Total Tuscany Podcast - Total Tuscany

402-913-0630
totaltuscany@gmail.com

Episode 88: To Tip or Not To Tip In Italy

12/18/2022

Il Castello Ristorante-Certaldo

When Americans travel to Italy, they often need clarification about the practice of tipping.

In the States, it's common to tip anywhere between 15 and 30% when at a restaurant, bar, or cafe. The standard is 20%.

Total Tuscany Podcast hosts Travis Justice and Pat Campagna have been to Italy several times, even they are somewhat confused about when and when not to tip in Italy after all this time.

It's hard to believe we have been doing this podcast for almost nine years now, and we are getting closer to our 100th episode and have never spent a serious amount of time talking about the subject of gratuity.

When discussing such an important issue, we bring in the experts. Linda Sorgiovanni fromItaly Customized joins us again on the podcast. Operating a boutique travel company, Linda is asked by clients to factor in a tip to the cost of services. That's more challenging than it sounds, as it is not customary to tip for some services, but it is for others.

After listening to this podcast, you will be able to travel to Italy with complete confidence on when to tip or not to tip!

If you have a quick question about traveling to Tuscany, a recommendation, or even travel planning and a full-service itinerary, email us, totaltuscany@gmail.com.
Follow s on our social media channels.

Pushing Boundaries With Art

9/11/2022

Emanuele Giannelli's "Mr. Arbitrium."

Our good friend Helen Farrell is back on the Total Tuscany Podcast. Helen will join us monthly to talk about the latest edition of the Florentine Magazine. It's an English publication dedicated to all things Florence and Tuscany.

There is a work of art that is pushing boundaries in Florence. A modern sculpture and contemporary art piece by Emanuele Giannelli is called "Mr. Arbitrium." The daily crowds marvel at its size and ponder its meaning which is up for interpretation like all great works of art should be. You should hurry! The sculpture is on Display until October 31.

Helen gives us her thoughts on the sculpture and other good nuggets of information from this month's magazine.

About The Florentine
The Florentine is published 11 times a year. There are over a thousand subscribers worldwide and a circulation of 10 thousand copies per month. You can find the magazine for free at over 150 locations in Florence.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE

Italian America Magazine

7/24/2022

Italian America

Andrew Cotto has worn many hats in his career. Teacher, novelist, freelance writer. He’s written about his love for Italian food and travel in magazines for years. You are never too old to reinvent yourself, right?

Cotto is making his third appearance on the Total Tuscany Podcast. In previous episodes, he discussed his novels. Cucina Tipica, An Italian Adventure, and Pasta Mike.

This time, he talks about his new job, Editor-in-Chief for Italian America Magazine. Don’t get us wrong, Andrew is not done writing. In fact, his byline is all over his first issue in his new role. But he has taken a magazine that has been around for years and gave it a more appealing look. Not so much a rebrand but a much-needed refresh. You could say the magazine has taken on some of…or a lot of Andrew’s personality.

Subscribe Today

Italian America magazine is a full-color quarterly in English. It is the official publication of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America®, the nation’s largest and oldest organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States. According to the Organization, the magazine is the most widely read quarterly for people of Italian heritage in the United States.

Andrew is trying to grow the magazine outside just Italian heritage. You don’t have to be Italian to enjoy all things about Italy. It’s probably why you are listening to this podcast. The country and the culture are so appealing to many of us who don’t have family that comes from the old country. We can be Italian without actually being Italian.

Traveling to Tuscany or other parts of Italy can be intimidating! Where to start? Who to trust?
You deserve to travel stress-free! How do you do that? Start with us at Total Tuscany dot com.

We partner with some of the best travel planners based in Italy. We give you that peace of mind knowing you are covered and taken care of before you leave, once you arrive, and when you get back home. If you are interested in working with us, email totaltuscany@gmail.com.

Make sure to follow The Total Tuscany Podcast on whatever platform you listen on. This way, you know right away when a new episode is out. If you have time, give us a five-star rating and write a review, we love to see your feedback.
Follow Total Tuscany on Social Media. Just search Total Tuscany on:

Italy's Finest

5/30/2022

Italy's Finest

Italy attracts all kinds of travelers. Those who visit on a fixed budget. Those who vacation and spare no expense. And those who fall somewhere in the middle.

Imagine if you will that you have unlimited funds and you could do and buy whatever you want in Tuscany. Sounds like a dream, right? As you are about to hear in this edition of the Total Tuscany Podcast, dreams do come true!

The dream maker is Filippo Gargani, owner of Italy’s Finest and Tuscan Villas. Italy’s Finest is a 20 years old boutique DMC, event planner, and travel designer strategically based in Florence, Italy. From gender reveal celebrations to corporate retreats, Filippo and his team have planned some of the most extraordinary events.
In addition to event and travel planning, Filippo also operates TuscanVillas.com. If you are a regular listener to the Total Tuscany Podcast, you know that we are proponents of renting a villa and enjoying all the Tuscan countryside has to offer.

