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research

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Notes from the Road: A Research Trip in Sicily

Travel 2022—10 Best Trips For Next Year And Your Post-COVID Vacations

Florence

Food and Travel

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-49085 size-medium alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/melaluca-1-480x300.png" alt="Cafe Melaluca in Florence" width="480" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/melaluca-1-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/melaluca-1-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/melaluca-1-768x480.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/melaluca-1.png 960w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" /></p>
<h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/melaleuca.florence/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Melaleuca</strong></a></h2>
<p>An Aussie-Italian couple runs the show at this charming bistro and bakery popular with Florence’s ex-pat community. Located along the Arno river not far from Santa Croce, here you will enjoy fish tacos, homemade pulled pork carnitas, melt in your mouth cinnamon buns and much more.</p>
<h2><strong><a href="https://nugolo.business.site/?copy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nugolo</a></strong></h2>
<p>Fairly new on the local restaurant scene, Nugolo is run by a young, passionate team of Florentines aiming to highlight the high-quality ingredients featured on their menu (including over 200 varieties of tomatoes grown in the hills above Florence). The restaurant has a fresh feel to it, almost like sitting inside a garden. Grab a table in front of the open kitchen set inside a greenhouse.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-49079 size-medium alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/brac-1-480x300.png" alt="Brac food in florence" width="480" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/brac-1-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/brac-1-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/brac-1-768x480.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/brac-1.png 960w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" /></p>
<h2><a href="https://www.libreriabrac.net/asporto/menu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brac</strong></a></h2>
<p>Don’t miss the small, unassuming door to Libreria Brac because this bistro is well worth a visit. This restaurant, a mix between cafe and library, features a solely vegetarian menu with plenty of vegan options. Once inside, you’ll find a cozy outdoor patio tucked in a sunny courtyard. Seating here is limited so reservations are recommended.</p>
<h2><a href="https://www.cibreo.com/en/cibreo-cafe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cibrèo Caffè</strong></a></h2>
<p>Open from morning till night, this cafe-sized offshoot of the Florentine institution of the same name has some of the same great food in a more casual atmosphere and at a better price. Perfect for breakfast, coffee, happy hour or a light lunch or dinner.</p>
<h2><a href="https://www.casatrattoria.com/en/ristorante-trattoria-angiolino-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ristorante Angiolino</a></h2>
<p>Located in the “<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/get-inspired/exploring-florences-oltrarno-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oltrarno</a>”, a few steps away from Santo Spirito Church, Trattoria Angiolino is a very good compromise between locals and tourists. Here you’ll enjoy typical Tuscan cuisine including the <em>bistecca alla Fiorentina</em> cooked on an open fire. The restaurant&#8217;s atmosphere is simple and characteristic, idyllic of old Florentine style.</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.osteriadigiovanni.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-49084 alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Giovani-1-480x300.png" alt="steak at giovani in florence" width="480" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Giovani-1-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Giovani-1-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Giovani-1-768x480.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Giovani-1.png 960w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" />L’Osteria di Giovanni </strong></a></h2>
<p>Not far from Via dei Tornabuoni, Florence’s designer shopping street, you’ll find this elegant Florentine <em>osteria</em> boasting impeccable service, traditional Tuscan dishes with a modern flair and a rich wine list featuring bottles from all over Italy. They butcher and smoke their own meat, which is stored in the cellars below the restaurant, and the pasta and desserts are to-die-for.</p>
<p>Feeling inspired to taste your way through to Florence? <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/start-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get in touch with Courtney</a> to see how she can craft your perfect culinary adventure.</p>
<p style="text-align: right;">


The 10 Best Restaurants in Florence

villas

Amalfi Coast

Top Travel Specialist, Italy<br> Condé Nast Traveler

<h3>Villa San Giacomo</h3>
<p>The roomy and beautiful Villa San Giacomo’s idyllic location hovering over Positano is just one of the features that make this spot so memorable. This is a great choice for a big group of friends who are game for lots of fun experiences, as Positano’s chic cafés, restaurants and shops are just steps–or rather, staircases–away.</p>
<p>The excellent hiking trails which depart directly from the front door connect up through the impressive vertical coastline for one breathtaking view after the next, and can even connect to the famed Pathway of the Gods. If you want a break from sea kayaking to secret beaches and stuffing zucchini blossoms in a gourmet kitchen, the meandering gardens and sea-framing pergolas of the villa are the perfect places for an afternoon read or aperitivo.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.butterfield.com/start-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Book at stay at Villa San Giacomo with B&amp;R</strong></a></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-48583 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Villa-San-Giacomo-Amalfi-Coast-1.jpg" alt="The Best Villas Italy" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Villa-San-Giacomo-Amalfi-Coast-1.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Villa-San-Giacomo-Amalfi-Coast-1-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Villa-San-Giacomo-Amalfi-Coast-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Villa-San-Giacomo-Amalfi-Coast-1-900x600.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<h3>Villa Milù</h3>
<p>If you’re seeking your very own mini-wellness resort, look no further than Villa Milù. Located close to the town of Amalfi, the villa’s endless terraces, impressive indoor spa and on-site lemon groves all contribute to a sense of comfortable contemporary sophistication. Milù is the perfect getaway for a group of friends, especially if you all love the purity of nature and the sea, as Amalfi’s history as a maritime republic still permeates today.</p>
<p>My love affair with the Amalfi Coast has gone on for decades now, and one of my favourite walks in the region begins with a guided stroll through town to relive its spirited history, then continuing up through fragrant groves of citrus blossoms through the Valle delle Ferriere. Accompanied by birdsong and the rustle of gentle waterfalls, it’s easy to lose a sense of time while passing ancient paper mills and glimpses of the far-off sea. Don’t worry, the infinite blue will be waiting for you at home come dinnertime.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.butterfield.com/start-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Book a stay at Villa Milù with B&amp;R</strong></a></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-48585 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/villa-milu.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="639" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/villa-milu.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/villa-milu-451x300.jpg 451w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/villa-milu-768x511.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/villa-milu-901x600.jpg 901w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>


<h3>Villa Origo La Foce</h3>
<p>The serene Val d’Orcia is my family’s favourite area for our vacations, and Villa Origo on the La Foce estate is no exception to the area’s embarrassment of riches and beauty. Though the estate lays claim to an impressive and extensive heritage, recent renovations have rendered Villa Origo even more inviting and comfortable, even for children!</p>
<p>Another plus is its proximity to storybook villages like Pienza and Monticchiello (great for walking excursions), and since the property doesn’t require a weeklong stay, it’s the perfect countryside counterpart to another destination like Florence or Rome. I’d be remiss not to mention the Villa’s internationally-acclaimed gardens, with romantic and cinematic atmospheres exclusively for your enjoyment when you rent the villa.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.butterfield.com/start-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Book a stay at Villa Origo La Foce with B&amp;R</a></strong></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-48569 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/la-foce-villa-origo-37-edited.jpg" alt="The Best Villas Italy" width="960" height="539" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/la-foce-villa-origo-37-edited.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/la-foce-villa-origo-37-edited-480x270.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/la-foce-villa-origo-37-edited-768x431.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<h2>Sprawling Estates</h2>
<h3>Castiglion del Bosco</h3>
<p>Ferragamo’s Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco estate boasts an extensive series of comfortable luxury villas for a home-away-from-home experience no matter the size of your group. A little jewel in the collection is Villa Castello, a three-storey three-bedroom retreat built on the ruins of a medieval castle that’s just perfect for an intimate group of close friends or a small family. In addition to the private pool and gardens, guests can make use of the resort’s many services, whether at tee-time on the golf course, beneath Tuscan herbal treatments at the spa or alongside the chef in a cooking class.</p>
<p>Though the surrounding area and nearby Montalcino offer plenty of walking and wine experiences, I personally suggest striking out into the sprawling grounds of the resort and grabbing a bottle of home-grown red, so you can easily choose to come back to your own slice of paradise at day’s end.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.butterfield.com/start-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Book a stay at Castiglion del Bosco with B&amp;R</a></strong></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-48570 size-full" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Pool-Villa-Castello.jpg" alt="The Best Villas Italy" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Pool-Villa-Castello.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Pool-Villa-Castello-480x270.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Pool-Villa-Castello-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<h3>Reschio</h3>
<p>It’s nearly impossible to find something wrong with the Reschio Estate. Each villa is more stunning than the next, and the estate’s vast Umbrian grounds offer an array of activities–from horseback riding to truffle hunting, cooking lessons to gravel biking–that you might never leave… though visits to nearby cities like Cortona and Perugia are worth the effort.</p>
<p>Each of Reschio’s properties is impeccable, but to highlight a few: I love the eat-in kitchen, massive outdoor fireplace and charming bunk-beds of Bell’Aria for a large group with kids, the cozy rooms and personal wine cellar of Piantaverna for an intimate off-season escape, and Barco’s proximity to the estate’s stables and tennis courts while offering placid gardens to come home to, for those who like to play hard and rest easy. Oh, and no matter where you turn, the majesty of the unspoilt landscape is overwhelming (in a good way).</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.butterfield.com/start-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Book a stay at Reschio with B&amp;R</a></strong></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-48571" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/bellaria-slide-interiors-02.jpeg" alt="The Best Villas Italy" width="960" height="639" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/bellaria-slide-interiors-02.jpeg 1600w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/bellaria-slide-interiors-02-451x300.jpeg 451w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/bellaria-slide-interiors-02-768x511.jpeg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/bellaria-slide-interiors-02-901x600.jpeg 901w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>


