Christmas time is normally a time we make like geese and flock south to warmer climates. However, a couple of years ago we decided to have a Christmas with a difference and head to Tuscany. Whilst most people associate Tuscany with glorious summer sunshine, we found that this time of year was as nice, if not better because it was less crowded.
We flew into Florence on Christmas eve, and decided to make like the locals and attend mass at the main cathedral. All the service was in Italian (as you would expect) but it was still touching and special to in such a grand setting.
We spent the next few days exploring Florence, which has plenty to offer. Even at this supposedly quiet time, the museums were bustling and we recommend buying all your tickets online beforehand. All that sightseeing will make you hungry and we recommend making time to see the Mercato Centrale where there are bustling food stalls and wine shops.
After Florence we made our way south to the fantastic little town of Pienza. On our way we stopped over in Montalcino for lunch. You can sip on the famous Brunello di Montalcino whilst taking in views of rolling Tuscan hills.
We loved our accommodation in Pienza, La Bandita Townhouse and can’t wait to go back there. Everything was spot on and our only regret was that we didn’t stay longer!
From Pienza we travelled to Montefollonico, via the roundabout route of Monte Amiata. The mountain was covered in snow and we relaxed with an espresso with grappa at the top, very warming! On the way down we stopped at a nearby natural hot spring for a quick dip. Though it was freezing cold, the water was super warm and cosy (if a tiny smelly from the sulphur).
Our accommodation in Montefollonico was fantastic too, a cosy farmhouse B&B a short drive from the town itself. In the town we had a delicious dinner that we still rave about at  13 Gobbi. Their specialiality is taking pasta and mixing it in a massive pecorino cheese wheel with some pepper. Amazing!
The next day saw us head north towards Chianti to sample the regions finest sangiovese grapes. We visited Castello di Verrazzano near Greve-in-Chianti. The tour is superb, but the five course lunch with accompanying wines was incredible. Luckily we were staying at the property so we could make sure to sample all the amazing wines.
New Years was spent in the stunning town of Siena. You can’t drive into the town so we found free parking on the outside streets and hiked in to the city. Our hotel, Casacenti, was super convenient and had an amazing view of the city. We felt extremely happy and blessed celebrating New Year’s eve in the main piazza with fireworks and the crowds.
There were so many highlights you really should check out the map below for food and sightseeing recommendations. One thing for sure is that we will be going back to this beautiful piece of earth.
Itinerary:
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