Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Located in the Metropolitan city of Florence, the pretty town of Impruneta is just 15km from the city and is also considered by many to be the doorway to the Chianti wine region. It is, therefore, an ideal base for anyone who wants to enjoy both the delights of Florence and the bounty of the beautiful Chianti landscape throughout their vacation in Tuscany. Browse our villas in Impruneta and rentals nearby and you’ll be able to really make the most of both the impossibly rich cultural heritage of Tuscany and its long and storied wine culture. 

Travelling is all about unique experiences that you won’t forget, memories that will last a lifetime, shared with people you love, new friends, or even just made on your own as you expand your horizons. Sometimes these experiences involve ticking a famous sight off your bucket list and finally seeing something with your own eyes. Sometimes it’s something big. Other times, however, it is the small things that stand out most, the little moments. These sorts of travel experiences and memories mostly can’t be planned but you can set yourself up to have one of these quietly wonderful moments by being in the right place, at the right time, with the right attitude. Come with a spirit of whimsy and joy and you’ll really make the most of it while you vacation in Tuscany...

One of the best things about a vacation in Tuscany is indulging in her foodie delights but we also recommend leaning into the foodie customs of the region as well. From visiting the endless list of seasonal food festivals celebrating local specialities, to shopping the freshest produce and most notable regional products at bustling local markets, to visiting wineries and sampling their vintages, there are all sorts of foodie experiences to enjoy but you can also simply eat in the manner of Tuscans. This means eating when the locals eat, resting after your meal in the middle of the day, having multiple courses with your meals, consuming the right coffee at the right time of the day (cappuccinos are expressly only for breakfast in Italy, or certainly not after 11am), and more. 

One of the local foodie customs that we vouch for the most as particularly delicious and indulgent for someone on vacation, is the idea of the aperitivo. This involves going out ahead of your dinner or evening on the town, visiting a bar or two, and ordering an appetite-stimulating drink to enjoy with some snacks. Or perhaps you never end up going for dinner at all – lots of Italians will enjoy an aperitivo or two (or more) while eating the snacks served with them (often for free) and either fill up on the snacks or head home for dinner afterwards. No matter what way you do it though, it’s a great way to spend an evening! 

Love both Tuscan food and global cuisine, at large? Well, why not combine both and eat really well while you enjoy a stay in one of our villas in Arezzo this autumn? Come enjoy the harvest season and local dishes alongside flavours from all over the world at the annual Mercato Internazionale!

Spread over 3km, along the pretty little streets of Arezzo’s lovely and charming historic centre, the Mercato Internazionale lines the thoroughfares of the Medieval town with stands and stalls selling street foods, products, delicacies, and handcrafted specialities from 170 international operators hailing from 35 different countries, with all five continents represented! Stalls are to be open daily for the duration of the event, from 9am to 2am, and will be accompanied by a vibrant schedule of all sorts of other events involving music, dance, children's entertainment, and more. Basically, for the three days of the market, the whole historic centre turns into one big party - a party with lots of excellent food, of course!

For those who love to eat well, an off-season stay in a villa in Tuscany is an especially great idea during September as you can not only avail of the spoils of the harvest season, but you can also enjoy summer-like conditions and smaller tourist crowds – the best of both worlds! Not only will a trip at this time of the year mean that hearty autumn dishes will be served all over and all sorts of delicious things will be freshly harvested but it is also when many food festivals are held all across Italy and especially all across Tuscany. So, if you have found a villa with pool in Tuscany and you’re making the most of the almost-summer that is September, here are the food festivals that you should also check out!