I’ve just got back from 2 weeks holidaying in beautiful Tuscany, Italy! Here I thought I would share a little bit about my holiday and travels with some (or quite a few!) of my favourite pictures.
The last two weeks have been absolute bliss for me, I LOVE everything about Italy, it’s one of my top travel destinations- not only for the amazing food, but also the stunning scenery and cities. I’ve come home, with my case packed-full of delicious culinary treats (too many packets of pan di stelle- those biscotto are TOO addictive!!) and some kitchen untensil’s ready to get back to baking and sharing some amazing recipes for you all. So enjoy my photos guys- I’ve decided to take you through all the places we visited whilst on holiday!
You’re going to fall in LOVE with Italy and this beautiful region!
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Firenze (Florence)
Florence is one of Italy’s most beautiful and stunning cities. Full of artwork, cathedrals, history and amazing food, it’s a city not to be missed on your Tuscan adventure.
Italian flag flying high above the Arno river
Panino is one of my favourite foods to enjoy in Italy. I eat these all the time for lunch back at home- they’re so good especially filled with spicy and salty salami or some of the famous Porchetta (pronounced por’ketta). But I also love my panino filled with the best fresh, Italian mozzarella, sliced tomato and dried origano. So good to eat whilst enjoying the sights of Florence!
The most amazing and colourful fresh fruit and vegetables on street corners
Siena
Siena, another one of the my favourite places to visit. We enjoyed some of the best Pizza we’d ever eaten whilst sitting in the famous Piazza del campo (square)- one of Europe’s greatest Medieval square’s. Though Florence supposedly makes the ‘best’ gelato in Tuscany, I thought the ice-creams we tried in Siena were very good competition- definitely worth the price! Full again of lots beautiful historic buildings- this city is another tourist paradise.
Siena Duomo (Cathedral)
(Not the best looking ice-cream, but strawberry (fragola) and chocolate is one of the best combo’s!)
Pisa
We visited Pisa for my 18th birthday. I enjoyed a great day, packed full of sightseeing and happily devoured an amazingly good margherita pizza, which was HEAVEN! Though the weather wasn’t too great that day, the fact I got to eat pizza made up for that for sure! The evening was enjoyed back at our private villa with many glasses of proscecco!
Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square)
As you can tell we ate quite a bit of pizza on this holiday! In this photo, me and my Sister ate classic Margherita, Mum enjoyed Marinara and my Dad ordered proscuitto e funghi. All were divine- but I couldn’t manage the whole thing!
Becky enjoying her Pizza!
Also, if you have room for ice-cream, do visit De’Colelli for amazing gelato!
San Gimignano
We stayed just outside of the medieval town, San Gimignano. The town is lovely and idyllic and is home to one of the world’s best ice-cream shops, Gelateria Dondoli– of which we enjoyed our fair share (probably a little too many ice-creams per trip!). I definitely preferred the smaller towns, to the the more well-known or more visited cities, there was something about wandering off the beaten track or down quiet little streets that I love.
View of San Gimigiano from St Lucia
The famous towers in San Gimignano
Gelato from Gelateria Dondoli (the gelato world champion)- my favourite flavours cioccolato and pistachio
Volterra
A beautiful windy, hilltop town, well worth a visit if you’re in Tuscany. Explore wandering off to the many quiet streets. Best known for it’s alabaster (marble) and also the famous Twilight films (and of course Assassin’s Creed!!).
Palazzo del Priori
I found a little taste of home in Volterra!
Monteriggioni
A small, but pretty Medieval walled town. Views overlooking Siena and great place to indulge in some interesting history. Definitely worth a look!
Piazza Roma
Beautiful sunflower fields on the car journey home
Chianti (Radda & Castellina)
We visited these two small, quaint towns which lie within the famous Chianti region of Tuscany. I definitely recommend you visit the medieval town of Radda, the town itself is so quiet and peaceful, not your typical ‘touristy’ town, so perfect to walk around and get lost in your thoughts. Walking further through the narrow streets, you will come across the amazingly stunning and peaceful Church of San Niccolò. The church is famous for it’s Romanesque origins and wooden crucifix from the 15th century. Also, I found lots of amazing pastas and foods whilst walking through Castellina- which reignited my passion for cooking again.
