http://www.sitebits.com/italy/tuscany/ Tuscany en Copyright &copy; 1999-2008 Gromco, Inc. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:18:22 EDT Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EDT info@sitebits.com info@sitebits.com <b>La Giostra</b> is a fine restaurant in Florence where the flavors (and quantities) of yesterday coexist in peaceful harmony with the culinary and trends of tomorrow. <br/><br/> Just for its atmosphere, somehow combining old-school cordiality with a good-hearted laidback attitude, eating at <b>La Giostra</b> would be a worthwhile experience. The restaurant's history also makes it unusual, as does the fact that it is run by members of the Hapsburgs - a royal Austrian family. And then there's food.. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2008/ristorante-la-giostra.html Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EDT Perhaps because it's more out of the way, smaller, and slightly less spectacular than the <b>Mercato Centrale</b>, the <b>Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio</b> is frequented mostly by genuine Florentines and their wannabe compatriots. <br/><br/> However, since it's only a 15-20 minute walk from the <b>Duomo</b>, it can't really be considered off-the-beaten track, and certainly such a convenient yet relatively uncrowded market deserves a gastronomic visit... Ree http://www.sitebits.com/2008/mercato-di-sant-ambrogio-08.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EDT The Trattoria da Rocco, inside the Mercato Sant' Ambrogio is one of the rare places in Florence where you will still hear more Italian than English at mealtime. Everyone eats lunch here, from the occasional bewildered tourist to businessmen to construction workers. It's open for lunch, from about 11 to whenever they run out of food. <br><br> The market itself is wonderful and deserves a review of its own, so suffice it to say that the trattoria is the same size as the regular stalls in the market but it's the one that looks more like a greenhouse. Don't be concerned if you can't find the door, there isn't any. Simply open one of the windows/walls and slide into a booth and prepare for a cheap, simple, and simply good meal... Ree http://www.sitebits.com/2008/trattoria-da-rocco-08.html Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:50:00 EST This particular beauty was spotted at a grocery shop (La Standa, via Pietrapiana, 42, near Piazza Cesare Beccaria). And there's more good stuff in that neighborhood (read on)... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2008/testa-di-maiale-etc.html Mon, 07 Jan 2008 02:15:00 EST The flavours for this venture are those of Florence, Italy – that famous Tuscan cooking! If you can go armed with some knowledge or at least a culinary guidebook, you'll be able to spot some of the most savoury and intriguing ingredients, which will aid you in your menu choices later on. Andrea http://www.sitebits.com/2007/gastronomy-through-the-back-door-markets-florence.html Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:15:00 EST <img ALT="Monteriggioni Doorway" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="80" class="rightill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/monteriggioni-doorway_small.jpg"> Monteriggioni is a thirteenth century fortified town on a hilltop in Tuscany. It was founded to defend the city of Siena against invaders from neighboring <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/italy/florence/">Florence</a>, hence the high walls interspersed with towers and only two entry gates. Ree http://www.sitebits.com/2006/postcard_from_monteriggioni.html Thu, 06 Jul 2006 19:50:00 EDT <img ALT="Palio di Siena (2004): The Race" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="88" class="leftill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/siena-palio-2004_small.jpg"> If you want to understand Siena and its people, you should attend the Palio at least once in your life. The Palio of Siena is a basically a twice yearly horse race during which the usual nightlife trinity of sex, drugs, and rock and roll is replaced by wine, drugs for the horses, and medieval songs... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/siena-palio-medieval-tradition.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 EDT <img ALT="River View" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="156" class="rightill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/firenze-river-view_small.jpg"> On your tour of Italy you may have reserved a day or two to see Florence. The names are probably already echoing in your mind: Piazza delle Signorie, Palazzo Pitti, Giardini di Bobboli, Galleria degli Ufizzi, Il Duomo, Davide, Dante... <br><br> But even if you've been running around Italy trying to see and do everything, I advise you to take it slow once in <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/italy/florence/">Florence</a>. Relax and enjoy the city at the heart of Tuscany... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/slow_lane_in_florence.html Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:00:00 EDT <img ALT="Siena Via" class="leftill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2006/siena-via.jpg"> Take a walk around Siena and you will be amazed at every grocery store's insistence on displaying prosciutto (jambon), wheels of cheese, and many other buon di dio (as the senese say), meaning "everything good there is". Naturally, you'll get all euphoric and hungry. <br><br> The next logical stop for you will be a restaurant. Unless you're accompanied by someone who knows the town a little, however, I'd be very careful about where to go. Of course, since you're in Siena, surrounded by Medieval Tuscan ambiance, everything will taste good, and nothing particularly bad will happen to you if you choose to eat any-old-where, but wouldn't you rather avoid the possibility of ending up unsatisfied, torpid, and irritated with a uselessly inflated check to boot? Wouldn't you rather have a good experience, leaving the restaurant well-fed and invigorated? (I hope this is a hypothetical question for you.) Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/where-not-to-eat-in-siena.html Sun, 09 Apr 2006 00:00:00 EDT <img alt="Siena: Plaza" class="fullill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2005/siena-plaza.jpg"> <br> Whoever likes good wine and good food should go to Siena, a little town in the heart of Tuscany. It has something magical that you don't fully realize until you've left the town. Everybody who has been there once will return sooner or later because of the medieval spell that follows you as you roam through the narrow streets lined by red brick walls, giving you a sense of safety and carefree-ness that you might have lost. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2005/siena.html Mon, 07 Nov 2005 00:00:00 EST