On the Road Again: A Slower Side of Tuscany
(and the Best Truffle Burger I’ve Ever Had)
The quiet town of Vicopisano, a perfect base for a trip to Northern Tuscany
This trip wasn’t about ticking off places.
No packed itinerary. No trying to see everything. Just two weeks moving slowly through Tuscany and letting things unfold as they wanted to.
And, as it turns out, those are always the trips that stay with me the most.
San Miniato and the Meal I Didn’t See Coming
I stopped in San Miniato without much of a plan. It’s one of those towns that sits quietly between Pisa and Florence, often passed by, rarely prioritised.
I was slightly undecided about what to order when I spotted a truffle hamburger on the menu in a local restaurant.
Not exactly traditional. Not what I’d imagined. But I went for it.
And it completely blew me away.
Proper local beef, truffle sauce slathered over the top, simple ingredients done well. One of those meals where you pause halfway through and realise you’ve stumbled onto something special.
San Miniato is like that. It doesn’t try too hard. It doesn’t need to.
It’s known for its white truffles, especially in autumn when the festival takes over the town, but even outside of that season, food is at the centre of everything here. Small shops, local produce, menus that follow what’s available rather than what’s expected.
And because it’s not overrun, you feel like you’ve discovered it rather than arrived at it.
San Miniato
Slowing Down in Vicopisano
The garden at Casa Colomba in Vicopisano
For half of this trip, I based myself in Vicopisano, staying at Casa Colomba with Authentic Tuscany.
And this is where everything shifted.
Vicopisano is small, medieval, and quietly beautiful in a way that doesn’t demand your attention. It just lets you settle into it. Mornings start slowly. Coffee in the piazza. The sound of church bells marking time. No pressure to be anywhere.
Casa Colomba felt exactly right for that kind of trip. Thoughtfully restored, full of character, but easy. Nothing overdone. And the kind of hosts who make you feel welcome without it ever feeling like a performance.
Imagine waking up in a 15th century tower feeling like you’re living your own version of a Shakespearean play. That’s what staying at Casa Colomba feels like.
It’s the sort of place where you start to understand il dolce far niente without even trying.
An Afternoon by the Sea
One afternoon, I headed out to Marina di Pisa with Marie, my dear friend and owner of Casa Colomba, and it ended up being one of those unexpectedly perfect, simple days.
We found a spot for lunch right by the water and ordered seafood that tasted as fresh as it gets. Nothing overcomplicated, just good ingredients, cooked well, eaten slowly with the sea in front of us.
Afterwards, we kicked off our shoes and paddled in the clear water, the kind of moment that feels almost childlike in its simplicity.
No plans, no rush, just sunshine, salt air, and good company.
Marina di Pisa. Overlooked by tourists, but loved by locals
Marie also took me to a special place just outside Vicopisano that feels like a real local secret. Il Botte Gaio. A small, unassuming gourmet deli that you would never find unless someone told you about it. The kind of place locals pop into without thinking twice, but visitors rarely discover. Shelves lined with carefully sourced produce, cheeses, cured meats, wines, all chosen with real care. It’s perfect for putting together a picnic or just picking up something special for a slow lunch back at the apartment. No fuss, no signage trying to pull you in. Just quietly brilliant.
Solo, But Not Alone
One of the things I’m always reminded of when I travel like this is how untrue it is that solo travel equals loneliness.
On this trip, I finally met the lovely Angie from Angie in Italy, and we ended up spending a full day together in Colle Val d’Elsa. We laughed, talked, explored, and ended the day feeling like we’d been friends for years.
A Day in Colle Val d’Elsa
Hanging out with a new friend in Colle Val d’Elsa
Colle Val d’Elsa is another one of those places people tend to overlook. But it’s exactly the kind of town that rewards you if you give it time.
We wandered through the upper town, stopped for coffee, walked some more, talked about everything and nothing, and somehow lost a whole afternoon without noticing.
It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t structured. It was just one of those easy, brilliant days that travel occasionally hands you when you leave space for it.
And that’s the thing.
When you travel solo, you’re more open to these moments. You say yes more easily. You notice more.
What Stayed With Me..
This wasn’t a trip of big highlights or must see moments.
It was quieter than that.
A meal I didn’t expect.
A place that made it easy to slow down.
A new friendship that came out of nowhere.
And a reminder that solo travel doesn’t have to be bold or life changing every time.
Sometimes it’s just about trusting yourself to go, taking things at your own pace, and letting the small moments do the work.
A picture that captures the essence of Tuscany.
If you’re planning your own trip to Tuscany, take this as your sign to leave a bit of space in your itinerary.
That’s usually where the best parts happen.
Baci,
Beara x