tuscany for a year, fell in love and decided to stick around.
Sum up your city or town in six words: effortlessly authentic, proudly resistant to change
Favorite Tuscan, past or present: I have a love/hate relationship with Dante Alighieri. He despised the Maremma, but he also immortalized some of the area’s fables and characters.
Strangest thing you’ve seen in Tuscany: Pitigliano’s Torciata di San Giuseppe festival
VALENTINA WÜRTH 
Valentina Würth grew up with alligators in South Florida. She currently lives in Prato and spends her time finishing her novel, working as a freelance journalist and teaching English.
Sum up your city or town in six words: Industrial-chic meets Renaissance and modern art
Favorite Tuscan, past or present: Based on my love for words, Dante Alighieri
Strangest thing you’ve seen in Tuscany: Galileo’s fingers on display in a glass jar at Museo Galileo
CAROLYN TRAVERS
Carolyn Travers, a landscape designer, horticulturalist and walking guide, moved from Australia to the mountains around Pescia with her family to restore a 200-year-old farmhouse.
Sum up your city or town in six words: River, terre, food, family, ancient, peaceful
Favourite Tuscan past or present: Leonardo, after spending a wonderful day exploring his hometown of Vinci exploring the museums, church and house.
Strangest thing you’ve seen in Tuscany: Seeing four baby cinghiali running around our front paddock while the local deer who were feasting on our cherries stop to watch. Beautiful.
OONAGH STRANSKY
Oonagh Stransky is a writer, translator of Italian literature (Saviano, Lucarelli and Pontiggia) and winery consultant. She first came to Florence 25 years ago and now lives in Cortona. Her interests include art, film, horseback riding, gardening and wine.
Sum up your city or town in six words: Uptown elegance with downtown vibe
Favorite Tuscan, past or present: Amedeo Modigliani
Strangest thing you’ve seen in Tuscany: At cemeteries: statues depicting the defunct—with their glasses on
CASSIE PRENA
Cassie Prena, of Captured Holidays Vacation Photography (capturedholidays.com), is a photographer and “personal paparazzi” for clients on holiday across the boot. She currently calls Prato home.
Sum up your city or town in six words: Tuscany’s industrial and urban cultural hub
Favorite Tuscan, past or present: if it counts, the “American in Tuscany” Frances Mayes
Strangest thing you’ve seen in Tuscany: One time I was driving from Pistoia to Prato with a friend when a man wearing a primitive loincloth crossed the road
AMY GULICK
Amy Gulick, of The Bittersweet Gourmet blog (thebittersweetgourmet.com), gives us the lowdown on the land of tortelli mugellani and milk. She lives in Grezzano, near Borgo San Lorenzo in the Mugello
Sum up your city or town in six words: Green hills, fresh air, kind people
Favorite Tuscan, past or present: Iris Origo, Tuscan by adoption
Strangest thing you’ve seen in Tuscany: Negroni served warm
EMIKO DAVIES
Emiko Davies, blogger and food columnist for Corriere della Sera and Food52 (emikodavies.com) recently moved to Porto Ercole in deep south Maremma.
Sum up your city or town in six words: Tuscany like you have never known
Favorite Tuscan, past or present: I have a soft spot for Pontormo, for his frescoes and food journal in particular
Strangest thing you’ve seen in Tuscany: An almost daily visit of young wild boars who like rummaging around the back of our apartment building
REBECCA GUALANDI
Rebecca Gualandi was born in Paris, lives in the Montespertoli countryside and studies philosophy at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
Sum up your city or town in six words: Simple, breath-taking, cypress trees, vineyards, Chianti, borghi
Favorite Tuscan, past or present: Vasco Pratolini, writer
Strangest thing you’ve seen in Tuscany: Fabbriche di Careggine, the submerged village near Lucca
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WHERE TO FIND YOUR PAPER COPY
AREZZO & CORTONA
Stia. Museo dell’Arte della Lana, Via Sartori 2
Cortona. Tuscher cafe, via Nazionale 46
Cortona. Libreria Nocentini, via Nazionale 32
Cortona. Cortona on the move, via Roma 31
Cortona – Pergo. Minimarket Lunghini, Località Campaccio, 37
Fonte allo Spino. Locanda Fonte allo Spino, Strada Regionale del Consuma SR 70.
Valiano di Montepulciano. La Dogana Enoteca, Via Lauretana Nord 75. (Closed Monday and Tuesday)
CHIANTI AREA
Casole d’Elsa. Castello di Casole, Loc. Querceto
Castellina in Chianti. Casa in Toscana, via delle Mura 6/8
Castellina in Chianti. Tourist information office, via Ferruccio 40
Castellina in Chianti. La Foresteria di Villa Cerna, Loc. Casina dei Ponti 57
Gaiole in Chianti. La Cantinetta del Chianti, via B. Ricasoli 33
Mercatale Val di Pesa. Castello di Gabbiano, via Gabbiano 22
Montefiridolfi. Fonte de Medici, Via Santa Maria a Macerata 31
Poggibonsi. 1950 American Diner, Cassia Nord 2B
Vagliagli. Dievole, Località Dievole 6
FLORENCE
Florence. Various pickup points in Florence
NEAR FLORENCE
Bagno a Ripoli. Villa Medicea di Lilliano Wine Estate, Via Lilliano e Meoli 82, Loc. Grassina
Fiesole. Tourist office, via Portigiani 3
Montespertoli. Town library, via Sidney Sonnino 1
Montespertoli. Podere Gualandi, via delle Ripe 19, Poppiano
Pelago. Enoteca ‘Il Quartino’ di Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi, via Casentinese, Diacceto
Pontassieve. Trattoria Il Ponte, via Ghiberti 15
LIVORNO & PISA
Castagneto Carducci. Mutty temporary bookshop, piazza del Popolo11
Livorno. 1950 American Diner, via delle Cateratte 77
Pontedera. 1950 American Diner, via Tosco Romagnola 237 T
LUCCA, CASENTINO & VERSILIA
Forte dei Marmi. 1950 American Diner, via Provinciale 153
Lucca. Studio bibliografico Pera, corte del Biancone 5
Lucca. Tourist office, Palazzo Ducale, cortile Carrara 1
Pietrasanta. Eduardo Secci contemporary gallery, via Barsanti 1
Viareggio. – coming soon!
MAREMMA & SOUTHERN AREA
Orbetello. Tourist office, piazza del Plebiscito 1
Cinigliano. – in progress
Manciano. Tourist information office, via Corsini 5
Manciano. Town library, via XX Settembre 79
Manciano. Manciano 444 food & grocery, via Marsala 128
MUGELLO AREA
Borgo San Lorenzo. Museo Chini, piazzale Lavacchini 1
Borgo San Lorenzo. Villa Pecori Giraldi, piazzale Lavacchini 45
Palazzuolo sul Senio. Pro Loco Palazzuolo sul Senio, piazza E. Alpi 1
Scarperia. Museo dei Ferri Taglienti, Piazza dei Vicari
Scarperia. Poggio dei Medici Golf Club and Resort, Via S. Gavino 27
Vicchio. Villa Campestri Olive Oil resort, via di Campestri
NEW YORK CITY
New York City. Mi Garba, 129 4th Ave. at 13th Street (near Union Square)
PISTOIA
Pescia. Il Caffè sotto i portici, piazza del Mercato 18
Pescia. Tourist information office, piazza Mazzini 1
PRATO
Prato. PIN – Polo Universitario ‘Città di Prato’, piazza Ciardi 25
Prato. Monash University Prato Centre, via Pugliesi 26
Prato. University of New Haven. Tuscany Campus – piazza S. Francesco 8
