This month's trip of a lifetime
Fancy a super-indulgent getaway before Christmas? Then we can heartily recommend a trip to Tuscany's White Truffle Festival, which takes place on three consecutive weekends from 15-16 to 29-30 November.
The foodie extravaganza is held in the picturesque medieval village of San Miniato, situated in the lower Arno valley, halfway between Pisa and Florence. The scenery is fabulous - dramatic hills, a stunning cathedral and breathtaking palaces - but the food is arguably even better.
San Miniato's massive mushrooms are famous throughout Italy and currently hold the world record for the largest ever white truffle. The usually elusive truffles are found in abundance for visitors. As you'd expect, they're available in pretty much every dish imaginable during the festival: you can eat them as a raw delicacy or as part of a silky risotto, for example. Delicious!
The festival's been hailed as "the ultimate mushroom experience" - but as well as the stalls and displays showcasing fantastic funghi, there are plenty of local cheeses and gorgeous, melt-in-the-mouth chocolates on offer.
And if you're looking for somewhere to stay in the area, the stunning Borgo di Colleoli is just a short drive away from San Miniato. An old 23-acre olive estate and vineyard, the Borgo is now home to Il Palazzo, a luxurious villa with spacious apartments and an award-winning restaurant. And yes, it does have truffles on the menu...
The estate also boasts two large swimming pools - one of which is heated - plus an all-mod-cons gym is set to open before the end of the year.
Studio suites cost from 120 euros (around £95) per night excluding breakfast. All feature air conditioning, satellite TV and a DVD player. To find out more, go to www.ilpalazzocolleoli.com.
