- The tranquil landscape of Tuscany is home to many intriguing bird species.tuscany landscape image by TEMISTOCLE LUCARELLI from Fotolia.com
Italy is often overlooked by birders as a destination for bird watching trips because of the misconception that Italy is void of birds. Bird watching might not be as easy in Italy as it is in other European countries like France or Spain, but birding is an emerging trend in Italy, particularly in the open countryside of Tuscany. A variety of warblers, buntings, lanners, falcons and partridges are commonly seen, and numerous reserves and wetlands offer scores of finds for the adventurous birder. For the best value on your birding trip to Tuscany, avoid the hunting season (autumn), when local birds tend to keep out of sight. - Staying in a home or farmhouse in a small village gives you an authentic Italian experience.Tuscany image by Greg Peterson from Fotolia.com
Plan your own birding trip by choosing accommodations in a location favorable to bird watching, then relax and explore the rolling hills and natural environments that surround you. It's a Green Green World offers places to stay at a reasonable rate (from as little as 16 euro per night at farm-stays, or up to 135 euro per night at hotels, as of September 2010) for the environmentally conscious with a penchant for relaxation. Venues range from hotels to farms to castles, all with a variety of activities, many emphasizing bird watching. Try Fattoria Barbialla Nuova or Podere La Casellina to experience Tuscany's bountiful nature at a peaceful, home-style pace while you observe the local bird life.
It's A Green Green World
296 Sandycombe Rd, KEW
Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3NG
United Kingdom
(01)475-127578
itsagreengreenworld.com - Birds flutter back and forth in the wooded areas of Tuscany, particularly in protected environments like Torre del Lago.falcon in tree image by BONNIE C. MARQUETTE from Fotolia.com
Another affordable option for Tuscan birders is La Lucertola, a pair of farmhouses near Pisa. It is situated about 20 minutes from Pisa or Lucca, and each cottage is conveniently situated near walking trails. Birds such as buzzards, hawks, doves, swallows, Montague's harriers, kestrels, tawny owls, chiffchaff, stonechat, goldfinches, redwings, warblers, blackcaps, golden orioles and firecrests can be seen from the farmhouses if you want to stay close. Or venture the five miles to Torre del Lago, a peaceful spot perfect for birders. Staying at La Lucertola ensures no shortage of bird watching or other activities like horseback riding, beach trips, or visiting the cultural treasures of Pisa, Lucca and Florence.
La Lucertola
Via di Cavina 14, Pugnano
56017 San Giuliano Terme
Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
39-346-322-3021
lucertola.info - Tasty Tuscany gives birders a chance to enjoy all aspects of Italian culture, particularly its culinary delights.Typical italian food with pasta fish and tomato image by Alfonso d'Agostino from Fotolia.com
For an authentic Tuscany getaway at a reasonable rate, consider boarding with a local Tuscan family. This course is not for the shy birder, as boarding with a family drops you into social interactions with the local people almost immediately. Companies that specialize in family-style Tuscan vacations pride themselves on hospitality. One such company, Tasty Tuscany, offers room and board with optional activities including art tours, hiking, cooking courses, and birding, all organized by residents Pat and Paolo, who cater to their houseguests (maximum of 12 in the house at one time) for as little as 70 euro per day or 420 euro per week. This is a simple and pared-down vacation for the birder looking to save. Tasty Tuscany's home base of Palaia is a tiny medieval town 45 minutes from Pisa or Florence; only one hour from Lucca, Siena, or the Chianti; and 90 minutes from Cinque Terre, Montalcino, or Pienza.
Tasty Tuscany
Agliati 123
56036
Pisa, Italy
(+39) 0587-622 186
or (+39) 335-569 5678
tastytuscany.com - Get off the typical tourist scene with customized adventures into quaint villages.An old Italian village in Tuscany image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com
Creative, customizable vacations are the specialty of Tuscany Cultural Holidays. The company arranges vacations for all tastes in the Italian countryside, with activities in addition to birding, like art shows, painting classes, cuisine and wine tasting. You can take advantage of their expertise to plan your whole trip--including accommodations--or just to plan a birding excursion. They claim to be experts at planning excursions and taking creative tourists "off the beaten track." Birders are taken most often to the river Tiber and Lake Montedoglio.
Tuscany Cultural Holidays
Corso Matteotti 31
Anghiari
AR 52031
Italy
0575-788-152
Fifty Old Mill Rd
Garden Level B, Suite 1
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7WI
Canada
tuscanyculturalholidays.com - The green tree-dotted hills of the Tuscan landscape are a perfect, peaceful environment for a variety of bird species.tuscany fields image by TEMISTOCLE LUCARELLI from Fotolia.com
A walking holiday in Tuscany for the moderately active birder who wants to do more than just birding, Headwater's Secret Tuscany Walk is an eight-day all-inclusive tour through the Tuscan countryside. Travelers can book airfare simultaneously, or find their own airfare. All breakfasts, six picnics, and all evening meals are included, along with tours that reveal the local culture, a local representative guiding small groups through wine tasting, art tours, and outdoor excursions. A nice way to avoid the hassle of planning your own trip. Often combining costs into one package like Headwater's can save time and money.
Headwater
In Association with Breakaway Adventures
328 Bridgetown Pass
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
USA
800-567-6286
843-856-9771
headwater.com
breakaway-adventures.com - Birdingpal provides a valuable resource for the adventurous, outgoing birder. If you plan your own trip or have a day to spend outside your organized tours, contact a volunteer Birdingpal contact who lives in Tuscany to show you the lay of the land and help you find the best birding places only known to true locals. Birdingpal contacts are not paid for their services, but they do appreciate gifts and courtesy from their fellow birders. They like to interact with people of similar passions. Contacts are listed on the Birdingpal website according to region and the languages they speak.
Birdingpal
birdingpal.org/Italy.htm
It's a Green Green World
La Lucertola
Tasty Tuscany
Tuscany Cultural Holidays
Secret Tuscany Walk
Birdingpal
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