Florence, Italy is a beautiful city filled with history, renaissance architecture, and rich culinary traditions. It was home to the Medici family whose influence you can see throughout the city in its art and architecture. The city is easy to walk around and you can lose yourself amongst the piazzas, streets, and shops. Take a stroll along the Arno River toward the end of the day to the Ponte Vecchio, relaxing and taking in the view or better yet a beautiful sunset. It’s a magical city to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace.
There’s no better way to experience a new country than through its food. One way to get started is by taking a culinary walking tour of Florence. There are a variety of tours available and one company Florence Urban Adventures offers several culinary walking tours of the city.
They have 3 tours to choose from – The Florence Markets and Deli’s, Florence Foodies Walk and Aperitivo Time! Each of the tours offers a unique look into one part of the culinary experience the city has to offer.
- The Florence Markets and Deli’s tour you’ll be guided through the San Lorenzo Market along with other boutique deli’s, farm stands, bakeries and chocolate shops. You’ll meet the shop owners and experience their specialties and go to one of the oldest wine shops in the city. There is no shortage of tasting from cheeses like fresh mozzarella and ricotta to prosciutto, porchetta, olive oil and of course the wonderful bread.
- The Florence Foodies Walk explores specialty shops such a store specializing in the earthy pungent truffles where you’ll enjoy a glass of Prosecco with a truffle panini, and this is just the beginning. You’ll visit an artisan chocolate maker and an olive oil boutique. Of course, it’s a foodies paradise since you’ll be tasting everything along the way including gelato, Chianti and focaccia. A good time to be had by all.
- Aperitivo Time! Aperitivo is a drink before dinner and on this tour, you will be sampling some of the wines that are famous in Tuscany including Chianti and Brunello. You will hit several of the neighborhood spots and learn about the wines, pairings, and region from a local sommelier. All tastings will be paired with delicious typical Tuscan delicacies that include wild boar salami, goat cheese and pecorino served with homemade jams and honey. This is a great tour for those who love wine and want to have a more in-depth understanding of the wines of the region.
These tours are just one small way to get your feet wet when you get to Florence. You’ll get the lay of the land to be able to discover more of what Florence has to offer. The tours are reasonable and they pack a lot in the short 2.5 to 3 hours duration. Group sizes are kept small to maximize your experience. Check out Florence Urban Adventures website to find out more and enrich your next trip to Florence.
