Castelvecchio: The Hidden Medieval Village Most Visitors Never See
- 27 January 2026
- Hidden Tuscany
Last autumn, I spent an afternoon among ruins that have stood silent since the year 1000.
Not at a famous archaeological site with ticket booths and …
Laccaria Amethystina: The Beautiful Mushroom With a Hidden Story
- 26 January 2026
- Mycology
There are mushrooms you eat for flavor, mushrooms you eat for abundance, and then there’s Laccaria amethystina—a mushroom you might eat …
Macrolepiota Procera: The Unmistakable Giant of Acquerino's Meadows
- 25 January 2026
- Mycology
Every autumn at Riserva Acquerino, there’s a moment when the meadows transform into something almost fantastical.
After the first substantial …
Boletus Edulis: The Truth About Tuscany's Most Prized Mushroom
- 23 January 2026
- Mycology
I need to be honest with anyone joining my mycology hikes in Tuscany: if you’re coming specifically to find porcini, you’re likely to be …
Are There Flora and Fungi Tours in Tuscany?
- 22 January 2026
- Hiking
This is a question I receive regularly from visitors looking to explore Tuscany beyond the typical tourist routes. The honest answer? Not many guides …
Tuscany in Winter: Why It's the Perfect Season to Visit
- 19 January 2026
- Hiking, Photography
When most people plan their Tuscany trips, they instinctively choose spring or summer—warm weather, long days, and the promise of sunshine on golden …
What Are Some Nature Photography Hikes I Can Join in Tuscany?
- 18 January 2026
- Photography, Hiking
When people ask me about nature photography opportunities in Tuscany, I see their eyes light up when I describe what awaits beyond the famous hills …
Lactarius Deliciosus: Tuscany's Orange Treasure Under the Pines
- 14 January 2026
- Mycology
Unlike the Coprinus comatus I’ve written about, which feeds on dead matter in disturbed soil, Lactarius deliciosus is strictly mycorrhizal.
This …
Coprinus Comatus: The Melting Mushroom of Tuscan Trails
- 13 January 2026
- Mycology
There’s a particular frustration every mushroom forager knows well—finding the perfect specimen at exactly the wrong moment.
For me, that …
My Lightweight Photography Setup for Mountain Hiking
- 12 January 2026
- Photography, Hiking
After years of shooting landscape photos in difficult environments, I’ve learned one essential truth: the best camera is the one you’ll …
Craterellus Cornucopioides: The Black Trumpet's Hidden Treasure
- 12 January 2026
- Mycology
There’s a mushroom that grows abundantly in Tuscan forests yet remains invisible to most foragers who walk right past it: Craterellus …
How to Tell if a Mushroom is Poisonous: The Truth About Identification
- 11 January 2026
- Mycology
After years of guiding foragers through forests, the question I hear most often is some variation of: “How can I tell if a mushroom is …
Hydnellum Peckii: The Bleeding Tooth Fungus of Mountain Forests
- 10 January 2026
- Mycology
Of all the mushrooms I encounter while guiding through the pine and spruce forests of the Appennino Pistoiese, none captivates photographers quite …
Amanita Muscaria: The Iconic Toadstool of Tuscan Forests
- 9 January 2026
- Mycology
There’s no mushroom more instantly recognizable than Amanita muscaria, the Fly Agaric, with its brilliant red cap dotted with white spots.
After …
Amanita Cesarea: The Emperor's Mushroom of Tuscany
- 9 January 2026
- Mycology
In all my years guiding foragers through Tuscan forests, no discovery generates more excitement than finding Amanita cesarea—the Ovolo buono, or …