<h2>Coastal Seclusion</h2>
<h3>Villa Ferida</h3>
<p>The lovely Villa Ferida offers a real sense of home, perfect for a group of friends to get away and soak in the exclusive side of La Dolce Vita. Also located in Praiano for excellent access to all areas of the Amalfi Coast, the reserved villa features a private indoor spa as well as a secluded outdoor pool–but don’t worry, the beach is just a 10-minute walk from your front door.</p>
<p>I personally love to visit this area in early autumn when the crowds have cleared away and the locals are relaxed; in fact, I even went for a delightful swim myself in Praiano this past October. Villa Ferida offers all that accessibility in a jewel-box coastal home that’s marked by simple luxury.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.butterfield.com/start-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Book a stay at Villa Ferida with B&amp;R</a></strong></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-48573 size-large" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/3_Villa-Ferida-960x558.jpeg" alt="The Best Villas Italy" width="960" height="558" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/3_Villa-Ferida-960x558.jpeg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/3_Villa-Ferida-480x279.jpeg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/3_Villa-Ferida-768x447.jpeg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/3_Villa-Ferida.jpeg 980w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<h3>Villa Bideri</h3>
<p>I’ll just come out and say it: Villa Bideri has the biggest private pool that you’ll find on the Amalfi Coast. Strategically located in Praiano–an authentic, less touristy part of the Amalfi Coast–but with easy (water taxi) access to Positano or Amalfi, Villa Bideri’s bright sea-view rooms and wide whitewashed terraces will have you partying with Poseidon in no time. There’s lots of space for a big celebration, whether poolside or piled into private boats for long, sun-soaked days at sea tooling around the coast, or venturing to glamorous Capri. Just ask your skipper to set sail towards the freshest plate of <em>spaghetti alle vongole</em>.</p>
<p>Alternatively, I’ve had great success stoking the coals of the villa’s wood-burning pizza oven for a fun pizza night making the region’s most famous (and most favourite) meal.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.butterfield.com/start-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Book a stay at Villa Bideri with B&amp;R</a></strong></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-48792 size-large" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/pool-villa-bideri-960x481.jpg" alt="Best Villas in Italy" width="960" height="481" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/pool-villa-bideri-960x481.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/pool-villa-bideri-480x241.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/pool-villa-bideri-768x385.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/pool-villa-bideri.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>


Italy's Top Villas: <br> The Dreamiest Places to Stay from Countryside to Coast

Condé Nast

Condé Nast Awards Four B&R Experience Designers on Their List of Top Travel Specialists 2021

Named a Top Travel Specialist <br> for Italy by Condé Nast Traveler

<h2>Bagno Vignoni</h2>
<p>Not far away from San Quirico lies the minute, little-known village of Bagno Vignoni—a hamlet quite unlike the other hilltop villages in Tuscany.</p>
<figure id="attachment_48180" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-48180" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-48180" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bagno-Vignoni.jpg" alt="Unmissable Tuscan Hilltop Towns" width="750" height="500" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bagno-Vignoni.jpg 750w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bagno-Vignoni-450x300.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-48180" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Bagno Vignoni</em></figcaption></figure>
<p>Every Tuscan town is built around the main square, but in Bagno Vignoni, instead of a piazza, you’ll find an enormous natural pool fed by Tuscany’s hottest underground thermal spring. The town dates back to the Etruscan era, and the curative Italian tradition of “taking the waters” continues today.</p>
<p>There are plenty of cute eateries where you can enjoy a Tuscan dish or two, and if you time your visit to Wednesday or Saturday evenings, we recommend enjoying the thermal baths under the stars at Posta Marcucci.</p>


<h2>Siena</h2>
<p>Siena, whose San Biago church is pictured above, is the biggest town on our list, but its qualifications as a hilltop beauty are much more than satisfactory.</p>
<p>For starters, it boasts a monumental Cathedral complex, which is considered to be the most beautiful in Tuscany (stand down, Florentines!). If you visit in the weeks of September and October, you can view the cathedral’s jaw-dropping mosaic marble floor, which Giorgio Vasari called “the most beautiful and magnificent” floor ever made.</p>
<p>In addition to incredible history, Siena offers lanes and lanes of shopping and gastronomic paradises. Our favourite place to grab a pre-dinner aperitivo drink is in the main square, Piazza del Campo, where each year <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2016/09/28/siena-horse-race/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Palio horse race</a> takes place.</p>
<h2>Cortona</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-48185 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/nicolas-mejia-X5f9FdiLEKI-unsplash-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/nicolas-mejia-X5f9FdiLEKI-unsplash-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/nicolas-mejia-X5f9FdiLEKI-unsplash-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/nicolas-mejia-X5f9FdiLEKI-unsplash-400x600.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/nicolas-mejia-X5f9FdiLEKI-unsplash.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" /></p>
<p>Cortona is a fairytale town built vertically along a steep slope in the Valdichiana Valley, boasting magical views of sunflower fields and Lake Trasimeno: it’s no wonder the town inspired Frances Mayes to pen her most famous book, Under the Tuscan Sun.</p>
<p>The village is the perfect size for a day spent strolling through its historic city center, with plenty of authentic local flavour amongst handmade ceramic shops, outdoor cafes, and a beautiful piazza crowned by the Teatro Signorelli opera house.</p>
<p>Nearby, you can also find Le Celle Convento, the first monastery built by St. Francis of Assisi still active today.</p>
<p>For those looking for an extra challenge, climb to the top of the town to visit the beautiful cathedral and the imposing Girifalco Fortress for the very best views of the valley below.</p>


5 Unmissable Hilltop Towns in Tuscany

<h2><span style="color: #000000;">Travel with Personal and Community Impact</span></h2>
<p><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Experience Designer:</span> </strong><a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/christine-tucker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Christine Tucker</strong></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During this year&#8217;s slow down in travel, our Africa Expert, Christine Tucker, shifted her focus to strengthening relationships with our local partners in order to offer our travellers even more meaningful connections with the places they visit. She&#8217;s also been working on ways she can ensure as much money as possible stays in local communities on future trips.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One such way Christine has tackled this is through an initiative she&#8217;s started outside of B&amp;R with her business partner, Gadi Habumugisha, called Two Fires. Together, they&#8217;ve created a social enterprise for East African creatives to provide photography services for corporate and NGO sectors in Rwanda. A portion of the agency&#8217;s profits will be donated to funding a gallery being constructed in Musanze, the hub Gorilla-viewing tourism in Rwanda, to further bond travellers with where they&#8217;re visiting. You can <a href="https://www.twofirescreativegroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">learn more about Christine and Gabi&#8217;s project here</a>. </span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-47878" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TravelTips2021Rwanda.jpg" alt="" width="752" height="470" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TravelTips2021Rwanda.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TravelTips2021Rwanda-250x156.jpg 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TravelTips2021Rwanda-480x300.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TravelTips2021Rwanda-768x480.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Africa has started to welcome visitors back across its borders. Almost all of the eastern side of the continent is now open, including countries like Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Nowhere in the world has endured challenges from the loss of tourism quite like the African continent. So If you&#8217;re looking for your next trip to make a lasting impact—not only on you but on the destination you visit—then Africa&#8217;s the place to consider. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With all 2020 bookings moved to 2021, in addition to everything that was already booked for 2021, space is tight, so start planning now if you&#8217;re looking ahead to 2022. Christine has colleagues who have seen first-hand how Africa has taken impressive measures to ensure the safety of their guests, with new protocols and rigorous attention to detail.</span></p>
<h2><span style="color: #008000;"><span style="color: #000000;">A Rise in Domestic Travel</span> </span></h2>
<p><strong>Experience Designer: <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/annik-boulva/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Annik Boulva</a></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Based in Utah, Annik has been our go-to resource for trips to the American Southwest for over a decade. However, doubling as our expert for our most popular regions in France, the United States often took the backburner as travellers preferred to venture across the Atlantic rather than explore their own backyard. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But because of travel restrictions imposed by the European Union, that wasn&#8217;t possible in 2020. This meant more Americans opted to explore their home country instead.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-47871" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TravelTips2021Utah-960x576.jpg" alt="" width="752" height="451" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TravelTips2021Utah.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TravelTips2021Utah-480x288.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TravelTips2021Utah-768x461.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recently, Annik orchestrated a family stay at the </span><a href="https://aubergeresorts.com/bluesky/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lodge at Blue Sky</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a luxury private ranch in the mountains of Utah, outside Salt Lake City. The group took over the property for a secluded vacation in the heart of nature. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guided by her expertise, Annik helped facilitate daily excursions and activities for the family and acted as a personal concierge and liaison between the travellers and the property, ensuring important details like babysitters, dinner reservations and tweaking events to make them suitable for children were all taken care of. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Annik is now looking at more ways of showing Americans a new side of their home country, such as </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">a private houseboat charter on Lake Powell or luxury camping on the secluded North Rim of the Grand Canyon.</span></p>
<h2><b>Travel Tips: Things to keep in mind when planning your next trip</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meticulous planning under the current global circumstances is more important than ever. Relying on spontaneity is not really an option with most things requiring an advanced booking. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The upside, however, is that there is bound to be fewer people, allowing for a potentially crowd-free holiday. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are a few of our tips to consider for your next trip</span>.</p>
<p><b>Get started earlier than you think you should</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With everything from 2020 being postponed, there’s a pent-up demand for future travel. Hot times for travel like the Holiday Season of 2021 and even 2022 are already filling up. </span></p>
<p><b>Consider back up options</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Something to be mindful of when you plan early is that unpredictable changes can occur. New regulations could have destinations closing their borders or implementing a quarantine at the last minute, so you&#8217;ll want to be flexible when it comes to the possibility of going somewhere new.</span></p>
<p>We saw this happen this year with a self-guided trip to Burgundy switching to Puglia after the UK imposed quarantine restrictions for citizens returning from France. Our team jumped into action by rebooking all their events just a week before departure.</p>
<p><b>Remember the finer details</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With many new measures in place to ensure social distancing, you’ll have to be diligent about booking everything from a dinner reservation to an elliptical at the gym and time at the pool. (Or, let us be diligent about the details for you!)</span></p>
<p><b>Book with confidence</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From your airline tickets to your in-destination activities, booking services with flexible cancellation policies and updated terms of service to ensure your safety is a top priority. <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/what-to-expect-travel-with-br/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Take a look at this page</a> for more information on how we&#8217;ve responded to COVID-19, and for any other questions, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/contact-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">don&#8217;t hesitate to get in touch</a>. </span></p>


