Florence cultural tours with yummy stops in harvest time

September it’s harvest time in Tuscany so in this period of the year we can find by bakery a special sweet focaccia made with grapes called : schiacciata con l’uva ; just simple ingredients but very very yummy : ideal for breakfast or as a cake for a tasty snack . This could be your … More Florence cultural tours with yummy stops in harvest time

“Wine windows” in Florence: one just re-open!

Have you ever seen “buchette del vino” in Florence? Maybe yes but you didn’t know what they were… In English could be translated in : “wine windows”, for wine lovers since the XVII century when , due to some export restrictions the Florentine noble families decided to sell wine  produced in their countryside estates , … More “Wine windows” in Florence: one just re-open!

Where is Pistoia? More than 10 reasons to visit this hidden gem in Tuscany , Italy’s capital of culture in 2017!

Why should you visit Pistoia? Not just because it is my birthplace , of course! ( or  maybe…. just for this ?) not only because it is crowned  Italy’s capital of culture in 2017  but first of all for its geographic position in Italy in the second century BC it was chosen by the Romans as a … More Where is Pistoia? More than 10 reasons to visit this hidden gem in Tuscany , Italy’s capital of culture in 2017!

Enrico Baj Macario : a Count who produces regal wines in Chianti!

http://www.bajmacario.it/ This is not just a traditional Tuscan wine estate in Chianti Classico district ,it is something different  : it’s a real experience in the wineyard  ,tasting  wine spilled directly from the barrel , smelling the grape inside the wood , have a ride on an old car from the Second World War among the … More Enrico Baj Macario : a Count who produces regal wines in Chianti!

Celebrating  300 years of Chianti Classico  wine 🍷: 1716 September 25th  & today 🍷2016

Yesterday I was strolling  in the Florence city center & I’ve heard a drum sound …so I stopped:  I thought it was like being in another century … then I saw a police woman on a  horse & lots of people standing at the border of the  Calzaiuoli street that leads to Piazza della Signoria … More Celebrating  300 years of Chianti Classico  wine 🍷: 1716 September 25th  & today 🍷2016

A fish cooked in a brick : a seafood dinner in Sardinia 

Another summer, another lovely dinner in one of my fav restaurant on the Emerald coast : “Belvedere” near Porto Cervo.It first opened as a gastronomy shop to take away & then during the years it became a real restaurant with few seated places & with excellent seafood dishes . This time we tasted a local … More A fish cooked in a brick : a seafood dinner in Sardinia 

Cooking class & sweet memories in a Chianti Tuscan villa 

Imagine a group of beautiful ladies from the States – headed by my dear friend Suzanne Stavinoha Waltz –  sharing a stunning typical  Tuscan  villa “under the Tuscan sun” , on a green hilltop , in the countryside of Chianti area : amazing view, great landscape , vines & olives groves around it , aromatic … More Cooking class & sweet memories in a Chianti Tuscan villa 

Sardinia fascinates me !

Here again after a long long ,busy year I can enjoy the same seaside & this marvellous sea, the granite marble big rocks 🌊☀️🌻🌴🌺meet my old friends from different regions & nations, tasting great food & excellent wines!🍾🦀🐠🐬🦂🌴🐚🌞🍷🍸🍹🍧☕️  This summer I have to add more memories to those I have collected in more than fourty … More Sardinia fascinates me !

Pistoia: tomorrow starts 37th edition of PistoiaBlues Festival  & it’s live music in town!

Still remember one of the first Pistoiablues in 1983 : I was still a teenager & never seen before  a concert in the Duomo square  of my city ! The most impressive thing to me was the very different kind of people  coming from everywhere in Italy & from abroad  with long hair & long … More Pistoia: tomorrow starts 37th edition of PistoiaBlues Festival  & it’s live music in town!

Tour,lunch &  shopping  with Texan  ladies  in Chianti 

What a wonderful  idea  travelling all women together in the Chianti countryside enjoying  food,wine & lovely landscapes!  This is one of my fav tour :  ladies only …..💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽 A stop in Greve in Chianti, for  a beautiful & yummy cappuccino , a tour among hanging hams & salami by Falorni historical butchery, lunch by  “Il … More Tour,lunch &  shopping  with Texan  ladies  in Chianti 

How to eat a fresh pork sausage for a tasty aperitivo!

