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ITINERARY
Day
1
We arrive at the Florence airport and spend the day discovering the magnificent
art, history and medieval enchantment of Florence. There is no city on
earth like Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance. Our Florentine guide
takes us to the fabulous Duomo, Campanile and Baptistry, the Piazza della
Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio and the Ponte Vecchio. When your feet are
tired you can relax in a trattoria with a capuccino, a glass of Prosecco,
or one of the best gelatos in the world. In the evening we enjoy a sumptuous
gourmet Tuscan dinner.
Day 2-3
Today we head south through the wine country to the region of Montalcino.
At a beautiful Montalcino winery we take a tour that ends with a wine
tasting lunch. Then we take a drive through the Tuscan hills to our home
for the next three days-- a dream of an old Tuscan villa, surrounded by
hills and vineyards. Our host is Bianca, warm and friendly and a fabulous
cook. Each evening Bianca prepares us wonderful multi-course dinners using
only ingredients grown on her farm. Nearby is the Orvieto wine region
where we visit the ancient town of Orvieto. Our guide shows us the famous
Duomo (cathedral) with its unusual green and white marble stripes, and
then we explore the medieval quarter, its picturesque narrow streets filled
with enticing restaurants and boutiques selling the famed Orvieto ceramics.
Day 4
This morning we visit the beautiful hilltop wine town of Montepulciano
with its winding cobblestone streets lined with tempting wine shops. We
sample the excellent local wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, in an ancient
winery whose cellars are underneath a 14th century palace. Next we stop
in the tiny town of Pienza to pick up some groceries for our picnic. If
the wine shops of Montepulciano didn't satisfy you, the gourmet food shops
of Pienza will! The picturesque streets are lined with every type of heavenly
culinary boutique imaginable. We take home with us several types of local
pecorino cheeses, Tuscan breads, extra-virgin olive oil flavored with
wild herbs, a number of creative antipasti plates and of course the irresistible
bruschetta. After our picnic Bianca presides over an authentic Tuscan
cooking class, and this evening we dine on our own culinary masterpieces.
Day 5
After a sad arrivederci to Bianca and her family, we drive into the heart
of Umbria where our hotel for the next three nights is a beautiful old
palace in the magical hilltop town of Spello. After lunch on our rooftop
overlooking the lush hills of Umbria, our guide Marco takes us on a tour
of Umbria's ancient capital Perugia. This is a lively city full of university
students, trattorias, shops, and beautiful historic buildings. We end
our tour with a gelato on the main square and then return to Spello. Dinner
tonight is at a local restaurant with outstanding gourmet regional cuisine.
Day 6
Today Marco takes us to Assisi to visit the great Basilica di San Francesco
and sublime paintings and walk through the charming town. After lunch
we visit the nearby wine town of Montefalco. This region has recently
been acclaimed for its award winning wines and also its olive oil. The
"Olive Oil Ladies" tell us their secrets of longevity through
their miracle olive oil and show us the ancient press still in use. We
return to Spello for another wonderful dinner.
Day 7
Today we visit Umbria's largest winery and the prestigious wine and olive
oil museums of Torgiano. We enjoy a six course gourmet lunch, and then
walk off our calories by shopping for local pottery.
Day
8-9
Returning to Tuscany, we follow a road winding up through terraces of
vines and olives to the hill town of Cortona, celebrated in Frances Mayes'
Under the Tuscan Sun. After lunch in this delightful medieval town, we
drive to the heart of the beautiful Chianti wine region, where we spend
the next two nights in a lovely country inn looking out over the hills.
Surrounded by vineyards, our base in Castellina in Chianti is ideal for
visiting the wineries that produce the famous Chianti Classico wine. The
next day we take a guided walking tour of the ancient city of Siena, which
is a dazzling maze of medieval streets, churches, shops, and the beautiful
Piazza del Campo. Siena's striking cathedral is a marvel. Dating from
the 12th century, its majestic pillars, mosaics, and light and dark marble
bands are breathtaking. After our fill of sightseeing we return to the
Chianti hills to visit a local winery and sample their finest. Tonight's
dinner is a true gourmet feast.
Day
10-11
Today we head for the fairyland medieval town of San Gimignano. For two
days we explore the ancient streets, mysterious medieval towers, and beautiful
squares, monuments and palaces. We take a side trip to the fascinating
Etruscan hilltop town of Volterra, once a Stone Age settlement, where
we see Etruscan ruins dating back thousands of years. Our gourmet farewell
dinner is a night to remember.
Day
12
This morning we drive to Pisa to see that magical Leaning Tower and its
magnificent cathedral. We continue to the Ligurian coast and check into
our lovely hotel on the sea in Lerici, our gateway to explore the enchanting
villages of the Cinque Terre. Relax in your room with its view of the
sea, take a stroll on the beach, or explore the town of Lerici. After
a fresh seafood dinner, you will fall asleep to the sound of the waves
outside your window.
Day
13
Today we take a boat from village to village to understand what the beauty
and mystery of the land of Cinque Terre means. Hikers can enjoy a magnificent
walk with incredible views while others can relax at a trattoria on the
harbor. We return to Lerici by boat for a relaxing dinner and evening
stroll.
Day
14
Spend the morning relaxing on the waterfront or exploring Lerici. Next
we leave the coast and arrive in time for lunch in the charming Tuscan
town of Lucca. We check into our hotel and take a walking tour of this
ancient friendly town. We enjoy a last Tuscan farewell feast before retiring.
Day
15
After breakfast we head for the airport for our return flight.
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