Frequent cruisers know that there are certain ports in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Baltic seas that are included in most itineraries. This provides you with the opportunity to revisit your favourite places or perhaps find a few new ones. One of the growing travel trends has been in food tours, finding near and far exotic locations to explore the history, nature and culture of the area with a glass of the finest wines and a plate of the most appetizing food. We decided to feature both for our last stop in Florence.
We found a tour that took on a lovely drive through the Tuscan countryside. Our first stop was at an Agriturismo, a working farm that offers a place to stay and eat in the Italian countryside. This farm housed over 1100 sheep, a quaint hotel and a lovely restaurant. After a brief tour of the farm we were invited into the restaurant for lunch. The focus was on the cheeses made from the sheep’s milk. Our menu started with three hard cheeses and a soft cheese served warm and gooey along with crusty bread and oil for dipping as the appetizer. The main course was papadelle pasta with a meat sauce, followed by cake and espresso for dessert. All of the above was paired with plenty of the local sangiovese (Chianti) wine.
After our lunch we boarded our bus to drive even further into the hills to the town of Volterra. Volterra is a walled town whose history dates from before the 8th century BC. It offers a number of structures from the Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval periods. The main part of the old town is a square housing the municipal buildings, restaurants, shops, churches and museums. This central piazza is an active hub for both residents and tourists alike. The town was also home to one of the largest mental hospitals in the area, but it was closed after the Second World War.
We were joined by a local guide who took us on a 1.5 hour walk through the Old Town, gratefully avoiding the major hills and valleys that are common in towns built on high for defence purposes. There was a beautifully preserved archaeological site at the foot of the walled Old Town that we could see from a vantage point high above. It contained a Roman amphitheatre and bath.
The day was a memorable one, both for the meal and the destination. It confirmed for us that there is always something new to learn or something old to explore in any port.