I am a little bit chuffed today to announce that I finally have the first copies of my travel guide in my hot little hands.
The project started almost three years ago. I had been living in the Maremma for a while, but I didn’t feel like I knew the province very well. How could I share advice if I’d never been to half of the towns or cities?
The Maremma is huge! Hours of roads and forests and seas separate it, so I set myself the very long task of exploring the province from end to end. I spoke to the locals, visited all the museums and attractions and snapped realms of photos. I tasted local dishes, sifted through history books and heard hundreds of legends and stories.
Then I started writing. The first draft was 200 pages long. I had written the encyclopaedia of the Maremma, but I packed it up and sent it off to publishers all the same.
I was lucky to be picked up by Effigi and I thought my work was over, but it had only begun. Countless edits and hours spent with designers moving sentences and shuffling pictures.
The guidebook went to print last month and is finally in stores! You can pick up a copy in English or Italian from most agriturismi, book shops and tourist offices in the Maremma.
Or you can buy it directly from this website. An ebook version is also available.
The travel guide has all the bits and pieces you’d expect from Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. There are beautiful colour pictures, walking guides, information about opening hours and prices, and general advice.
Every major town and attraction is covered and independently reviewed. I tell you if it’s worth a visit, great for kids or just for the aficionados.
But where the guidebook really builds on this website is in its level of insider information. I’ve spoken to locals in every town and city and shared their stories and tips. The recipes, tales and tidbits are what colour the Maremma. They’re what make this region better than anywhere else in Tuscany. And they’re what make this guidebook more of an insider’s guide than a travel guide.
So pick up a copy and let me know what you think! I’m keen to hear if all the work was worth it.
Check out a preview of the guidebook here