Guide to Candeli

"A quiet village on the lush banks of the Arno, Candeli is ideal for experiencing all that's great about Tuscany, from Florence to the Chianti hills."

Station yourself at this tiny town and the whole of Tuscany is pretty much your oyster. Prettily positioned on the banks of the Arno River, it's brilliant for combining visits to the exquisite City of Florence with soothing rural Tuscany. Made up of buttercream-painted houses, shops and old-time ristorantes, the town itself is a lesson in Florentine restfulness. There's not a whole lot going on, but who needs it? One glance towards the calm waters of the Arno and the velvety hills garlanded with olive and cypress groves and the great outdoors will win your heart instantly. Succumb and you'll stumble across lovely stone-built villages like Bagno a Ripolo, scattered with appetising trattorie, sun-burnished churches and inviting shops. Venture further south into the Chianti Classico wine region and world-class vineyards take over, punctuated by dark cypress trees and heartbreakingly pretty hamlets. And if you fancy upping the romance quotient, saddle up at a local riding school and ride along sandy roads coiling over open hillsides. There's even a golf course nearby if you fancy practicing your swing. Alternatively, take off in a hire car for gorgeous San Gimignano or into the lush Pratomagno mountains to see the picturebook 11th century monastery at Vallombrosa. The lure of Florence will be impossible to resist. Just a few minutes' drive away, this Renaissance City is so incredibly beautiful that it doesn't seem real. Don't rush it. Take two or three days to get under the skin of its countless art treasures, churches, shops and cafe culture. It'll be the final touch to your Tuscan trip that makes it truly, utterly special.

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