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Where to Travel this Fall and Winter to Escape the Cold

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<h2><b>Jose Ignacio: Stylish &amp; Serene</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-41057 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jose-Ignacio-butterfield-bike-400.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="400" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jose-Ignacio-butterfield-bike-400.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jose-Ignacio-butterfield-bike-400-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jose-Ignacio-butterfield-bike-400-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />Where moneyed Uruguayans go to escape the madness of the city, this gem is what inspires the ‘Montauk’ moniker of the area. The lone landmark is its pretty lighthouse, at the edge where the shore meets the ocean, where you can climb for a panoramic look out at the sea and the town.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Located about a 40-minute drive east of Punta del Este, this once unremarkable fishing village has transformed into a bohemian, fashionable sanctuary where people come to unwind, littered with mansions, weekend homes, and some truly stunning resorts. From juice bars to yoga studios and artsy curated homeware and fashion stores, you get much more than one expects of a town that has a year-round population of several hundred. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some harken to the colonial era, set upon grassland where you can just imagine ranchers and cowboys rustling cattle (not to mention polo players).  A bit further inland, you also can’t miss <a href="http://www.restaurantegarzon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Restaurante </a></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Garzón, a restaurant by the fire-obsessed Patagonian chef, Francis Mallman, who decamped from Jose Ignacio once it got too busy. He single-handedly put Garzón on the map as a spot to make a pilgrimage to his flame-kissed experiments in food.</span></p>
<h2><b>What To Do</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-41041 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Uruguay_Vines-400.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="266" />Uruguay has so much diversity packed into a relatively compact country, and I would be amiss if I didn’t say something about the rural areas, including the winelands of Canelones, just on the outskirts of Montevideo. For bikers who like a challenge, there are areas that resemble Tuscany in the undulating quality of their hills, and for me to say they are merely ‘rolling’ is a bit of an understatement. Whether you’re riding around on two wheels, roaming the countryside by horseback, the way it was once done, hiking, or as you hit the coast, trying your water legs at surfing, kayaking, or stand-up paddleboarding, there are so many instances when you’ll look around and forget that you’re in South America, so diverse are the spaces, cities, towns, and landscapes. Once again: don’t let your unfamiliarity with Uruguay deter you from taking a chance on, quite possibly, your best trip yet. </span></p>
<h2><b>Where to Stay</b></h2>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://www.fasano.com.br/hotelaria/hotel/3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hotel Fasano</a>, Punta del Este</span></h3>
<p>Located in the La Barra district at one of the country’s highest points, Hotel Fasano Punta del Este highlights the rustic elegance of the Uruguayan countryside in thirty-two bungalows, each with a private terrace offering panoramic views. The first Fasano restaurant outside of Brazil is also located here, offering spectacular views of the property to complement the family’s sophisticated culinary offerings.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-41042 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Hotel-Fasano720x460.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="460" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Hotel-Fasano720x460.jpg 720w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Hotel-Fasano720x460-470x300.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://www.playavik.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Estancia Vik</a>, Jose Ignacio</span></h3>
<p>Merging exceptional design, flawless personalized service, environmentally minded practices and an unparalleled collection of contemporary Uruguayan and international art—Estancia Vik is a remarkable property set in a magical backdrop where Marlboro country meets virgin San Tropez. Each suite has been imagined by an individual Uruguayan artist who has created works of art from these spaces.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-41043 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Estancia-Vik-Jose-Ignacio720x460.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="460" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Estancia-Vik-Jose-Ignacio720x460.jpg 720w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Estancia-Vik-Jose-Ignacio720x460-470x300.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://www.bahiavik.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bahía Vik</a>, Jose Ignacio</span></h3>
<p>Perched on the dunes of the Atlantic, this property is the essence of unpretentious sophistication. The 11 beach-side bungalows and 18 suites look over Mansa Beach, a secluded paradise, each one designed and decorated differently, with vibrant colours and unique bathrooms, but all with the utmost attention to using local materials like wood, steel and zinc. An open courtyard and infinity pool just a few steps from the sand make this a must in Jose Ignacio.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-41044 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bahia-Vik720x460.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="460" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bahia-Vik720x460.jpg 720w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bahia-Vik720x460-470x300.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></p>


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Lakes District

<h2><strong>Lugano, Switzerland</strong></h2>
<p>When you&#8217;re this close to the Italian border, hopping over to Switzerland just makes sense. One of the closest cities, Lugano, belongs to Switzerland but is located in Ticino, an Italian-speaking canton. When shopping in Switzerland, why not pick up a timepiece for yourself in the watch capital of the world?</p>
<p><strong>WATCHES</strong></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-39491 size-full alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/rolex-350px.jpg" alt="watch" width="350" height="231" />Watchmaking in Switzerland dates back to the late 16th c. after Huguenot refugees introduced the craft of portable timepieces to the booming city of Geneva. Under Calvin rule at the time, the citizens of Geneva were strictly banned from displaying any signs of wealth, including pieces of jewelry. The city’s goldsmiths were left in a precarious situation and needed to diversify their skills. They turned to watchmaking and went on to export their masterpieces to the Orient and American colonies.</p>
<p>The art of watchmaking began to spread across the country, evolving into crafting other timepieces like pendulum clocks and pocket watches. By the 19th c., Switzerland was considered the most important watch manufacturer in the world.</p>
<p>Near the end of the century, their success was briefly jeopardized by the Americans who had matched Swiss innovation and added to it mass production. The Swiss responded by adding additional features to their watches like calendars, stopwatch functions, and waterproof protection, swinging them back into the market.</p>
<p>Pick up a classic from the world leaders in watchmaking from one of these shops so that you can linger in the memories of your time in the Swiss Lakes with every glance of your wrist. A VAT refund (about 7.7% in Switzerland) means you can shop tax-free (just ask for the form), and you may also find a wider selection at the stores here than back at home, with the possibility of better prices in their country of manufacture.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-39481 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lugano-tower-960px.jpg" alt="switzerland" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lugano-tower-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lugano-tower-960px-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lugano-tower-960px-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lugano-tower-960px-900x600.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<h3><strong><a href="http://www.bucherer.com/"><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-39482 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bucherer-entry-david-b-350px.jpg" alt="bucherer" width="350" height="259" />Bucherer</a></strong></h3>
<p>Established in 1888, Bucherer was Lucerne’s first watch and jewelry store. Rolex, Tissot, Girard-Perregaux and Jaeger-LeCoultre watches are just a sample of the Swiss brands on offer here, along with their line of dazzling, award-winning jewellery.</p>
<h4></h4>
<h3><strong><a href="http://www.foxtown.com/en">Foxtown Designer Outlet</a></strong></h3>
<p style="background: white;">About 30 minutes from Lugano, you may encounter a rare find at Foxtown. The outlets are worth a look for quality bargains on labels that are not often discounted back at home, including Dolce &amp; Gabbana, Dsquared, Etro, Fratelli Rossetti, Prada, Gucci, Valentino, Missoni, and other European and Italian brands.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-39490 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lugano-treelines-960.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="614" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lugano-treelines-960.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lugano-treelines-960-469x300.jpg 469w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lugano-treelines-960-768x491.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lugano-treelines-960-938x600.jpg 938w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>


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Vines &amp; Wines

Wine

Tuscany Travel Expert<br> (and Tuscany Wine Enthusiast)

