Guidebook

Restaurants

Nearby

• Castello di Casole , Casole d’Elsa , 0577 961508 (5 star hotel, we recommend going even just for an aperitivo ” to enjoy the stunning view and location)
• Caffè Casolani – Osteria, Caffetteria, Enoteca , Casole d’Elsa, 0577 948733 –   New management
• Bistrot Art & Wine , Via Alessandro Casolani 56 (nice for an aperitivo)
• Ristorante La Speranza , Colle di Val d’Elsa, 0577 929696. (Specialized in fiorentina beef steak ) Closed on Mondays (dinner) and Tuesdays.
• La Locanda del Molino – Restaurant, delicious wood-fired pizza, Fish specialties – Casole d’Elsa, 0577 17343494 –  New management

Our Favourites

• La Sosta di Pio VII, 05778075923, typical Tuscan simple food, reasonable prices
• Ristorante Pizzeria La Bona Osteria , Via Giotto, 6 Loc. Campiglia . Tel. 0577 959558 amazing pizza you can choose the type of dough: mais, kamut
• La Pergola , Radicondoli, 0577 790717 (amazing pizza and atmosphere, a little expensive)
• Il Frantoio , Colle di Val d’Elsa , 0577923652 (a bit more pricey but worth it for the excellent cuisine and friendly staff)

Colle di Val d’Elsa

• Ristorante Taverna di Bibbiano (on the way to San Gimignano), Loc. Bibbiano – La Taverna 35 . Tel . 0577959164
• Il Casato, Via Piemonte, 21, 53034 Colle di Val d’Elsa, tel: 0577 921106 neapolitan pizza
• Le Grazie, Colle di Val d’Elsa, 0577 958065 (pizzeria with interesting pizza toppings)

Poggibonsi

• I Boceri, 0577381426, nice food and atmosphere
• Strapizzami, 0577935386, good pizza
• Da Ciccio and Friends , 0577563956, very good  wood-fired oven pizza (the best I’ve had lately!)
• I’Covo, 0577601867, classy restaurant serving authentic food
• La Galleria, 0577982356, fish baseddishes

Siena

You absolutely must visit the Piazza del Campo and see the towering Torre del Mangia while enjoying an ice cream from “ Grom ” (our favourite place). You should also see the Duomo di Siena with it’s wonderful  lack and white marble exterior.
Every Wednesday morning you can find “Il Mercato”, small local market stalls. Free parking in Siena can be tricky to find, we recommend checking on internet to see which one is convenient for you.

Restaurants

• Taverna San Giuseppe , 0577 42286 (call to book in advance ! Small and very requested)
• Antica Trattoria Papei , 0577 280894 ( amazing seasonal food to choose from in the beautiful Piazza del Mercato hidden behind the Piazza del Campo)
• Osteria Le Logge , 057748013
• Te Ke Voi, 057740139 (cheap and tasty food, cosy, casual place)

Pizzerie

⬗ Pomodorino , 0577 286811 (an amazing view and so many choices of pizza!)
⬗ Pizzeria Poppi , Banchi di Sotto, 25, 53100 Siena, tel: 0577 40207 ( take away delicious pizza)

Ice Cream

• Gelateria La Vecchia Latteria , (taste the traditional bacio di Siena ice cream with nougat or croccante dipped in chocolate and frozen)
• Grom (our favourite ice cream in Siena)

Firenze

Restaurants

⬗ Trattoria Il Sostanza (Il Troia), Via del Porcellana, 25/r, Florence. Tel 055212691 (try the chicken with butter, artichoke tortino and the delicious meringue with wild strawberries)
⬗ Ristorante Buca Dell’Orafo , via dei Girolami, 28, tel 055 213619
⬗ Trattoria Zà Zà, 055215411 (highly recommended, incredible food and interior decor)
⬗ Mercato Centrale, Via dell’Ariento , 50123 Firenze (during the day: downstairs market and upstairs, in the  vening: only upstairs. Upstairs is quite expensive, downstairs our favourite panino place is “ Da Nerbone”)
⬗ I Due Fratellini , Via dei Cimatori , 38/red, 50122 Firenze, 055 2396096 (tiny panino and wine place standing up)
⬗ Osteria All’Antico vinaio , most famous panino place in Florence, worth the queue

Coffee

Caffe Gilli : beautiful shop,amazing cappuccino. Just remember to take the coffee standing like italians do to avoid  aying a fortune.

Wine Tastings

CANTINA ANTINORI (There is a nice village nearby: Badia di Passignano)
FATTORIA VITICCIO (Greve in Chianti)
CASTELLO DI BROLIO (Gaiole in Chianti)

• Take a look here for a good list: italyandwine.net
• There are also many organized tours for example take a look here funintuscany.com
• Airbnb suggestion: Organic Chianti: tour and tasting
• Chianti.com
• Wine Tasting in Tuscany

San Gimignano

It’s impossible not to visit the “Manhattan of the Middle Ages” if you’re this nearby, even though in high season it’s full of people! The towers and surrounding countryside are absolutely gorgeous and we recommend an ice cream rom “ Dondoli ” that offers quite unique flavours.

 

Val d’Orcia

Wonderful for driving around and enjoying the Tuscan countryside.
– Pienza (nice village known for good cheese and a special hand made pasta)
– Montalcino (you can have a glass of wine in the castle)
– Montepulciano (wonderful village to visit)
– San quirico d’Orcia (very nice village)
– Bagni Vignoni (thermal area)

Thermal Baths

– Terme Antica Querciolaia di Rapolano
– San Giovanni Terme Rapolano
– Terme Petriolo
– Terme Bagno Vignoni
– Terme di Saturnia is a free thermal baths facility that is about 2 hours from here.
– Bagni S. Filippo (also free)

Parco Fluviale dell’Elsa – Hiking

Just 10 minutes from here you can find this lovely spot in Gracciano , where you can have picnics and enjoy walks along the river Elsa! There are also some small hot thermal waters nearby.
“Parco Fluviale dell’Elsa ” on google maps, you can park your car at “ Parrocchia S. Marziale ” and cross the bridge to get here.
Hiking Tips

San Galgano

Abbey of San Galgano: Wonderful open air abbey to visit, 30 minutes from our house.

Via Francigena

Colle di val d’Elsa is a stop over town of the famous route “ Via Francigena ”, a medieval road that goes from Canterbury in England to Rome and was used for pilgrimages. You can go on foot or by bike (a bike rental five minutes from here is “ Gippo Bike” and it’s also close to where the route passes so you can go with your bikes directly from there). You can easily leave your car in Colle di Val d’Elsa and tackle this route.
In the town Monteriggioni every year in July it holds an outstanding medieval festival, check the website for info.