From Mount Amiata to Montepulciano, Tuscany boasts a charming yet illustrious landscape full of vineyards, rolling hills and quaint architecture. True to Italian culture, food is a centerpiece of everyday life in the region, from simple margherita pizzas to complex varieties of gelato ice cream. If you're staying in one of the region's many luxurious Tuscan villas, you could find yourself in the midst of a food-lover's paradise.

At the Trattoria La Casalinga in Florence, those renting villas in Italy will have hundreds of unique dishes to choose from, whether they want pasta, cured meat or delicious small bites such as marinated olives. First-time Tuscan visitors need not be overwhelmed by the bevy of options, as the servers are more than happy to recommend their favorite dishes.

If you're looking for a culinary adventure, don't hesitate to order arrabbiata (angry pasta), which is a popular dish among locals and features red-hot spices that only the bravest foodies can tolerate. Meat-lovers will have a feast if they ask for the alla fiorentina, which is served extremely rare and bloody.

Tuscany is a relatively small region, about the size of Massachusetts, and yet it has inspired artists, poets and chefs for centuries, resulting in an amazing vacation for visitors from around the world.