Travel tips for Italian trips: Tuscany

WeddingItaly has been thriving in organising destination weddings in Italy since 1999.

This is our first edition with a review of Tuscany’s secret whispers. Enjoy! Somewhere between a customary guide and a digital travel blog, we have created a shiny list with the top picks by region of restaurants, accommodation ideas, entertainment and other novelties we can’t wait to share.

Over the years we have met and worked with many businesses in hospitality, and tourism, and with professionals alike. We have forged solid relationships with local experts whose mission is to promote the million wonders covering our country to foreigners and out-of-towners

People who know a thing or two [or two thousand] about such territory and show it to others with pride. 

We thought about YOU when we paired up with these precious collaborators. The YOU who is looking for a dead-serious expert who knows the ins and outs, the YOU who is hungry for FRESH ideas for your next Italian trip, and also the ones who are for now only dreaming of the next vacation. The YOU who are after the tricks of the trade, the YOU who are eager to pass on these tips to other lovers of our country. 

Somewhere between a customary guide and a travel blog, we have created a shiny list with the top picks by region - starting with the all-favourite Tuscany - of restaurants, accommodation ideas, entertainment and others.

Enjoy the read and soak in the uplifting spirit of la Dolce Vita.

When we speak about Italy, the Tuscan landscape instantly comes to mind. Framed by the deep-blue sea on the west side and countless olive groves inland, this elegant and cultural region offers undeniable beauty. 

Its fame is certainly linked to the art and history archives, and the rich list of names who gave it so much beauty. How many movies have we watched with the Tuscan gentle hills in the background and one of those mini vintage cars driving up and down, a line of cypress trees bordering the street, reaching the ancient little towns of San Gimignano, Certaldo or the likes of Siena? How many times have we dreamt of being the man or woman behind the wheel of that car? 

Tuscany has a certain savoir-faire when it comes to hypnotizing its visitors. No matter the nationality or ideology, this land knows how to flirt with people, locals included. You cannot leave here without feeling in Love. 

The consequence of increased mass tourism activity is that it compromises Tuscany. This highly targeted region has witnessed hoards of people chaotically searching to reach a famous destination, fighting for a photo in front of a known museum, filling up restaurants and disappointing travellers who choose to come here looking for quiet and unique spots to enjoy. Similarly, some of the local traders have responded to the growing need by offering commercialized, far-from-authentic options trashing the industry with low-quality services. It is from this gap that we want to start contributing and inspiring all future travellers, and the local industry alike. 

Let’s look for the rare finds in life. 

Time to dive into our suggestions, are you ready?

BIS OSTERIA Italiana Contemporanea, in Colle di Val d’Elsa (BIS Instagram profile) 

Regional pride at the table - Let’s say that you are enjoying a drive in the countryside, or you would like to eat out (lunch on weekends, and dinner throughout the week). We say, be sure to make a stop in this cute hilltop town called Colle di Val d’Elsa. A recent opening of a local Osteria has shaken the grounds of this town, and customers can expect a high-end, curated service, a menu where tradition and modern cooking live peacefully together. The idea behind the opening comes from the smart minds of Chef Gaetano and his tight team. 

A long work-life experience with Arnolfo Ristorante, their two Michelin star exclusive venue also located in Colle Val d’Elsa stands solid behind the success of this new project. Check it out!

BIS Osteria is a tribute to local products and artistry accessible to a wider audience, within easy reach from the quiet town centre and featuring a gob-smacking view of Tuscany's infamous hills from their terrace. The fresh and often-changing menu highlights the best that the North-to-South, East-to-West of Italy has to offer. Here you can mindlessly indulge in carbs and fill your belly with a curious range of smaller antipasto-size plates. 

“What we eat today changes the world of tomorrow”. Living by this philanthropic manifesto, this chic eatery ensures prime quality of ingredients, zero waste, diversity and inclusion of their menu with rightful substitutes for allergic visitors, a conscious drinks list respectful of healthier lifestyles. 

Food degustations and wine matching is on the table, as well as special night and/or private events organised to challenge the taste buds of patrons and keep the love for modern-traditional Italian cuisine very much alive. In other words, all you have to do is book a table, and the rest will follow organically.

La Leggenda dei Frati, in Florence (official website)

Mystical tales at the table - For those venturing the city, here’s a tip-off for one of Florence’s food must-stop locations. This venue is without a doubt representative of the excellence of Italy’s future traditional cuisine. The chef duo made by Filippo and Ombretta is a winning combo mixing art and produce on a plate, with the best options for hungry customers being their popular degustation menus complimenting locally grown - or made - ingredients.

