We love Florence and Tuscany year-round, but there’s something extra special about visiting in the cooler months. The crowds thin, the countryside turns golden and quiet, and the food—oh, the food—becomes the star of the season. From slow-cooked soups to hearty pastas, it’s the kind of comfort cooking that warms you right through. So when we heard about the new cookbook Winter in Tuscany by Florence based author Amber Guinness, we couldn’t wait to dive in.

Following her gorgeous cookbooks A House Party in Tuscany and Italian Coastal, this book is all about the flavors and rhythms of life in Southern Tuscany and Florence during the quieter months. It’s a celebration of cooking and savoring life at a gentler pace. Beautifully illustrated throughout, the recipes will make you want to pull up a chair and stay awhile. And then roll up your sleeves, tie on an apron and get to work making them at home!

What makes Winter in Tuscany such an enjoyable cookbook just to sit down and read is how well it goes beyond recipes. It’s filled with snippets of history and local lore, tracing Tuscan cuisine all the way back to its ancient Etruscan roots. You’ll find practical guidance, too, like how to stock your pantry for Tuscan-style cooking at home. Simple ingredients that go a long way are key, from lentils and beans to grains, olive oil and herbs. There’s plenty here for vegetarians as well, since so much of Tuscany’s traditional fare relies on hearty, plant-based flavors. And yes, there’s a whole world of Tuscan soups beyond ribollita – plus pastas, roasts and even a spaghetti made with Chianti that is perfect for a chilly evening.

We love how Guinness has captured the feeling of being in Tuscany in the off season. It’s full of art, travel inspiration and the kind of details that transport you straight to Florence’s cobblestoned streets or a cozy trattoria in the hills.

Even if you can’t make it to Italy this winter, this book is a great way to bring a little piece of Tuscany home. Winter in Tuscany is also a perfect gift for anyone who loves Italian food, travel and the simple joy of a good meal shared. Or it might just inspire you to plan your next Tuscan getaway! Keep the inspiration going with a look at our Florence vacation rentals and dreamy villas in Tuscany.

The post Bring the Flavors of Tuscany Home This Winter appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.

Florence visitors arrive every year equipped with a list of what to do, what to see and, most importantly, what to eat during their visit. It’s almost impossible to visit the city without indulging in a bistecca alla Fiorentina, a gargantuan cut of beef that is aged to perfection in Florence’s most celebrated restaurants. If you’re a foodie, there are endless opportunities to sample classics like tagliatelle pasta with porcini mushrooms and truffles, pappardelle with wild boar ragù, or the delightfully crunchy schiacciata bread (especially the version made with crushed grapes). And that’s just the start: there’s nothing like strolling past the Duomo with your favorite gelato, sitting on a terrace eating zuccotto or finishing your meal with homemade cantucci biscuits dipped in local vin santo.

You could easily spend your holiday sampling all of the best cuisine that Florence has to offer, but you’d only be getting a taste of what’s available in the surrounding area. Due to both its position in the heart of Tuscany and its very well developed transport infrastructure, Florence is the perfect place to base yourself if you’re looking to whet your appetite and explore. Some of the most prized ingredients and best recipes in the world are within a short train ride or drive from the City of Lilies. For delectable foodie experiences, there are lesser-explored areas of Tuscany that will satisfy your hunger for adventure and make any trip a memorable one.

Lucca is only a short trip from Florence. (credit)

Gourmet Flavors in the Garfagnana

Located just over an hour’s drive or train ride from Florence, northwestern Tuscany is a foodie’s dream that flies under the radar. Known as the Garfagnana, this mountainous area is famous for its chestnuts, which were a staple of the Tuscan diet for millennia and still form the basis for local cuisine. While the countryside is an ideal location for trekking and biking, a visit to the city of Lucca is a culinary highlight for even the most seasoned traveler. Chestnuts feature in a great many classic dishes, and you’ll often find pasta made from chestnut flour. However, the most famous chestnut dish is the sweet castagnaccio, a cake made with chestnut flour, olive oil, rosemary, raisins and pine nuts.

