Archive for 'Food and Wine'

One of the most enjoyable things about spending time in Tuscany, and Florence, in particular, is enjoying the slower pace of life. Even amidst the slew of tourists that descend upon the city and run around, trying to see it all, the Tuscan way of life remains intact - unhurried, relaxed and intent on enjoying things. Any holiday there should be taken and enjoyed in the spirit of the locals.

Don't just try and see it all but take time to revel in the space you're in and be really present in the moment. One of the best ways to do this is to spend time in the various piazze, sipping on a coffee and watching the world go by.

We've rounded up some of Florence's best, most famous, oldest, newest and coolest cafés for you to choose from so you can do just that. So, why not find a luxury villa in Florence and try living like a local.

Tuscany is known for her delicious food and it is, of course, one of the main highlights of any trip to the region. However, as much as most dishes involve cheese, tomatoes, pork, pasta and other lovely ingredients, some have components that may seem strange or unappetising to some of us from other parts of the globe. Yet, the Tuscans swear by these dishes and, if they say it, surely they are worth a try on your next trip?

In our last article we discussed how wine is a good reason to visit Tuscany and mentioned some of the best places to learn about, taste and fully experience wine and the culture of wine in the region.

However, we had a few more suggestions that we couldn't squeeze in so here are two more places that are a must for any wine lovers doing a tour of Tuscany.

Montepulciano is famous for its Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, one of three great Sangiovese DOCG zones in Tuscany. The wine was first documented in 789 AD when a cleric, Arnipert, offered the church of San Silvestre some vineyards attached to the castle of Policiano.

Wine is a good reason to visit Tuscany but, if it's of particular interest, where should you go to try it? Lucky for you, we've compiled a list of some of the best places to learn about, taste and fully experience wine and the culture of wine in Tuscany.

Castello di Ama is a famous winery located in the medieval Tuscan village of Ama in the middle of the Chianti wine region.

The setting is picturesque and the village, itself, is an incredibly charming collection of buildings largely dating to the 18^th century and is almost entirely owned by Lorenza Sebasti and Marco Pallanti, the couple who run the winery.

La Marzocco is a factory that makes some of the best coffee machines in the whole world. It opened in 1927 and was originally located in Pian di San Bartolo in Florence but moved to Mugello a few years ago.

Since then, it has put Mugello on the map for serious coffee lovers around the world and become a place that attracts foodies from all over the globe.

If you want to learn all about this factory and the coffee machines it makes, just find a luxury villa in Barberino di Mugello and take a guided tour of the factory during your visit.

In 1939 Giuseppe and Bruno Bambi, the founders of the company, developed and patented the first coffee machine with a horizontal boiler, that is now a standard and, today, these innovators and La Marzocco are synonymous with coffee machines that are 100% Italian made, made by highly skilled contemporary artisans and which are super specialized in making the best possible Italian espresso.