Cantinetta Antinori

Spending some time in beautiful Florence? This is a complete list that provides you with a handful of options: accommodation, tourist attractions, shops, bars and restaurants - you’ll need no other guide, I promise! So…have a bite and a drink alongside Arno river and take home the most impressive bespoke souvenirs. The city is walkable and it blends art and history and romantic vibes all together and pretty soon you’ll find yourself in love. 💓 Must do - trips to picturesque towns located nearby: • San Gimignano: 1h away • Siena: 1h10 away • Volterra: 1h20 away Highlights: ⚜️ Il Giglio - giglio bottonato, is mainly known from the crest of the city of Florence. In the Florentine fleurs-de-lis, the stamens are always posed between the petals. This is also the emblem of the city and you shall see it depicted all over. 🍨 Gelato “crema fiorentina” - is the specific flavor of Florence, made with a simple combination of egg yolks, milk, and sugar. It is often flavored with chestnut honey, while another common addition includes crumbled amaretti cookies or almond liqueur. It is a neutral ice cream flavor with delicate pale-yellow color. 🍧 Affogato - a delightful and simple Italian dessert or beverage that combines two beloved elements: espresso and gelato or ice cream. The word "affogato" in Italian means "drowned," and that perfectly describes the preparation of this delicious treat. The basic affogato recipe involves pouring a hot, freshly brewed espresso over a scoop of cold gelato or ice cream. The hot espresso contrasts with the cold and creamy gelato, resulting in a harmonious and satisfying flavour combination. 🥩 Bistecca alla fiorentina - Italian steak made of young steer (vitellone) or heifer (scottona) that, combined with the specific preparation, makes it one of the most popular dishes of Tuscan cuisine. 🍷 "Buchette del vino" - or wine windows, are a peculiar feature of Florence. They are foot-high, dome-shaped holes in the thick, stone palazzi of the Renaissance city that six centuries ago were used to sell wine in a fiasco (glass bottle) without having to open a shop and avoid paying taxes. These wine windows also posed a useful anti-contagion way to sell wine during the epidemic of 1630-1633. At that time, the bubonic plague hit Florence hard, killing 12% of the city's population.

As a wine enthusiast with a WSET Level 2 certification, I’ve curated this guide to share my top picks of wineries to visit across Italy, from the northern region of Piedmont all the way to the Southern region of Puglia. Explore my favourite vineyards, must-visit tasting rooms, and the finest vintages that Italy has to offer.

THE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE TO THE HIGHLIGHTS OF ITALY - ROME, FLORENCE, VENICE, & MORE 🇮🇹 I've been fortunate enough to visit Italy multiple times and even more fortunate to have been guided by true Italian friends. Here, I take all that I've learned from those travels and distill it into one perfect itinerary that hits the big highlights. This itinerary is a great fit for first-timers since it'll take you to the absolute must-see spots in Italy. You certainly won't see all the boot has to offer (just plan on coming back for future trips, plural, to make that happen), but you'll see the most iconic places at a reasonable, enjoyable pace. You'll be able to soak up all the history, food, wine, and dolce vita these cities have to offer. After this first taste, you'll be dying to come back for more! 🗺️ Main Itinerary Stops: - Rome | 2 full days / 3 nights - Orvieto | Pit stop - Tuscany // Montalcino | 2 full days / 3 nights - Siena | Pit stop - Florence | 2 full days / 3 nights - Tivoli | Pit stop - Rome | Overnight for return flight 🗺️ Optional Extension Stops: - Pisa | Day trip (+ extra night in Florence) - Bologna | Pit stop - Venice | 2 full days / 3 nights - Modena | 1 full day / 1 night here or nearby 📣IF YOU WANT MORE INFO BEFORE PURCHASING ➡️ Check out the free preview of this guide. It includes: - OVERVIEW STATS: Including trip length, ideal season, trip speed, physicality, trip themes, who this trip is best for, cost, and how to get around - STOP-BY-STOP OVERVIEW: Including number of days at each destination and number of activities, restaurants, and hotels included in the full version of this guide - EXAMPLE ITINERARY DAY: An example day from the full version of this itinerary, so you can see the level of detail and travel style you can expect! - BONUS - HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS: All the same recs from the paid version! Consider supporting my work by booking through the links provided - it’s much appreciated!