On a recent trip to Tuscany, I found myself with a little time to spare and immediately headed for one of my favorite butcher shops.

Founded in 1729, Macelleria Falorni is a Tuscan institution that sits in a vaulted arcade on the west side of the market square in Greve in Chianti.

The entrance is guarded by a slightly moth-eaten wild boar, that presumably succumbed to hunters several decades ago, together with a handsome butcher block that dates from 1780 and was in use until 1956. Once inside, it's clear why Falorni are proud of their heritage and what's more, the immediate charm of the place is matched by its cleanliness.