Archive for 'Food and Wine'

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.

The pretty hilltop town of Sassetta is a cluster of charming brick and colourful buildings surrounded by the lush greenery of chestnut forests in the province of Livorno. With winding little streets and amazing views over the stunning scenery of Tuscany, it is a picturesque little spot but actually also has plenty to offer visitors. So, browse our villas in Sassetta today and come discover all that there is to see and do in this charming little town...

While there is a lovely church full of artworks in the town and an impressive 16th century castle to discover, you won’t find quite the list of museums and typical tourist attractions that some Tuscan towns can offer. Instead, the town boasts naturally-occurring thermal waters that have therapeutic and relaxing properties, ideal for unwinding during your vacation in Tuscany. And those chestnut trees and fertile lands all around mean that this is an area that is especially beautiful and full of delicious things to taste during the harvest season. 

If you are a foodie on tour and are planning a vacation in Tuscany, particularly if you have found a villa in Carrara and especially if you like doughnuts, then you should definitely make a point of trying the local speciality, sgabeo. Tuscany boasts lots of incredible culinary delights, some of which we are all familiar with, but the serious food-lovers of the world will also ensure that they sample the less well-known delicacies from a region.