This area of Tuscany is a lush area, not only in terms of landscape but also in history, culture, and especially in The Art of Cuisine!  Above is a typical Tuscan view that I woke up to for the month I was based in Tuscany.  On this morning I was enjoying the mist in the air seen from my one of my windows facing the Tuscan countryside, where the opposite view was from my balcony in this Italian castle overlooking the Italian gardens.  Even though Tuscany is elegant and regal, the Tuscan people have traditional local dishes served with humble,  unpretentious, "no nonsense" Tuscan hospitality.