Church of San Niccolò, Radda, Chianti
Risotto ai funghi is a Tuscan classic
Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino (garlic, oil and chilli flakes) seasonings. These are great tossed into fresh pasta for a filling dinner!
Inspiring artwork in Castellina
Colle di Val d’Elsa
This is the town we visited quite a lot and spent many evenings walking through the peaceful streets, completely away from the tourist trails. It was so beautiful, many amazing viewpoints and you actually get the chance to go down a lift and walk through the underground tunnels, then treat yourself to a gelato, sit by the fountain and watch the sun set. So cool and a perfect end to the day.
Also, I like to thank the lovely Margherita who writes one of my favourite food blogs, La Petite Casserole. Margherita is from Florence, but currently lives in Montreal. She very kindly sent me an email sharing with me all the best places to eat in and around Tuscany, which I thought I would share with you all too as well.
Gelato: Rivareno ( borgo albizi)
Easy lunch: Macelleria Falorni ( avevo di San pierino)
Easy lunch or easy dinner: 5&5 ( piazza della Passera)
Mercato di San Lorenzo ( they’ve just renewed it, is full of small restaurants and local food productors)
For an aperitivo: Easy Living ( the open bar along Arno river, close to San Niccolo)
Dinner with amazing view (Fiesole): terrazza 45 or Pensione Bencistà!
Ristorante il Pozzo (Montereggioni)
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Oh my! This is just beautiful! Inspired right! You had an amazing time and enjoyed some great food. Love that!
Thanks Zainab! I had an amazing time, love Tuscany so much! The food was so good too!
Your trip sounds like it was perfect. Pizza in Pisa on your birthday followed by Prosecco sounds memorable. I have a girlfriend that lives in Radda in Chianti and I agree about it being a charming town.
Thanks Karen! I had such a brilliant and memorable trip! Pisa was definitely an amazing place to visit for my 18th. And, I fell in love with Radda, Chianti! I would love to live there one day too!
What a beautiful country! My husband and I hope to visit Italy one day. I am sure that I will eat my weight in gelato!
Italy is so beautiful! Definitely visit the country one day if you get a chance- amazing! So glad you liked reading my article, Eva! (Also, I’m pretty sure I consumed way too much gelato, but who can blame me, it was so, so good!)
I officially need to book a trip to Italy! And my stomach is growling at 8:00 a.m. 🙂
Sues
Yes! Do it- you’ll love Italy so, so much! Haha, I could eat Italian food anytime of the day too! 🙂
Such beautiful pictures, Jessica! I’m sure you had such an amazing time.That view of Florence is incredible! And I love that sunflower field too, so pretty!
Thanks Gayle! I really did have an amazing time, full of so many great experiences! Florence was incredible walking around, so beautiful!
Gorgeous pictures! Those tomatoes have my mouth watering 🙂
Thanks Medha! I couldn’t stop myself from talking photo’s- they were amazing and so vibrant! 🙂
What great shots Jessica! That panini looked so good, and the farmers market shot of all the vegetables was awesome and I loved the shot of the purses – they were so colorful! Thanks for taking us on your trip with you. I loved this post!!!
Thank you so much Kristi! The panini was amazing, so tasty and the shop had lots of different flavour combo’s to chose from. I would’ve bought all those leather bags if I could’ve done- so lovely! Really pleased you liked the article, my pleasure sharing the pics!
Oh my gosh, I am so jealous! These photos are incredible, Italy is definitely on my vacation wish-list and now, after seeing this post I am itching to travel somewhere!
Thanks Sam! You really need to visit! Such a beautiful place!
It sounds and looks like you had a wonderful trip. Beautiful photos and the food looks delicious. Welcome back, Jess!
Thanks Ngan! We did, so many fun experiences! The food was beyond amazing- I cannot wait to go back now!
Jessica, of course we missed you! I would so love to go to Florence … it looks beautiful!
So glad you had such a great time!
