Christmas in Florence

Dear Friends,

Spending Christmas in Florence is quite possibly the best way to experience Tuscany and its capital during this magical and special time. All of the towns in Tuscany, especially Florence, have this certain enchanting and captivating glow during Christmas.

The Florentines tend to celebrate this festive period with various open-air markets, which the Italians call "Mercatini di Natale", or "Christmas Markets", where artisans from all over Italy come to sell their products, and in particular, delicacies.

In Florence, these "Mercatini di Natale" can usually be found in Piazza di Santa Croce, and you'll meet artisans from the north of Italy, as well as from Germany and other Northern European countries, selling various artisanal products and food.

For those of you who love shopping, I would recommend visiting the famous Via Tornabuoni, where you will find the most exclusive Italian fashion shops and international labels. Of course, during Christmas, all these shops are all the more elegant than usual because of their luxurious and lavish Christmas decorations.

Another place where you'll find shops worth visiting is Florence's permanent market, located in Piazzale San Lorenzo, near the Duomo. This market is open all year long and is the ideal place to shop for the finest leather, which Florence is famous for.

During Christmas, enjoying a stroll across the beautiful Ponte Vecchio is a must, the oldest and most famous bridge in Florence, where all the Italian Jewish jewelers sell their jewelry and collection pieces.

During Christmas in Florence, I also recommend visiting the many churches and cathedrals of the city, being that Italy is a Catholic country, it's interesting to enjoy the various Christmas preparations at the sites of worship.

Finally, my friends, I hope that you'll find a lot of useful information in this post, and that it'll help you discover Tuscany and Florence during Christmas.


Kind Regards,

George

Osterie di Toscana: Acquacheta

Dear Friends,

Today, I would like to talk to you all about a new restaurant in Tuscany, which you should visit without a doubt, if you ever find yourself in the area of Montepulciano and Cortona.

There are several friends of this blog who have mentioned this restaurant before, but I think that it's worth it to revisit the topic once again, so that those of you visiting the area can experience this lovely restaurant.

Giulio, the owner, has two distinguished virtues: the first of which is his friendliness, which makes this Osteria the liveliest and most cheerful place in the area. The second is the fact that he's been able to maintain the quality of this place for such a long time, always keeping the menu simple and not too expensive based on seasonal products. This year, the Osteria has kicked off the season with a new incentive: "Bring your own wine".

For more information about this unique restaurant, I would recommend that you visit the following link:  Osteria Aquacheta Montepulciano

Now I must bid you all farewell by showing you this charming series of photos and a video of the Osteria.


Kind Regards,

George Toscano

Travel from Pisa Airport

Dear Friends,

Due to various emails I�ve received asking for advice on transport posssibilites from Pisa airport I�m going to try and clarify things with an article on the subject.

Pisa airport is definitely the best place to fly to in Tuscany, one the one hand because Ryan Air and other Low Cost airlines that don�t fly to Florence fly here but on the other hand because is also the best connected airport in Tuscany.

If you plan to travel by train, the airport is excellently connected since trains actually come in and out of the airport itself. For more information on timetables you can visit the website Trenitalia. 

Another option is to travel by bus. If, for example, your final destination is Siena, this is a much better option tan the train since there�s no direct train line from Pisa to Siena. For more information on bus timetables from Pisa to Siena or to any other places you can visit the Pisa Airport website

Finally, if you want to rent a car in Pisa you�ll find all the main Italian and local car rental companies within the airport. 

Hope this helps, and as always, if anyone has any further questions or thoughts then please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

Black Truffles in Tuscany

Dear Friends,

Winter has arrived in Tuscany and with it the fruits of this season, among which I want to particularly highlight black truffles since they are one of the products that you simply must try on a trip to Tuscany.

The Truffles are truly delicious, difficult to find and extremely expensive, this being said, owing to the little gastronomic culture that exists around the product it�s important that you have some information to be able to distinguish them.

In fact one must be careful when ordering a dish with truffles because, as is the case with mushrooms, there are many different varieties that make them more or less expensive depending on the quality and quantity available in the market.

 

We�ll start with the �Tuber aestivum Vittad.�This is the most typical type of truffle, in Italian it is known as the �Scrozone nero� or �tartufo d�estate.�  

As the Italian name indicates, it is a truffle which can also be found in the summer. The period between the 15^thof June and the 30^th of November is that during which it is usually found and it is the truffle that most restaurants will offer since it is the most abundant but also the least fragrant. It is easily distinguished from the other two varieties I�m going to talk about due to its brown colour once open.

Much better than the first and stronger in flavour is the �Tuber melanosporum Vittad" known by the Italians as "tartufo nero pregiato," �Precious� black truffle.

 This variety is found from the beginning of November up until the end of March and is one of the best black truffles out there. In fact, this truffle needs cold and dry weather to reach its peak.

 The third and final type of truffle that you can find at this time of year is the
"Tuber macrosporum Vittad," �tartufo nero liscio� or �smooth� black truffle.

 This one has a short season from the beginning of October until the end of December. It also has an excellent aroma and is perfect for giving flavour to pasta or fried eggs.