Filippo Gargani

Villas are once again in high demand and if you want one you are going to have to wait. 2023 is the earliest you can grab one and those are filling up fast!

Please give this podcast a “like” and share it on your social media channels. If you have time, please write a review. The more engagement we have the more people will hear the stories we are telling.
If there is someone you would like us to interview or a place in Tuscany you want us to checkout, send us an email at, TotalTuscany@gmail.com.

Please like our Facebook and Instagram pages and follow us on Twitter and Tik-tok.

Pasta Mike

11/13/2021

Italy can be therapeutic. People from all walks of life flock to Italy for all sorts of reasons. We've never met a person who left the country and didn't say to themselves, wow! That's the way life should be.

Andrew Cotto recently returned from Italy, where he was on a three-week "work" trip drumming up stories. Andrew is a fantastic journalist; one of his stories from this trip will be coming out in Italy Magazine. He will be pitching several more articles to other travel sites and publications.

In addition to his travel writing, Andrew has a new book out. "Pasta Mike", a story of friendship and loss. Losing your best friend is not easy. In our conversation on this podcast, you can hear in Andrew's voice the pain he's still going through.

Friendship never dies, and Pasta Mike is a reminder of how important it is to have people in your life who you love, trust, depend on, and yes, even say goodbye to even if you aren't ready to.

Pasta Mike

Click To Preorder

Andrew Cotto

Andrew Cotto

Please take the time to give this podcast a "like," share it with friends, and follow us on your favorite podcast platform, so you know when new episodes are released. Click the social media icons below and or search Total Tuscany and join our community.

Rediscover San Gimignano

2/14/2021

So Many Stories To Tell

We can spend hours looking at the old men in this photo. Their facial expressions. Their hand gestures. Their clothes. Their shoes. Every part of them tells a story. If you stare at it long enough, you can write unique fictional attributes of each one of them. If you come back the next day and look at the photo again, the stories for each of them change.

We took the photo in San Gimignano in 2009. It hangs on our office walls as not just a reminder of our first trip to Italy but to let us know there are grace and wisdom in aging.

City Center

View From Tower Tops

San Gimignano tells a story that dates back to the Etruscans three centuries before Christ. A shining city on a hill marked by its 14- towers, San Gimignano is a must stop for any tourist. 4-million people a year visit this mid-evil town in North Central Tuscany. Normally packed with people, beauty is found in the hustle and bustle of buses, walking tours, and onlookers.

Dinner at Il Trovatore

One of our favorite restaurants in Tuscany, Il Trovatore, is located just outside the city walls. It was there we enjoyed our first Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Oh, and the pizza! Our personal favorite, the Atomica.

We have purchased handbags, chocolate, wine, pottery, and t-shirts in San Gimignano. We have sat for hours in the City Center (UNESCO World Heritage Site) people watching, and imagining the history of the people who walked the streets before them.

Like most places in Itlay, specifically Tuscany, the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 has taken its toll on the economy. But as you find out in this latest podcast. The people of San Gimignano are not sitting back and just crossing their fingers and hoping people return. They are using this time to rediscover themselves. Soul searching, should we say, to connect with its past so when the people do return, they get the authentic experience they want and deserve.

Just like the old men in the photo, the days go by, but the stories we share and pass down over time can live forever. Next time you visit Tuscany, make sure you make a story of your own in San Gimignano.

Inspiration On The Horizon

The 1-Euro Home In Italy!

1/23/2021

If you believe all the news stories and headlines, buying a house for as low as 1-euro in Italy is simple. But is it?

We have been doing this podcast for several years now. We travel to Italy (when there’s not a pandemic) yearly. I would say it’s our goal to have a home or an apartment in Tuscany someday.

But where do you start? Who do you turn to? Well, our guest on this edition of the Total Tuscany Podcast knows a thing or two about purchases homes and real estate in Italy.

Chris Sobolev operates the websiteSuper Savvy Travelers with her husband, Chris.

They fell in love with Italy a couple of years ago, started buying property, and now it’s their mission to people like you and me do the same.

Property in Tuscany is SUPER expensive. That’s not a surprise as Tuscany is the most popular region in Italy. Chris and Pete and settled in by the sea in Calabria. It’s cheap, beautiful, and provides easy access to other parts of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

You find or interview with Chris both enlightening and educational. After listening to it, you might be ready to start the process of making your dreams of an Italian home come true!

Episode 76:Let Italy Come To You!

12/4/2020

Linda and Claudio

The two of the most popular things to do when you go to Tuscany are drink wine and take a cooking class. Well, since we can't travel right now, what if there was a way to put a sommelier and a Tuscan chef right in your kitchen?

COVID-19 has reinforced our need for connection to people. Linda Sorgiovanni from Italy Customized wants to come into your home, virtually. Linda collaborates with her friend Claudio Bisanzio on a unique cooking class and wine tasting with you and your family and friends. The 2-hour experience includes wine, a food menu with step by step coaching during the cooking process, a recording of your cooking class, a recipe booklet, and memories that will inspire you to travel to Tuscany to experience the real thing.