Traditional castagnaccio from Lucca. (credit)

Other must-eat dishes from Lucca include tordelli Lucchese, an egg pasta that falls somewhere between a ravioli, a dumpling and a tiny pie. Traditionally, it is filled with beef or pork, Swiss chard, pine nuts, raisins, spices and cheese. But the most interesting ingredient in tordelli filling is the most nondescript: stale bread. Lucca, an important trading post, was much more prosperous than other towns of the same size, making it therefore wealthier. The culinary evidence of that is the inclusion of eggs in the tordelli pasta; poorer regions would not have been able to afford such a luxury and would have only used flour and water to make their dough. But using stale bread in the filling shows that despite their wealth the Lucchese were not inclined to waste anything, including the ends of bread. These funny details are often the very things that make food such a great tour guide, and nowhere is that more true than in the wild mountains of the Garfagnana.

Spend a day by the sea in Livorno.

Seafood on the Shores of Livorno

When you think of Tuscany, chances are that your mind goes to rolling hills and rows of vineyards that seem to stretch into infinity. However, the region has some of Italy’s most dramatic and stellar coastlines and fabulous seaside towns. At just over an hour’s drive or train ride from Florence, Livorno is a relaxed city with tons of charm and even more great food. Of course, it won’t be surprising that the city is famous for its seafood, in particular the famous cacciucco. Although many port cities boast their own version of fish stew, this one seems to perfectly embody this wonderfully eclectic place: five types of fish (one for each “c” in the name) are cooked together until it becomes not quite a soup and not quite a stew, but something entirely unique.

Delicious cacciucco – traditional in Livorno. (credit)

Livorno is just one of many great beach experiences near Florence. The uniqueness of the city comes in part from its history, which saw it develop in the 1500s as a trading outpost for the Medici empire. As such, the city was known for its liberal laws and multicultural population, which is still evident in some of its signature dishes. Cuscussù alla livornese is a local version of the Levantine couscous that most believe to have arrived in the city with the Sephardic traders who settled here in the Middle Ages. Like many other cities by the sea, its history has been shaped by the constant traffic between worlds beyond the horizon. If you head to the port and grab a citrus-infused doughnut known locally as frate, you can almost picture it for yourself!

Spend a day exploring Siena. (credit)

Siena’s Sweet Tooth

One of the most iconic cities in Tuscany, Siena has a history that dates to the Etruscan period and gave birth to some of the most influential minds in the Renaissance. Along the way, the world’s oldest bank also set up shop there, and the world famous Palio horse race draws visitors from all over the world to watch as the medieval center is transformed into a stadium. Of course, you can visit Siena at any time of the year and get lost in its grandeur, as it’s only about an hour’s drive or train ride from Florence. But the city is much more than a perch in the lush Tuscan countryside, and nowhere is this better experienced than through the foods that originate there. Get a dish of pici, a thick rope of flour and water pasta that originates in Siena, and is prepared with a variety of meat sauces typical of the region. If salumi is your weakness, the rare Cinta Senese breed that originates from Siena produces some of the most coveted cured meats in the country and is still only reared in the area.

Traditional panforte – a classic Siena sweet.

But if you’re in the mood for something sweeter, Siena may just be the paradise you’ve been searching for on your Italian holiday. As one of the most culturally important and wealthiest cities during the medieval period, Siena had access to delicacies like sugar, candied fruits and exotic spices well before other areas. The result is the luscious panforte, a dense cake made with sugar, honey, butter, nuts and spices like cardamom. The famous cavallucci cookies also originate from Siena and have since become a staple of Italian Christmas celebrations. Look out for their larger cousin, known as berriquocoli, and often containing candied cedar. If you still have room, you would be remiss not to try some ricciarelli di Siena, an almond biscuit that is said to have its origins with a Sienese nobleman who returned from the crusades with a similar recipe in hand. Don’t worry, you can always take them to go!

The post Why Florence Should be Your Tuscan Foodie Holiday Hub  appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.

