New Tour: Florence in March 2026
A slow, delicious invitation to the real Florence
I’m heading back to Florence with my dear friend Rolando Beramendi to host another tour, and I can’t wait. This will be our fourth time leading this trip together, and like any good meal or conversation, each one has its own flavor.
The problem? There are just too many things we want you to experience. Too many incredible dishes we want you to taste. Too many fascinating people we can’t wait to introduce you to. Because this isn’t the Florence most visitors see. This is the Florence that belongs to Florentines—the one hidden behind heavy wooden doors, tucked inside private gardens, and found around tables where stories are passed along with the wine.
This is a tour that follows the thread of food through markets, trattorie, villas, countryside estates, and home kitchens. We’ll spend our days wandering, tasting, talking, and laughing. The pace will be relaxed, with time to enjoy every bite and every beautiful view.
If you follow me on Instagram or watch my videos, you probably already know Rolando. He wrote the gorgeous cookbook Autentico, and he’s such a regular in my stories that people sometimes assume we’re married! (We’re not, but I do love him.) Rolando has spent his life bringing Italian food to the U.S. If you’ve ever bought a bottle of really good olive oil or a perfect bag of artisanal pasta, chances are it came through his company, Manicaretti.
Florence has been Rolando’s home for most of the last 30 years, and lucky for us, he’s opening not just his doors, but those of his friends, for a small group of curious and hungry travelers.
My own love affair with Florence started years ago, when I lived there while working on my PhD dissertation on 16th-century garden architecture. I almost became an academic (really!), and during those years, I fell in love with parts of Florence that most people never see. On this tour, I’ll take you back to some of my favorite spots that—amazingly—are still there: my favorite market, a shop where they still make ceramics by hand, and the kitchen store I always return to. We’ll also dip into a few Medici palaces and private gardens, following the paths I once traced in my research.
We’ve chosen March for a reason: it’s quiet. The city feels more like itself. The tourists are few, the streets are calmer, and you get the sense that Florence is taking a deep breath before spring. That, to us, is the real luxury.
We’d love for you to join us.
Autentico Florence
with Rolando Beramendi & Elizabeth Minchilli
March 8-14, 2026
Our tour is based in Florence, where we’ll stay for six nights. March is the perfect time to visit—there are fewer tourists, and the weather is ideal for walking and (more importantly!) eating. We’ll be staying right across from Palazzo Strozzi at the extremely luxurious 5-star Helvetia & Bristol.
A few things we’ll be doing:
Bistecca Fiorentina dinner
Shopping and cooking lesson with Rolando in his neighborhood
Private visit to the Giardini Torrigiani with Count Torrigiani
Winery estate visit and wine pairing lunch in the private dining room at the Frescobaldi estate of Nipozzano.
Exclusive guided tour of the newly opened Royal Apartments of the Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
Private cooking class at one of the best restaurants in Florence with the owner
A day in the countryside learning about cooking on an open hearth
Private tour of the Etruscan Archeological Museum
Private tour of a Medici Villa and its 16th-century still-life collection
Shopping with Elizabeth in her favorite stores in the Santa Croce neighborhood
Visit to our favorite farmer’s market
Private presentation of the oldest photo archive in Florence
Dinner at a private palazzo and garden with a princess
And more…
This tour is six nights and five very full days—but don’t worry, there’s still time built in for you to explore on your own.
The tour is limited to 12 guests.
Want more details, including pricing and the full itinerary? Click below to learn more and sign up.
And here are a few videos from our past tours:
Can’t make it to Florence with us in March 2026? No worries. You can find our full schedule of tours here:
Most of our tours sell out quickly.
To be the first to hear about new dates, make sure you’re signed up as a paid subscriber to this newsletter. Paid subscribers always get early access to tour announcements.
I would love to take this tour but I have an apartment in Florence and don’t need hotel room .. Is it possible to take the tour without the accommodations? Thank you
Sandi Prentis