Thanks Helen- I missed posting my recipes for 2 weeks!! Definitely visit Florence one day, a really stunning city! We did have a brilliant time!
I am in love……… This is definitely one of the best reads in a really long time!!
Aww, thank you so much! Such a kind thing to say! Really pleased you enjoyed reading! 🙂
Thank you for the lovely photos & stories. The food & the towns look wonderful 🙂
My pleasure, so pleased you liked the article! The food and towns we’re all amazing! 🙂
Happy belated birthday, Jessica, and I’m so envious about this trip! I want to visit Italy so much, and even more after seeing your beautiful photos! The food and sights are amazing — thank you for sharing these pictures. 🙂
Thank you so much Marcie, I had brilliant birthday celebrations this year! Definitely visit Italy soon, you’ll love it! 🙂
Welcome back! It looks like you had an amazing time and enjoyed a lot of amazing food. The food is one of the best parts about Italy 🙂
Thank you Dannii! I really did- it was a fantastic holiday! Definitely, the food is the best thing about Italy! 😊
NEED PIZZA NOW! What a gorgeous trip!
Haha! Thanks Erin- pizzas the best!
Jessica!! Welcome back 😀 Your photos are just beautiful. I have never been to Italy and after seeing all these wonderful shots I’m am dying to go. That pizza and ice cream…those are at least 2 reasons to go. Haha 😀
Happy Birthday! It really looks like a wonderful trip
Thank you Cindy! You must visit Italy one day! The ice creams taste so good- the pictures don’t do them justice! 😊👍
Book me a ticket now Jess! Wild wanderlust this morning because of these photos 😀
Haha, really pleased you like the article Lorraine! I can’t wait to go back, I’ve caught the travel bug! 🙂
I am experiencing Italy’s food though your photos. How delicious and beautiful.
That’s great, really glad you like the article, Kathy!
What a trip, beautiful pictures, beautiful country, Happy Birthday! I love Panino and pizza but probably pizza more! Looks delicious! 🙂
It was an amazing trip- and the food was so, so good! Thank you for the birthday wishes, Michael! 🙂
Gorgeous photos! Italy is on my bucket list, I just drool thinking about the pizza and pasta and gelato….Welcome back 🙂
Thank you Denise! The food was amazing- you’re going to love visiting Italy! 🙂
Beautiful pictures! The food has me drooling!
Thank you- so pleased you enjoyed reading!
Gorgeous photos girl! So glad you had a great time 🙂 All that food looks incredible!
Thanks Kelly! It was amazing, such a great experience! And, yes the food was great! 🙂
It looks like you had an amazing trip, Jessica! I’ve always wanted to go to Italy! Everything looks so awesome, especially all that yummy food! I also love the little cat photo 🙂
I did! You definitely need to visit Italy soon, Izzy! The food was awesome, so tasty and very enjoyable! I couldn’t believe I took that photo of the cat! 🙂
This was an amazing tour, Jess! My family and I visited Tuscany 3 years ago. Many of the cities and towns you mention were on our tour too. Everything is so like it! So we share yet another passion. Thanks for these amazing memories and those stunning photos.
Welcome home!
Thanks Rosa! Isn’t Tuscany an amazing family holiday destination?! Italy and Italian food is definitely a great passion to have! So pleased you enjoyed reading, and the photo’s bought back a few amazing memories for you! xx
love all those market photos, and the panini! sounds like the perfect two weeks holiday
Thank you Paola! Really pleased you enjoyed reading the article- and the markets we’re my favourite, the produce is amazing. It certainly was two brilliant weeks on holiday!
Bellisima Italia! I love l’Italie, I went to Florence and fall in love with this city!
Lovely photos Jess!
Thanks Eva! Florence is a beautiful city- so lovely to visit and walk around!
You just took me away to an awesome place, Jess! I LOVE Italy, and I can’t wait to get back. Tuscany is absolutely beautiful, and this post is definitely going to be a resource when it comes time to plan my next trip. Thanks for sharing, and glad you had fun!!
