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A curated guide to Tuscany for those who prefer authentic flavors, hidden corners, and unforgettable meals over packed itineraries.

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ExploreTuscan Life

Fewer places,
more dolce far niente.

Most guides to Tuscany are lists. This one is an opinion. We keep a short book of the places, tables, hills and habits we would send a friend to, and we drop anything that stops being true. Nothing here is sponsored; some of it is not even open on Mondays.

Drive slowly. Order the house wine. Leave the afternoon empty.

Sagre

A ‘Sagra’ is an authentic Italian food festival celebrating traditional recipes, local wine, and incredible vibes. Here are epic sagre you can’t miss. Tap a pin for the dish, scroll on for the dates.

Calendar

Food stands open around 19:00. Cash preferred; the larger sagre take cards. Follow the “Parcheggio Sagra” signs, if you find one.

    To be updated New sagre go on the map and into the calendar as soon as the dates are out, all through autumn. Stay tuned.

    Places

    Places we keep going back to. No order, no ranking, just the ones we would drive for.

    1. A walk along old stone walls above rolling Tuscan fields, late afternoon
      Along the walls, late afternoon

      Hilltop village

      Tenuta di Casaglia

      An authentic, family-owned hilltop village in the heart of Tuscany, and a dream location for family holidays. There is a pool for the long afternoons; meals are not included, so bring the market home and cook with the doors open.

      Go for
      The pool, the view, the quiet
      Note
      No food included · Car needed
      Season
      April to late October
      Visit tenutadicasaglia.com

    2. Montepulciano · Wine bar

      La Vineria di Montepulciano

      A small vineria on the hill where you order the board of local cheeses and cured meats, a plate of pici with ragù, and a glass of whatever they are pouring from Montepulciano that week. Sit, stay, order a second glass.

      Open in Maps
      The counter, second glass in

    3. Florence · Cinema & bookshop

      Giunti Odeon

      The most beautiful cinema and bookstore I have ever been to. Part of the city's cinematic history since 1922, today a unique mix of cinema, bookshop and café. A true gem: put this one on the list while visiting Tuscany.

      giuntiodeon.comWatch the reel
      Books under the balcony. Tap for the reel

    4. Val d'Orcia · Hilltop town

      Pienza

      Have a glass of wine and a board of cold cuts and cheese with that iconic view over the rolling hills of Val d'Orcia. The quiet stone alleys lined with flowers, the warm, timeless atmosphere: honestly, nothing else compares. Pienza, for me, is pure magic. Go off season, in May or late September.

      Idyllium Pienza
      That view, from the table

    5. Pietrasanta · Antiques

      Antiquariato Il Centrale

      One of the dreamiest antique finds. Il Centrale has honestly the most beautiful collection I have ever seen, at surprisingly reasonable prices: delicate porcelain, silver and classic cutlery, gorgeous glasses, tea cups and so many other unique treasures. An absolute must if you love timeless pieces.

      ilcentrale.com
      Silver, porcelain, and more silver

    6. Florence · Schiacciata

      I Girone De' Ghiotti

      Florence is packed with schiacciata spots and choosing just one feels impossible. Fate guided me here, and it was genuinely one of the best sandwiches of my life: the Galosa No. 7, and I cannot recommend it enough. There will be a queue. First, it is worth the wait; second, it moves fast; third, queueing is always a nice excuse to talk to somebody.

      Find it
      Fresh from the oven, mid-queue

    7. Viareggio · Dinner on the lake

      Chalet del Lago

      Highly recommended by my Airbnb host, this spot offers a truly special dining experience right over the water. They serve incredible grilled fish and delicious local dishes, surrounded by warm, welcoming people. Inside, you’ll find a cozy space filled with beautiful paintings, but nothing beats sitting outside at dusk: enjoying dinner with a view of the sunset reflecting on the lake is just breathtaking.

      Make sure to book your table!

      chaletdellago.it+39 0584 359830
      The terrace, just before dinner

    8. Among the vines · Restaurant

      Ristorante Casariccio

      Imagine sitting right in the middle of the vineyards, sipping a glass of wine while looking at the exact vines it came from. The whole experience is just unbelievable. Locanda Casariccio is one of those hidden, magic spots you will never find in a standard guidebook.

      @locandacasariccioWatch the reel+39 055 992980
      Dusk in the garden. Tap for the reel

    9. Valdarno · Bakery & bar

      Menchetti

      If you’re looking for a wonderful breakfast spot in Valdarno, this is it! Don’t worry, you won’t find only croissants or cornetti here (though I highly recommend trying the one filled with white chocolate!).

      Beyond sweet pastries, they offer a fantastic selection of savory snacks, freshly baked bread, and exceptional coffee, all served in an amazing, busy bee atmosphere.

      menchetti.it
      Morning at the counter

    Tables

    Where to eat, and when. Tuscany runs on a schedule; this is it.

    • 08:00Caffè, standing, at the bar. Never at the table, never after eleven.
    • 12:30Lunch is the meal. Two hours minimum. Order the primo you do not recognise.
    • 15:00Everything is closed. This is not a problem; this is the point.
    • 18:30Aperitivo. A Negroni Sbagliato, the little bowl of olives, the sun going down behind the hill.
    • 20:00Dinner, late, long, and usually where the owner is also the cook.

    Three tables we would drive an hour for: Locanda Casariccio, La Botteghina di Civitella and Osteria Paradiso da i' Frasca.

    The Hills

    Five Tuscanys, from the marble in the north to the sea in the south.

    Looking out from Pienza over the Val d'Orcia between two cypresses
    Pienza, looking over the Val d'Orcia
    • ChiantiVines, castles, the road everyone takes and should.
    • Val d'OrciaBare hills, one cypress, a very good lunch.
    • MaremmaCowboys, pine forest, the coast Italians keep for themselves.
    • GarfagnanaChestnut woods and marble mountains, an hour from Lucca.
    • Crete SenesiClay, white roads, and truffles in November.

    Stays

    Sleep in a place with a history, a pool, and no reception desk.

    To be curated

    A short list of places to sleep is on its way. Until then, ask on Instagram.

    Journal

    Notes from the road, filed when we get around to it.

    Agnes, the curator of Explore Tuscan Life, on a terrace above the Val d'Orcia

    Written from
    a terrace in Tuscany.

    Ciao, I’m Agnes. Explore Tuscan Life was born spontaneously, simply because I’ve always loved sharing beautiful places and incredible food with people. Today, it’s written and curated entirely by me. I live here, eat here, and keep a short book of the places worth your afternoon. The daily version of this guide lives on Instagram: sagre, tables, and the road in between.

    @exploretuscanlife Facebook Email

    Nothing here is sponsored, and it stays that way. If the guide saved you an afternoon, you can buy me a coffee: any amount, seven euro is the suggestion.

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