Several years ago I travelled around Italy and hit some of the classic tourist spots: Rome, Florence, Pisa, and Cinque Terra. I’ve always wanted to return and spend some time in the lesser visited areas, for a longer period of time. So, last year, I rounded up a group of friends, and we rented a gorgeous villa in Tuscany. Tuscany with friends was a special trip, here’s all about our experience:
How to have an epic Tuscany with friends experience:
Where to Stay: Tuscany with friends is best spent with an epic villa. We rented a beautiful villa in Castiglione Florentino, a charming village in the province of Arezzo in Tuscany. It is between the cities of Arezzo and Cortona. The villa two floors, and six bedrooms and six bathrooms, which was perfect for a group of nine friends. There were also two kitchens, and a gorgeous outdoor patio and a pool.
What To Do in Tuscany with Friends: Hanging out at your villa, enjoy the view and lounging by the pool is a great way to spend time in Tuscany. But we wanted to really explore the area as well, so I devised a three-day itinerary with activities which would allow us to experience the food, wine, and culture of Tuscany.
Wine tasting and Tuscan town hopping: On our first full day in Tuscany we hired a driver and decided to take an all day tour of Tuscany! On the itinerary:
- Montepulciano: We started out in this charming Tuscan town where we walked around, enjoyed a cup of espresso, and then sampled some local wines at the wine shops. We found the people in Tuscany to be incredibly warm and friendly, and eager to share their wine and their stories!
- Siena: After Montepulciano, we went to Siena to go wine tasting and have lunch at the Palazzo Vecchio winery. We drank some amazing Montepulcianos and Sangioveses, and had a fantastic multi-course meal that included items like pasta with breadcrumbs!
- Cortona: Next, we went to the adorable town of Cortona where we treated ourselves to gelato while exploring the area.
- Visit Castello di Ama: On our second day, we went to Castello di Ama, which is a winery and an outdoor art museum featuring significant contemporary art. A tour includes the two aspects of the estate, the wine production, with a visit to the wine cellar, and a cultural “reading” of the unique corner of earth, along with an explanation of the art installations in situ, located in various locations throughout the estates including the old and new cellars, the villa and the gardens. The art collection is composed of works by the most prestigious artists on today’s international art scene as Michelangelo Pistoletto, Daniel Buren, Anish Kapoor, Chen Zhen , Louise Bourgeois. During a two-hour visit you will enjoy a seated tasting of four impeccable wines and the Extra Virgin Olive Oil DOP; everything entirely produced on their premises. The price is 35€ per person, which is incredibly reasonable. This is truly one of the most memorable and interesting experiences I have ever had. Be sure to make a reservation for the tour in advance! After the tour, stay for lunch at their Michelin-starred restaurant.
Where To Eat:
• Hire A Chef! We were referred to Paola de Juliis, who is a Tuscan vacation consultant. She arranged for a wonderful Chef to visit us every evening at our villa. The Chef made pasta from scratch (and even did a cooking demonstration!) and she was happy to accommodate any dietary restrictions. She was very reasonably priced as well. We wanted to enjoy our villa as much as possible, and many of the villas are located in the countryside so getting to a town in the evening can be complicated. Hiring a chef was a great option, and allowed us to enjoy authentic Italian cooking while enjoying stunning views from the patio of our villa. For beverages, we just picked up wine from the wine shops and wineries we visited during the day to complement our meal. Perfect experience when enjoying Tuscany with friends.
• Fattoria La Vialla: This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever had the pleasure of dining. This stunning organic Tuscan farm sells food and wine, and several day s a week hosts an outdoor, family style lunch for guests for just $25 euros, which includes wine! The meal starts with snacks like olives and cheese and puff pastry rounds topped with tomatoes, complimented by sparkling wine. These are enjoyed while mingling with the other guests. Then, you take a seat at the long picnic table and indulge in course after course of cheese, pasta, eggplant, salad, breads, and dessert. It is the most stunning scenery and the food is hearty, comforting, and delicious. The lunch is several hours, so this was the only activity we scheduled for our third day in Tuscany. You will also want to tour the grounds and pick up wine at their wine shop.
• Ristoro di Ama: Dining at the Michelin-starred restaurant at Castello di Ama was definitely a highlight of the trip. The lovely patio seating was perfect, and the cuisine, featuring housemade pastas, fresh cheeses, fragrant basil, and silky smooth sauces.
The Verdict: Visiting Tuscany with friends is a trip of a lifetime! The memories we made with our friends we will cherish forever. And just in case you are wondering, no it is not possible to get sick of pasta or Italian wines!
