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Discover the best Chianti tours and the most charming places near Florence: Scopri i migliori itinerari del Chianti e i luoghi più caratteristici nei dintorni di Firenze: here there is a brief guide for any taste with a selection of places near Rufina and the Agriturismo Il Pezzatino. From typical Tuscan cuisine lovers, to tourism in the cities of art and sports enthusiasts who want to visit the Chianti region by motorcycle or bicycle.
Le ricette della tradizione culinaria toscana
The passion for genuine ingredients and the charm of traditional secrets make the Tuscan home cooking simply irresistible. In the Agriturismo Il Pezzatino, learn how to prepare the most popular and famous recipes to replicate at your home and win the palate of guests, friends and family.
How to prepare a real Tuscan appetizer or a succulent pork? What is the secret recipe of tiramisu? Each lesson lasts about 3 hours and will be followed by dinner served in the charming dining room of the farmhouse accompanied by our own DOCG Chianti wine.
What to visit in Tuscany? Discover artistic cities near Florence
Rufina is located in the centre of the Tuscan territory, so it is easy to reach Florence, Prato, Arezzo and many other artistic cities in Tuscany by car or train. A visit to Florence, the cradle of the Italian Renaissance and one of the most popular city in the world, is unmissable.
We also suggest you to visit the nearby Prato, often overlooked by mass tourism: its historic centre is charming and still surrounded by the original medieval walls. If you have enough time, don’t miss visiting the Castle of the Emperor, the northernmost of the Italian residences of Frederick II of Swabia.
Your tour can also include Arezzo, the birthplace of Francesco Petrarca and Giorgio Vasari. . What to visit in Arezzo? ? You can chose between Piazza Grande, that hosts the Giostra del Saracino every year, and the fresco cycle “Stories of the Real Cross by Piero della Francesca inside the Basilica of San Francesco, just a stone’s throw from the cafe where “La vita è bella” movie by Roberto Benigni was filmed.
Day trips can also be easily arranged to Siena and San Gimignano, the towered city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you love folklore and want to immerse yourself in the most typical manifestation of Tuscany, visit Siena during the Palio (2nd July and 16th August), the horse race between the “Contrade” held in Piazza del Campo since 1260.
Closer to the Tyrrhenian coast there is Lucca with its walls (4 kilometres) still intact and the square formed by the route of the ancient Roman amphitheatre. A few kilometres from Lucca is its historic rival Pisa, famous for the Piazza dei Miracoli (“Square of Miracles”) and the Leaning Tower.
Etruscan archaeology and history lovers can visit Volterra and Cortona, both of which grew in a panoramic position on the ruins of the ancient Tyrrhenian civilization. And to deepen the knowledge of the Etruscan people, as well as a nice walk through the old town, it is also recommended to visit the Archaeological Park and Museum of Cortona.
Chianti tours between towns and villages a few kilometers from Rufina
If you are searching for typical Tuscan villages and feeling like exploring the hills of Chianti, we recommend you to visit the villages of Pelago, San Godenzo and Londa.The town of Scarperia, well known throughout the world because of Mugello Circuit, also hosts numerous workshops dedicated to the craft of blades and knives.
If you have time for a gastronomic experience in the area, you have to taste local specialties, especially the meat and tortellini. The medieval heart of the Chianti region is represented by the two castles of Nipozzano and Poppi.
Per gli amanti della natura e della spiritualità, la visita più indicata è senza dubbio quella al Monastero di Camaldoli e al Santuario di La Verna all’interno del Parco delle Foreste Casentinesi. Il Santuario è diventato famoso perché, nell’estate del 1224, San Francesco vi si ritirò in preghiera e qui ricevette le stimmate. È quindi meta di pellegrinaggi religiosi. A pochi chilometri è possibile visitare un altro centro religioso e storico di grande importanza: l’Abbazia di Vallombrosa nel Comune di Reggello.
Tour from the Casentino forest to the Arno rivers sources
The Arno river sources, the river that runs throughout Tuscany, have an irresistible attraction for tourists. So here’s some advice for those who would enjoy a walking and reach the point at which the river Arno is born, in Stia in the province of Arezzo. The area is full of woods and is crossed by several hiking trails that you can tackle alone with good equipment or with one of the groups organized by the CAI (Italian Alpine Club) of Florence.
Se siete pronti a partire o volete conoscere altri percorsi in zona, vi consigliamo di contattare gli amici del CAI.
Non perdetevi le Cascate dell’Acquacheta, alte 90 metri e circondate da foreste di querce, castagni e faggi. Questo nome vi ricorda qualcosa? In effetti anche Dante Alighieri, che visse a lungo in questa zona, nella Divina Commedia paragonò il rumore della cascata dell’Acquacheta al vigore del fiume infernale Flegetonte.
Anche il Parco Naturale delle Foreste Casentinesi merita una visita anzi una passeggiata. Si tratta di una vasta area protetta con boschi e foreste tra i meglio conservati d’Italia e con una fauna che conta lupi e aquile reali. All’interno del Parco si trovano anche Camaldoli e La Verna, importanti centri di spiritualità cristiana.
What to do in Chianti Rufina? Suggestions for sport lovers
Looking to workout even on holiday? From Agriturismo Il Pezzatino you can easily reach two Golf Clubs and a Riding Centre.
L’ Agriturismo Il Pezzatino, grazie alla sua posizione sulla Strada Statale 67 Tosco-Romagnola che unisce Ravenna a Pisa, è frequentato da numerosi mototuristi e cicloturisti che visitano il Chianti in moto o in bicicletta. Le mete più gettonate per i motociclisti sono il Passo del Muraglione, Passo della Colla, Passo della Calla, Passo del Giogo e il Passo della Futa, valichi appenninici che segnano il confine tra Toscana ed Emilia Romagna.
Outlets and luxury italian fashion brands in Chianti and Mugello
Chianti is plenty of opportunities for shopping top names of Italian fashion at affordable prices. The shops of Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Prada, Valentino and many more await you at The Mall Outlet in Leccio Reggello or at the Outlet in Barberino del Mugello.
If you prefer typical tuscan product shopping I recommend you to visit the Ceramics Studio of Sandra Ferroni in Rufina. Food lovers must stop by the village of Scarpacciato buy the best sausages and hams of Tuscany.