This virtual experience's price is very reasonable—$ 50 per person up to four people and $40 per person for larger groups. We recommend that groups are not larger than eight people.

In this podcast, you will find that Linda and Claudio are the perfect guests to bring virtually into your home. You will laugh, drink great wine, create friendships, and be inspired to travel to Italy when we are again allowed to do so.

This unique experience is a fantastic gift for the holidays. Imagine unwrapping a bottle of Chianti Classico Reserva or a Brunello with a card detailing a night of great Italian food that you will make right along with your new friend in Florence.

Virtual Cooking Class

Yes, there is a pretty big time difference between Florence and the United States. But don't fret; Linda and Claudio are night owls and will work directly with you to schedule a time that works for you and your guests. You can email Linda directly to set up your class.
linda@italycustomized.it

Print Your Own Gift Certificate

Episode 71: Coronavirus Impact

3/14/2020

Jacopo Di Battista & Mary Shea

Coronavirus has a significant impact all over the world. Our friends in Tuscany are not immune to what is going on, and for all practical purposes, tourism has come to a complete halt throughout the country.

Many of our friends who you have heard on this podcast are directly affected both professionally and personally. Now is the time to listen to them and learn how you can help right now and in the future.

Jacopo Di Battista and Mary Shea help run their family estate Querceto Di Castellina. The agriturismo is supposed to be getting ready for the busy season, but the pandemic has forced cancelations for March, April, and even into May. They are worried, but optimistic at the same time.

Support Querceto Di Castellina and Its Employees

Free Global Shipping until
April 3rd with promo code QUERCETOLOVE

SUPPORTING ITALY

There are no limits to the devasting economic effects the outbreak of the virus has had on Italian businesses.

We encourage you to show your support not only for us at Querceto, but for our friends and colleagues all over Italy.

In solidarity, we encourage you to drink Italian wines, buy Italian foods, treat yourself or a loved one to a hand-crafted Italian artisanal good or book a future trip to Italy when everyone can travel freely and safely.

Episode 68: Urban Adventures Florence

1/26/2020

Anjanette & Travis

It was a brisk December afternoon, my wife and I were sitting in the Piazza della Republica in Florence waiting to meet up with our friend Linda Sorgiovanni. You've heard Linda on the podcast before, she owns and operates Italy Customized with her business partner Alberto Bassilichi. However, our afternoon plans were to experience the other business they own and operate, Urban Adventures Florence.

We were excited because Linda was going to give us a sample of the Florence Foodies Walk. The walk, a two-and-a-half exploration of the city streets, where we found some hidden gems and experienced the following:
Truffles. Gelato. Chianti. Olive Oil. All the essentials of the Italian food pyramid were included on this Florence tour. Leave the diet at home and embrace the feast that is Florence.

Gain insight into the best local food stores, restaurants, and wine bars
Sample delicious local fare including earthy truffles and artisan chocolate
Learn about local extra virgin olive oil (and sample some, too!)
Experience a localized food history lesson before sampling the best gelato in townRelax with a glass of chianti at the end of the tour

A local, English speaking guide gives the tour, and for about 75-bucks, everything you eat and drink is included.

Enter the Promo Code: TOTAL TUSCANY at checkout and get an automatic 5% savings on your tour.

A local, English speaking guide gives the tour, and for about 75-bucks, everything you eat and drink is included.

We were fortunate to have Linda give us a private walk, but it would have been amazing to have other people to share the experience with and get different reactions.

Our first stop was a new Antinori wine bar/restaurant that included a small museum. Besides giving the history of the Antinori family, the courtyard housed a replica "Crazy Cart," which could haul up to 2000 bottles of chianti.

The next stop was a short walk from the Piazza Santa Maria Novella. We went behind the scenes at Top Bakery, where the owners were making their world-famous Panettone. A sweet cake popular around the Christmas holiday. Close your eyes and imagine the most fabulous smell a bakery can produce. That's what we experienced at Top, and everything we tasted was just as delicious!

Top Bakery

Panettone

It was time to sit down, Linda had something special planned as we walked into Procacci, a wine bar. We stared with the most refreshing glass of Prosecco and followed it up with not one, but two truffle and butter sandwiches that were simply unforgettable!

Our final stop, Forno di Antonio Mattei. A quaint little shop where we sampled biscotti. Not only did we taste several varieties, but the shop documents the history of the family and the business that is still thriving today. We purchased our biscotti in the replica "hatbox" that was traditional before modern packaging.

We ended our tour at Linda's office to record this podcast. Enjoy! You will want to experience one of the Urban Adventures Florence tours. We want to save you some money doing so! When you book online, enter the promo code, TOTAL TUSCANY, and you will save 5% off the purchase price. If you love (or like) food, and wine, Urban Adventures Florence will give you the best day ever!

Travis, Linda, & Alberto

The Interview!