Sunday at the Village
Seeing the Tuscan countryside has been a dream of mine for quite some time. I've lived in Verona, visited the Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, and Milan, and nowhere else in Italy quite captures the essence of Tuscany. So following our stay in the ultra-chic Forte dei Marmi, my mother and I spent the majority of our trip nestled into the hills under the Tuscan sun.
In researching the trip, I stumbled upon so many quaint villages and extraordinary restaurants. But this festive lunch won my heart from the name alone: La Domenica del Villaggio—The Sunday in the Village. This special event takes place at Castello di Casole, a Belmond Hotel, and recreates a traditional village lunch for guests, complete with music, food, and culture in the castle's former courtyard. The moment I read about it, I knew exactly what I would wear: a vintage Oscar de la Renta dress I'd been saving for something truly special. A belted mini with a neutral chinoiserie print, paired with a headband made from the hemmed scraps. After six years of waiting, I'd finally found the right occasion. And the forty-five-minute drive was absolutely worth it.
The grounds alone are spectacular. I recommend arriving early for a walk through the gardens. Once settled at our adorable red-and-white checkered tablecloth table, my mother made a beeline for the grilled meats and vegetables while I secured a plate of cheese tortellini with shaved black truffles. The selection was overwhelming: cold cuts, antipasti, wood-fired pizzas, a cheese board, a prosciutto stand, an arancini station, a gelateria. It felt less like lunch and more like stepping into a dream of Italy itself.
We were seated right by the live music, and we swayed to old Italian folk songs as my mother danced in her chair like she was at a nightclub. Pure joy, all under the Tuscan sun. After we'd eaten our fill, we browsed the vendor stalls—local artists selling paintings, handmade handbags, toys, and beautifully crafted dresses. The kind of details you don't forget.
I'd discovered a similar evening event at Borgo Vescine on Friday nights, but the dates didn't align with our schedule. This Sunday lunch, however, was worth the journey from our hotel near Siena—and it became my mother's favorite moment of the entire trip. If you're in Tuscany, contact the hotel concierge directly to book. It's the kind of experience that reminds you why you came to Italy in the first place: not to see it, but to live it.
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