A ray of sunshine filtering through the waving cypress trees, the song of cicadas in the sunflower fields. And then the winding paved streets playing hide-and-seek among medieval villages, ancient shops, hills that chase each other sliding along the landscape. We are in Tuscany, in italian “Toscana”, where the dolce vita is a vocation, handed down through time and space.
Here, “slow living” is a luxury made up of small, simple things. Conviviality, connection with nature, rediscovering quality over quantity. You can appreciate time, privileging the here and now, living the present moment in its fullness.
The term “Dolce Vita” dates back to the 1960s. It was chosen to describe the atmosphere of freedom typical of post-war Italy. La Dolce Vita embodies the simplicity of everyday life, made of little things that make it unique, without giving up its glamorous side. It is a true lifestyle, unique in the world. Elegance, love for food, art and culture, natural beauty, socializing, “dolce far niente” and a series of traditions, festivities and folklore.
5 things you can do in Toscana to experience the “Dolce vita” like a local
1. Partecipate in a festival (in italian, sagra)
Festivals are much more than an event: are celebrations usually hosted in small villages, where food is the protagonist.
These are festivals closely connected to the cultural traditions. They include re-enactments, music, parades in historical costumes that often last for several days.
It is very difficult to choose which is the best, but among our favorites we can recommend:
CAPRAIA SQUID FESTIVAL
It takes place on the island of the same name during the All Saints weekend
(October 30th-November 1st)
A must for those who love squid! It is divided into two main events, both unmissable. The Squid Fishing Competition culminates with the weighing of the squid caught on the dock of the Port. The actual Festival where you can taste fried squid, squid rice, squid couscous, squid with potatoes, squid lasagna, squid “crostoni all’arrabbiata”, squid arancini. And in addition to the Festival, don’t forget to explore this small, wonderful island!
CHIANINA STEAK FESTIVAL
Cortona from 10th to 15th August
Among the oldest Tuscan festivals, it is the Eden of “ciccia” lovers! Not only steaks, but also “rosticciane”, sausages, “ciaccia” (the focaccia cooked on special stones) with raw ham, Cinta Senese salami sizzle on the braziers. A paradise for carnivores!
NATIONAL WHITE TRUFFLE MARKET EXHIBITION
San Miniato (between Empoli and Pisa), last three weekends of November
Truffle hunters challenge each other starting from 10 September, the opening day of San Miniato White Truffle harvest, to beat the record of Arturo Gallerini who in 1954 found the largest truffle in the world: 2520 grams.
PORCHETTA FESTIVAL
Monte San Savino, last weekend of August, first weekend of September
Succulent sandwiches with crispy porchetta cooked in wood-fired ovens. And if porchetta isn’t enough, there are pici with white pork sauce and the typical local dessert, sweet cream gnocchi.
2- Dinner in the vineyard in Toscana
What’s more romantic and at the same time convivial than participating in a dinner among the rows?! Long wooden tables, elegantly set, benches decorated with soft pillows, scented flowers and light bulbs that create a cozy and retro atmosphere. A chance to enjoy good food with friends, your partner or a chance to socialize and meet new people. And if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll see some shooting stars or fireflies!
3. Have an aperitif
The pre-dinner drink accompanied by appetizers is a tradition associated with the dolce vita, now a must, a moment of relaxation and conviviality. Whether in the countryside, overlooking the sea or in a small medieval village, what matters is sharing and lightheartedness!
4. Go to the market in Toscana
Tuscany is full of more or less large markets, weekly or monthly, which involve some city areas, from small villages to larger towns. Every local goes to the market, it is a sort of unmissable appointment!
There are markets specialized in the sale of certain products, such as the Antiques markets held in Arezzo and Greve in Chianti for example. “Sector” markets, dedicated to the sale of niche products and mixed markets, where you can find a bit of everything, from clothing, to plants, to fresh vegetables, to good food prepared on vans, ancestors of the more famous street food!
Markets are a sort of window into local culture and a place to find authentic products, having the patience to “scan” through the various products!
5. Have breakfast with “pizza rossa” or a raw ham sandwich
The undisputed icon of the Italian breakfast is the brioche, accompanied by cappuccino or espresso. But in Tuscany we decided to raise the bar and focus on a “fortifying” breakfast, the one that farmers used to make in the fields and that our grandmothers used to prepare for us!
The “paired” red pizza consists of a pizza without mozzarella, crunchy, very greasy, with a sweet aftertaste given by the tomato sauce. Eating it as a child was a tragedy waiting to happen: no one escaped the red stains on their shirts! Finding one made like it used to be isn’t easy: it’s a little gem whose recipe is jealously guarded by the few small grocery stores that have survived large-scale distribution.
About the raw ham sandwich, what can I say: you’re not Tuscan if you don’t love it! From two slices of bread to a rosetta bread, the important thing is that the ham is “stretched” and with a generous band of fat! What else?!
And have you ever tried the dolce vita in Tuscany?!