Set out to explore the vineyards of Tuscany. (credit)

While a visit to Florence will definitely involve a spectacular array of museums, shopping and eating, there’s one thing that you can count on being present no matter where you go in the city: great wine. Indeed, with so many great restaurants and wine bars, you’re never far from a good bottle of wine in Florence, whether you’re staying one of our vacation rentals in the trendy Oltrarno neighborhood, central Santa Croce or a stone’s throw from the fabled Duomo.

While there’s so much to see and do within the city, there are a number of incredible wineries that are an easy drive away from Florence and could absolutely be reached and enjoyed on a day trip. Many are actually reachable via public transport or offer shuttle services to and from the city so that you don’t have to drive. However, if you are looking for a chance to see the world famous Tuscan countryside, what better way to do it than in pursuit of some of the best wines in the world?

Antinori – stunning in every way. (credit)

If you’re looking for a wine tasting that won’t take you too far outside of Florence, there’s no better place to start than with the Antinori Estates, the label behind some of the world’s most well-known Italian wines. The vineyards and wineries are located all over Italy, with the largest concentration around the Chianti region and a few within a short drive from Florence. Not all of them are open to the public, but some have a well organized program of visits and experiences that are easy to book online. The Antinori nel Chianti Classico winery is particularly noteworthy, as it is a part of the Toscana Wine Architecture association, which contains wineries that have been designed by renowned architects with a particular eye toward sustainability.

However, if you’re looking to take a quick jaunt in between your morning walk on the Arno and aperitivo in San Frediano, Tenuta Monteloro is an Antinori estate located in Fiesole, just outside of Florence.

Head to Chianti for incredible winery experiences.

The wonderful thing about wine tasting around Florence is that you’re nestled in the heart of the Chianti region, with all of the rolling hills and panoramic vistas that you’ve dreamt of seeing for yourself. One way to really immerse yourself in this scenery is to visit one of the towns along the Chiantigiana, the road that takes you through the entire region and runs from Florence to Siena.

If you’re looking for wineries that are an easy day trip, head to Greve in Chianti, known as the gateway to the area. Situated at the crossroads of major pilgrimage routes, the town has always held an important position in Italian civilization; as a wine producing area, it’s almost unmatched for the number of stunning vineyards that you can visit. First and foremost, Greve in Chianti is the birthplace of the explorer Giovanni di Verrazzano, who discovered the bay of New York. The Castello di Verrazzano is also a place of discovery, especially if you’re looking to navigate their famed cellars. They offer daily wine tours and visits to the wine museum, where there are scores of varieties on offer.

Sanforte grapes growing at Villa Calcinaia. (Photo courtesy Villa Calcinaia)

The town is a great base for exploring the Chianti region and a well run tourism office provides visitors with up-to-date information about transport to and from Florence, wine events and festivals in the region. There is also train and bus service from Florence, making this an easy trip via public transport that allows you to concentrate on the matter at hand: wine tasting. You can also contact some of the larger wineries directly to arrange tastings, visits and meals if you’re looking to stick around a bit longer, and many will have full or half-day experiences.

The Vigna Contessa Luisa at Villa Calcinaia. (Photo courtesy Villa Calcinaia)

Visit Montefioralle for a tour and tasting from the family who has run the property for generations, which are available by appointment only. Though they don’t serve full meals, the experience of spending time with the family more than makes up for it. If you’re interested in a more extensive menu, Villa Calcinaia has a range of options available, all of which are paired with their notable list of Chiantis, Merlots, grappa, and even homemade vinegar. If you’d like to dedicate an entire day to the fine art of wine, visit Ruffino in Bagno a Ripoli on your way back to Florence and enjoy tours of the estate, wine tastings and pairings, or full meals in the onsite restaurant.

Tour the historic cellar at Badia a Coltibuono. (Photo courtesy Badia a Coltibuono)

Heading down the Chiantigiana means taking in some of the most breathtaking views in Italy, so if you’re looking to head further south there are also plenty of wineries you can choose as a destination that will make for a fantastic day trip from Florence. The Ricasoli winery has been around for a modest one thousand years and sits just near the town of Gaiole in Chianti. While the castle and its grounds are impressive enough, they also offer a range of tours that will satisfy any visitor looking to experience nature, history and, of course, wine. Also in Gaiole in Chianti, Badia a Coltibuono—run by the Stucchi Prinetti family for six generations—offers wine tastings, tours and picnics in the countryside.

