Guide to Casole D'elsa

"This pretty, sleepy small town is steeped in history and offers fantastic sightseeing all around – Simply stunning."

Ssssh. We reckon you won't want to shout about this jewel of a town. Because right now it's still got that serene, untouched aura that can make you feel you've wandered back in time. One of Tuscany's medieval stunners, it's made in the Sienese mould – thick walls encasing soft-beige brick houses, palazzos and round towers on a hill overlooking softly-contoured vineyards and sunflower fields. The sort of place where you feel every photo will automatically come out in soft focus mode. Once you've swooned over the setting, concentrate on the old town. Split by a main stone-paved street freckled with a few shops, a couple of bars and delis - it's like an outdoor museum. Admire the Rocca, the fairytale-like castle that serves as the Town Hall and meander the side streets to see the pretty Renaissance palazzos. And as a finale, relax in the beautiful honey-tinged square of the Piazza della Liberta, with its enchanting church and clergy house. Later on, seek out a cosy ristorante for supper. And as dusk settles feast your eyes on delectable dishes from a world of classic Tuscan dishes. What it's to be – a delicious Panzanella Toscana, the region's tasty bread salad or Pici all' Aglione, mouth-watering pici pasta covered in aromatic garlic sauce? Vary your days by heading for Siena to stare at its extraordinary piazza and if you're here in July or August, catch its legendary Palio horse race. Or let yourself loose on the seductive Tuscan countryside, wallowing in vine-threaded hills and sun-drenched meadows, while dropping into idyllic medieval towns. What could be better?

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