Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Bolgheri is probably most famous to many as a wine area. Located in the province of Livorno, it was a long-time producer of wines but none of its makers were especially well-known. After an event organised by Decanter, in 1974 in which a 6-year-old Sassicaia won over an assortment of Bordeaux wines, the area has become much more well-regarded, though still not especially well-known internationally. However, in addition to her respected wines, Bolgheri has a lot more to offer visitors. This beautiful little town is impossibly charming and quite the looker, full of character, a foodie haven, steeped in history, and rich in culture, plus it’s only 10km from the Tuscan Coast. So, if you’re looking for a relaxed destination that has it all but is also a little off the beaten tourist track and incredibly peaceful, just find a vacation rental with a pool in the Bolgheri area and come explore all that the village has to offer for yourself.

Podere La Chiesa is an instantly recognisable winery set amongst the rolling hills of the province of Pisa in Tuscany due to its main building with its unique architectural character: a beautiful modern structure that looks somewhat like a block of Swiss cheese with round openings that perforate the exterior. Located near the village of Casanova, 30km south-east of the city of Pisa, it is a celebrated place where excellent wines are produced and where said excellent wines can be sampled on wine-tasting tours of the premises. Just find a vacation rental in Pisa and make the trip out to this beautiful place to experience it all for yourself!

The Mercato Centrale (Central Market) of Livorno is also known as the Mercato delle Vettovaglie (Market of the Provision) or Mercato Coperto (Covered Market) and is one of the most incredible buildings and attractions that the Tuscan seaside city has to offer. Not only that, it is also a wonderful culinary hotspot for those visiting the city where you can enjoy lots of amazing local delicacies, treats, and specialities. If you are a foodie and have found a vacation rental in Livorno and are planning on spending any time in the city, then it is an absolute must! Just make sure you wear some comfy, roomie pants…

Tuscany is famous for her food and wine and, as a result, there is no shortage of excellent eateries, bars, wineries, and more located all over the region. We have noted many great wineries before in various parts of Tuscany but if you have found a vacation rental in Livorno, in particular, and are thinking about pulling yourself away from the province’s incredible beaches for a while to go and sample some excellent local wines, then we definitely recommend a visit to Batzella.

Batzella Estate is a family-run winery established in 2000 by Khanh Nguyen and Franco Batzella who left careers in international finance to return to Italy and live out their passion for Italian wine. They chose the West Coast of Tuscany and set up in the prestigious Bolgheri appellation, founding the estate ex novo and planting a brand new vineyard of 7.5 hectares with mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

This week, we have been looking at some of Florence's best rooftop bars as there is no better way to enjoy her stunning and iconic skyscape than from a cute bar with a great drink in hand. Whether you're finishing off a day in the city or just getting a night started with some aperitifs, the city's rooftop bars make for the perfect places to watch the sunset over the famous buildings, beautiful gardens, historic squares, and wandering tourists and citizens. If you have found your luxury villa in Florence and are now looking for a rooftop bar to visit, read on to the rest of our list of some of our top picks among the places that the city has to offer...