Archive for 'Slow Food'

November is when olives are harvested in Tuscany and for foodies who prize the highest-quality ingredients it is an excellent time to plan a stay at one of our luxury villas in Tuscany. Not only will many harvests have taken place in recent weeks, ensuring that there are lots of delicious ingredients about but you'll also get to sample them in hearty and satisfying seasonal dishes. 

If you want to spend a vacation in Tuscany discovering incredible wines in Chianti or one of the other excellent wine regions, exploring historic towns like Lucca and famous attractions like the Uffizi in Florence, and making the most of the natural beauty of the region made lovelier still by autumnal shades, then this is an ideal time to plan a foodie visit in particular. Attend food festivals, try local dishes that are perfect for warming you up, and savour many ingredients at their freshest. 

Planning an Easter break in Tuscany this year? Well, as it is predominantly a Catholic country, there are lots of local traditions associated with this time of the year, offering you the chance to experience some authentic local customs and to give your vacation a little extra flavour. Speaking of flavour, as food is also central to everything in Italy, one of the key things to enjoy during an Easter holiday in Tuscany is the array of delicious seasonal favourites on offer. So, look forward to the spring blooms, mild weather, parades, excitement, and culinary delights that come with a vacation in Tuscany at this time of the year and plan your Easter menu with these must-try dishes...

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. 

While serious runners will take the opportunity to get a run in whenever and wherever they can, there is no denying that a scenic setting majorly adds to the experience. A run while on holidays, therefore, offers the chance to get your run in while also getting out and taking in your surroundings.

Imagine, for example, that you find a perfect option among our Tuscany Villas and are staying in a dreamy vacation rental in Chianti, your run of the day could be down winding old roads amidst the vineyards of this beloved wine area. With the leaves on the vines rustling in the breeze or sunlight dancing across your path between branches, with backdrops of pretty old towns and rolling green hills, and with fresher than fresh air and the relaxing sounds of nature, we could think of few places more magical and atmospheric for a run! If, however, you are feeling like you also want a challenge or to indulge in a bit of competitive spirit, then maybe you should sign up for the Chianti Classico Marathon! 

Autumn in Tuscany is synonymous with eating really, really well. Wine harvests are an obvious culinary delight of the region but there are two other key ingredients that are commonly used at this time of the year: truffles and chestnuts. While both ingredients are found in different parts of Italy and in the local cuisines of various regions of Italy, Tuscan dishes utilising both are especially delicious. Plus, festivals dedicated to both ingredients pop up in villages and towns all over Tuscany right through the season. For example, the town of Marradi has had a dedicated chestnut festival that has been running for more than 50 years. Chestnuts are not something that everyone is used to eating but there are all sorts of delicious Tuscan chestnut-based dishes to sample and it is a perfectly autumnal food. So, if you are enjoying a fall escape to a villa in Tuscany and you want to get cosy, eat well, and embrace the season, be sure to check it out!