Culinary Time Travel in Tuscany

Spanning three weeks in July, the annual Archaeological Nights (Notti dell'Archeologia) program offers over 300 themed events including historic dinners and tastings

The 8th annual Notti dell'Archeologia program in Tuscany runs from July 5th through 27th this year. Among its many themed events are special late night openings of archaeological sites and museums, exhibits, talks, guided visits, archeo-hikes and educational activities.

But this year's program also features a number of Roman and Etruscan dinners and tastings which provide intriguing opportunities for some culinary time-travel:

• Etruscan Dinner at the Archaeological Museum of Colle di Val d’Elsa (Siena) on July 5th.
• An anusual aperitif based on Etruscan and Roman ingredients will follow two talks hosted by the Municipal Archaeological Museum in Orbetello (Grosseto) on July 5th and 13th.
• Three talks + dinner about The Tastes of Archaeology: Food, Customs and Conviviality in Ancient Times at the Archaeological Museum in Viareggio (Lucca) between July 8th and 12th.
• At table with the Etruscans, a themed visit to the Archaeological Museum in Fiesole (Florence) will be followed by an Etruscan dinner in the Archaeological Park on July 12th.
• Historical dinner in Piazza San Matteo at Montopoli Valdarno (Pisa) on July 12th.
• Etruscan banquet with actors in period costume at Pitigliano's (Grosseto) open-air Archaeological Museum on July 12th.
• Roman banquet featuring recipes from De re coquinaria by Marcus Gavius Apicius at 'I Lecci' Centre for Wine Culture in Montespertoli (Florence) on July 18th.
• Talk and workshop about Ancient Roman Cuisine with tastings and demonstrations of Roman customs and recipes in Gavorrano (Grosseto) on July 23rd.
• Roman games, shows and tastings of Roman recipes at the Museum of Rosignano Marittimo (Livorno) on Sunday 27th.