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| Tuscan borgo of Tignano |
Tuscany is dotted with tiny inhabited nuclei known as "
borghi" (singular "
borgo"). These are villages or, even better, hamlets, and are ideal for a
Tuscan village holiday if one or two of the houses are available for rent. These Tuscan villages usually take the form of a large farmhouse or villa, the original manor, with a number of smaller farmhouses clustered around it or stretching along a short road. It is this short road that, strictly speaking, characterises a true "borgo", hence the use of the word "borgo" in the names of suburbs of quite large towns (e.g. Borgo San Lorenzo), reflecting their rural origins. Other hamlets originate from castles or fortified villas and typically lack a road but are clustered around a small piazza or a house built in the remains of the keep. These hamlets are often referred to as "
castelli" (singular "
castello") - castles. A classic example of a
borgo is
Castellinuzza, while a typical
castello of this kind would be
Tignano or
Montefioralle. These
borghi offer great opportunities for a vacation in a wine village in Tuscany since a great many of them are still active wineries or are the locations of wineries. They are usually very quiet with almost no traffic so that children can safely run free. They are also very frequently high up in the hills, providing spectacular views and cool breezes in summer.