<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-39413 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/guides-wine-350px.jpg" alt="Best Tuscany Wines" width="350" height="233" />Recent history—say, the past 50 years or so—has seen the rise of the so-called Super Tuscans.</p>
<p>No doubt the names Sassicaia and Tignanello are familiar, as they are the trailblazers of a quality revolution that began in the 1960s among a few bold visionaries.</p>
<p>Bucking the strict rules imposed by Italian wine authorities, these winemakers sought to create more modern wines that would appeal to a global palate.</p>
<p>The popularity of these wines has helped lead a quality revolution in Tuscany. These wines are generally categorized as IGT—Indicazione Geografica Tipica—a relatively new classification introduced in 1992.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-39407 size-thumbnail" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lady-white-whine-350px-250x156.jpg" alt="Best Tuscany Wines" width="250" height="156" />One of Italy’s most profound wines, Brunello di Montalcino, has a legacy dating back centuries.</p>
<p>The style of wine—big, age-worthy wines made with 100% Sangiovese from a special clone—is credited to Biondi-Santi, and these wines are among the most famous in the region. Rosso di Montalcino is the junior version of this wine, also 100% Sangiovese.</p>
<p>Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, is produced in several communes to the east of Montalcino, with 70% Sangiovese. These wines are delightful for easy drinking, softer and less rigid than the wines of Chianti and Brunello.</p>
<p>White wine plays a minor role in Tuscany, with grapes such as the native Vermentino, along with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Moscadello (Moscato Bianco) is used to make a sweet wine in still and sparkling styles.</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">8 Of Our Favourite Tuscan Wines</h2>
<h3><a href="http://www.tenutasanguido.com/eng/sassicaia.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sassicaia 2015</a></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-45161 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Diego_Sassicaia-2015.-Classe-ed-eleganza-anche-solo-dalla-bottiglia-240x300.jpg" alt="Best Tuscany Wines" width="240" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Diego_Sassicaia-2015.-Classe-ed-eleganza-anche-solo-dalla-bottiglia-240x300.jpg 240w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Diego_Sassicaia-2015.-Classe-ed-eleganza-anche-solo-dalla-bottiglia.jpg 378w" sizes="(max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px" />The first Super Tuscan wine, made predominantly with Cabernet Sauvignon, paved the way for an explosion of modern-style blended wines after exploding onto the scene in 1968.</p>
<p>The wines are now classified as DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia.</p>
<hr />
<h3><a href="https://www.antinori.it/en/vino/tignanello-en/?wineyear=2015" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tignanello 2015</a></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignleft wp-image-45164 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bottiglia-_0008_TIGNANELLO_grappa_ALTA-105x300.jpg" alt="Best Tuscany Wines" width="105" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bottiglia-_0008_TIGNANELLO_grappa_ALTA-105x300.jpg 105w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bottiglia-_0008_TIGNANELLO_grappa_ALTA-210x600.jpg 210w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bottiglia-_0008_TIGNANELLO_grappa_ALTA.jpg 378w" sizes="(max-width: 105px) 100vw, 105px" />The first modern Italian red wine to be blended with non-traditional grapes, thus propelling the Super Tuscan genre when it was released in 1975.</p>
<p>A blend of mostly Sangiovese, with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.</p>
<p>The Antinori family has been in the wine business for six centuries.</p>
<hr />
<h3><a href="http://www.ornellaia.com/en/wines/ornellaia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ornellaia 2014</a></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-45168 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ornellaia-2014-97x300.jpg" alt="Best Tuscany Wines" width="97" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ornellaia-2014-97x300.jpg 97w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ornellaia-2014.jpg 378w" sizes="(max-width: 97px) 100vw, 97px" />Also the Antinori family, Ornellaia is the result of new plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in 1981, with the first vintage hitting the market in 1985.</p>
<p>Styled after the wines of Bordeaux and made for ageing.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignleft wp-image-48910 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Screen-Shot-2021-05-27-at-10.14.57-AM-87x300.png" alt="Best Tuscan Wines" width="87" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Screen-Shot-2021-05-27-at-10.14.57-AM-87x300.png 87w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Screen-Shot-2021-05-27-at-10.14.57-AM.png 318w" sizes="(max-width: 87px) 100vw, 87px" /></p>
<hr />
<h3></h3>
<h3><a href="https://www.poderiboscarelli.com/prodotto/il-nocio-d-o-c-g-750/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boscarelli Il Nocio 2016</a></h3>
<p>Incredibly bold and tannic, this 100% Sangiovese has tantalizing notes of cherry, plum and blueberry at first sip, which evolves into earthy tones of tobacco, oak and balsamic for an austere finish.</p>
<p>This wine offers an intense yet delightful sharpness that’s best paired with red meat, poultry or game.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.internationalwinereport.com/latest-reports/5332-2011-biondi-santi-brunello-di-montalcino-2011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino 2011</a></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;">The 1955 vintage was named one of 12 wines of the century by Wine Spectator magazine.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">These wines are 100% Sangiovese from a special clone of the grape known as Brunello, which was identified by Ferruccio Biondi Santi in the late 1800s.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><strong><a href="http://www.chianticlassico.com/aziende/isole-e-olena/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-48907 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Fontonidi_2006-175x300.png" alt="The Best Tuscan Wines Fontodi" width="175" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Fontonidi_2006-175x300.png 175w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Fontonidi_2006.png 350w" sizes="(max-width: 175px) 100vw, 175px" /></a><a href="http://www.fontodi.com/flaccianello.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flaccianello della Pieve 2006</a></strong></h3>
<p>From one of the best producers in the Chianti Classico region, Fontodi is nestled in a coveted location that receives the perfect amount of sun exposure thanks to its amphitheatre-shaped valley.</p>
<p>This is made with 100% Sangiovese, one of Italy’s most desired red grape varieties. Its velvety texture and enticing scents of blackberry, plum and sweet cherry blend perfectly with its earthy undertones of sweet anise, toasty oak and olive tapenade for a medium to full-bodied flavour.</p>
<hr />
<h3><a href="http://www.tenutedelcerro.it/fattoria-del-cerro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fattoria Del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2014</a></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignleft wp-image-45173 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/MONTESODI-2012-1-90x300.jpg" alt="Best Tuscany Wines" width="90" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/MONTESODI-2012-1-90x300.jpg 90w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/MONTESODI-2012-1-180x600.jpg 180w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/MONTESODI-2012-1.jpg 378w" sizes="(max-width: 90px) 100vw, 90px" />Easy drinking but quite complex for the price, this is made with 90% Sangiovese, known locally as Prugnolo Gentile, and 10% Mammolo, a somewhat obscure grape whose name means “violets.”</p>
<hr />
<h3><a href="https://en.frescobaldi.com/wines/montesodi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Castello di Nipozzano Montesodi 2012 </a></h3>
<p>From the Frescobaldi family, leaders in the Chianti region for 700 years, with six estates in Tuscany. This wine is 100% Sangiovese.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


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<h3><strong>Secret 4: Enjoy Every Moment</strong></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37482 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/TSCBS_20160703_SVI_008-stefanoguides-350px-compressed.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="233" />I’m a guy who lives out the cliché of being part of a big Italian family, so as you might imagine, all of our get-togethers were always busy and packed with people. We’d sit down at a big table piled high with food, elbow to elbow at my grandmother’s house. Unlike most Italians, I always had trouble sitting at the table for two or three hours at a time during meals. These food marathons were a bit exhausting for a kid like me, so I would impatiently keep looking at the clock on the wall.</p>
<p>I’ll never forget what my grandmother said once she noticed my fidgeting. “When you sit at this table, stop watching the time. In here, we don’t count the time, but we <em>enjoy</em> it.” It sounds better when expressed in Italian, but the lesson I learned as a ten-year-old is universal: celebrating the joy of daily life happens when we slow down to connect with each other. For me, this is the essence of Tuscany.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37475 alignleft" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_0996-enjoyingwine-350px-cmopressed.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="233" />We Tuscans have been <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2016/02/24/in-tuscany-home-is-where-the-hospitality-is/">embracing this philosophy</a> for centuries: it’s in our history and DNA, from a time when we used to count the hours based on the shade cast by a cypress tree. Wine lovers may know of the iconic black rooster, the very symbol of the Chianti region. (Every bottle of quality Chianti in Tuscany has a mark of a black rooster (<em>gallo nero</em>) on it, a practice which dates to medieval times).</p>
<p>The motto of the Order of Chianti reads:<br />
<em>Mangia, bevi, ama forte,<br />
Non aver paura della morte.</em></p>
<p>The literal translation suggests one should “eat, drink, and love with zest; do not be afraid of death.” The metaphorical translation? Life is too short; enjoy every moment with no regrets!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37472 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/TSCBS_2012_PHA_071-dinner-732px-compressed.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="487" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/TSCBS_2012_PHA_071-dinner-732px-compressed.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/TSCBS_2012_PHA_071-dinner-732px-compressed-451x300.jpg 451w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" /></p>
<h3><strong>Secret 5: Use Your Senses</strong></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37474 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Verazzano-Wine-250px-compressed.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="357" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Verazzano-Wine-250px-compressed.jpg 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Verazzano-Wine-250px-compressed-210x300.jpg 210w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" />In a time when technology gives us the illusion that everything can be satisfied by a single click, I urge you not to limit yourself to getting to know my land through a TV screen or a YouTube video. Tuscany cures all; the best way is to experience it with every one of your senses.</p>
<p>Come and feel the mistral in your hair during a long downhill along the Val D&#8217;Orcia. Come to Siena to listen to the thousand stories of this timeless town. Bite into a juicy apple fresh from the tree, and let it be your intimate reward for having climbed the Crete Senesi. Or take in all the complex aromas of a glass of Chianti Classico Riserva, produced in the Castle of Verrazzano—yes, the same Verrazzano who, one day in 1524, decided that the world he knew wasn’t enough and decided to jump on an adventure to get to know an entirely new one!</p>