The historic Badia Coltibuono vineyard. (Photo courtesy Badia Coltibuono)

If you’re interested in sustainable wine production, look no further than Salcheto winery in Montepulciano. This family-run winery proudly claims the title of the first company in the world to have certified the carbon footprint of a bottle of wine. Visits are encouraged and the enoteca offers organic meals straight from their garden.

The remarkable setting of Rocca di Frasinello designed by Renzo Piano. (Image courtesy Rocca di Frasinello)

If you’re not afraid of a slightly longer ride and you’re an architecture buff, then you’ll want to plan to visit Rocca di Frasinello, the stunning, one-of-a-kind winery designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano. Located in the Maremma region of Tuscany, they offer guided tours and wine tastings, all of which include a visit to the Etruscan Documentation center and the nearby necropolis of San Germano, which make this one of the most unique experiences you can have in Italy.

No matter how far you choose to travel or how you choose to get there, there are incredible options for wine tasting all within reach of your Florentine holiday. The only problem is deciding which one to do first! If you’re looking to stay in Tuscany, check out our Tuscany vacation rentals and more Wine Tours Itineraries in Tuscany.

Contact our team for help booking your Tuscany accommodations as well as wine excursions. Contact Italy Perfect at reservations@italyperfect.com or 1-888-308-6123.

The post Florence Day Trips: The Best Wineries to Visit in Tuscany appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.

When it comes to cheese, Italy has perfected the art of making hundreds of different varieties of formaggio. With such a varied landscape, it is no surprise to find wonderfully different cheeses produced in the hills of Tuscany from that made in the fertile Po Valley or the mountains along the Sorrento Peninsula. Each region of Italy specializes in different varieties of cheese made with cow, sheep and even water buffalo milk. We’ve handpicked 5 of our favorites to highlight the areas where our Italy vacation rentals are located, including fvorites you might not have heard of and that you will love.

Mozzarella di Bufala Campana

While mozzarella is a well-known cheese, the regions of Lazio, where Rome is located, and its southern neighbor Campania are famous for a particular type of mozzarella made with water buffalo milk. This fresh cheese is milky and has a delicate flavor. It is perfect on its own drizzled with a little olive oil perhaps or served with tomatoes and basil.  Also a popular topping on pizza, it melts beautifully. Many associate this cheese only with the Campania region, but there are producers in southern Lazio just south of Rome, which means you can also enjoy excellent Mozzarella di Bufala Campana while visiting the Eternal City.

Grana Padano

If you like parmigiano, then you must try another of Italy’s most popular cheeses – Grana Padano. This hard cheese is called “grana” because of its slightly grainy texture as it ages. It’s a very old variety of cheese that was created about 900 years ago by monks at the Chiaravalle Abbey near Milan. Excellent on its own or grated over pasta, it’s produced in the Po Valley area, which includes the Veneto region south of Venice.

Pecorino Toscano

A variety of cheeses made with sheep’s milk have been produced in the Tuscany region since ancient times. The Roman author Pliny the Elder wrote about the production of this cheese in his book Naturalis Historia that he began in 77 AD. While Pecorino Toscano can be eaten after about 20 days, it’s generally seasoned for about four months until it becomes a hard cheese. This is the cheese to try while visiting Florence, where you can eat it grated over pasta or soup dishes or enjoyed with fresh fava beans in the spring.

Pecorino di Pienza

Once you try Pecorino Toscano, there’s a world of different types of pecorino, or sheep’s milk, cheese produced throughout Tuscany to sample since each area of the region produces cheese that is distinctly different. In the rolling hills between Montalcino and Montepulciano lies the tiny village of Pienza, which is noted for Pecorino di Pienza.  One of the most celebrated pecorino cheeses, the distinctive flavors come from the local vegetation the sheep graze on in the area around Pienza. How can you resist trying a cheese that was supposedly a favorite of Lorenzo de’ Medici?

