Today, after breakfast at the hotel, we boarded the bus to travel to San Miniato for a guided truffle hunt. Upon arrival at the hunt location, we were greeted by Massimo, Barbara and Marco, three licensed truffle hunters, as well as Mila and Biscia their adorable truffle hunting dogs. Before splitting off into teams, Massimo filled us in on the different truffles that grow in Tuscany as well as how to identify authentic truffle products. We learned that there are only five proper truffle hunting locations in the world, four in Italy and one in France. Black truffles are harvested July through October, and the elusive and valuable white truffle is harvested in November. Premium "winter" white truffles can sell for as much as 9,000 euros per kilo (or $4090.00 per pound)! We paired off into two teams, one with Massimo and Milo, and the other with Barbara, Marco and Biscia. A little friendly competition ensued with Team Biscia outperforming Team Mila five truffles to three. It was truly and amazing experience!
We capped off truffle hunting with a short trip down the road to Il Convio Ristorante, an Agriturismo, or working farm serving farm-fresh food, where we savored the true taste of truffles with wonderfully prepared dishes.
After departing San Miniato, we journeyed into the charming hamlet of Vinci, located just outside of Florence, to stop for a look around the city, known as the birthplace of famed artist Leonardo da Vinci. The stop would not have been complete without a Vitruvian Man pose in front of the sculpture by artist Mario Ceroli, located in Piazza Guido Masi near the Museo Leonardiano. The wooden sculpture, inaugurated in 1987, symbolizes the city of Vinci's connection to its most famous native.
After our stop in Vinci we returned to our hotel in Montecatini and spent the remainder of the day free to relax and unwind, or explore the local area.
Comments