5 Secrets to Enjoying Tuscany

B&amp;R Picks

Spain

Catalonia

<h2><strong><a href="http://www.elsbrancs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Els Brancs</a></strong></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36702 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Els-Brancs-Food-Dish-350px-cmopressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="288" />At Els Brancs (&#8220;the branches&#8221;), named for the islands sitting just off the coast of this scenic seaside restaurant, it might be hard to tear your eyes away from the view to fully appreciate the edible art in front of you.</p>
<p>But the stupendous setting combined with visually arresting plates, one might argue, is, in fact, the perfect sensory overload for uniquely plated Catalonian food. (As you can see, the sunsets are spectacular, too.)</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36701 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/els-Brancs-Sunset-960p-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="518" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/els-Brancs-Sunset-960p-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/els-Brancs-Sunset-960p-compressed-480x259.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/els-Brancs-Sunset-960p-compressed-768x414.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<h2><strong><a href="http://www.lesmagnolies.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Les Magnòlies</a></strong></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36709 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Les-Magnolies-Dining-Room-350px-compressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="236" />Three-hundred-year-old magnolia trees lend their perfume and their name to Les Magnòlies, now in its 20th year of service. Go all out and choose the gastronomic menu, with twenty(!) courses featuring the best from the sea and the land, eat a la carte, or go for a more ‘restrained’ tasting menu. Dishes are plated with a modern sensibility while not going completely over the top (i.e. you can still recognize the food you are about to eat!)</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36708 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Les-Magnolies-Tuna-732px-compressed.png" alt="" width="732" height="335" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Les-Magnolies-Tuna-732px-compressed.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Les-Magnolies-Tuna-732px-compressed-480x220.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" /></p>
<h2><strong><a href="http://www.elstinars.com/ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Els Tinars</a> </strong></h2>
<p>A family-run restaurant, now owned and operated by the third generation of the Gascons-Lloveres family, Els Tinars is set in a renovated Catalan farmhouse, where there’s an option to dine outside amongst fragrant hanging wisteria vines. Partake in classic cuisine, including charcoal-grilled Galician beef, and enjoy the old-school table service, which includes waiters cooking, grilling, or carving meat, poultry, and fish in front of your very eyes. You will also find more than 500 wines on their list from Spain and around the world.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36710 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/els-tinars-960px-comrpessed2.png" alt="" width="960" height="697" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/els-tinars-960px-comrpessed2.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/els-tinars-960px-comrpessed2-413x300.png 413w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/els-tinars-960px-comrpessed2-768x558.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/els-tinars-960px-comrpessed2-826x600.png 826w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<h2><a href="http://www.restaurantmassana.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Massana</strong></a></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36698 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Massana-Food-rice-350px-compressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="284" />Massana has been around for over thirty years, but just earned its first Michelin star in 2007. Run by a husband-wife duo, Pere Massana and Ana Roger, there’s no need to ask—put trust in their taste, and enjoy the simplicity of excellent ingredients married with impeccable presentation. Case in point: original cocktails, varied textures (think tomato-infused jellies or crisp anchovy toasts), a smattering of seafood and a hint of Japanese and other Asian flavours on your plate.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36697 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Massana-peashell-732px-compressed.png" alt="" width="732" height="467" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Massana-peashell-732px-compressed.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Massana-peashell-732px-compressed-470x300.png 470w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" /></p>
<h2><strong>Also Worth Checking Out</strong></h2>
<h2><strong><a href="http://www.vicusrestaurant.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36714 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Vicus-Plate-250px-compressed.png" alt="" width="250" height="327" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Vicus-Plate-250px-compressed.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Vicus-Plate-250px-compressed-229x300.png 229w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" />Vicus</a></strong></h2>
<p>Dive into the flavours of contemporary Catalonia as the husband-wife restauranteurs, Elisabet Figuerola and Gerard Geli, along with head chef Damià Rafecas, sing the simple praises of the seasons.</p>
<p>Of particular note are the rice dishes, made with locally cultivated grains grown right in Pals. The restaurant has been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand award, offering good value and quality.</p>
<h2><strong>Calçotada Festival</strong></h2>
<p>This one is a little odd, but I had to mention this truly local happening: one of the more charming folk festivals in the region is the <a href="https://www.festacatalunya.cat/articles-mostra-1542-cat-festa_de_la_calyotada_de_valls.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calçotada festival</a>, held in Valls around late January. Through the winter season, the delicious <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal%C3%A7ot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calçot</a> (akin to a scallion or green onion) comes into season; it is celebrated all throughout Catalonia by locals who eagerly anticipate its return.</p>
<p>Be prepared to get messy when you eat them: the vegetable is blackened over a fire; eaters then peel away the charred outer skins to feast on the tender white portions, dipping them in romesco sauce as an accompaniment. (Bibs are a necessity, although they may not help entirely). The rest of this traditional feast is comprised of roasted lamb, sausage, and white beans. If you’re in town during the calçot season, it goes without saying that you must try this specialty.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36716 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/calcotada-732px-compressed.png" alt="" width="732" height="549" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/calcotada-732px-compressed.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/calcotada-732px-compressed-400x300.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" /></p>


Where to Eat: <br>Favourite Costa Brava Restaurants

<h4><b>Spoleto</b></h4>
<p>Sitting pretty atop high hills, framed by the Apennine mountains, and along the Via Flaminia, this settlement was founded as a colony by the Romans, whose distinctive arches, bridges and amphitheatre remain. It changed hands to the Lombard dukes, who made it their capital, and is also the final resting place of Fra Filippo Lippi, one of the Renaissance era’s most talented painters; a notorious womanizer who seduced a nun (Lucrezia Buti, whose likeness informs his madonnas and other female figures in his art), fathered several children out of wedlock with her, and refused to return her to the nunnery.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36461 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/spoleto-231083_1920-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="638" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/spoleto-231083_1920-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/spoleto-231083_1920-960px-compressed-451x300.png 451w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/spoleto-231083_1920-960px-compressed-768x510.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/spoleto-231083_1920-960px-compressed-903x600.png 903w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<h4><b><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36468 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/volterra-freestock-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="221" />Volterra </b></h4>
<p>A hilly, walled town which has seen history change hands from the Etruscans, Romans, and other dynasties, it’s of particular interest thanks to its alabaster deposits in the nearby hills, and centuries of fine craftsmanship. The luminous white stone, ideal for carving, was used by Etruscans for funerary urns, sculptures, statues and lamps.</p>
<h4><b>Montalcino</b></h4>
<p>A wonderful town in Tuscany renowned for their Brunello di Montalcino wine, as well as for their ‘lesser’ wine, Rosso di Montalcino, it&#8217;s a picturesque locale to drink to your heart’s content. Another place worth visiting in the area is the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, about a 10-kilometre walk away.  Once abandoned but now occupied by monks, you may be able to hear them singing devotionals and vespers on your visit!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36455 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/montalcino-509181_1920-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="509" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/montalcino-509181_1920-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/montalcino-509181_1920-960px-compressed-480x255.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/montalcino-509181_1920-960px-compressed-768x407.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>


The 7 Most Charming Towns <br> in Tuscany & Umbria

<h3><b>Lesson 3: The slow road is the only way to go.</b></h3>
<p>The cypress trees, those hills I keep going on about, the winding roads, the vineyards? I definitely experienced the Tuscany of my imagination—and then some, like a sea of sunflowers on my right and wheat fields on my left, or passing through dense, cool forests. I could see, smell, taste, and even hop off my bike to take a closer look—something I wouldn’t have understood or appreciated if I had been driving.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36170 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_20160703_SVI_PF_039-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_20160703_SVI_PF_039-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_20160703_SVI_PF_039-960px-compressed-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_20160703_SVI_PF_039-960px-compressed-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_20160703_SVI_PF_039-960px-compressed-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<h3><b>Lesson 4: You have permission to indulge. </b></h3>
<p>Active travel reaps its benefits: I was burning at least an extra thousand calories a day with daily biking, yet I was eating copious amounts of incredible Tuscan food and drinking a lot of wine at the end of each day.  Somehow, I still managed to lose weight by the end of the trip. Take it from me, you can definitely indulge (and be rewarded for it).</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36171 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_2012_PHA_070-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_2012_PHA_070-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_2012_PHA_070-960px-compressed-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_2012_PHA_070-960px-compressed-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_2012_PHA_070-960px-compressed-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<h3><b>Lesson 5: B&amp;R does it better. </b></h3>
<p>Could I have organized a Tuscany biking trip on my own? Maybe. But could I have researched and created a bike route that avoided traffic and whisked me through the countryside to a family-owned restaurant way off the beaten path? Definitely not.</p>
<p>With B&amp;R’s expertise, we had access to top-notch equipment, tablets pre-loaded with GPS bike routes, luggage transported from hotel to hotel, and prearranged car transfers. It was also indispensable to have access to a local guide whenever we needed it. Thanks to our local guide (<em>mille grazie</em>, Carlo!), special events were arranged for us like private wine tastings, and even a tour of Siena. Just leave it to B&amp;R, and all the little details are taken care of.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36172 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_2012_PHA_047-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_2012_PHA_047-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_2012_PHA_047-960px-compressed-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_2012_PHA_047-960px-compressed-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TSCBS_2012_PHA_047-960px-compressed-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<p><strong>Get a taste of what it&#8217;s like to go self-guided in Tuscany:</strong></p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/umyKYgNBlGM" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>


Must Sees

See + Do

Palio

Siena

<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-31584" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-flag-400x600.jpg" alt="siena horse race" width="350" height="526" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-flag-400x600.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-flag-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-flag.jpg 682w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" />A festive air takes over the town several days before each race, which are punctuated by special events like parades, processions, neighbourhood dinners and even a unique blessing where each horse enters in the neighbourhood church to be given a <em>benedizione</em> by the local priest. (Legend holds that if the horse leaves a—<em>ahem—</em>“gift” of his own in the church, he’s set to win.)</p>
<p>Chief among the pre-race festivities is the selection of the horses. Of the 17 <em>contrade</em> (neighbourhoods), 10 are chosen to be represented at each race, and 10 corresponding horses chosen to represent them.</p>
<p>However, there’s a catch: the jockey doesn’t choose his horse—fate does. A few days before the race, the 10 horses are entered into a draw, and destiny takes it from there, as each one is assigned to a contrada at random.</p>
<h3>A Room with a (Helluva!) View</h3>
<p>On my most recent visit to Siena, I was lucky enough to witness the spectacle firsthand.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-31590" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-spectators.jpg" alt="siena horse race" width="350" height="241" />Emotion was tense and an incredible silence took over the square. Rare are the moments that several thousand people, crowded into an open public space, collectively hold their breath in hushed anticipation—especially in Italy. I don’t know if you’ve ever been here (or maybe just met an Italian person), but silence isn’t exactly their forte, as my Italian husband can certainly attest!</p>
<p>With such a large turnout, I was lucky to be viewing the scene from a private apartment overlooking the square, Piazza del Campo. Few people get to witness the event from such a perfect vantage point, but at B&amp;R we’ve been attending the event for years – and fortunately for me (and our travellers, of course), we’ve made some very well-situated friends!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-31586 size-full" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-view.jpg" alt="siena horse race" width="1200" height="700" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-view.jpg 1200w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-view-480x280.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-view-768x448.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-view-960x560.jpg 960w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<p>While scouting possible apartments to use for our <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/private-travel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Private Trips</a> in the future, I slipped up to one of Siena’s noble palaces to watch as each neighbourhood learned which horse would represent them in the July 2 race. After touring the impressive apartment and its original frescoes, we settled in at our window to see what was in store for this year’s race.</p>
<figure id="attachment_31588" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-31588" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-31588" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-fresco-400x600.jpg" alt="siena horse race" width="300" height="450" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-fresco.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-fresco-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-31588" class="wp-caption-text">In addition to spectacular views of the Palio, the apartments are adorned with frescos that are sights unto themselves.</figcaption></figure>
<p>The beauty of watching this event from an apartment is that in addition to access to some of Siena’s most historic buildings, which are normally closed to the public, you’re assured a quiet and exclusive view from above.</p>
<p>In keeping with tradition, no loudspeakers are used; one relies on the reaction of the crowd below to grasp who is pleased with the results. Singing, chanting and following the chosen horse through the streets, the festivities continue through the night as neighbours begin to forecast the outcome of the upcoming race.</p>
<p>This excitement continues on through the days leading up to the big day. The race itself is only 90 seconds long, but the parades and processions continue daily and several hours before the main square fills to capacity.</p>
<p>Wooden benches line the square where ticket holders sit, allowing a better view of the race itself. And the balconies, terraces, and roofs of most of the buildings surrounding the shell-shaped square fill with folks in search of a private viewing.</p>
<h3>The Palio: The Pinnacle of Siena</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-31592 size-full" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Siena-Palio-square.jpg" alt="siena horse race" width="350" height="225" />Siena is a must-see city when visiting Tuscany; <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/717" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site</a>, it&#8217;s one of the nation’s most visited tourist attractions. Home to many of Italy’s oldest and most historic aristocratic families, Siena boasts a legacy of impressive cathedrals, monuments, and palaces.</p>
<p>But it’s the Palio that makes Siena. Ask any Senese to speak about the Palio, and watch a wave of loyalty and pride spread across their faces – especially when they recall the time their contrada won.</p>
<p>Experience the event yourself and you’ll likely be left with a similar emotion.</p>


