Let’s go on a road trip to discover what lies beyond big cities. We would like to suggest several routes so you can hire a car and go exploring.

If you are wine lovers, Florence is your destination. And, not only because it is the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, with one of the most celebrated DOs in the world and their flagship chianti, but because it is packed with wine bars where you can indulge in culinary specialities paired with a huge variety of great wines that can be ordered by the glass. What a treat and, on a reasonable budget – here you will taste and discover the wine treasures of the region and the country.

La Volpi e l’Uva

This tiny wine bar, owned by three Florentines, is a veritable benchmark, ideal for those wishing to avoid the more popular establishments. At the bar counter or on their magnificent terrace, a stone’s throw from the emblematic Ponte Vecchio, you can savour wine by the glass, with over 45 different signature Italian reds and French whites from small local wineries, most of them biodynamic and organic. A luxury which costs from €4.5 to €9 and includes pairings with tasting dishes from a menu of top-quality specialties from the Florence area ­–cured meat (mortadella, salami, ham), cheese served on delicious, dry schiacciata bread and crostini (toast). And, if you fall for any particular wine, you’ve hit the jackpot, as La Volpa et L’Uva is also a wine shop. You can take advice from Ricardo, one of the very friendly owners, who will passionately recommend the ideal bottle from over 1,000 signature wines lining the walls.

Fuori Porta

This huge yet congenial wine bar and restaurant, located next to the San Miniato Gate, is descended upon every day by crowds of loyal regulars. This is a must-visit tasting venue when you’re in Florence. Here you can forget about pizza and pasta; the cuisine is simple but delicious, based on gourmet sandwiches, bruschettas (toasted bread rubbed with garlic and oil), meat, salads, pinchos and cheese-and-cured meat boards. Wine is the undisputed leading light of this restaurant, with a choice of over 500 wines to enjoy by the glass – quite a sizeable figure! You will soon discover the variety of Tuscan wines, as well as the other Italian DOs. And, as if that weren’t enough, they renew their menu about five times a year, and you can also buy takeaway wine by the bottle – a must-have souvenir.

Pitti Gola e Cantina

If you are bold enough to ask for the wine list, you will be amazed, as it can hardly fit on the table. This establishment is essential if you think of yourself as a genuine wine lover as it holds veritable gems in its cellar, including labels that go back to 1950! Prices can sting a little, though (from €6.60 a glass), but it is worthwhile if you want to discover the grands crus of Tuscany and Piedmont in particular, and the rest of the peninsula in general, noteworthy for its traditional wines based on local vinestocks. The staff are young and highly motivated and are bound to recommend some superb tasting. They offer an exquisite menu of Italian delicacies to go with it – pasta, lasagna, select meats… You will also be able to soak up the atmosphere while seated on their terrace, located on the majestic Piazza Pitti.

Fratelli Zanobini

A small shop in the heart of the San Lorenzo district which carries both Tuscan wines (accounting for half their stock) and Italian varieties in general, with nearly 500 different labels, in addition to liqueurs and sparkling wines. The store has been open for 44 years and has accrued viticultural knowledge from one generation to the next. Tastings can be ordered at the small tasting counter, which thousands of wine lovers have already homed in on. But, there is not much to nibble on, so best to go there on a full stomach. They also have six house wines.

Casa del vino

Nothing seems to have changed in this wine house since it first opened around the year 1900. In fact, seen from the outside, it actually looks more like an antiques shop, with its marble bar counter, glass cabinets and wooden furniture plastered with black-and-white photos and the odd wooden wine crate covered in dust. The establishment has remained in the same family throughout and decribes itself as a tavern where you can have a glass of red wine from Tuscany, Piedmont or Sicily standing up at any time of the day, while getting stuck into some fresh panini and cured meat. They are also known for stocking some of the best champagnes in town.

Bevo Vino

It has very cosy decor, with a few tables and very young, cool customers. Here, bon vivants can choose from 30 Italian wines served by the glass while munching on some excellent panini or the house menu, made up of meat and pasta dishes crafted from the purest Italian recipe book. Drinks are served generously by a very obliging staff. Average price around €12 for a drink and something to eat, or just €5 if you’ve only turned up for a toast. Via San Niccolò 59R, Monday to Sunday, from 12 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Coquinarius

Right next door to the stunning Duomo, Coquinarius is the closest you’ll get to a bistro. The front is a wine bar, with a restaurant at the back. The aroma wafting out of the kitchen is mouth-watering. Here you can savour an in-season menu, featuring bruschettas,meat and fish dishes as the highlights. Special mention goes to the salads, with unusual ingredients yet exquisite; notably, dried tomatoes, aubergines, sunflower seeds, courgette flowers and pear. This elegant wine bar offers a large variety of mostly Italian wines, as well as the odd label from more unique sources – Argentina, Austria, Chile or California. Wine by the glass or bottle.

