Enogastronomy and tastes of Tuscany : culinary vacation, cooking classes, wine & oil tours, special tastings

Many travelers having a vacation in Tuscany conjures up pictures of lazy days in the sun strolling through historical hill towns, tasting wine, and eating good food on a terrace with fantastic views. But did you know that you can actually ski in Tuscany?

When thinking of skiing in Italy, the first place that comes to your mind usually is the Alps or the Dolomites areas. But the ski resort closest to Viareggio and Firenze is Abetone in the Pistoia Mountains, about an hour and a half drive from Viareggio. Abetone is located in Italy's largest mountain range, the Apennine which is the most important ski resort in central Italy. It has been popular with Italian skiers for more than 70 years.

Abetone
The skiing area has 80 kilometers of piste with a drop of 700 meters and about 50 cross country ski runs. The slopes are situated between 4 well-linked valleys: Val di Luce, Valle dello Scoltenna, Valle del Sestalone and Valle di Lima.

The ski facilities in Abetone have undergone many recent improvements, and all of the slopes are now interconnected. There are several lifts, and the newest cable lift.

These valleys form some of the most gorgeous scenery in Tuscany. If you are fond of skiing, we urge you to consider making it a part of your Tuscan visit in winter.

Its hilltops resemble an Alpine landscape more than an archetypal Tuscan one. The state-protected forests of this area are rich in firs, larches and pines.

Besides you may also enjoy the indoor swimming pools, the sauna and wellness centres as well as the beauty parlours, shops and restaurants.

Lunigiana
It is the worth to visit also the Zum Zeri-Passo Due Santi ski resort located in northern Tuscany's Lunigiana region bordering the regions of Liguria and Emilia Romagna. Due to its splendid view to the sea it has become one of the most recommanded skiing spots in Tuscany. There are 9 ski pistes, a baby park for children as well as a snow park for snowboard that accounts for one of the longest snowboard parcs in Italy.

The Lunigiana region is a scenic area with small medieval villages and castles, wooded hills, and traditional festivals. Here you'll find fewer tourists and lower prices than in other parts of Tuscany. Lunigiana will please anybody willing to get off the beaten tracks in Italy.

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