Whoooooa Nelly!<br> The Drama, Majesty and Excitement of Siena's Palio

In Deep

<span>In Deep:</span><br> A Brief History of Montepulciano

<p>The next day I rented a car and took off on a few of Tuscany’s lesser known roads to surprise the Lungarellas. What I didn’t account for was the fact that her home, located on a tiny road in the middle of a five-page biking route, was much easier to find on a sunny summer day than on a dark winter night! (I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say that many Tuscan farmhouses look the same in the dark.) Fortunately we did finally find the right one, and in typical Lungarella fashion, received a warm greeting, which included a multi-course meal and copious amounts of homemade wine and grappa.</p>
<h3>A Family Affair</h3>
<figure id="attachment_28417" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28417" style="width: 384px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-28417 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Giorgio-and-Sara-384x300.jpg" alt="B&amp;R Guide Giorgio with Sara and her granddaughter Sofia" width="384" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Giorgio-and-Sara-384x300.jpg 384w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Giorgio-and-Sara.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-28417" class="wp-caption-text">B&amp;R Guide Giorgio with Sara and her granddaughter Sofia</figcaption></figure>
<p>The Lungarellas have extended this generosity to all of our guides over the years. My colleagues know that if they plan to swing by the Lungarellas’ to make preparations for an upcoming trip they should bring their appetites! Sara’s picnic has grown over the years (along with the family) and includes many ingredients from her garden, eggs from her chicken coop, and lots of recipes from her roots in Southern Italy.</p>
<p>Lunch is accompanied by a song or two from Selene, Sara’s daughter, an aspiring singer, and is often served by Sara’s eldest granddaughter, Sofia (now four-years-old) with her two siblings Andrea and Michelle in tow. Depending on the day, you may also meet one or two of Sara’s sons, Damiano and Terenzio, though it’s unlikely you’ll bump into her eldest son Massimiliano, who now lives in Switzerland with his wife and son.</p>
<h3>Home is Where the Hospitality Is</h3>
<p>It’s these connections that make me love my job so much. I adore heading out in the wintertime to visit friends and colleagues, and catch up on their news. Sometimes I’ll bring my own two small children to the Lungarellas; they’re the same age as Sara’s grandchildren, and it warms my heart to see them all playing in the backyard under the weeping willow while I have the pleasure of tasting some of Sara’s homemade delicacies.</p>
<p>Fifteen years after I met her for the first time, Sara’s house still feels like home.</p>


Guides

Guide Gathering

<p>But the awards didn&#8217;t stop there. This year&#8217;s Sidney and Martha winners comprise a cross-section of young upstarts and savvy veterans who embody the spirit of service that permeates everything we do.</p>
<p>And the awards go to&#8230;</p>
<h3>The Martha Award for Best Female Guide</h3>
<h5><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-27748" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Lottie-450x300.jpg" alt="Lottie" width="350" height="233" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Lottie-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Lottie.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" />Lottie Williams-Burrell</h5>
<p>Lottie has proven herself a rock star, for many reasons: exceptionally hard work, unbridled enthusiasm and an all around sense that she has discovered her true calling, to name just a few. Lottie came back from her first trip with bruises, cuts and bike grease all over her legs—and a HUGE smile on her face. It is just so nice to see someone doing a job they are so passionate about.</p>
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<h3><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-27750" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Anthony-360x300.jpg" alt="Anthony" width="270" height="225" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Anthony-360x300.jpg 360w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Anthony.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px" />Rookie of the Year</h3>
<h5>Anthony King</h5>
<p>In his first season with B&amp;R, Anthony has already done it all: from chasing children around on family trips to roasting travellers (as they keeled over in fits of laughter) on final night of his last trip. Through it all, his co-guides couldn&#8217;t help but notice what our travellers said about him: he&#8217;s a star.</p>
<hr />
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-27755" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Stefano-300x300.jpg" alt="Stefano" width="270" height="270" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Stefano-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Stefano.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px" />The Knight in Shining Armour</h3>
<h5>Stefano Lopez</h5>
<p>When travellers spotted a puppy abandoned in the forest along one of our routes, it was Stefano to the rescue. Along with the travellers he snatched up the poor pup, explained the situation in Italian to the staff at our hotel, <a href="http://www.masseriatorrecoccaro.com/it/home/" target="_blank">Masseria Torre Coccaro</a>, and had had a vet brought in to care for the pup. Twenty-four hours later, the dog had been adopted by a member of the hotel staff. Bravo, Stefano!</p>
<hr />
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-27759" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Jacopo-225x300.jpg" alt="Jacopo" width="180" height="240" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Jacopo-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Jacopo.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px" />The MVP</h3>
<h5>Jacopo di Lorenzo</h5>
<p>As the staff in our Italian office put it: &#8220;Jacopo is appreciative, polite and warm. I have never seen someone who is so clean and organized (who wasn’t Swiss, that is) washing the van interior himself almost daily. He is very perceptive and thinks of others before he thinks of himself. That is a rare quality to find these days.&#8221; We couldn&#8217;t agree more.</p>
<hr />
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27763" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Alessio-225x300.jpg" alt="Alessio" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Alessio-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Alessio.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />The Guide Mentor Extraordinaire</h3>
<h5>Alessio Frangioni</h5>
<p>We&#8217;ll let Alice Van der Voort (another veteran guide who knows a thing or two about mentorship) sum up Alessio: &#8220;This gentleman, my Italian brother, is always available for a chat, he will listen to you when you need to blow off some steam and he is also always there to help. For all of the many years that he has been working for B&amp;R, he has been consistent, kind, a lovely co-guide, and so wonderful with all travellers. He always gives 150% to make a memorable trip.&#8221;</p>
<hr />
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-27765" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Eric-450x300.jpg" alt="Eric" width="350" height="233" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Eric-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Eric.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" />The Workhorse</h3>
<h5>Eric Sponseller</h5>
<p>Between May and September, Eric took about eight days off—not eight days, plus weekends. Eight days. Total. As if the sheer quantity of his work weren&#8217;t enough, the quality also happens to be exceptional: Eric is smart, takes initiative, helps train new guides and runs terrific trips in many of our Eastern European regions.</p>
<hr />
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-27767" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Tibor-188x300.jpg" alt="Tibor" width="120" height="192" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Tibor-188x300.jpg 188w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Tibor.jpg 250w" sizes="(max-width: 120px) 100vw, 120px" />The Comeback</h3>
<h5>Tibor Barna</h5>
<p>After a few years off, Tibor returned to the guiding fold this year, and was instrumental in helping get our <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/trip/danube-biking/" target="_blank">Danube Biking trip</a> off the ground.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr />
<h3>The Dynamic Duo</h3>
<h5>Kim Hession and Christopher Litt</h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-27771 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Chris-225x300.jpg" alt="Chris" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Chris-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Chris.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" /><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-27772 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kim-300x300.jpg" alt="Kim" width="300" height="300" />These two work hard, bike hard and play hard. After four trips together in the Loire Valley this year, not only did these two come back still speaking to each other (an accomplishment in and of itself), but smiling to boot. Their dynamism has been a pleasure for both our travellers and our staff.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Best Jersey Drop</h3>
<h5>Sonia Ter Hovanessian and Lara Mattioli</h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-27780" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Sonia-300x300.jpg" alt="Sonia" width="200" height="200" /><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-27781" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Lara-300x300.jpg" alt="Lara" width="200" height="200" />Long one of our most hallowed traditions, the revealing of the B&amp;R jersey has become a point of pride for our guides, and resulted in some pretty fantastic theatrics. In this case, Sonia and Lara coerced some local riders into initiating our travellers into the Tuscan town of Assissi in a ceremony they&#8217;ll never forget.</p>
<hr />
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-27777" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Remi-300x300.jpg" alt="Remi" width="220" height="220" />The Swan</h3>
<h5>Remi Lahaussois</h5>
<p>Remi is considerate, helpful and enthusiastic, just as a B&amp;R guide should be. In short, he makes it look easy.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