Thanks so much David! Really pleased you enjoyed reading the article! I can’t wait to book another holiday to Tuscany now, missing it so much! 🙂
I loved looking through your pictures! I’ve never been to Italy, but I really want to. I so wish I had a piece of that pizza right now. Yum!
Thanks Christin! Really pleased you enjoyed reading my article! The pizza was so, so good!
I have ALWAYS wanted to take a vacation to Italy! My grandparents are both from there and it always looks so pretty! And I can only imagine the food…
These pictures are gorgeous – although now I want to go even more! haha
Thanks so much Ashley! So pleased you enjoyed reading about Tuscany! 🙂
Great photo’s Jess of my favorite country in the world. I would live in Italy if I could. So beautiful and the food is amazing.
Thanks Suzanne! It’s definitely one of the best countries! I’m actually planning on moving there once I’ve finished training to college- I’d love to travel the whole country! 🙂
Aah I’m so envious! ;P But happy for you, truly. What a wonderful way to celebrate a milestone birthday! Happy, happy, and thank you- for sharing these beautiful photos!
Thanks so much Allie! Really pleased you enjoy reading! It was a great place to spend my 18th, for sure!
Oh many looks like you had an amazing vacation!!! This totally takes me back to when we went to Italy about 10 years ago. Loved our time there. So beautiful and amazing food!
We really did! It was amazing and so fun! Wow, so glad this article bought back some great memories of Italy! It’s a lovely country, and food is amazing!
AHHH!! AMAZING. The.Boy and I are planning on honeymooning in Italy (possibly Tuscany!) so I’ll have to pick your brain on it!!
Thanks Joanne! That’s amazing, I would love to honeymoon in Italy! I’ll definitely be happy to help, if you’d like to know anything! 🙂
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this post Jess!!!!!!!!!!! <3 Those gelatos and the pizzas and that panino sandwich ….. Oh yum!!!!! Those places are just so picturesque!!!!! What a fun trip …. <3 🙂 😀
Thanks Samina! So glad you enjoyed it! The gelato is amazing and the pizza, so good! It was really fun! <3 🙂
Lucky you! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Italy! Thanks for sharing the photos and bringing back lovely memories of Italy, and dreams of going back again! xx
Thanks Sofia! I know, very lucky to go to such a beautiful place! So glad, I bought back some amazing memories of Italy for you! xx
Oh all of these photos are amazing! The pasta looks so tempting, and those GRAPES look so delicious. I also love the little chubby pinocchio, what a cuteness! I’ve never been to Tuscany, but this post has made me want to!
Thank you so much Gab! The fruit was amazing in Italy, so tasty! The pinocchio’s are so fun- great gifts for my friends! You’d love to visit Tuscany! 🙂
Looks amazing! I can’t wait to go to Italy one day!
It was amazing! 🙂
Ahhhh so much goodness in these photos. 🙂
Thanks Nicole! 🙂
I’m so jealous!!! Everything looks so pretty!!
Thanks Shiran! 🙂
I visited all these cities, except Volterra, this year. I am Italian but I’ve never had time to discover this amazing part of my native country. It is now a great pleasure for me to look at your beautiful pictures.
Thank you so much Daniela! Volterra is lovely, it has a bit of every, amazing craft shops, many gelateria’s and a park to wander through. You definitely should visit if you get a chance! Tuscany really is amazing, I cannot wait to visit again soon!
My gosh you’ve eaten so much delicious food! I’m so jealous 🙂 All those photos of ice cream is making me miss Italy so much! Hope you’re having a wonderful time 🙂
Thanks Lilli! I know, the food was amazingly good! Ice-cream is definitely the best thing about Italy! 🙂
Woah!! Your photos are gorgeous!! They bring me back to when I was in Italy last summer!
Thanks Brittany! Glad you enjoyed reading!
You captured great images and gorgeous light with your photos. They took me back several years… when I was studying in Venice. Thank you for sharing your beautiful trip…
Hi Claudia! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’m so happy you like my photography – Italy is such a beautiful country and I always love visiting. I’m actually going to Venice early next year, so I’m hoping to share another travel article all about my experience. J x
Looking fwd to reading about your journey in Venice…