Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Foodies flock to Tuscany year in, year out to enjoy her hearty and tasty cuisine. With roots in peasant cooking, it is a cuisine that makes the most of local ingredients to create something filling and comforting. It is mostly pasta, pizza and other savoury delights, however, that people are most familiar with and are most keen to enjoy. Tuscany's desserts are less well-loved and well-known internationally but, despite this, there are plenty of delicious treats that you should try while holidaying in the region. We have rounded up some of the best cakes that can be found in Tuscany so you can track them down after you've finished with the main courses.

1. Schiacciata alla Fiorentina

One particularly tasty example is Schiacciata alla Fiorentina. This is a very traditional Florentine cake which can be found in local pasticceria (pastry shops) all over the city.

One of the things many people have in mind when planning a trip to Tuscany is trying the delicious ice-cream, or gelato (though there is a little bit of a difference between the two), that Italy is so famous for. If you are one of those people, then check out our picks of key places and shops that you need to check out.

If you feel like eating the best ice-cream in the world, you're going to need to find a luxury villa in San Gimignano. Located in the central Piazza della Cisterna, known all over the world and visited by a large number of celebrities is the Gelateria Dondoli or Gelateria di Piazza. The gelateria has won countless awards, invents flavour combinations that attract gourmet-lovers to the town on a regular basis and has made it World Champion on two occasions. Arguably, this is one of the best places in the entire world to try some ice-cream and is consistently mentioned in the most important travel and food guides. Produced daily with very fresh, dutifully selected ingredients, the quality of the product is beyond compare. Additionally, (and surprisingly) this gelateria happens to be one of the cheapest in all of Tuscany.

For those who trust Queen Bey in all things, you stop by Edoardo's once you have found a luxury villa in Florence. Beyoncé and Jay-Z documented visiting the parlour while in Florence in May 2015 and their recommendation is only one of many reasons why to choose it. Edoardo's uses natural ingredients and has a focus on quality, artisanal products. They are also the first certified organic gelateria in all of Tuscany. Designed to give off an old-school 1940s atmosphere from the ice cream in the carapina ice cream boxes, to the walnut furniture, to the counter full of drawers, to the vintage cash register and down to the retro clothing of the staff, it is a cool and photogenic spot that serves up good ice-cream.

Another spot worth visiting in Florence is Perchè no! (meaning “Why not!”) Located between Piazza della Signoria and Piazza della Repubblica, it is near many of the main museums and attractions in the city, which is handy, but it is the artisanal gelato made using all natural ingredients that really sells it. It even provides vegan and soy options which means everyone can enjoy their tasty ice-creams! With both complex and simple flavours, from matcha green tea to chocolate, there really is something for everyone.

So, next time you visit Tuscany, you know where to go!

Continuing on from our last article, in which we introduced some of the best cafés in Florence, here are some more locations that are a little younger, cooler, less dusty and historic but that still serve up great food and are perfect for sipping coffee and watching the world go by. Once you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are spending time exploring the city, dashing around from place to place, stop by one of these great locations for a little bit of peace and quiet.

5. Black Spring Bookshop

Black Spring Bookshop is not the type of place one would immediately imagine when thinking of Florence or fantasise about visiting as their holiday draws nearer and, yet, it is something special and well worth the visit. Just opened in 2014, it is a cool independent bookshop and coffee shop that is located in the quiet Via Camoldoli. Set in a beautifully lit space through an interior archway,

Continuing on from our last article, in which we introduced some of the best cafés in Florence, here are some more locations that are historic, dynamic, cultured, interesting, serve up great food and are perfect for sipping on a perfectly made coffee and just watching the world go by.

Once you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are spending time exploring the city, dashing around from place to place in an attempt to see everything on your bucket list, stop by one of these wonderful institutions and just relax for a little while.

From a historic gem with a long established reputation in the gastronomic and cultural realms of the city to a more recent and experimental venue that combines literature, art, culture, food, coffee and wine, the cafés featured on this list are truly special destinations.

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.