(By Ago Press® – Provolone del Monaco)

Provolone del Monaco

In the mountains of Sorrento, farmers have been producing the Provolone del Monaco cheese since the 1700s. This unique variety is made with milk from cows in the mountaintop town of Agerola on the Sorrento Peninsula and has a sharp and rich flavor. Its name comes from the heavy cloaks that the shepherds wore to keep warm in the winter cold which resembled monk’s robes, monk is “monaco” in Italian. While visiting the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and Capri area, be sure to try this unique cheese because it’s hard to find outside of the Sorrento Peninsula.

The post 5 Great Italian Cheeses You Will Love appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.

Did you know that tasty Tuscan bread has no salt? It’s one of the details that makes bread in Tuscany so unique. However, without salt it goes stale quickly. Clever Italian cooks handled this problem by inventing delicious traditional dishes that make the best use of old bread. Nothing goes to waste!

Why did they leave out that important ingredient? At the base is the conflict between Florence and Pisa in the 1200s and 1300s. Pisa controlled  access to the sea and therefore the source of salt. Supposedly Pisa embargoed salt sales to Florence and the Florentine bakers turned up their noses and turned out lovely bread without salt.

Florentine cooks put that stale bread to delicious use in creative ways. Here’s a look at some of our favorite dishes that showcase Tuscan bread.

Traditionally Florentine meals start with Crostini, that are also called bruschetta elsewhere in Italy. Take a day-old loaf, slice and toast then add toppings. In Florence they always include a flavorful liver pate with capers and anchovies, chopped tomatoes, delicious Tuscan olive oil, mushrooms and truffles. Get creative with the ingredients and create your own!

Panzanella is a summertime favorite of a green salad with anchovies and dried croutons soaked in vinaigrette. Try Coral Sisk’s suggestions over at Curious Appetite for a traditional Tuscan recipe.

Pappa Al Pomodoro is a pleasant soup of tomatoes and day old bread that’s delicious anytime of the year. Check out this traditional recipe from Florentine food writer Juls’ Kitchen.

Ribollita is a winter staple, a hearty and healthy vegetable stew that includes beans, cabbage and/or kale and, of course, cubes of stale bread. Florence based blogger and cookbook author Emiko Davies has a lovely recipe for ribollita.

Even if you can’t get your hands on Tuscan style bread, you’ll still enjoy these flavors of Florence. They might even bring back memories of traveling in Tuscany. Even in The Divine Comedy, Dante wrote about how he missed home when eating salted bread while in exile.

And when planning your trip to Florence, please see our gorgeous selection of apartments. A number are on sale when reserved this month.

The post Four Ways Florentine Cuisine Highlights Tuscan Bread appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.

The narrow and crowded streets of Florence are filled with delights but you may find, as we do, four nights into our stay, that we need a respite and Fiesole is the perfect solution. On the heights above Florence, the ancient town of Fiesole welcomes with amazing views, a small historical area with an evocative Roman amphitheatre, Etruscan temple and two nice, small museums.

Lisa & Pat study the history of the Roman Amphitheater

Uphill walk to La Reggia degli Etruschi is worth the climb

Villa Medici on the hills overlooking Fiseole

To crown our trip, we had a leisurely lunch at is one of the best restaurants in the area, La Reggia degli Etruschi.

Potato-filled tortellini with sausage, porcini and cherry tomatoes

It’s easy to reach from Piazza San Marco (near the Accademia) in Florence. Take the #7 city bus, purchasing an inexpensive bus ticket at the machine next to the bus stop. It is about a 15-minute ride up the hill with scenic views at every turn. Descend the bus at the end of the line in Fiesole’s tiny main piazza. The amphitheater/ Etruscan temple/ museums are a block away. Or head up a short, steep uphill street to La Reggia degli Etruschi restaurant. If the hill is too steep for you, call the restaurant and they will send a car for you to the piazza below. Our lunch was absolutely delicious, topped only by the magnificent views from our table overlooking the hills of Florence. A most memorable and enjoyable excursion!

Pecorino cheese & tomato bruschetta appetizer

The post Fiesole, the Crown of Florence appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.