Growing their skills both in awe of the alchemic powers of cooking, it’s thanks to the attachment to their origins and the roots of the restaurant itself that the success of this venue is palpable to this day, even after so many years since its first birthday. 

Save time for a lovely visit to this museum of cookery, even better with a special occasion in mind. And know that you’ll leave the place with an entirely new vision of the world.

Eco del Mare Night and Day Beach Club, in Tellaro 

We have seen this again, and again. The buzz of Florence and walking around a summery Siena is likely to wear you out. With a climate that can feel humid in the high season, it is vital to count into your trip some downtime by the coast, benefitting from the sea breeze. No more lines for the Botticelli’s, and sweaty queues to order a double-scoop gelato in the scorching heat of a city. We might have just the right place to book your PEACE AND QUIET.

Eco del Mare Night and Day Beach Club 

Bordering the geographical entrance to the Liguria region, this exclusive retreat hub of which Ms Francesca Mozer is the executive creator will do you right. 

Her dream of offering a secret haven to peace and anonymity seekers came together in 2008 after taking over the project started by her progressive Swiss father in the 60s. In this particular coastal area, beaches are narrow and on any summer day flooded with locals and visitors. The only way to avoid turning a day at the beach into a herculean endeavour is to know a hidden cove, or like in this case, someone who owns it. 

A mere six bedrooms carved out of a cliff will guarantee the privacy of a two-day escape, with over-the-top food service from the restaurant on location and a possible encounter with celebrities on the run. Tasteful and curated décor which is upgraded every year by Ms Mozer herself give this boho-chic boutique hotel an absolute standout seal of uniqueness. 

To drive or not to drive? 

When it comes to an Italian holiday, very often we hear this question. No doubt we are 'team-driven’. As much as the Italian public transport has improved over recent years and allows for long-distance connections with very comfortable train rides, nothing equals the ease of having your own drive and the privilege to get to certain places, OFF the main track. 

In Tuscany, we guarantee you that it’s incredibly enjoyable and relaxing. We have thought long and hard about which one would be a nice, not-too-crowded piece of drive that we would recommend to our readers. And here’s our first best tip:

• Strada Provinciale del Pecorile Shortlisted by locals as one of the most iconic scenery in the world, this stretch of land has been secretly featured in a handful of popular movies. Get in the mood, it’ll be very exciting to let the car take you up and down the green hills and make a memorable stop in one of the regional treasures that are Borgo di Chiusure and the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. 
• The second road, SP438 connects the medieval hamlet of Asciano with the city of Siena. You will get the chance to experience the marvellous view of what is known as Crete Senesi, which is a perpetual belt of fields with the natural colours of wheat, olive groves and vineyards. Save some memory on your camera for another stop nearby the Agriturismo Baccoleno, a lookout on the so-cherished Tuscan hill panorama. For those not on a tight schedule, we invite you to embrace your adventurous side and drive down one/ or many of the side streets to get a sense of the real local beauty. It’s here that you will scout charming agriturismos, fields of gold and lines and lines of cypress beauty, with the luck of spotting some crafty clay work along the way.

We know that for some of us vacationing is already enough to forget the adrenaline-fuelled lives we live ‘on the other side’ of a holiday, but others need a lot more than boarding a plane and spending a few nights in a hotel to leave all worries behind. 

We have imagined an activity that is affordable, accessible across the board and ideal for both couples and groups or family holidays. Meditative, relaxing, family-fun, educational and 100% sustainable. Forest bathing is humbly reminding us how important the connection with Nature is. 

We gathered with a local hiking guide and located a beautiful track for your inspirational time in Italy. L’anello di Lamole gives you access to enjoy the quintessential Chianti landscape with the plus of finding farms along the way, snacking on hand-picked fresh fruits and exchanging a chatty time with the warm locals. Once onsite, you’ll realise that many are the tracks available to walk, and they all leave from this cute little hamlet. Some are easy 5km loops, others ask for a longer commitment and stretch to about 13 km of walking. 

No booking required, special gear or even any knowledge of the Italian language. You can quite literally leave all scheduling behind and fully join the slower rhythm of life in the Italian countryside.

This is it for our first Travel tips feed with our focus on Tuscany. 

We hope that you sincerely enjoyed the reading, and wish for a graceful dream time with lots of propositions and ideas for your next trip to Italy.

This way we can respectfully enter your digital agenda and greet you with a smile next time, while we share our tricks and stories. Feel free to follow our channels on social media for love story updates and wedding inspiration. 

Any support from our community is never taken for granted.

Take care xx

The WeddingItaly Family