TUSCANY PHOTO DIARY

"You will begin to wonder that human daring ever achieved anything so magnificent." -John Ruskin

I had the hardest time deciding if I should split up the post on just Florence but ultimately, I wanted to keep it all together. Florence (in my opinion) is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The renaissance architecture, white buildings capped with red roofs, and winding streets make this one of my favorite spots in Italy, thus far. Then there are the rolling hills of Tuscany which felt like a painting. We only had a couple days in Tuscany region and our favorite towns were Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino. This post will be more of a photo diary instead of a guide but don't worry, I got you cover with the food below. 

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK:

Everybody loves Italian food, right? In Italy there is only regional Italian food. Each region offers delicious and unique dishes based on its long history and location. Tuscany is no exception! Famous for its local produce and meat, for its pici pasta, simplicity and seasonal foods. Below were some of our favorite spots. 

Le Volpi e I'Uva: A team of winemakers, sommeliers, and wine educators staff the bar, and if they hook you up with a wine you love, you can join the wine club or ship bottles abroad. Our favorite wine bar from the trip. Try the sandwiches they have on the menu, its incredible. 

Konnubio: Highlights from the modern menu include tagliatelle with oxtail ragu; seitan carpaccio with goji; tiny gnocchi with eggplant. Pro tip: this spot is really photo worthy. 

Castello Banfi - Il Borgo: Favorite vineyard from our trip. Really some of the best wines we've ever had. You could also stay there and dine as well, the ultimate Tuscan experience. 

Il Magazzino: This square is really cute and has a couple restaurants and bars in the vicinity. Here you can sample gourmet versions of Florence’s street food lampredotto in a sit-down osteria setting. Dig into fried meatballs of the gutsy stuff, lampredotto-filled ravioli topped with Tropea onion sauce. Everything on the menu is pretty stellar, except the steak. Stick to the pastas and organ meats, and you’ll land a one-of-a-kind meal.

L'Atro Cantuccio: You cannot miss to try the famous “Pici” pasta, that are a kind of spaghetti, but “larger” , the entree with cured meats and the famous Fiorentina beef.

Other spots we loved worth adding to your Tuscan adventure: Osteria dei Pazzi, Trattoria Sabatini, Icario Winery, Piccola Trattoria Guastini.