Tuscany At Heart - Private Guided Tours

28/08/2024

❣Baci, it was so nice to see you and your human, Catherine, in Sarzana this morning.We had a wonderful time at the oldest cafè running in the city center and then strolling around lanes, alleys and little squares together! ❤ 😍🥰❤

We got to meet up with the human’s friend Martina of who she’s known for over 11 years. She’s an art historian and sought after tour guide in Pisa, Cinque Terre, Lucca, San Gimignano, Volterra and Sarzana. In fact, she even toured Rick Steves years ago and is featured in his books. So lovely to see her and catch up!

16/08/2024

"The most beautiful things in life
are not just things.
They're people, and places,
memories and pictures.
They're feeling and moments and
smile and laughter".

Yesterday it was an amazing and special Ferragosto to me!
Eleven years ago, thanks to I had the pleasure and honour to guide two American beautiful family in Pisa ( Tuscany) and Portovenere (Gulf of La Spezia - Liguria Region - Italian Riviera): we made friends at first sight! And we have been in touch up to date talking often to each other, despite there was not any chance to meet again...until last winter when I was in Florence and saw Michael, Ken's smart son and now great Chef, and met his sweet fiancee Erin!
Then, last Spring a member of the other family, Christy, wrote me about her summer vacation in Italy, expressing the desire to visit Cinque Terre.. and yesterday, after 11 years, Christy, her adorable husband, Jonathan, and I had a wonderful and adventurous day in Cinque Terre and...eventually in Portovenere! Due to an unforseen sea storm, while on board of the ferry boat, we could not land neither in Manarola nor in Riomaggiore and had to head to Porto Venere, Portus of Venus, the god of Love! It was written in the stars that Christy and I had to be back there together after 11 years! What a blast! ❤

11/08/2024

Morning hours in San Gimignano, Siena - Tuscany

16/07/2024

Vertical but heroic life between the sea and the sky: Cinque Terre, Liguria - Italian Riviera di Levante

10/06/2024

Tuscany countryside in June 💚

28/05/2024

Lemon trees, vineyard and a glimpse on the bay of Monterosso al Mare, Liguria Region 🌊

17/05/2024

'Lo scalo' cafè, Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre - Liguria Region, Italian Riviera 🐚🐙⛵

15/05/2024

Wondering around Volterra❣

14/05/2024

Lucca, Tuscany

03/05/2024

Vertical vines grown by eroic wine maker and friend of mine in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre - Liguria, Riviera di Levante!

A Riomaggiore la vigna è una vertigine sul blu verticale, dritta come il sorso che ne cola nel bicchiere...🍷

27/04/2024

Me and my new friend Jill at 'Fabbrica del Buccellato Taddeucci', a family owned pastryshop running in Lucca since 1881.

14/04/2024

"Di giugno dovi una montagnetta
coperta di bellissimi arbuscelli,
con trenta ville e dodici castelli
che siano intorno ad una cittadetta,
c'abbiamo nel mezzo una fontanetta"

-Folgore da San Gimignano, XIV century

05/04/2024

Glimpse on St. Michael Church, Lucca - Tuscany

25/02/2024

"I Greci cercavano di fare impressione, gli Etruschi no. Le cose che essi fecero nei loro facili secoli sono naturali e facili come il respiro. Lasciavano che il respiro uscisse libero e agevole con una certa dose di vitalità. Anche le tombe. E queste sono le vere qualità etrusche: facilità, naturalezza, abbondanza di vita e nessun bisogno di forzare la mente e lo spirito in una qualsiasi direzione. E la morte, per gli Etruschi, era una piacevole continuazione della vita, con i gioielli e il vino e i flauti che sonavano per la danza. Non era né un estasi di felicità, un paradiso, né un purgatorio di tormento. Era soltanto la naturale continuazione della pienezza della vita" - D. H. Laurence

21/02/2024

My guiding season 2024 started yesterday with an amazing full day tour of Pisa and Lucca! 🤎
Thanks to the recommendation of a special person and friend of mine, I had the pleasure to meet and guide Megan and Matt, a lovely couple from Canada.
It was a delight to share my knowledge with them, besides learning details about their country and discussing interesting topics together!
What a memorable day! 🌻

05/02/2024

Dear travellers and friends:
I am truly delighted to announce that, thanks to your appreciation and support, my tour company is a Travel Hospitality Award winner for 2024!

Thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart! 💗

Warmly from Italy,
Martina

🥰❤😍

  Tuscany at Heart – Private Guided Tours is a Travel & Hospitality Awards Winner for 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 05/02/2024 Travel & Hospitality Awards +44 (0) 800 048 8265 [email protected]   United Kingdom, 05/02/2024: The Travel & Hospitality Awards is delighted to announce that Tuscany at Hea...

