Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Cheese-lovers will quickly discover that the options at hand for different cheeses to try for the first time and classics to stock up on while on vacation in Tuscany are endless. From regional specialities to pantry staples, if you want to find the best cheeses during your stay in one of our villas in Tuscany then these are the must-see shops to seek out. Of course, we also recommend visiting local markets and even farms where they make the cheeses in question if you can but to get the most Tuscan cheeses on offer in one place, these are the best options:

Planning a holiday in Tuscany during the colder months? Want to wander about and see all that the region has to offer – from strolling through historic centres of towns that seem little touched by the passing of time, to darting between museums, to visiting beyond famous attractions like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, to touring vineyards – but have a tendency to get chilly? Well, come and enjoy all that a vacation in Tuscany has to offer and use our handy list of delicious Italian winter warmers to help you stay toasty. With one of these drinks in your hands, you’ll be able to recharge and head out right away to tackle it all once more...

Caffè Amaretto

Italy is celebrated for her coffee so that it always a great way to go if you’re looking for a perfect hot drink but you can also try a caffè amaretto, which is Italian coffee with a kick – of amaretto, a delicious sweet Italian liqueur originally from Lombardy. Now that’s a perfect way to warm up! And, if you’re on vacation in Tuscany, well, why not?

One likely imagines South America when they think of alpacas as that is where they come from but these cute and fluffy creatures can also be found in petting zoos all over the world now. For example, Tuscany is home to a rather famous petting zoo with alpacas that visitors flock to from all over the region to enjoy the animals, taste some delicious food, and take in some stunning surroundings. So, if you book a villa in Florence and you are looking for an opportunity to explore the nearby and famously beautiful rolling green hills of the Chianti area of the Tuscan countryside while doing something that the whole family will enjoy, just head to the Valle degli Alpaca, or Valley of the Alpacas.

Tuscan wines are well-known around the world, especially her Chianti wines and wines from areas such as Montepulciano. However, among these more familiar red and white wines there is another sort to make note of if you find a villa in Chianti and come to sample all that is on offer. The wine-lovers and foodies who like excellent pairings should also make a point to sample the region’s Vin Santo.

The serious foodies among those who book villas in Tuscany will likely be arming themselves with a list of the must-try foods and drinks and restaurants that they want to ensure they make time for throughout their stay. A cuisine steeped in peasant cooking traditions, it boasts lots of hearty dishes full of vegetables, legumes, bread, and cheese that are full of flavour and will leave you full and satisfied. Meat, of course, also features in Tuscan cuisine but often dishes were traditionally made making the most of smaller amounts of meat. Today, this is less of a concern for many and delicious dishes that will keep the carnivores among your party very happy are also on offer. Perhaps the most famous of all of Tuscany’s meat dishes is the Bistecca alla fiorentina, or Florentine steak.