Archive for 'Food and Wine'

On holiday in Italy? Worked up an appetite while wandering the birthplace of the Renaissance on holiday in Florence? Or getting peckish as you dart about the Eternal City on vacation in Rome, trying to fit in as much as possible? 

Well, then you’ll be in search of somewhere great to eat! Certainly, you’ll find incredible food all over Italy without having to look very far but if you prefer to eat in more authentic places, the kind of little eatery that is mostly occupied by locals, then you might have to look a little bit further.

Here’s our guide to avoiding the more touristy restaurants in the country’s most famous destinations…

Those who choose to book a villa in Italy are, statistically, rather likely to be pasta fans and you will find it pretty easy to get your hands on some incredible pasta dishes while enjoying your getaway. From local family-run eateries, to food festivals serving and celebrating regional varieties, to famous restaurants and Michelin-starred wonders, you’ll find amazing pasta in locations all over Italy without having to look very far. However, the more ardent foodies who are planning a getaway in the homeland of this beloved cupboard staple might be after something a little more special. If you’re up for an adventure and you want something unforgettable, then why not seek out the rarest pasta in the world, the so-called, “Threads of God?”

If you are willing to go on a very special kind of pilgrimage – an edible variety – then you can seek out su filindeu, these Threads of God, while staying in one of our vacation rentals in Sardinia. This rare kind of pasta comes from the Barbagia region of Sardinia and is notoriously difficult to make. It is produced by only a vanishingly small group of women from the Sanctuary of Saint Francis, a little church in the village of Lula, and traditionally only for the biannual Feast of San Francesco – on the 1st of May and the 4th of October. 

One of the many reasons that we recommend booking a vacation rentals in Italy with us rather than with someone else or rather than booking a hotel or some other form of accommodation, is that our owners really add to the entire experience.

This, of course, varies from owner to owner and your own interest in engaging with them but many are happy to be your portal to the area and give all sorts of helpful advice and tips. They usually live nearby and are, therefore, on hand throughout your vacation should any issues arise but also to offer special insight to the locality and what it has to offer visitors.

From suggesting local restaurants and tourist attractions, to telling you about amenities of the property itself, our owners will help you get situated upon arrival to ensure that you have an especially enjoyable holiday in Italy.

When you go to Italy and even before then, when you have booked one of our vacation rentals in Italy and you are reading our blog here or going elsewhere to find inspiration for your travels, you might come across some terminology that is new to you while researching Italy. Sometimes, these new words might have explanations that come with them – we can certainly that we strive to include explanations and make things clear. However, sometimes words can feel like such a given or so familiar to those who love and write about Italy that we can forget that we might not always have known them. So, in order to help make your journey to planning a dream holiday in Italy that little bit easier, we have put together a handy little glossary of some of these common terms, all in one place!

Are you a wine-lover planning on booking one of our villas in Tuscany for this April? Well, then you should make sure that you head to the pretty and historic little town of San Quirico d'Orcia where you’ll not only be served up some of the most gorgeous views over the Tuscan landscape, but you will also be able to attend one of the most important wine festivals in the region.

While the Orcia Wine Festival almost always takes place on the last weekend of April each year, it has had its 2025 dates officially confirmed and will be held from the 25th to the 27th of April 2025 for its 14th edition – an excellent reason to find a vacation rental in the Orcia Valley today for an end of spring visit!