Southern Tuscany is one of the most beautiful areas in all of Italy, with hilltop villages, rolling hills of grain, thermal springs, and… it’s full of excellent food!
Skip leafing through guidebooks, reading restaurant recommendations, or scrolling through feeds and forums – learn all you need to know about the southern Tuscan food experience right here! Discover what you should eat in southern Tuscany, based on my experience living here for over ten years.
These are my top foods to try while visiting southern Tuscany, whether you’re dining in a family-run trattoria, a high-end Michelin restaurant, or at a tavola calda. I’ve also included my favorite restaurants in southern Tuscany to try each dish, and I’ve eaten at all of my recommended spots.
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Pici
Where To Try It: Trattoria della Pace (Celle Sul Rigo)
Pici are a kind of thick hand-rolled spaghetti from Southern Tuscany and most famously from Celle Sul Rigo, a small town in the Val D’Orcia.
They are either served in a garlicky tomato sauce, called aglione (vegan), or a rich meat ragu.
Make It: Pici pasta is one of the easiest pasta dishes to recreate at home with step-by-step instructions in my Pici Pasta Recipe.
Tagliata di Manzo
Where To Try It: Godimento del Vino (Montepulciano)
La tagliata is a grilled cut from the Chianina cows that are bred in southern Tuscany.
This is oftentimes the same breed from which the famous bistecca fiorentina is taken.
Usually, the beef is cooked rare, sliced thinly on an angle, and served on a bed of arugula.
Carne Alla Brace
Where To Try It: Dopolavoro La Foce (La Foce)
Southern Tuscany loves its pork and beef, especially in the beautiful Valdichiana and Val D’Orcia, where breeding cattle and pigs plays a vital role in the local economy.
The best way to really taste the meat is to try it simply grilled over coals, drizzled with olive oil.
Typically, una grigliata mista will have a bit of everything, including ribs, sausages, and some cut of either beef or pork.
Restaurant Etiquette: If you are dining out in Italy, you may want to read
Tipping In Italy
What Is A Coperto?
A Visitor’s Guide To Eating In Italy
Coniglio
Where To Try It: Da Nilo (Cetona)
Rabbit is a must-try in southern Tuscany, where it’s easy to hunt. Look for it grilled, fried, or my favorite, deboned.
Pecorino Cheese
Where To Try It: Cugusi cheese farm (Between Montepulciano and Pienza)
Pecorino cheese is a sheep’s milk cheese that is made throughout all of Tuscany, but it has become particularly famed from Pienza.
You can find cheese plates or taglieri at any kind of eatery in southern Tuscany, which will often be served with several varieties of local pecorino, jams, honey, and other accompanying flavors like figs or walnuts.
Insalata del Campo
Where To Try It: Osteria del Leone (Bagno Vignoni)
Insalata del campo means “wild greens salad” and is a staple in southern Tuscany where wild greens such as chicory, wild chard, and dandelions grow in just about any sunny spot, including in sidewalk cracks.
These greens are tossed in a light vinaigrette and make the perfect side dish to grilled meats.
If you ever see an elderly Italian woman on the side of the road with a bag in hand, she is probably foraging for these!
Sformato di Verdure
Where To Try It: La Briciola (Montepulciano)
A sformato di verdure is a savory vegetable flan made with seasonal vegetables.
This dish is one of the best things to try in southern Tuscany if you are vegetarian in Italy. My favorites are made with spinach or carrots.
Pappardelle Al Sugo di Cinghiale
Where To Try It: La Fontanella (San Casciano dei Bagni)
Pappardelle al sugo di cinghiale is a classic Tuscan dish made from egg pasta served in a rich tomato-based wild boar sauce.
Hunting these enormous beasts is more than a sport in this neck of the woods, making it one of the most popular and best foods to try in southern Tuscany.
Castagne
Where To Try Them: Monte Amiata
Castagne, or chestnuts, grow extremely well on the Amiata Mountain in southern Tuscany, making them one of the top foods to try in the fall.
You will find them in soups, stews, salads, incorporated into desserts, and simply sold roasted as snacks.
Affettati Misti
Where To Try It: Pane Vino & Zucchero (Pienza)
Affettati misti is a platter of mixed cured meats or charcuterie board that is well worth trying if you are in southern Tuscany because you are likely to find cured meats, sausages, and local cuts that are particular to this area.
Popular meats are capocollo, lonza, and salsiccia di cinghiale. Most of what you will sample is made from pork, as it’s one of the more popular meats served in southern Tuscany.
To learn more about Southern Tuscany, be sure to check out
Things To Do In Montalcino – A Local’s Guide
My Favorite Montalcino Restaurants
Montalcino Wineries
Montepulciano, Italy – A Traveler’s Guide
Montepulciano Vineyards You Should Visit
Best Takeout Lunch Spots in Montepulciano
Things To Do In Montepulciano With Kids
Which Is Better To Visit In Southern Tuscany – Montepulciano or Montalcino?
San Casciano dei Bagni – What To See And Where To Eat
A Local’s Guide To Cetona