27/01/2024

Playing the labyrinth of Lucca ❤

01/01/2024

Happy New Year from our home to yours ❣
May 3024 bring all of us much Peace, Joy and Compassion ❤......
Sinceri auguri di Felice Anno Nuovo a tutti voi ❣
Che il 2024 porti pace, gioia e compassione a tutti noi ❤

#2024

30/12/2023

“Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable" -Mary Oliver

Year 2023 is coming to an end and I feel full of GRATITUDE and JOY for having had the honor and privilege of seeing some of you again and meeting amazing 'souls' who are now friends of mine!

2023 has been at once happily crazy, but extraordinarily unforgettable because of the special tours we customized for you at Tuscany at Heart.

For sure, there were some destinations in high demand: the five unique and scenic hamlets of Cinque Terre; the Leaning Tower of Pisa; the charming walled city of Lucca and the ancient hilltop towns in the Tuscan countryside: Volterra, San Gimignano, San Miniato and Lari. Each included authentic local experiences with native people. For example, the visit of family run organic wineries and wine tastings; truffle hunting and lunch tasting; alabaster, ceramic and goldsmith's workshops where people could meet and see master artisans at work; cheese making and tasting; extra virgin olive oils tasting; fresh pasta cooking classes, and, as the proverbial 'cherry on the cake', a small artisanal pasta factory hosted within the walls of a castle!

Next year we will offer some new experiences on my website--all suitable for families with children, couples and small groups, like a 'Visit to the Botanical Garden of Pisa'--combined with a tour of The Leaning Tower.

On the subject of the botanical garden tour, you are kindly invited to read the latest published article on 'Tuscany at Heart' blog - 'Dario goes to the museum' column (link in bio)!

Last but not least, I cannot give thanks enough to all of you who took time to write a review about their experience with me! Your kindness and appreciation allowed me to earn a Certificate of Excellence - 2023 Tripadvisors’ Travellers Choice Award!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for having me, for your appreciation and support!

Please, take care and keep in touch.

Fondly,

Martina

25/12/2023

Entering the holiday season, here at Tuscany at Heart - my family and I, we'd like to wish each of you much PEACE and fulfilling SERENITY in your hearts, as well as MEMORABLE MOMENTS with your families and loved ones!
Recently, my six-year-old son, Dario, created a lovely piece of art for me as a 2023 Christmas greeting card.
When I asked his thoughts about me as a tour guide--he sees me next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa! That is certainly a unique and magical work of architecture everyone has to see (and climb) once in life!
So here you have Santa Claus by the Leaning Tower!
With much love,
Martina ❤

16/11/2023

90 years of history and sweetness - Dario's favorite cafe and pastryshop in Sarzana, Liguria -Italian Riviera ❤...
And one of the main stops of my new cultural and foodie tour of Sarzana I will offer travellers next Spring - Summer - Fall! 😍

.
90 anni di storia e dolcezza - La pasticceria preferita di Dario a Sarzana ❤...
E una delle tappe del mio nuovo itinerario culturale e culinario di Sarzana, che offrirò ai viaggiatori il prossimo anno! 😍

instamood

11/11/2023

The she wolf and the Leaning Tower.
Wishing you all a great weekend from ❤

28/10/2023

Yesterday my friend and amazing truffle hunter, Massimo, and one of his four smart dogs, GEO, gave a lovely family (2 adults + 3 kids) from England the opportunity to learn and experience in person about the magic and fascinating world of truffles! Of course a lunch tasting cooked with love by his sister, Letizia, it was 'the cherry on the cake'!
Always and forever grateful to for their passion and dedication, respecting Mother Nature 100% 🤎🐚🌊🐕

27/10/2023

"Chi viaggia senza incontrare l’altro non viaggia, si sposta"
- A. David-Néel

Thank you so much for this amazing photo, taken yesterday in Vernazza!

11/10/2023

'Corte del pesce', Lucca - Tuscany

05/09/2023

5th September, 2023 - Volterra, Tuscany 💙🐚

16/08/2023

Balagan Cafe', Florence

Tomorrow, 17th August, 2023, 7:30 pm.

I wish I could go there! ❤

03/08/2023

"Every new friend is a new adventure... the start of more memories"

-Patrick Lindsay

Lovely day spent in Cinque Terre and Portovenere with Kathleen, a new friend from Singapore!

30/07/2023

Volterra: 'Souvenirs'

10/07/2023

Today we experienced another unique and authentic adventure in Tuscany countryside with !
Thank you all so much, Massimo - the truffle hunter, Geo - the dog, and Letizia - the Cook, for your time, passion and dedication: you made the most of the day to a lovely family from Florida! 🐕🐚
Until this morning they did not know anything about the 'diamonds' of the Earth: they then left after lunch as 'ambassadors of real truffles'! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! ❤😍