Photographer David Hessell joined us on the Tuscany UnTour a few years ago and brilliantly captured the region in the full flush of late summer. As we face a cold and drab January, here are some of his beautiful images. We like to think of sunflowers as nature’s antidepressant, a perfect foil for the short,…
At UnTours we’re big believers in slow travel. What is slow travel? It’s slowing down, staying among the locals, spending more than just a few days (maybe even a few weeks), and immersing yourself in the local culture and ways. With travel becoming more accessible to more people than ever before, traveling to small European…
When we say UnTours are based in apartments, that can be a little misleading. They may actually be cottages, farm houses, or any other dwelling characteristic of a unique region in Europe. To that end, here are a few of our favorites. 1. Playing Princess: in Sommersdorf, Germany For so many years I thought the…
Food is one of my primary motivations in travel. And to know a city well, I want to savor its signature dishes, discover its street food, and imbibe its most typical beverages. Aside from the sensory pleasures, I enjoy the shared experience of loitering in a city’s cafes, following the suggestions of the proud vendor…
Since its beginning more than 20 years ago, Harriet has run our Tuscany UnTour from her homebase outside of Florence. Countless guests sing her praises, as she binds the southern hospitality of her upbringing with the deep knowledge and love of a country and region she has lived in for more than five decades. Here…
Le Chiuse farm in Montalcino is a special place. One of our associates from the Holland UnTour, Edmond, recently headed to Tuscany’s warm, sunny climes to enjoy the hospitality and wine at Le Chiuse farm and vineyards on the Tuscany UnTour. Edmond also happens to be an excellent photographer. Here are some of his gorgeous…
Mary heads our Rome UnTour, working and living on the ground in Rome. Recently she took some time to fill us in on her hometown. What do you love about living in Rome? Apart from the very obvious art, architecture, history, food and wine, the climate definitely cannot be underestimated. All the seasons show the…
Eating is one of my favorite parts of living; it informs my travels and even my choices of destinations. Italy would have been top of list even if I hadn’t been fortunate enough to work on our UnTours there. Over my years with UnTours, I have spent a lot of time there, working and eating….
The light in Tuscany has inspired painters and artists going back to the Renaissance. Indeed you will feel like you are moving through a painting most days, the landscape and setting are so lovely. We have hosted several painter groups in the area near Montalcino, on the Tuscany UnTour. Our farmhouse apartments there provide a…
Helen Graves has just joined our European team as the new UnTours host in Florence, Italy. Here she writes about her enduring love for the city she’s lived in for 30 years. You could say I’ve done my fair share of travelling. I was born in India, grew up in Scotland, and moved to…