Alessandra Olanow's recent trip to Italy took her to a beautiful villa in Tuscany and a short stay in Florence. Here's a little 'illustration' of her experiences.
a – What I drank:
In between the markets and the Renaissance art, I chilled out in one of the many squares with an Aperol Spritz. This drink is absolute genius. 3 parts prosseco, 2 parts Aperol, a splash of sparkling water and then garnish with an orange slice.
Then once I hit the hills of Tuscany, there so many great red wines to try. My favorite vineyards were Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona and Altesino vineyard.
b - Where I stayed:
Riva Lofts-Florence - A historic mill on Florence’s Arno river transformed by a top Italian architect into 10 trendy studios with a fantastic garden and pool. Perfect retreat after long days spent exploring the city.
Villa in Faggeto - Old cypress trees lead you up to this jaw dropping villa, surrounded by gently rolling hills.
c – Where I ate:
Trattoria Sostanza - Specialties such as the spaghetti al sugo & petti di pollo al burro (chicken breasts fried in butter) make this no frills florentine spot a local favorite
Taverna del Grappolo Blu - Friendly service, wonderful, fresh pastas (hand rolled pici to make you sigh), and a fine local wine list.
d - Where I snacked:
Moyé - Literally means “now is the time”, healthy genuine cuisine in a modern, yet friendly atmosphere
Il Santino - A perfect place for a break with friends, an aperitif, tasting different kind of cheeses, hams, biscuits, and organic wines.
e – Where I explored:
Podere il Casale – Visiting this farm is a must. They are a premier regional producer of organic foods, offering specialties such as Extra Virgin olive oil, hard wheat pasta, sauces, pestos, patès, and honey. But the highlight was the pecorino!
