Autumn means harvest season and if you were thinking about an off-season vacation in Tuscany in one of our Tuscany villas then foodies will be glad to know thaat it is also foodie season. During the Fall, Tuscany is not only flooded with all sorts of delicious food products that have been freshly harvested but it abounds with food festivals. While food festivals do take place throughout the entire year, there are endless options to choose from at this time of the year, in particular. One of the larger and most impressive among these has to be Certaldo’s Boccaccesca festival. Named for and held in honour of the famous 14th century writer and beloved son of the town, Boccaccio, this foodie festival has been taking place since 1999 and sees Certaldo Alto taken over for three to four days each October or late September by all sorts of food stalls selling products and snacks, demonstrations, lessons, talks, tastings, and much more besides. So, if you love to eat well and you have been browsing our luxury villas in Florence nearby or our holiday rentals in Certaldo itself, then consider planning a getaway in the area around the 14th to the 16th of October this year or around that general time on any given year to sample the delights of the Boccaccesca festival.
Not requiring any payment or advance booking to attend, the Boccaccesca festival takes place all across the town of Certaldo Alto for the duration of the festival. Stalls of food products, fresh produce, and snack sellers are set up along the beautiful medieval streets of the historic core of the city, providing a particularly scenic and charming backdrop to your browsing, sampling, and munching. Additionally, for specific events such as wine-tastings, talks, and demonstrations, there are lots of other venues used across town, many of which are gorgeous old buildings. Boccaccesca, therefore, provides an excellent opportunity to have a good look around this picturesque town as well as to try delicious local goodies.
The festival also provides an excellent opportunity to learn about and try lots of different kinds of food products from throughout the locality and Tuscany all in one place and at one time. Those who are curious and adventurous when it comes to food, therefore, will be well catered. Sample the familiar tastes of Tuscan bread but delve into all sorts of varieties from plain loafs to flavourful and distinct local examples with rosemary or raisins. Indulge in the Tuscan speciality of game with everything from wild boar to deer to hare to t-bone steaks on offer. Warm yourself against the oncoming cooler weather with hearty, wholesome, and delicious Tuscan soups steeped in the influential peasant cuisine tradition of the region that continues to leave such a mark on food in Tuscany to this day. Snack on delicious antipasti like salami and prosciutto and cheeses and stock up to enjoy in your villa in Certaldo with some incredible local wines. And if you know nothing about wine then visit the renowned sommeliers at work at the festival to learn all about regional favourites such as Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino and more in order to find the right one for you. Best of all, it’s not just for adults! If you have little ones with you, you’ll find educational and tasting workshops and other events for kids to get them interested in Tuscan food as well as other fun events to ensure that they enjoy themselves as well!
So, what are you waiting for? Browse our vacation rentals in Certaldo now and then plan an autumnal getaway to enjoy a perfect foodie break in the culinary hotspot that is Tuscany!