In Pictures: Wrapping up the 2015 Guiding Season 

Accolades

Vanity Fair

France

Provence

Summer Love Triangle

Virtuoso Traveler

Travel Two Ways

Testimonials

corporate

Rewards and Incentives

Europe

Greece

<figure id="attachment_28534" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28534" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-28534" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Uwe2-225x300.jpg" alt="&quot;A trip to Greece had been on our wishlist for years...&quot;" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Uwe2-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Uwe2-450x600.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Uwe2.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-28534" class="wp-caption-text">&#8220;A trip to Greece had been on our wishlist for years&#8230;&#8221;</figcaption></figure>
<p>&#8220;A trip to Greece had been on our wish list for years,&#8221; Uwe says. After reviewing the <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Butterfield &amp; Robinson</a> website, he was convinced that this opportunity was worth the effort. He printed the incentive with his targets and tacked it to his wall at work. “This was different,” he notes, “Money is hardly motivating because it&#8217;s so fleeting. But a trip to Greece had been on our wish list for years, and created memories that will last a lifetime. Getting a luxurious travel experience with my loved one, with nothing to worry about, was truly special. It’s an experience no one can take away from me.”</p>
<p>For Uwe, the experience delivered beyond his expectations, providing what he called a trip of a lifetime. One of his most memorable moments was a surprise lunch on Santorini. After debating whether to have lunch at all (there were so many things they wanted to see and do), they reluctantly joined their guide.</p>
<p>A breathtaking drive to the other side of the island brought them to a tranquil port-side hamlet perched on a cliff, overlooking the ocean. “Words cannot express the incredible experience we had. We were treated to succulent fresh fish, idyllic views and unbelievable beauty. We were treated with extraordinary attention. It was truly magical.”</p>
<p>It has been a month since he returned home from Greece and the rote structure of life has returned. He recounts the details of the trip, clearly impressed with the smooth organization, punctuality and professionalism of all the members of the B&amp;R team.</p>
<p>As we end our call he delivers a big sigh, a smile radiating over the phone. “I feel like I’ve just returned to Greece” he says, the memories having flooded back. “I will never forget the white buildings, blue sky and emerald green waters,” he says. “The pictures in magazines are not fake – they are real!”</p>
<p>And for the last 50 years B&amp;R has been delivering just that – very unique, very exclusive, and very real trips of a lifetime that <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/corporate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reward and inspire world-class talent</a>.</p>


<span>Greece with B&R:</span><br> A Mythological Level of Motivation

Fodor's Travel

Puglia

15 Incredible Biking Tours around the World

Beachbody

Incentives &amp; Rewards

<p>As we sat around that Tuscan dinner table that night, one thought sprung to mind: mission accomplished! Each participant came away from the trip feeling a real sense of having had a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and returned to their professional routine aspiring to take their success to the next level.</p>
<figure id="attachment_22808" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22808" style="width: 625px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-22808 size-full" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Dinner_sized.jpg" alt="" width="625" height="414" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Dinner_sized.jpg 625w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Dinner_sized-320x211.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-22808" class="wp-caption-text">&#8220;Culminating in that unforgettable dinner, the entire experience proved to be as rewarding as it was resplendent.&#8221;</figcaption></figure>
<p>With ample guide support, our rather large group felt much smaller, allowing us to have intimate experiences in Rome’s Sistine Chapel and the famous Coliseum. And while access to landmarks and dinner on a private terrace overlooking the Spanish Steps certainly fulfilled some Roman fantasies, B&amp;R’s flair for immersion was on full display too.</p>
<figure id="attachment_22809" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22809" style="width: 320px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-22809" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/colosseum_sized-320x211.jpg" alt="The Roman Colosseum" width="320" height="211" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/colosseum_sized-320x211.jpg 320w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/colosseum_sized.jpg 625w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-22809" class="wp-caption-text">The Roman Colosseum</figcaption></figure>
<p>From a dinner at the family palace of Marchese Giuseppe Ferrajoli, to an expertly choreographed moving feast that saw us sample some of B&amp;R’s favourite Roman delis and bakeries, we got to see both the city’s public face and its most intimate corners. Followed up by three days of biking and walking under the Tuscan sun, and culminating in that unforgettable dinner, the entire experience proved to be as rewarding as it was resplendent.</p>


In Tuscany,<br>A Resplendent Reward 

Sky magazine

Puglia or Bust 

Gaja

Michele Chiarlo

Tignanello

Piemonte

<figure id="attachment_20041" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20041" style="width: 86px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-20041" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/rovereto-86x320.jpg" alt="Rovereto Gavi " width="86" height="320" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20041" class="wp-caption-text">Rovereto Gavi</figcaption></figure>
<h5>Michele Chiarlo</h5>
<p>Another prime example of a legacy wine producer, <a title="Michele Chiarlo" href="http://www.michelechiarlo.it/main.php" target="_blank">Michele Chiarlo</a>&#8216;s family has been growing wine for seven generations. Since 1956 Michele has been plying his family&#8217;s trade, producing his first <a title="Barolo: The King of Wines " href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/04/03/barolo-the-king-of-wines/" target="_blank">Barolo </a>in 1958. Nearly six decades later, Chiarlo&#8217;s earned a reputation as one of Italy&#8217;s finest producers by maintaining an exceptional commitment to quality. Armed with a degree from the Enology Institute of Alba (also, perhaps not coincidentally, the alma mater of Angelo Gaja), Chiarlo&#8217;s trademark style entails &#8220;the moderate and very careful use of wood so that only the varietal and terroir characteristics&#8221; are evident in the wine.</p>
<p>While Chiarlo&#8217;s vineyards include 110 hectares in Langhe, Monferrato and Gavi, it&#8217;s the latter Gavi vineyard of Fornace di Tassarolo in the Rovereto that <a title="wine.com" href="http://www.wine.com/v6/Michele-Chiarlo/learnabout.aspx?winery=7004&amp;state=CA" target="_blank">Wine.com</a> describes as &#8220;perhaps the crown jewel&#8221; among his holdings. It&#8217;s from here that Chiarlo produces his &#8220;brilliant and intense&#8221; Gavi, which along with his exceptional Barbera&#8217; and Barolos, has helped define his reputation.</p>
<hr />
<h5>Tignanello</h5>
<figure id="attachment_20044" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20044" style="width: 105px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-20044" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/tignanello-98-09_13-105x320.png" alt="Tignanello " width="105" height="320" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20044" class="wp-caption-text">Tignanello</figcaption></figure>
<p>Moving from Piemonte into Tuscany, Tignanello stands a member of the famous <a title="Antinori" href="http://www.antinori.it/en" target="_blank">Antinori family</a>. While both Gaja and Chiarlo can claim a legacy of winemaking, Antinori&#8217;s roots run perhaps deeper than anyones: the company can trace its history all the way back to 1385. (And here we were thinking &#8220;<a title="Since 1966" href="http://www.butterfield.com/about/since-1966/" target="_blank">Since 1966</a>&#8221; had some cultural caché.)</p>
<p>Today Antinori&#8217;s offerings are both prolific and esteemed, but perhaps none more so than Tignanello. A landmark of sorts, Tignanenllo was the first wine to blend Tuscany&#8217;s native Sangiovese grapes with non-traditional varieties like Cabernet. Also one of the first Chianti reds to forgo the use of white grapes, it&#8217;s aged in barriques for 12 months before aging for another year in the bottle. The resulting blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes prompted <em>Wine Spectator</em> to call its 2011 vintage &#8220;a powerful red, with plum, blackberry and black cherry flavors that border on jammy, all kept in check by juicy acidity and firm, dense tannins and leather and earth accents.&#8221;</p>


Vini Rossi Favolosi: <br>3 of Our Favourite Italian Wine Producers

Profiles

<p><strong>Favourite hotel in the world?</strong><br />
<a title="Six Sense Ninh Van Bay " href="http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/ninh-van-bay/destination" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Six Sense Ninh Van Bay</a> in Vietnam is a fun one. I love the isolation, using a bike to get around on the property, the personal pools for each bungalow, the personal butlers and the beautiful scenery.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-18692 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Christina_1.jpg" alt="Christina Cain" width="320" height="212" /></p>
<p><strong>Favourite restaurant in the world?</strong><br />
I’m a big fan of the simple, local food spots. One that comes to mind is in Nha Trang, Vietnam. They literally pull up plastic seats and a grill on the sidewalk and cook up the freshest catch right in front of you. It’s the simplest thing sitting on the sidewalk watching the world go by like the locals do, but it’s meals like this that stay in my memory.</p>
<p><strong>Favourite bar/wine bar/watering hole in the world?</strong><br />
I love little old <em>enotecas</em> (wine bars). One of my favourites is in Le Marche and is run by the local Sommelier association. It’s like stepping into a library of wine from the region. I also love the small old-style ones you find in the south of Italy where you can sit outside on the piazza and enjoy a glass of wine and people-watch.</p>
<p><strong>Favourite bottle of wine?</strong><br />
Depends on the season. When it’s cold outside, I love a good <a title="Vines 101: Piemonte Wine " href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/03/25/vines-101-piemonte-wine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barbaresco from Piemonte </a>. In the summer, I love a crisp white from the Südtirol and Alto Adige region in northern Italy, or a Rosato from the Salento in Puglia.</p>
<p><strong>Do you have a favourite travel quote, mantra or words to live by?</strong><br />
&#8220;Go with the flow&#8221; is the first. Be open, invite conversation, notice things.</p>
<p><strong>Someone has just landed in a country they’ve never been to, where they don’t speak the language. What’s your number one piece of advice for them?</strong><br />
Enjoy, turn off your cell phone, live in the moment.</p>
<p><strong>And finally, what’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or done while on a trip?</strong><br />
Ah man, you can’t ask that! You know the golden rule: what happens on a trip stays on trip. (<em>Ed. Note: <a title="Tom Abraham" href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/09/26/experts-insiders-tom-abraham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I get that a lot</a>, but I keep asking. Tough crowd, these guides turned Trip Designers.</em>)</p>


<span>Experts + Insiders:</span> <br>Christina Cain 

Wine Regions

Rave Reviews

<span>Rave Reviews:</span><br>Tuscany

The New York Times

New Self-Guided Tours in France and Italy

Trip Tales

<p>Yet our experience and history there speak volumes about our trip-planning philosophy. That is, we learned not to assume people will only travel to established destinations, but to take risks on new and often unlikely places. Sometimes we hit a home run, more often it’s an out, but the quest for the Next Great Trip energizes our planners and, we think, our travellers as well. When a resurrected Puglia trip finally took off at the turn of the century, that first failed attempt went from folly to visionary.</p>
<p>And by the way, to call that early foray a failure would be a subjective characterization. During his research, the planner of the trip, an intrepid Canadian named Matthew, met and fell in love with the daughter of the owner of the first trip hotel; to this day he lives there with her and their family.</p>
<p>The way he tells it, that “unsuccessful” trip was anything but, and Puglia was a winner from day one.</p>


