In 2026 travelers are prioritizing hands-on culinary experiences over passive dining to gain a deeper glimpse into a destination’s culture.
With Tuscany’s truffle season underway, this growing interest for immersive food travel is front and center and Grand Hotel Minerva in Florence is responding in a meaningful way. The property goes beyond the usual tasting menu and connects guests to expert truffle hunters themselves.
- About an hour from Florence, Savini Tartufi offers a private experience that starts with a briefing on how truffles grow, their relationship with trees, and how dogs are trained to find them.
- Guests then spend 1.5 to 2 hours in the woods hunting before sitting down to a full truffle-focused lunch—think tagliolini with fresh seasonal truffle, fried eggs with truffle, truffle pecorino, bruschetta, and even a truffle dessert.
- Closer to the hotel, about 20 minutes away, Giulio “The Truffle Hunter” hosts a four-hour experience that includes an introduction at his home, a walk in the woods with his dogs, and a relaxed truffle lunch served at his house.