All this considered I recommend you ask what type of truffles are being served and certainly to try dishes using the second and third varieties which are much tastier.

Hopefully this information will be useful on your next trip to Tuscany!

Accommodation in Tuscany- Chianti

Dear Friends,

You will remember that I gave you two accommodation options in Bettole last week. As promised today I have something further north in Tuscany for you. Moving north we most certainly come across the wine region of Chianti. I have a good friend, Andrea, who was born and lives in this distinctive territory. He is a sommelier and has run wine shops and restaurants offering only authentic and traditional Tuscan cuisine.

Three years ago he was introduced to a very interesting couple, Nicol� and Renata, who had completed the restoration of a thousand year old monastery called Borgo San Fedele. Their vision was to create a special centre to host art and lifestyle workshops and organize tailor-made events for families and groups looking for an extraordinary place that can be totally exclusive for just their group throughout their stay. Andrea loved this philosophy and decided to become the chef of San Fedele. www.borgosanfedele.com

Every year all sorts of different groups enjoy  Nicol� and Renata�s warm welcome with their care for the personal touches which make all the difference along with home baked cakes, Andrea�s fun and creative cooking classes and delicious food.  I know they are planning a special New Year's event to which they have kindly invited me. Certain to be a real gourmet experience and an opportunity to unplug for a few days and reset one�s body, mind and spirit before plunging into the New Year with refreshed energy and vigor!

We�ll soon be continuing further north, but in the mean time.....

...ciao for now!

Routes around Tuscany (North)

Dear Friends,

Today I�m publishing a recommended route for those visiting the North of Tuscany.

 

Day 1- Lucca and Pisa. Obviously in Pisa you can�t miss the Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli (�Square of miracles�), monuments considered to be some of the great wonders of the world. Besides the splendid Square of Miacles, Pisa does not have a huge amount to show visitors so you can easily devote a morning to Pisa and the afternoon to Lucca. Lucca is an enchanting city. I suggest a walk around the city�s great walls and a visit to the main square. 

I don�t have any particular restaurants to recommend to you in Pisa but in Lucca I know one very good one called la Bocca di San Antonio in the city centre on Via della Cervia n3.


Day 2. Vinci and Firenze

Vinciis the birthtown of the famous Leonardo da Vinci and this little town does not have a particular interest but it does have a museum where many of the Master�s works and drawings are kept.

Making the most of the nearness to Florence, in the afternoon you can go to the city and start to savour it in all it�s splendor. For dinner in Florence I highly recommend you try the restaurant Finisterrae(open the link for more info) found in Santa Croce square. It is a Mediterranean restaurant, exquisitely decorated with a delightful internal terrace. You can enjoy classic and innovative Mediterranean dishes but also excellent pizzas. 

Day 3- Florence

Florence deserves at the very least a whole day, it is a city with so many things to see but we will follow up with another article covering those sites you really cannot miss.

To eat I suggest you go to Trattoria da Mario, a true paradise for the taste buds with a menu based on Tuscan home cooking and the freshest ingredients.  

Below you will find Google Maps for the routes discussed:

Day 1- Lucca and Pisa

View Larger Map

 

Day 2- Vinci and Florence

View Larger Map

Have a good trip! As always feel free to ask any questions or share your thoughts in the comments.

Tuscany in November

 I�m writing to all of you today, those planning a holiday in Tuscany and those who have never even considered the idea. I would lie to give you some information about the region that will help you to best organize a trip and assure you that this is an excellent time to come. 

The Climate in Tuscany 

Tuscany can be found in the centre north of Italy and is crossed by the mountain range called the �Appenines� with mountains that reach up to 2000m. Due to this, in November, of course varying from year to year, it can be get quite cold. 

Here are some statistics:

Average maximum temperature: 14�C 

Average m�nimum temperature: 3�C 

Average number of days with rain: 9

Average humidity: 78% 

 Tourism in Tuscany in November 

At the tourist level November is considered low season, especially in rural areas. For this reason for those who are serious about seeing the sights I can assure you that November is definitely an excellent period. Hotel prices are lower, restaurants offer better service and you�ll have much more space to move around in museums than in the summer months! 

Tuscan Gastronomy in November

Even if the days are shorter and colder at this time of the year, on the other hand, gastronomy sees its finest days in November. It�s the perfect time for game dishes (only available at this time of year) but is also the only moment to taste three typical and exquisite products: 

1. Wild Mushrooms 

2. White and Black Truffles 

3. Freshly pressed Olive Oil 

The Colours of Tuscany 

Autumn is certainly one of the prettiest seasons to appreciate the colours of Tuscany which turn from the gold and green of the summer to brown, orange and rusty reds. In any case towards the end of November the rich brown of the Tuscan earth is exposed and along with the mist that cloaks the hills in the cold morning air creates an especially magical atmosphere. 

In Conclusion: 

From my point of view, November is truly an excellent time to get to know the region of Tuscany. The gentle morning mists are spectacular and if you�re not fazed by a bit of cold and occasional rain tan you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and quiet museums at very reduced costs as well as take your time to savour the best food of the year.