Tuscany is the setting for many places of interest. Numerous cities with artistic heritage have always found a first-class spot in tourist guidebooks, but there is so much more to discover in the region. This is a land of ancient traditions, as is evident through the flavours it manages to offer every day through its products. Holiday Planners is happy to lead you through the birthplace of these flavours for an experience that is much more than the usual souvenir, but rather memories to have for a long time.
If you want to taste real Tuscan beef, the Chianina & Nobile Tour is right for you. Our driver will come to pick you up at your hotel and will bring you to visit a herd of Chianina cows. A carnivorous tasting is in store for you: roast beef tartare, hamburger, and tagliata steak make for a gastronomic journey which will show you why the beef of this area is so famous.
After lunch visit Montepulciano, a city of Etruscan origin that today presents itself as a medieval village guarded by three encircling walls. Our walk will plunge us into the history and stories of this centre before visiting one of its wine cellars. Take a seat, there are three masterpieces to drink: Rosso di Montepulciano, Nobile di Montepulciano, and Chianti. The wines will be accompanied by explanations about the grape varietals used and the winemaking process.
What is Chianina?
Chianina is a bovine breed traditionally found in many areas of the Valdichiana and Tuscany. It is not just a question of gastronomy: the Chianina cow is a real symbol for many parts of the region. Each year, an exemplary specimen of this breed is given to the winner of Calcio Storico Fiorentino, or historical Florentine football, an ancient annual sporting event where teams representing the four historic districts of the Tuscan capital go head to head. Speaking of great Tuscan events, the oxen that pull the Carroccio carriage in Piazza del Campo during the procession of the Palio di Siena are, naturally, Chianina breed.Chianina meat is the absolute protagonist of numerous gastronomic events: for example the Sagra della Bistecca Chianina, or Chianina Steak Festival, which is held in Sestino in June, and the Sagra della Bistecca di Cortona, or Cortona Steak Festival, an unmissable event for any fan of Florentine steak. The Cortona festival, born in the early 1960s, is famous for implementing the largest grill in Italy: 14 metres in length!