A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of exploring the beautiful hill towns of Tuscany and the Renaissance masterpiece that is Florence. When I was younger, I had always imagined Italy as a place with yellow ochre colored rolling hills, beautiful vineyards with rustic villas, and large plates of pasta and steak. Tuscany is all of these things and so much more. From the robust Nobile wines of Montepulciano to the 70 oz Bistecca alla Fiorentina at a Michelin restaurant, I tasted the best food and wine that Tuscany had to offer.The beautiful scenery of the hill towns added to the charm and beauty of the area and the arts and history of Florence made the city still feel like a Renaissance hub of architecture, music, and literature.
Florence is a city that truely comes alive at night. Both nights that I was there the beautiful sound of a stringed quartet echoed throughout the Uffizi Gallery. This mixed with the stoic busts of all of the great Florentines, such as Dante and Michelangelo, made the whole space come alive. Seeing all of the architecture in person that I had learned about in school left me feeling in awe of the craftsmanship and invention of a bygone era.
Tuscany has easily become one of my favorite areas in Italy but its hard to compare because each region has it's own style, food, and culture. One thing that I know to be true is that Tuscany definitely has the best food.
