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...
To start – crostini neri and local cheeses and cured meats
For those who love a good cheese board or nibbling on things, this is an appealing starter to a traditional Easter meal. Crostini neri are a fixture at family gatherings but should also be readily available on the menu of local restaurants (though keep in mind that many in smaller areas will close on Easter Sunday itself or need to be booked well in advance) and pairs a mild and buttery paté with fresh, crunchy bread. In addition to this, most families would have local cheeses and cured meats and you'll readily find some delicious options at deli counters and in supermarkets. Stock up on a selection and enjoy a tasting with some great Tuscan wines in the comfort and peace of your own villa in Tuscany. Maybe you might even bring some home (if this is permitted) to give out as perfect Tuscan souvenirs.
First course – choose your pasta
Pasta in a smaller amount than many of us are used to is usually the first course (as it is one of several) of any multi-course meal in Italy. For Easter, there are a variety of regional classics and there will also be even more hyper-local variations wherever you are staying. Again, these will be on menus if you are in a restaurant but if you’re preparing your own Easter feast Tuscan-style in a vacation rental in Tuscany then there are plenty of tasty options to choose between. Gnudi – not technically a pasta but the filling of ravioli, usually spinach and ricotta, without the dough around it – with butter and sage is a seriously tasty classic with peasant traditions. Mugello’s tortelli stuffed with potatoes and served with a meat ragù is a must for anyone who books a holiday rental in Mugello, in particular, but a traditional lasagna also never goes amiss and is a firm favourite across Tuscany.
Second course – the main act
Lamb is a fixture for many all across Italy for Easter, usually stewed with vegetables but also braised, roasted, or grilled. With symbolic and religious meaning, it is undoubtedly the most popular option for your main dish.
Dessert
There are many baked goods connected to Easter and a slice of a sweet treat with a glass of Vin Santo or a coffee is a perfect way to finish your meal. Colomba cake, or Easter Dove Cake, is a soft cake with candied orange peel and almonds and is popular. As is Schiacciata di Pasqua, or Tuscan Easter cake, a sweet bread flavoured with anise seeds and orange. Cantucci biscuits are also often served with Vin Santo and, of course, you’ll find some incredible chocolate eggs made of delicious Tuscan chocolate as well as some from big international brands in the run up to Easter.
So, plan your Easter stay in one of our luxury villas in Tuscany and come indulge in the sweet treats and delicious seasonal savoury classics this year!
