It’s often said that nothing compares to eating a croissant or a pain au chocolate in France, or a delicious panettone in Italy. For this reason, we’re not surprised that foodie-travel is on the rise.
For fellow food lovers, we’ve handpicked some of our favourite destinations for gourmet dining, with an emphasis on pastry dishes. If the sweet smell of a baked tart or a freshly sliced flaky treat is calling, then it’s time to book a villa in France or Italy, and get ready for some gastronomic treats! There’s nowhere else better…
From the native north to the seductive south and all that’s in between, France has an eclectic and world-renowned menu of pastry dishes to surprise and delight the senses.
Famed for its great vineyards, Bordeaux is a must-visit for anyone wanting to uncover great food, including its renowned sausages and local wine. As you explore the region from your Italian villa, be sure to take time out to swing by one of its farmers markets. Marche des Capucins is one of the best in the entire region, with mouth-watering pastries on show, including locally made vanilla bites of canelé that you came for.
With fishing villages, superyachts and golden beaches, the South of France brings a smorgasbord of baked delights for those lucky enough to visit. A Saint-Tropez villa is the only way to stay, especially with gourmet kitchens for rustling up dishes from your local food finds.
It would be rude not to visit one of the many Michelin star restaurants in the region, where you can easily find one of the countries most loved pastry dishes: mille-feuille. Translated as ‘thousand leaf’ it perfectly encapsulates this puff pastry layer of loveliness.
In stark contrast to the sunny south, the Alpine region of the French Alps is as known for its great snacks and treats as it is snow.
Here the pastries are sweet and delicious, giving you a sugary boost for all those slopes you’ll be taking on. Be sure to pick up a local bugne or perhaps a slice of tart, you’ll need to keep your energy up after all!
There are two prerequisites for the perfect Tuscan vacation – the first is your very own Tuscany villa rental, the second is to pull up to an unassuming café in one of its many plazas to enjoy the regions delights. Amble down from your luxury villa rental and you’ll find lots of local shops, bars and cafes awaiting your arrival. Here’s the place to try a traditional Tuscan cake (Schiaccia alla campigliese) washed down with a glass of sweet dessert wine. Bellissimo!
The pizza, the pasta, the gelato… just when you thought Italy couldn’t get any better, you discover panettone. This light and fruity cake is another level in Rome, and there’s no end of artisan shops to stock up.
Tear yourself away from your villa rental for a day and head to Stefania Innocenti’s Trastevere bakery, a local favourite since 1940.
Is it time to take a pastry trip to France and Italy? If so, be sure to check out luxury villa deals at Global Luxury Villas.
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