While the burnt orange vistas, rust-colored foliage and open-air food markets may be unique to Tuscany in the fall, embrace the harvest season year-round with a few well-appointed goodies for your kitchen.
Go There: There’s something about an Italian hilltop refuge that is particularly captivating. Maybe it’s the weathered Mediterranean villas or the glorious food and wine. Whatever the reason, find your escape at the Villa Bordoni, a Renaissance estate that overlooks Chianti’s rolling vineyards and terraced olive groves. The inn’s 12 whimsical rooms (think chicken coop wall décor and straw curtain tassels) overlook a swimming pool and outdoor fitness facility. Go horseback riding at the local stable or tour the historical hamlets nearby before heading to the market in the town of Greve—just two miles away—to pick up what you need for a rustic cooking class. Learn about historical dishes such as ribollita and pappa al pomodoro and grab some local Tuscan wine before settling down to dinner. This is la dolce vita.
By Elizabeth Doyle