Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

Puglia, Italy

Greve in Chianti, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

Panzano, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

Sicily, Italy

Livorno, Province of Livorno, Italy

Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

Italy

Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Bologna, Metropolitan City of Bologna, Italy

Judy Witts Francini

The markets are the heart of the city. My favorite markets in Rome and where to eat nearby. This is more than just markets, also some of my favorite neighborhoods.

  Divina Cucina's Markets of Rome Guide

My Livorno! Normally, I really just love to hang around the market, eating my way through and then hit the Gagarin for the Torta.
Then take a boat ride though the canals and visit thefish market and eat there. Then if I stay the night, I go to a old school trattoria.
But the entire VENEZIA area is filled with bars and restaurants, too many to mention.
DO have a PUNCH, their rum-spiked coffee with a lemon zest "vela" - sail. You will feel like a pirate
It's out of the way,but Bar Civili is where the old guys hang out playing cards and drinking! 

 Divina Cucina's Markets of Livorno

I lived downtown Florence from 1984 to 2000. I love old school trattorias, but have included some newer places as well.

Dining in Florence

I adore city markets, it's when the mall comes to you. Not just food, but household items and more.

Tuscany, Italy

Chianti Market Days

Some of my favorite places in the area between Florence and Siena known as Chianti. It's not just the name of the wine, but also the area which produces it.

Greve is the "capital" of the area, not all the small towns and villages have town halls. Some are what's called a "borgo" a group of homes and perhaps a church. Fun to explore the small off the beaten track places as well.

There are so many lovely bars and shops to have simple snacks if you don't want a large sit down meal. People watching is one of my favorite pastimes. Letting it all soak in. 

The 222 highway is often popular with bike riders as well and there are no bike lanes, so drive carefully, especially on the weekends.

Many of the small towns have a market day once a week. Where the mall comes to you. It's always fun to visit a weekly market.
More than just food! Clothing, shoes, purses, fabric, kitchen supplies and more. Often a Porchetta truck.

Taste Chianti

 Genova

 Catania

Eat. Drink. Shop. Stay.
Day-tripping to Bologna, the capital of Emilia Romagna

Divine Day Trips:Bologna

Certaldo is a personal favorite of mine, not just because it is my hometown. I live in the hills outside town. This was the home to Boccaccio, the author of the Decameron. It is one of the less touristy hilltowns, so you get a real feel of what it was like. There is the larger lower city which was buildt in the 1800's and then the original village from  Medieval times, made entirely of red bricks, it is truly beautiful. 

Certaldo, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

Free- Certaldo old and new ,Tuscany

Walk by those high mountains of gelato and search out wonderful artisanal gelato's. You deserve the best!

Florence Gelato 

When you head south past Siena, the landscape opens up to incredible rolling hills of farmlands.
The area has often been used in films for it's beauty.

Here are a few of the towns to visit. For a day trip, pick three or four. But you can easily spend a whole day in each one. 

Don't forget to take some time and just enjoy a town. Sit in a piazza, people watch. Take a hike in the area. Leave your car.


Day Tripping:Val D'Orcia

Some tips when you are based in Bari for touring in Puglia

Bari, Metropolitan City of Bari, Italy

Bari Puglia

The markets are the heart of the city. They also help you understand what is in season and what to look for on the menus.
There are several larger food markets and some other weekly markets in the neighborhoods as well as antiques and flea markets. The markets were built 

Florence  Markets

The markets are the heart of the city. They also help you understand what is in season and what to look for on the menus.
There are several larger food markets and some other weekly markets in the neighborhoods as well as antiques and flea markets.
This is not a complete guide to dining in Florence, but rather where I would eat near the markets. A taste of some of the Florentine neighborhoods. 
-I also can create your own custom guide including what to see in town paired to where you eat.
Send me an email divinacucina@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram @divinacucina

Divina Cucina's  Florence for Food-Lovers

I created this for a couple of friends coming and looking for Jewish History and places to eat. I added some don't miss sites for their short visit.
There is not a large Jewish part of Florence. Rome has a large center and Pitigliano in Southern Tuscany. 
There is a lot of history
If you would like your own curated guide, Email me divinacucina@gmail.com