Book your Vueling to Florence and get ready to taste the wines of Tuscany.

Text and photos by Laia Zieger of Gastronomistas.com

Pisa is the capital of Tuscany and, in addition to the famous Leaning Tower, features figures such as Galileo Galilei or landmarks such as the Piazza dei Cavalieri. We can also discover some hidden curiosity in the Italian city . Here are 5 tips you should discover: 1. In pisa there is not only one tower nor two, but three leaning towers. The best known one is located in Piazza del Duomo but also the belltower of the church of San Nicola and the third is the bell tower of the church of San Michele degli Scalzi (even though the church is inclined). 2.In Le Scuderie we can eat pizzas but literally one-meter long pizzas and also a good price … ideal for groups and a delicious selection of pastries.

3.The city of Pisa is named after a variety of Romanesque architecturedeveloped when the city was a powerful republic since the second half of the eleventh century to the first of the XIII

4.They say it’s lucky when touching on two intertwined lizards that are in the main door of the Duomo. You will check it out quickly because they are quite worn and more polished than the rest of the door.

5.Pisa hosts one of only 3 high schools in Italy, La Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa which was founded in 1810 by Napoleon and gives a scientific and literary training of high level.

So you feel like visiting Pisa, do you? Book your flights here!  

By Isabel Sánchez-Vallejo

By Fabiana Fierotti from METAL

New, cutting-edge beauty spots are one of the main things going on in Milan right now. It is not only about having your hair done or getting the perfect manicure, it is more about experiencing something involving all of your five senses, above all, taste. Here is a short list of places you should not miss while you are visiting the city, all with a special something that will definitely leave a mark.

Bahama Mama is a place for Nails, Taste and Beauty as the entrance sign itself says. It is the first nail bar ever opened in Milan and its philosophy is entirely linked to natural and “green” products. The best thing one can do is go there with your friends, have a manicure all together while sipping a glass of Prosecco and tasting Tuscany’s specialties. And, if you are up for it, you can also treat yourself with a little vintage shopping.

QC Terme Milano is a very special place right in the heart of Porta Romana, one of the historical sites of the city. The possibilities are many: enjoy a swim in an open-air warm whirlpool surrounded by Spanish walls built in the XVI century; an evening visit to the Wellness Tram, the world’s first bio sauna, while watching video projections; have a brunch or an aperitivi after a whole day in the spa… Whatever you do, one thing is for sure: you will forget about your everyday life and get lost in this paradise of wellness.

For the hair colour you have always dreamt of, you need to visit GUM. They may serve no aperitivi in here, but they definitely have the secret recipe for the perfect hair look. They even invented new colour techniques, Dirty and Daft, an hymn to the 90’s English aesthetic and dye, along with an organic products line to fit every client’s need, always keeping the retro style.

Speaking of secret recipes, if you have a sweet tooth for everything unique and tailor-made, you should visit Le Labo, a special corner and lab inside Milan perfumery Mecca: Profumo. As they proclaim in their manifesto: “In a world where luxury perfumes are mass-produced and sold in places that look like supermarkets (…) Le Labo has decided to take matters – and perfume – back in hand”. And they did, bringing together the very best noses and creating hand-made fragrances, no matter how much money or time it costs.

And it’s left to Bullfrog to add the masculine touch to the list. A ‘modern electric barber’ where you can shave (old school style!) and have your rockabilly hairstyle done, like you are back in the 50’s. You don’t want to miss on their secret weapon, the English barber James, or their Shaving Academy (two courses, base and advanced). Some real good men stuff.

Enjoy!

Bahama Mama
viale Col di Lana 1.
Tue – Sat 10am/8pm (Wed and Fri opened till 11pm)
closed on Monday
www.bahamamama.it
+39 02 89404538

QC Terme Milano
Piazzale Medaglie d’Oro 2.
Mon – Sun 9.30am/11pm
www.termemilano.com
+39 02 55199367

GUM
Via Vetere 9.
Tue-Fri-Sat 11am/8pm – Wed 11 am/9pm – Thu 12am/9pm
Closed on Monday
www.gumsalon.it
+39 02 36601940

Le Labo / Profumo
Via Brera 6.
Tue-Sat 10am/7pm
Closed on Monday morning
www.lelabofragrances.com
+39 02 72023334

Bullfrog
Via Thaon di Revel 3.
Tue-Fri 10am/8pm – Sat 10am/5pm – Sun 11am/5pm
www.bullfrogmilano.com
+39 02 36531983

By Fabiana Fierotti from METAL

Why not take a trip to Milán? Have a look at our flights here!