Archive for 'Florence'

While Chianti may be the most famous wine region in both Italy and Tuscany, it is not the only celebrated wine region in the country or the region. Tuscany is also home to Carmignano, a Tuscan wine region centered on the city of Carmignano, about 10 miles northwest of Florence. It has been praised for the high quality of its wines since the Middle Ages and was even singled out and favoured by Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Protected since the 18th century, it was awarded Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) status in 1975 and subsequently promoted to Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) status in 1990.

As we mentioned in the last post, as much as Tuscany is a cultural gem, it is also a natural beauty with a wonderful and varied landscape that facilitates many outdoor pursuits, including rock climbing. If you are interested in trying something a little different on your holiday in Tuscany, or something a little off the beaten tourist path, or you happen to be an avid climber planning on spending time in Tuscany, it is a perfect match. We have already mentioned some of the best places to go climbing in the region but there are many more so take note of these destinations, pick the one that suits your plans and abilities and get out to see a different side of Tuscany!

3. Capo d'Uomo, Argentario Island

Capo d'Uomo on Argentario Island is an incredibe crag that is set in very picturesque surroundings, with the sparkling seas of the Mediterranean below and the ruins of an ancient watchtower above, overlooking it all.

As great pizza is a highlight of any trip to Italy, we thought it was only fitting to try and help you track down some of the best places to get pizza in Tuscany. Based on review sites, articles and recommendations, we have compiled a list of some excellent options but the only way to really know is to try them for yourself. So, just find a luxury villa in Tuscany and try out any of these places and let us know whether or not you feel that they live up to the hype!

7. Florence – Mercato Centrale

We have mentioned a couple of Florentine locations so far but this spot is something special. Unlike the other picks, it isn't a single, dedicated pizzeria but an indoor market place where you can find food vendors selling and cooking various kinds of food, all under one roof.

Continuing on from our previous posts, we have been tracking down some of the best-rated and most beloved pizza places in Tuscany. Of course, it isn't possible to try out every single restaurant, personally, or to definitively say that one restaurant is better than the rest, however, we have trawled across lots of different review websites to see what real people are saying. Just find a luxury villa in Tuscany, grab pizza at any of these spots and let us know if you agree with the positive reviews that we have seen.

5. Florence – Gusta Pizza

Another Florentine entry, this is the top-rated pizza place in the city according to Yelp. Located on Via Maggio, it is a buzzy, busy spot that is very popular with locals.

Pizza is a must if you are visiting in Italy and it's not hard to find tasty pizza but we thought it might be helpful to compile a list of some of the best-rated and most beloved pizza places in Tuscany for your convenience. Once you have found a luxury villa in Tuscany, just stop by any of these places and fill up your tummy with some delicious treats.

1. Florence – Pizza Man

The top-rated pizza place in Florence on TripAdvisor, this is a very well-established and beloved business that actually has franchises in several different locations around Florence (Via C. Del Prete, Via Rocca Tedalda, Via Dell’Agnolo, Via Del Sansovino, Via Pacinotti and V.le De Amicis)
and, even, one in London. Viale De Amicis is, in fact, the favoured location but we wager that most are probably just as good and, if reviews are anything to go by, it's really very good. They note that “the place is FULL of locals” and “the staff is friendly and the pizza is great”.