Pescia Fiorentina

Pescia Fiorentina is a teensy hamlet that is part of the town of Capalbio. It sits straddling the border of Tuscany and Lazio, and is just a few kilometers to the sea, set among olive groves and gentle farmland. It may be miniscule, but the village is home to a renowned art installation - the Tarot Gardens, a whimsical fantasy world created by artist Nikki de Saint Phalle. The garden has enormous vibrant sculptures, some of which are big enough to live in! It's definitely worth a visit to see this unique artistic park.

Pescia Fiorentina is in the area of Tuscany called the Maremma, a semi-wild land of meadows and woods with a scattering of stone towns. It is here that there are still cattle ranches with real Italian cowboys, a sort of Mediterranean wild west. There are lots of nature parks and protected areas, including some that are administered by the WWF. The ancient heart of the Etruscan world is nearby and worth exploring - Tarquinia and Tuscania in particular. The famous hot springs of Saturnia are close, definitely a relaxing experience!

The pretty stone town of Capalbio with its medieval center is the "head", the administrative town and where you'll find shops and cafes, though there is a well-regarded trattoria in Pescia Fiorentina itself. There is even a DOC wine from Capalbio that you'll want to taste.

The three fascinating towns of Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana are near here, unique sights all of them, and Sovana has an impressive archeological park. Lake Bolsena and Viterbo are also worthy day trips. From here you can get to the wide natural beaches of the Tuscan coast in just minutes. This is a great place to spend some beach time as there are long stretches left in their natural state and they don't get over-crowded. The water is clear and calm. In the area's hills you can go hiking or horse riding or rent a bike and spend some time on two wheels.