SOME TOP TIPS ON HOW TO SAVE AND MAKE THE MOST OF :
Eat your main meal at lunchtime!
Even in the bigger cities are a local trattorie charging under 10 euros (£9) for a three-couse lunch including wine and coffee (pranzo di lavoro). Or why not pack a picnic and try the range of breads, cheeses and cured meats.
Drink at the cafe counter!
Coffee and soft drinks taken standing up at the counter instead of at a table are half the cost.
Train travel is still extremely good value. There are excellent connections from the local town to nearby Lucca, Pisa, Florence or the Cinque Terre on the coast.
Good wine is available from a local wine merchant at excellent value for money. Why not buy for the duration of your holiday and if travelling without restrictions, buy a case or two to take home.
The Tuscan Climate:
In general the climate in Tuscany is very mild with little difference between the different provinces. However the coast and valleys are hotter in summer than the hilly areas. Usually summers in Tuscany are hot with little or no rain. April and May are milder and rainier but there are still plenty of dry, sunny days. July and August are the hottest months.
Spring can be one of the most rewarding times to visit, average temperatures are warm and comfortable. It can however be one of the wettest seasons but normally by May rain is rare and the days are longer with up to 10 hours of daylight.
Summer in Tuscany is usually hot and sunny with pleasant evenings for 'al fresco' dining. Humidity levels can get high, especially in the cities.
The Local Area:
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is a typical bustling Italian town that is important for local farming and agriculture and famous for local produce including pecorino cheese, farro, porcini mushrooms and polenta and is located at a height of approx. 300m above sea level. The town is well served by supermarkets and small specialty food shops. There is a busy market on Thursday mornings 8am – 1pm which sells clothes, flowers, pottery, hardware, carpets, shoes, leather goods and gifts and also has a separate fruit and vegetable section. It’s best to go early for the atmosphere. The local clothes and shoe shops can also offer some great bargains. Shops close between 1pm and 4pm and are open until around 7pm. Trains from Castelnuovo station go regularly to Lucca where there are connections to Florence, Pisa and onwards. There is also a bus station in the centre of town which connects to most of the villages and towns in the area.
Golf:
There is a pretty little 9-hole golf course situated nearby in Bosco.