<span>Puglia and B&R: </span><br>From Folly to Visionary

National Geographic Traveler

Tours of a Lifetime

Tuscany Biking:<br>The Tour of a Lifetime

Video

Rioja

<span>Video:</span><br> On the Road in Rioja 

Family Travel

Accademia Gallery

Statue of David

<p>Through close collaboration with a local contact and the remarkable <a title="B&amp;R Guides" href="http://www.butterfield.com/about/our-people/guides/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">B&amp;R Guides</a> who led the trip, the unknowing travellers entered the Accademia’s entrance and commenced with cocktails in a grand room featuring a plaster cast of Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabines, surrounded by a valuable collection of paintings on religious subjects from the early years of the 16th century, when Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael all worked in Florence. Our travellers, who kindly included me in the evening’s festivities, were already delighted with the event. It was only when we invited them to move to the gallery adjacent that they understood this would be more than “a visit.”</p>
<p>I can’t imagine a greater sense of satisfaction than witnessing the expressions on the faces of these couples as they moved, quite mesmerized, through Michelangelo’s unfinished nude male statues, known as the Slaves or Prisoners, onward to David, majestically set at the end of the narrow gallery.</p>
<p>A candlelit table, formally set with beautiful linens, fresh lilies, crystal and silver, added to the elegant setting complemented by the live jazz music played by a low-key trio in the background as our guests enjoyed their dinner.</p>
<p>There was a truly magical, once-in-a-lifetime kind of sensation that night. Suffice it to say, among other aspects of the evening, our host David’s determined gaze was forever etched into the memories of his adoring guests.</p>


A Private Dinner with <span>(the Woefully Underdressed, if Impressively Sculpted)</span> David

Columnists

Columnist <span>Georgia Yuill:</span><br> Hotels and Haute Couture

Beverages

Vines 101

<h4>Montepulciano: “The king of all wines”</h4>
<p>The town of Montepulciano was reputedly founded in the sixth century by the people of Chiusi, who were fleeing the Barbarian invasions.</p>
<p>The first written accounts of the town refer to the settlement as Mons Politianus, which explains why the townspeople are known as Poliziani. Due to its strategic position overlooking the Val d’Orcia on one side and the Val di Chiana on the other, the town was constantly being fought over by the Florentines and the Sienese.</p>
<p>In 1202, the Poliziani chose Florence as their protectorate (ostensibly because it was farther away and could assert less control over their lives). Over the next 200 years, however, Montepulciano changed hands several times. This flip-flopping of ownership is the reason for the town’s artistic riches, as each ruler sought to outdo the last.</p>
<p>The final reversal in ownership happened in 1511, when Montepulciano once again came under the jurisdiction of the Florentines. Florence’s influence on the town is obvious in the style of Montepulciano’s palazzi, which bears the symbols of Florence: the giglio, or Florentine lily, and the marzocco, the heraldic lion. Montepulciano is also the birthplace of one of the Renaissance’s most celebrated lyrical poets, Poliziano (né Angelo Ambrogini), who took the Italianized version of his hometown’s ancient name as his own.</p>
<figure id="attachment_16692" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16692" style="width: 212px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Avignonesi_Rosso_Vino_Nobile_di_Montepulciano.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-16692" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Nobile-di-Montepulciano-212x320.jpg" alt="Chianti Wine " width="212" height="320" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Nobile-di-Montepulciano-212x320.jpg 212w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Nobile-di-Montepulciano.jpg 424w" sizes="(max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16692" class="wp-caption-text">A bottle of Vino Nòbile di Montepulciano.</figcaption></figure>
<h4>One to try:<br />
Vino Nòbile di Montepulciano</h4>
<p>Today the town is most famous for its wine, <a title="Vino Nobile di Montepulciano" href="http://www.consorziovinonobile.it/main.php" target="_blank">Vino Nòbile di Montepulciano</a>. This wine was described as the “king of all wines” by a 17th century poet, and it was one of the first wines whose origin was guaranteed by the Italian government.</p>
<p>Montepulciano wine is a blend of prugnolo gentile (a type of Sangiovese, the predominant varietal in Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino), canaiolo and mammolino grapes.</p>


<span>Vines 101:</span><br> Chianti Wine

Cheese

Chianti Wine

Prosciutto

<h3>Tuscany Cheese</h3>
<p>Cacio, as it is known, is the only cheese in the region to receive the DOP mark, though Italy’s inhabitants have long recognized this staple of Tuscany cuisine as a superior product, from the Romans to the poets of the 18th century (who wrote about the Tuscan sheep cheese). The fields of the Crete Senesi, just to the south and west of the Val di Chiana, make for perfect grazing for the sheep. The large wheels—fresh or aged, some under ashes, truffles or even tomatoes to alter the flavour—must have a diameter of no more than 22 centimetres and no fewer than 15, and a thickness not exceeding 11 centimetres nor less than seven.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-7439 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cuisine101Tuscany_sbi.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="424" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cuisine101Tuscany_sbi.jpg 640w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cuisine101Tuscany_sbi-124x82.jpg 124w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cuisine101Tuscany_sbi-320x212.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></p>
<h3>Try it at home:</h3>
<p>A fantastic way to savour pecorino is to cut a slice of the semi-aged cheese, put it on a plate with fresh pear slices and drizzle honey over top. The combination is out of this world!</p>


<span>Cuisine 101:</span><br> An Introduction to the<br> Cuisine of Tuscany 

Immersion Kit

Spotlight

<h2>Tuscan Cuisine</h2>
<p>So much of what we today think of as Italian cuisine has its roots in Tuscany. Imagine a sumptuous Italian feast and it’s hard not to picture bruschetta hot off the grill topped with fresh tomato, basil and olive oil; a thick Florentine-style T-bone steak, or biscotti dunked in a caffe latte.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-8342 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/TuscanyIKCheese.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="318" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/TuscanyIKCheese.jpg 640w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/TuscanyIKCheese-320x159.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></p>
<h3>Pecorino Toscano</h3>
<p>Cacio, as it is known, is the only cheese in the region to receive the DOP mark, though Italy’s inhabitants have long recognized it as a superior product, from the Romans to the poets of the 18th century (who wrote about the Tuscan sheep cheese). The fields of the Crete Senesi, just to the south and west of the Val di Chiana, make for perfect grazing for the sheep. The large wheels—fresh or aged, some under ashes, truffles or even tomatoes to alter the flavour—must have a diameter of no more than 22 centimetres and no fewer than 15, and a thickness not exceeding 11 centimetres nor less than seven.</p>
<h3>Try it at home:</h3>
<p>A fantastic way to savour pecorino is to cut a slice of the semi-aged cheese, put it on a plate with fresh pear slices and drizzle honey over top. The combination is out of this world!</p>
<p>Cacio is just one of many quintessentially Toscano delicacies. Still hungry? Check out <strong><a title="Cuisine 101" href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/02/21/clever-title-cuisine-of-tuscany/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cuisine 101: Tuscany</a> </strong>to learn more about the region&#8217;s delicacies.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Essential Reading</h2>
<p>We’ve partnered with Longitude Books, experts in travel literature, to prepare a comprehensive list of books, from novels to great guidebooks, that have really opened up the region to us. Find our Essential Reading List below, and check out the full list at <a title="Longitude Books" href="http://www.reading.longitudebooks.com/B390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Longitude Books</a>.</p>
<p><a title="Every Day in Tuscany" href="http://www.longitudebooks.com/find/p/100324/mcms.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Every Day in Tuscany, Seasons of an Italian Life</em></a><br />
<strong>Frances Mayes</strong><br />
Twenty years later the writer of <em>Under the Tuscan Sun</em> is still besotted by Italy—her house, the tumbling geraniums, the people and the food—all lovingly documented in her best memoir yet. With interludes in Portofino, Assisi and Rome and a focus on Renaissance master artist Luca Signorelli.</p>
<p><a title="Tuscan Country" href="http://www.longitudebooks.com/find/p/70950/mcms.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Tuscan Country, A Photographer&#8217;s Journey</em></a><br />
<strong>Wes Walker</strong><br />
Walker captures the allure of the hill towns, including Siena, Lucca, Pisa and smaller cities and villages in 100 luminous color photographs.</p>
<p><a title="Insight Guide Tuscany " href="http://www.longitudebooks.com/find/p/11473/mcms.html " target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Insight Guide Tuscany</em></a><br />
An illustrated guide in the popular series, noteworthy for its maps and illuminating short essays on food, history and culture of the region.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


<span>Immersion Kit:</span><br> What You Need to Know<br> About Tuscany 

Lecce

Ostuni

<h4>Orecchiette</h4>
<figure id="attachment_3361" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3361" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3361 " title="Orecchiette" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/PUGBS_06242012_0481_WZE-300x200.jpg" alt="Orecchiette Pasta Demo " width="300" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3361" class="wp-caption-text">&#8220;The very special thing is that they make it with love,&#8221; Luca says of the traditional pasta.</figcaption></figure>
<p>The last one is not a place, it’s a thing: orecchiette. When we go to <a title="Masseria Montelauro" href="http://www.masseriamontelauro.it/home-eng.html" target="_blank">Masseria Montelauro</a> there are a couple of ladies that come and do a pasta demo with us. Why it’s so important to me is because it represents the history of poor cuisine in Italy, we call it <a title="cucina povera" href="http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/548870" target="_blank">cucina povera</a>. It’s  something that’s to sustain your family. The orecchiette is just flour and water and a little bit of salt. But the way they do it, they do it special.</p>
<p>The difference I think, that makes us special as Italians, is that we’re making it with love. You don’t cook just for yourself or just to sustain yourself. You cook for your soul, and for someone else’s soul. It’s more a romantic idea, but I always say that.</p>


Examiner

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