If you don’t know it by now, I’m a HUGE fan and supporter of Locals! I love meeting and featuring experienced, dedicated, knowledgeable locals who are, for me, absolutely essential to a truly authentic travel experience.

I love being with and learning from locals – experts who share their talents and offer experiences gleaned from dedicated research and learning as well as developing and nurturing genuine relationships. And, of course, before I recommend them to you, I love spending time learning more about them…

And today I’m so excited to introduce you to Lisa and Her Tuscan Life!

Lisa’s Tuscan Life!

Lisa’s coloring and last name (Brancatisano) belie the fact that her heritage is (half) southern Italian! Born in Australia Lisa’s love and appreciation for the Italian culture has deep family roots. Growing up with a Calabrian father in the wholesale produce business and an English mum who was a terrific cook, she wanted to learn Italian and, as a young woman, that desire brought her to Florence. Four weeks turned into two years and a new found love for watercolors.

While working in the fashion industry in Australia, she returned to Florence on vacation to visit her twin sister who was living in Italy and fate stepped in! She was offered a fabulous job in the industry she loved – fashion! And, eventually, that new livelihood resulted in marriage and a family!

A New Life, This Tuscan Life is Realized
Created and launched in 2016, This Tuscan Life, was a perfect extension of Lisa’s creative background, eye and talent for design and photography, love of food, fashion, and art, and, of course, for her love and passion for all things Tuscan lifestyle!

What more perfect life to talk about than life in Tuscany! The dreamy landscapes, picturesque hill towns, alluring cities, and iconic monuments. And then there’s the lifestyle – the rich regional culinary and artisanal traditions that put Tuscany at the top of everyone’s “must see” list when planning their Italy vacation. What started as a book draft evolved into a bi-monthly and eventually a collectible quarterly publication showcasing Tuscany’s four seasons.

Lisa says it best in her own words:
“I’m a magazine founder & editor, a private food & shopping guide and watercolour artist who wants to share everything I know about the best-kept secrets in Tuscany with you! …
A creative, food & fashion loving mamma of two boys with a passion for all things Italian.”

A Chance Meeting
I met Lisa at a special event at Palazzo San Niccolo here in Florence several years ago. I had already seen (and drooled over!) copies of her sensational magazine, This Tuscan Life, and became an immediate fan.The quarterly issues with their stunning pictorials and features focusing on, well, the Tuscan lifestyle and the rich diversity of this region, were definitely “keepers”.

When I was leaving she made a point of cycling over with several back issues for me to take home! Dog eared and highlighted, I was inspired and read and reread over and over…and the photos!

Reconnecting During COVID!
Fast forward a few years and now I’m in Florence staying at the same Palazzo and it’s the early stages “lock down rules”. As it turned out, Lisa and her family live in the same rione (neighborhood) so it was a lovely coincidence to run into each other at the local ortolano (veggie and fruit grocer).

We made a coffee date and had an opportunity to catch up. Although I was disappointed that she had to stop publication of the print version of This Tuscan Life, I was equally impressed that she was focusing on her watercolors and commissions.

My precious Lulu La Mew “purrfectly” captured by Lisa in watercolor!

Her works are truly lovely and when I saw a photo of a client’s beloved pet dog alongside her watercolor, I knew that she could capture my Lulu LaMew. And she did! Lulu was her first feline and it is a “purrr-fect” likeness!

This Tuscan Life Today!
COVID, needless to say, put the brakes on the entire travel/tourism sector giving Lisa no choice but to discontinue printing the magazine. However, undeterred, Lisa found another way to share: This Tuscan Life went through still another change; from a quarterly print magazine to an online and very collectible digital publication.

She also redirected her time and creative energy into another love and talent: original watercolors. Thanks to her already loyal following on social media, more requests and opportunities presented themselves.

Prints and note card collections by Lisa…

What started as private commissions led to family and pet portraits, private and corporate commissions including note cards, labels, and now attractive fabrics and a selection of home and personal items featuring her designs.

Some of Lisa’s lovely designs translated into fabric and beautiful choices for the home…

In addition to juggling a family and finding creative time, Lisa offers workshops as well as guided food and shopping walks…and she is full of more exciting ideas! I know that I’ll be looking forward to seeing more of her lovely artwork, won’t you?

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♦ You’ll find Lisa sharing all about all things – – art, food, fashion — and more “Tuscan Life” on social media.

More About Lisa and This Tuscan Life:
www.ThisTuscanLife.com

Find Lisa on INSTAGRAM – @thistuscanlife

Join Lisa on FACEBOOK

Contact Lisa for:
lisa@ThisTuscanLife.com
Private Food & Drink Tours
Shopping Walks
Paint Postcards & Prosecco

…and please tell her you read about her here!

♦ Lisa’s delightful artwork is available “on line” in a wonderful selection of items on:
Society 6 – This Tuscan Life
The challenge? Which to choose?

♦ And lovely fabrics featuring her designs can be purchased here:
Spoonflower – Lisa Brancatisano

◊ Photo Credit: All Photos (except those of Lulu, me & Lulu and Lisa & Lulu) are Courtesy of Lisa, This Tuscan Life and her husband Emiliano! And thank you Thomas for your help! Grazie!

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⇒ Brush up on Sightseeing and Getting Around in Italy with my book:
Victoria’s Travel TipZ Italian Style

⇒ Read About Other Locals I Have Loved Learning With!

√ Planning YOUR trip to Italy? With help from my Friends of Victoria, we can help you a little or a lot!

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