Explore the delicious food and wine scene of beautiful Florence on this semi-private three-hour tour with an expert local guide. Florence is the capital of Tuscany, a region famous for its traditional cuisine and the rolling hills and vineyards that produce world-renowned wines. You’ll have an expert local guide showing you the city and its hidden gems on this walking tour around Florence’s monuments, wine bars, restaurants, and street food vendors!
Your tour begins in the magnificent Piazza della Signoria where your guide will introduce you to the tour before you begin strolling down beautiful streets and learn about Florence’s rich gastronomic history. Your first stop is at a historic enoteca (wine bar) where you’ll taste a variety of local cheeses and meats, with perfectly paired wines. Famous Tuscan wines like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino are all made from the red Sangiovese grape – named for Sanguis Jovis, which means “the blood of Jupiter” king of the gods! The competitive Italian wine market is regulated with a certification system – from hearty table wines to the very best DOCG labels. Your guide will teach you the different acronyms and their meanings.
Afterward, walk to a charming restaurant to sit down and enjoy three varieties of delicious Tuscan pasta – with wine. Depending on what’s in season (very important to all Italian chefs) you may be offered ravioli Gnudi, a pasta parcel filled with spinach, ricotta cheese, eggs, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, or Pici al Pomodoro – a tomato, basil, and black pepper sauce topping on pasta noodles.
Enjoy walking off your pasta on a stroll in search of a particularly excellent street-food vendor! Try a Florentine specialty: a super tasty lampredotto sandwich (made of cow stomach – but don’t let it put you off!) Popular since the Middle Ages.
No Italian meal is complete without a ‘dolce’ – something sweet! Your guide will show you to one of the very best gelato joints in town for a melt-in-the-mouth sampling of Italy’s famous style of ice cream. Learn how it is made, what makes it so different, so light, so fluffy – so yummy!