Travel along the Tuscan coast: joy on every corner

The only festival in the world dedicated to the composer of Madame Butterfly, the Puccini Festival brings opera lovers together in the countryside that so inspired the musician. Giacomo Puccini long lived in Torre del Lago, where he settled with Elvira, the mistress who became his wife. Every year since 1930 in July and August, the greatest opera stars can be found on the outdoor stage of the Grand Théâtre, performing his greatest creations: Turandot, Manon Lescaut, La Bohème, etc.

For over forty years, Guido Pinzani has been specialising in making cheeses from raw sheep's milk. In a traditional cheese dairy, not far from the Carthusian monastery in Pontignano, he offers absolutely delicious aged pecorino cheeses. You have two main options: take a trip to the dairy for an on-site tasting, or… discover his incredible cheeses on the menu at Arnolfo Ristorante. 52 per Casole d'Elsa, Volterra

An enchanting place for young and old alike, this garden in Garavicchio, created by artist Niki de Saint-Phalle, will remind you of Gaudi's Park Güell in Barcelona. This work of art took more than twenty years to complete. This magical world is composed of 22 monumental “Tarot” sculptures, adorned with precious mosaics, ceramics and glass, make allusion to the life of the artist.

Featuring exhibitions, screenings, workshops, competitions and meetings with photographers, the Toscana Foto festival has over the past twenty years become a major event in the world of photography in Italy. The festival takes place in July in Massa Marittima, a superb medieval town located four hundred metres above sea level, known for its cathedral and its old fabrics.

This is a paradise for bird watchers. Managed by the WWF, the Orbetello lagoon is an exceptional site where you can observe nearly two hundred different species of birds, including ospreys, herons and flamingos. In the evenings, you can watch more magnificent sunsets over the lagoon and Monte Argentario. To see as many birds as possible, opt for a visit to the lagoon between September and April.

Opened in 1964, this 6168-metre-long eighteen-hole course (Par 72) is without a doubt one of the finest in Italy! Above the sea, the course meanders between oaks and pines, strawberry trees and bushes. The setting is the magnificent Maremma in Tuscany, where scrubland borders the sea. Play a few holes on its natural contours before enjoying the sunset over the water.