The newly renovated Mercato Centrale [Central Market] is the epicurean center of new and old Florence, a veritable tour of tastes. The ground floor has always offered a wide array of fruit, vegetable, meat and other specialized local vendors. The 140 year-old Mercato Centrale recently celebrated the opening of its new HUB gourmet food hall on the second level of the Mercato, following a major renovation and €5 million investment. During your stay in Florence be sure to stop by for a tasty lunch, dinner, a glass of wine or even cooking classes.

Located just steps away from San Lorenzo, the majestic Medici Chapels and Michelangelo’s Dawn and Dusk, the Mercato Centrale is an essential stop on the best foodie tours. Florentines know it as the best place to get fresh ingredients, the cheapest place to get pastries and as an easy lunch option with flavors for everyone.

Open every day until midnight, the new second level HUB has twelve shops, a pizzeria, a bar, a restaurant, a cafeteria and free Wi-Fi – all part of a new experience for Florence and seeks to provide a central place for quality food and the exchange of creative epicurean ideas. It’s a new concept for Florence and that is being embraced by locals and tourists alike.

The food is good, fresh and at reasonable prices for Florence. At night, bouncers (aptly called “buttafuori”) control the entrance and keep the Mercato Centrale from becoming the newest discoteca.

Ground floor shop with pasta, dried fruits and other delights.

Epicureans can find artisan mozzarella di bufala by Angelo and Emanuele Campomaggiore Dairy in Caserta, which any Italian will vouch for as the truest of mozzarellas. Pecorino cheese, the Tuscan specialty, is readily available. Frenchman David Bedu is busy baking Italian bread. Christian Bedushi, heralded as world pastry champion in 1997, delights sweet-lovers with his gelato alla Torta Setteveli, a gelato based on the chocolate and hazelnut Sicilian cake which takes its literal name “Cake of the Seven Veils” as a reference to Salome’s provocative dance for Herod.

There are many tables to enjoy food from the Central Market, with 500 places to sit on the second level and enjoy a bottle of Chianti. The Consortium of Chianti Classico wields a strong presence: 1,200 labels and 4,000 bottles available. The Mercato Centrale also has a cooking school, a bancomat and public bathrooms.

Whether you’re there to sample foods, watch the crowds of discerning Italian foodies, or to pick up some ripe tomatoes, you must visit this one-of-a-kind covered piazza.

Visit the Mercato Centrale on the web.

The post Florence Mercato Centrale: A Tour of Tastes appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.

Food traditions are a big part of Italian culture so it’s no surprise that eating well is a tradition of our Italy trips! A highlight of a recent trip was a marvelous dinner prepared for us by Chef in Tuscany at our accommodations near Florence.

Chef in Tuscany Team

Graziella and her staff arrived cheerful and efficient; settled us at the kitchen table with a glass of wine, a crostini sampler, prosciutto and local cheeses served with organic honey. From that vantage point we enjoyed watching her and her staff bustle about, chattering and laughing while we peppered them with questions about recipes, inspirations and preparation techniques.

The first course was a heavenly, buttery zucchini risotto with truffle cream.

Chicken Glazed with Balsamic Vinegar

Sautéed chicken breasts served on a bed of arugula, accompanied by grilled eggplant was a simple and delightful second course

Although we didn’t think we could eat another bite, we managed to find room for freshly made chestnut cake with ricotta mousse light and tasty, and an almond torte served with vin santo.

For this team, no job is too large or too small, whether it’s a cooking class or a gourmet meal for two or an entire wedding party. Chef in Tuscany will travel to your location and can custom tailor to your needs. A family with four young children who stayed in one of our Tuscany properties praised them for rescuing Mom with the preparation

The 3 “C”s: Crostini, Chianti and Cheese

of several meals in advance that could be easily reheated at the end of a busy day of sightseeing. Another group had a cooking lesson for 6. Enjoy a variety of mouth-watering themed menus: Old Chianti Menu, Flavors of Florence, Lands of Siena, Maremma Village. Everything can be custom-tailored to meet your needs or any dietary restrictions.

Reserve now for your feast in Florence and elsewhere in Tuscany.

The post A Moveable Feast Tuscan Style appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.