Chianti Travel Tips
Overview of La Dolce Vita
The lure of Italy is strong: centuries of great culture and art, timeless beauty in the rolling hills of Tuscany, a warm generous people, spectacular food and a certain joy in living the good life.
A key to attaining an Italian lifestyle is, quite frankly, to leave the United States behind. Make a mental switch from what is usual at home to what can be extraordinary abroad. To do this you need to move into a discovery mode and give yourself the time to absorb what you see.
This time around you shouldn’t be trying to emulate Julius Caesar’s phrase, “Vene, Vidi, Vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered,) but rather slow down to savor the experience, reconnect with loved ones, enjoy Italy as an honored guest and let the best of Italy seep into your pores.
Getting on Italian Time
One of the key pieces of advice we offer is to get on the local time; and we don’t just mean adjusting your watch.
Since most Italians close their shops and businesses for an extended lunch (called the “pausa”) from approximately 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., plan your days accordingly.
Do an early morning activity and plan to “chill” for lunch at your villa or at a local restaurant followed by a few hours of down time, then do a late afternoon activity and plan dinner no earlier than 8 p.m.
Most stores are open from 3:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., so there is still plenty of time to get your shopping in!
While we’re at it, most everything in Italy except restaurants close on Sundays, and many restaurants close on Mondays or Tuesdays, so plan wisely.
If you buck this Italian “cycle” of living, you will be frustrated by how early things close around lunchtime and be lonely in restaurants at dinner when you arrive hours ahead of the locals.
Planning your days
Don’t over plan your holidays. One of the benefits of a villa or apartment rental is being able to relax. Generally speaking, plan one morning activity, possibly one afternoon activity and only eat out one big meal a day (a lunch sandwich or panini at a coffee bar doesn’t really count!)
Plan some of the “must do” activities in a region, but not all of them, since holidays, weather, closings and more will force you to be flexible and not hide-bound.
