“To eat is to absorb a place.” It wasn’t a famous chef or enologist who first uttered this celebrated saying, but a French geographer – Jean Brunhes --  who lived between the 19th and 20th centuries and carried out many studies on “human geography.” This is no mere coincidence. 

Food is an integral, vital part of our experience of a place, in the most human sense of the term. It’s the most direct, genuine and effective way of forging a connection to a place and the people who live there. Tasting the quintessential dishes and discovering the wine and food traditions of a place mean you’ll really get to know it as you explore and savor. 

Florence and the greater region of Tuscany are lands dense with art, history, extraordinary artworks and breathtaking landscapes, but they’re also home to tons of traditional products and wine and food delicacies. Doing some preparatory research on the most characteristic tastes of the Renaissance city and surrounding areas will help you taste the essence of local culture and appreciate it even more. Here are some of the essentials to know before you go!

Florence (and Tuscany as a whole) are famous for hearty and rustic cucina povera, roughly translated as “peasant fare” and generally rooted in necessity – through the ages working people used the ingredients they had on hand and worked hard to make them last. 
You’ll see this heritage reflected in today’s menus, even at more posh eateries; “revisited” classics conceived by innovative chefs may have added bells and whistles, but the basis of most of what you’ll see served goes back centuries.

Moving through the streets of downtown Florence, you’ll have countless chances to try these traditional dishes. Many historic restaurants continue to serve house specialties and typical dishes – true delicacies that you won’t find anywhere else and that constitute an important part of local identity. 

From lampredotto to pappa al pomodoro, from (real! Red!) Florentine steak to ribollita, and whether you’re a passionate carnivore or prefer to stick to vegetarian dishes, you’ll find something to satisfy your cravings. Also, many Florentine dishes are true “ante litteram” street foods.