In Tuscany we love pork meat , in every possible way! Even raw pork sausages are delicious just spreading them on a Tuscan unsalted slice of bread….ever tried? if not yet ,you SHOULD ! Just  buy FRESH  ones handmade by one of our  ‘norcino’ ( a particular butcher who deals with pork meat only ) … More How to eat a fresh pork sausage for a tasty aperitivo!

Certaldo : a Medieval beautiful hamlet in Tuscany!

Have you ever heard about Certaldo before? Maybe because the renowned writer & poet Giovanni Boccaccio – The Decameron’s author –  was born here …..https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Boccaccio and its home museum so interesting to visit http://www.casaboccaccio.it/ with books & even old shoes dated 1300 and aspectacular view from the tower over the hamlet that till today maintained its old … More Certaldo : a Medieval beautiful hamlet in Tuscany!

Sapori di Genova : a crunchy , soft focaccia Ligurian style 

Last Friday I had the pleasure to visit Genoa with a special guided tour planned  by Confartigianato Liguria  association, CNA Liguria , IN LIGURIA regional agency  touristic promotion & with the best Genoa’s licensed guide,  Cristina Gelvi , in occasion of the Genoa Pesto World Championship 2016 . So nice to meet this new folk … More Sapori di Genova : a crunchy , soft focaccia Ligurian style 

Megabono : a typical Tuscan trattoria in Prato

TRATTORIA MEGABONO  Via Ser Lapo Mazzei ,20 PRATO -TUSCANY – ITALY PHONE +393385950477  http://www.facebookcom/Megabono Had the pleasure to be invited to dine by  this small restaurant ( just 20 seats ) in the city center of Prato just close to the City Hall square in occasion of a BlogTour planned & lead  by Armando Alibrandi … More Megabono : a typical Tuscan trattoria in Prato

Where to eat in Prato? Osteria Le cento buche 

 www.osterialecentobuche.it Just outside the city center there is an original location for a restaurant it  was until 1995 a wool  factory ( Prato in fact it is a very renowned texile  district near Florence)belonging to the Abatoni family since the XIII Century  and  then to the monks of San Fabiano . It is so beautiful … More Where to eat in Prato? Osteria Le cento buche 

Tuscany : Greve in Chianti & the Tuscan navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano

Another time in Greve for me but the first one for my American group : to see the triangular shaped square, this time with no tourists  – except us – as  at the beginning of March is still low season and just  because of this , more  lovely as a typical Tuscan hamlet where to … More Tuscany : Greve in Chianti & the Tuscan navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano

Tasting Tuscan Chianti wine in a castle dated 1256!

  This is Meleto castle  www.castellomeleto.it in the Chianti district & of course the symbol of the Chianti Classico , the black rooster , was on the bottles we opened & tasted! The castle dates back Middle Age  & the Ricasoli ‘s family  owned it for many years,at the present  the property has changed . There is … More Tasting Tuscan Chianti wine in a castle dated 1256!

Pistoia, in Tuscany, it’s a hidden gem to be discovered with ….me!

You know  I love my birthplace , Pistoia,  as I am writing about it since some years on my blog & posted many many photos on Instagram & Twitter of it. So now that has been just declared the Italy’s city of culture in 2017 I think you should follow my blog & have a … More Pistoia, in Tuscany, it’s a hidden gem to be discovered with ….me!

MadeinFlorence : Manetti , edible gold to enrich your Christmas dishes

Not just  arts & fashion in Florence, it is also a city worldwide renowed   for its goldsmiths shops on the Ponte Vecchio , the small artisans studios & also this kind of gold :genuine 23 kt gold  & genuine silver  available in flakes ( yes as corn flakes😂😂) crumbs ,powder &  leaves  to be … More MadeinFlorence : Manetti , edible gold to enrich your Christmas dishes

Chocolate valley : in Tuscany we have this too!

