While there are very few things in life that are certain, aside from death and taxes, I'm pretty sure that should I ask each and every one of you what is the first thing that pops into your head whenever you hear the word "Tuscany" you would describe one of the stereotypical images of our lush countryside. You might not realise it, but aside from the gentle rolling hills, the manicured vineyards and the snaking country roads, one of the most distinctive elements of this picture has got nothing to do with our region. While it has become almost synonymous with Tuscany, the slender, geometric trees that line our back roads are not indigenous to this land. The story of how this tree born in Persia was imported first to Tuscany and slowly became an integral part of our landscape is both fascinating and not very well known, even to locals. This hardy, elegant tree has always been considered special, almost magical. While many were convinced by the properties of its wood, tales and legends of its relationship with the underworld are common in many cultures. If elsewhere in Italy, cypress trees are mostly associated with graveyards, they have become so ingrained in the fabric of our landscape and our culture to be the unofficial symbol of our very special region. That's why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you in our countryside to tell you the story of how a foreign tree made this land what it is. Do you like this kind of episode? You'd rather have us focus on food, wine, travel tips or forgotten pages from the book of Tuscan history? Let us know - we'd be glad to hear from you!
Email: podcast@larno.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.poderiarcangelo.it/significato-dei-cipressi-in-toscana/
https://magazine.verdidea.com/it/blog/il-cipresso-segno-distintivo-del-paesaggio-toscano-storia-sacralita-e-usi-nella-cultura-rurale-204
https://www.tuscanypeople.com/cipressi-in-toscana/
https://italyze.me/scopri/curiosita/cipressi-toscana/
https://www.sinergiaverde.it/il-cipresso-da-simbolo-della-morte-a-simbolo-dellamore/
https://www.codiferro.it/il-cipresso-la-sentinella-verde-del-paesaggio-in-toscana/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
Incompetech - Leopard Print Elevator
Wayne John Bradley - Summercycle
Pipe Choir - A Midnight on Jaquay (Instrumental)
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1500077
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/summercycle-original-indie-style-instrumental-creative-commons
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipechoir-a-midnight-on-jaquay-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/