Discovering Italy Through The Trend For Social Dining

Many would say that food is a universal social language. What better way to discover a new destination than by meeting up with the locals and eating together? Here are some ways you can embark on a cultural immersion experience by dining at the home of a local.

Exploring Florence From the Eyes of A Local

Picture this: traditional-looking homes line the cobblestoned pathway ahead of you. You make your way down the street, stopping in front of a home with a colorful door with intricate carvings on it. The owner, a genial-looking man in his thirties, welcomes you warmly and gestures enthusiastically for you to enter. Upon stepping into his home, you discern a fragrant aroma wafting out of the kitchen.
‘Here, have one,’ says the man, who introduces himself as Andrea, before thrusting a plate filled with crisp crostini romani towards you. ‘It’s excellent,’ he adds with a wink.
You take a bite of the bread, fresh flavours of anchovies and provola exploding in your mouth. He is right – it is excellent, and so are the rest of the dishes that follow. A simple spaghetti with garlic and chilli peppers, and an appetising dish of meatballs cooked in tangy tomato sauce. An intriguing-looking dessert, one that you have never seen or heard of before, rounds out the meal. Shaped like a sausage, cut into thin slices, and laid out on delicate porcelain plates, Andrea explains, ‘It’s sweet salami and hazelnut cream. You must try this!’
Throughout dinner, conversation flows smoothly. A native of Florence, Andrea shares about how it was like to grow up in the city. He tells you of places that only the locals know about, and regales you with fascinating tales about the history of his country.
‘What are your plans for tomorrow?’ Andrea asks after the meal. ‘If you like wines, you should definitely join in a wine-tasting tour. Florentine and Tuscan wines are famous around the world, especially those produced from the vineyards in the Chianti Classico region.’
He then proceeds on to share about must-see sights in the city, including well-known attractions such as the Piazzale Michelangelo, Piazza della Signoria and the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, as well as hangouts frequented by the locals.
As the night draws to an end, you part ways, happy to have made a new-found friend in a city that you are visiting for the first time, and to discover interesting insights on the lives of the locals in Italy. It was almost as if you had just read an engaging travel guide book, weaved together from a compilation of personal stories and experiences of the locals in the country.

A Rising Travel Trend: Meal Sharing Experiences

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.