Yes, did you know this? Not only superb wines , lovely landscapes , art & architecture but also a real sweet valley made of maitres  chocolatiers! In Pistoia, Prato, Firenze and Pisa we can offer a huge choice of this delicious product: the best ingredients, the most original mix of dried fruits, spirits , wine … More Chocolate valley : in Tuscany we have this too!

Where is Pistoia? More than 10 reasons to visit this hidden gem in Tuscany

Why should you visit Pistoia? Not just because it is my birthplace , of course!  ( or  maybe…. just fot this?😂😜) first of all for its location in Italy in the second century BC it was chosen by the Romans as a stretegical basis  between North & South  : the actual Duomo square became in … More Where is Pistoia? More than 10 reasons to visit this hidden gem in Tuscany

MadeinPistoia : berlingozzo cake,sweet memories of the child I’ve been

A very very simple  Tuscan cake everybody can do : for a perfect home breakfast ,dipped  into hot milk or tea  ,or as an afternoon break with a cup of coffee or after dinner or lunch with a glass of Vinsanto ( dessert wine from Tuscany) so, it doesn’t have to be very soft because … More MadeinPistoia : berlingozzo cake,sweet memories of the child I’ve been

Harvest in Tuscany : stomping grapes with bare feet

Such a great sensational experience by Agriturismo Le Poggiola just few Km from Pistoia the feeling of freshness,the scent of sweet fruits,lots of memories about those who did this before us in the countryside since centuries….our origins come from the ground and this is our traditional way of making wine:our grangrandparents did this way and … More Harvest in Tuscany : stomping grapes with bare feet

Pistoia: Ristorante Rafanelli a must for traditional Tuscan specialities & great wines🍷🍷🍸🍸

If you need an elegant , classy location but at the same time a warm, welcoming place where to eat with your family or friends , for a business luncheon or dinner to sign  an agreement  or to celebrate a birthday or an anniversary , this is the best place in town , since 1926 … More Pistoia: Ristorante Rafanelli a must for traditional Tuscan specialities & great wines🍷🍷🍸🍸

Ever heard about 5 Terre delicious & precious wine : schiacchetrà?

If you decide to visit Liguria & 5 Terre don’t miss a schiacchetrá tasting in one of the small cellers of this area.This is in Riomaggiore where there is ” la via dell’amore” the love’s street just on the clift around this village. I love this sweet ,dry , aromatic wine : the production is … More Ever heard about 5 Terre delicious & precious wine : schiacchetrà?

Cooking class with porcini mushrooms & ..a glass of Prosecco in your hand!

By ristorante La Ruota near Moneglia http://www.laruotamoneglia.it we had a great food experience: starting with a glass of Prosecco everything comes sooo easy for everybody !even the most difficult receipe!👏👏👏 Edoardo , the owner – chef , was so nice & funny to explain his receipes & so we had a lot of fun , … More Cooking class with porcini mushrooms & ..a glass of Prosecco in your hand!

Pistoia : it’s harvest time ( by hand ) in Tuscany!

“A Settembre l’uva è matura e il fico pende” this is an old farmers’ saying = in Septmber grape is mature & fig hangs…this morning I had the proof this is trally true !in Pistoia’s countryside lots of sweet grape & figs ! My breakfast was made of this fantastic & organic fruits👏👏 Many hands … More Pistoia : it’s harvest time ( by hand ) in Tuscany!

It’s harvest time in Tuscany!ever tried schiacciata con l’uva?

September is the harvest time & I love this season of the year for the colours it brings,the mild temperature – after the sunny hot summer – & because of its food products : figs,plums &….grape!!! This schiacciata is a typical seasonal tuscan kind of cake : in the past we could find it only … More It’s harvest time in Tuscany!ever tried schiacciata con l’uva?

Montecarlo di Lucca : a wine hamlet in Tuscany – wine festival until September 8th!

Yesterday evening I visited the 48th edition of this wine event called “Festa del vino”: Montecarlo is such an amazing small village between Pistoia & Lucca known especially for its white wine but also for the red one . Unfortunately not many tourists know this rich terroire of wineyards …hope with this post it can … More Montecarlo di Lucca : a wine hamlet in Tuscany – wine festival until September 8th!