All the Things You Can Do on a Dream Trip to Tuscany

The mention of Chianti easily conjures images of stunning vineyard views and non-stop wine tastings. The region is renowned for producing the ruby-red table wines, after all. But on my recent trip to the mountainous area of Tuscany in the province of Florence, I discovered that there’s a lot more that this place can offer apart from picturesque panoramas and barrel-aged alcohol. 

Finding fungi

I found myself in Chianti late September, which was a month into the truffle season, and so I didn’t want to let the opportunity to forage in the forest for this prized produce pass. Guided by our twentysomething tartufaio Matti, who started doing it at age five, and along with his trained dogs Lily and Briza, I followed the muddy tracks of our lead dressed in thick jacket and boots. In just minutes we found a black truffle just big enough to adorn an appetizer.

We ventured further and in no time, found a handful, which we then brought to COMO Castello del Nero’s Pavilion restaurant for a rewarding four-course truffle lunch.

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Up in the air

When cruising in Tuscany, your mobile phones and cameras will be working double time to capture endless picture pretty scenes. If you want to do a one-up, why not admire the beauty of the Tuscan landscape from the bird’s eye view? Hop in a hot air balloon with highly qualified professional pilots as your guide. Be it on a clear winter morning or a spring afternoon, you’ll definitely be amazed to see an expansive landscape that’s beaming with olive groves and rows upon rows of grapevines, studded with beautiful hilltop cottages. Upon landing, a light meal with sparkling wine awaits. 

Fun in food

Expert chefs are more than willing, ready and able to help you live your culinary fantasies by becoming a chef for a day. Wash your hands, don an apron, and work side by side a professional in the kitchen. It can either be a pasta-making class, or a session on create-your-own pizza from scratch, or churn your favourite flavor of gelato. Whatever you fancy, you’ll get down and dirty, and enjoy the fruits of your labor after. 

Dining in style

If you don’t want to get things messy and would rather just be involved in a memorable dining experience, then there are a couple of options available, too. How about having an elegant dinner in a Michelin-starred restaurant? Chef Di Pirro’s sophisticated space inside a 12th century castle used to be a stable but is now where he gets to play around homegrown local ingredients to present fine Tuscan dining. It’s called La Torre and for 10 consecutive years, it has retained its star rating.

If you’re looking for something more casual yet intimate and romantic, how about a private picnic? Set on ground surrounded by olive trees, the al fresco meal will have you indulging on a hamper full of curated local produce as well as wine.

Appreciating aesthetics

Tuscany is rich in history and art and if this is something you want to learn about, highly knowledgeable and respected guides can walk you through the city and tell you about the origins of Siena’s Palio or the Medici influence in Florence. They can explain it to you in great detail, allowing you to see and acknowledge the region in a totally new light. 

Tasting Tuscany

Wine isn’t the only thing you can have tasting sessions of. Tuscany has plenty of premium quality olive oils, too. Theirs is greener and spicier than elsewhere in the country, and showcases unusual hints of artichoke and pepper, which make for a great flavor price for cooking or simply dabbing your bread in. 

In the castle’s original cellars in COMO Castello del Nero, guests also get to sample a selection of five soft, semi-seasoned and aged cheeses paired with wine and various honeys, including the one produced on the estate.

To avail of any or all of these activities, head over to COMO Castello del Nero, which is located at Strada Spicciano 7, 50028 Barberino Tavarnelle, Tuscany, Italy. Contact info: +39 055 806470, [email protected]