The medieval architecture in San Gimignano post gelato
Author: Lauren Stephens | Major: Art History | Semester: Fall 2022
This past weekend, I had one of my favorite days ever. My friend and I booked an all-day excursion in the Italian countryside full of horseback riding, wine tastings, and exploring small towns. I didn’t know what to expect when we signed up, but it exceeded any expectation I could’ve had. So without further adieu, let’s get into all we experienced.
The tour began with a bus ride through the “Beverly Hills” of Florence where the wealthiest people live and famous individuals like Kim Kardashian and Barack Obama stay when they visit. It was such a pretty drive with lots of tall trees that you don’t see many of in the center of Florence, but I was most excited for our next stop- horseback riding.
I grew up riding horses for nine years, but it had been six years since I’d been on one. I was a bit nervous, but it turns out riding horses is like riding a bike- you never forget how to do it. My horse’s name was Mambo, and he was so sassy! I was glad for my previous experience and calmed him down when he acted rowdy. We rode for an hour through the farm’s vineyards. It felt surreal to be under the Tuscan Sun riding through the grapevines. It was one of the most beautiful moments I’ve had since studying abroad. If you’re ever feeling homesick during your time abroad, I would recommend doing an activity you did growing up like horseback riding because it makes you feel at home. I was sad when the ride was over, but we had so many fun things ahead of us.
Before heading to another town, we had some smaller activities to experience first. As part of the deal, we tried some of the farm’s honey which was so rich and delicious. Then, we went to their stables to meet the white Italian cows, la chianina. They are the cows used to make Florentine steaks, but I didn’t want to think about that because they were so cute. Our guide kept raving about the best panoramic view we’ll ever see up the hill, and once we got up there, I had to agree with him. The rolling hills surrounding us and the bright sun overhead were beautiful sights. I’m so glad we got to see it.
Afterward, we headed to San Gimignano which is a very old town built around 800 C.E. It is home to the best gelato in the world. Gelateria Dondoli is a two-time world champion for their gelato. They had such unique flavors, saffron with pine nut and blueberry with ricotta cheese, to name a few. It was definitely the creamiest gelato I have ever had and can see why they are the world champs. The town was gorgeous too. The buildings were all stone and were decorated with paintings and intricate details in the architecture that made them so gorgeous. I could have stayed there for hours, but we were all hungry. It was time for lunch and our wine tasting!
We loaded up the bus and arrived at Tenuta Torciano Winery, a family-owned company that’s the biggest in the area. It was extra special because this winery doesn’t sell to restaurants, stores, or even online. They only sell their wine to people who come to visit in person, to protect the quality of their wine. We were treated to a four-course meal consisting of a charcuterie board, ribollita soup, lasagna, and biscotti for dessert. The food was delicious and the wine was even better. We tried seven of the owner’s favorite wines, 1 white, 5 reds, and 1 dessert wine called Vin Beato. All of the wines were amazing, but my favorite was the white wine because it was so bright and bubbly, almost like champagne. After filling up on the best wine and food in Tuscany, we headed back to Florence. Our driver was hilarious and played iconic American songs like the Single Ladies by Beyonce and Dancing Queen by ABBA. We all sang and danced along the whole ride back. It was sad to say goodbye to this incredible experience, but I was filled with so much joy after such a great day.
This excursion taught me the pride that Italians have in their culture and the beauty of their culture. Our tour guide was genuinely excited to take us around to these sights and tell us fun facts along the way. The owners of the winery were especially proud of their family’s business which was evident in the way they talked about the history of their wine and the food we had. I feel so much gratitude to take part in these experiences and appreciate Italian culture more.