An Outing from Florence or Siena
Whether you are simply daydreaming of the beautiful Chianti or already have your flight booked, here are a couple of tips and addresses worth writing down. Barberino Val D’Elsa is a picturesque, perfectly restored little village on the ancient Roman road – the Cassia – about half way between Florence and Siena.
There are many good guide books available that describe each and every of the many worthwhile attractions on this road, but here’s a personal tip of how to get away for a moment from art and history to be frivolous and spoil yourself, with a lovely clothing shop just along the side of the Cassia and a gem of a restaurant within a few hundred yards that will keep you well-fed.
Morandi is one of three clothing shops owned by Signore Morandi that has a great collection of fine Italian labels for ladies and men. What is special about this store is their big selection of campionari - samples – that come in twice a year.
Campionari are the collections used in show rooms and by sales representatives of the various labels so buyers can place their orders. They are available in the Morandi shop in March and September, at a 40% discount, often before the same lines hit the store shelves. Alas, campionari clothing only comes in one size – Italian 42 – an American size 8.
On the rest of Morandi’s collections you can find interesting offers throughout the year.
Heading from the Morandi shop towards Florence, you are a couple of minutes away from Bustecca, an authentic Tuscan ristorante and pizzeria run by a caring couple, Carla and Slauco, who started Bustecca 20 years ago.
Guests are from the neighborhood, from Florence, and some are travelers; all love the cooking and treasure the quality of the genuine ingredients, bought from local sources whenever possible. You’ll be happy to find traditional meat dishes but Carla and Slauco offer fresh fish as well. Bustecca is housed in a lovely rustico; in the cold months you’ll find a blazing fireplace warming you. Ask about the wines, many of the red ones are produced in those magnificent Chianti hills, you’ll also find some excellent Sicilian red wines and delicious white wines from the Friuli region. English is spoken!
To reach the restaurant from the main road, turn up the small hill just after the bar and the playground, then take the first road to the left.
Closed on Mondays, lunch on Tuesday and 10 days in February