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Tuscany Food & Wine
Tour Duration : 8 day, 6 night itinerary
Tour Category : Cooking Tours, Cooking School
 Program include most
meals, 4 days of car rental, half day private guide tour service in
Siena , 3 appointments with local producers of wine, oil
and cheese, entrance fees to Accademia of Fine Arts in Florence
which houses the famous statue of David by Michelangelo. Truly a culinary experience
and an excellent opportunity to visit the incomparable Tuscan countryside and
ancient hill towns behind the wheel of car.
INCLUSIONS
- Roundtrip economy class air travel from selected
city
- 4 days car rental category B with Maggiore (manual)
- 4 nights accommodations at Villa Belvedere in
Colle Val D'Elsa
- 2 nights accommodations in a 3-star hotel in Florence
- 3 cooking classes followed by a light lunch
- 3 appointments at Enoteca & local producers
of typical products
- Reservation and Entrance fees at the Academia
- Half-day private guide service in Siena
- Continental or buffet breakfast daily (hotel’s
choice)
- Transfer by private car from the Hotel in Florence
to the Airport
ITINERARY
Day 01 - U.S.A.-Florence
Departure from USA to Florence by scheduled service. Dinner and beverages
will be served on board.
Day 02 - Chianti Wine Region
Arrival to Florence airport where you will pick up your rental car
and drive the short distance to Colle Val D’Elsa in the heart of the Chianti
wine region. Check in to the Villa Belvedere, an ancient 17th century
villa which, has been converted to a cozy country styled inn. The remainder
of the day is at your leisure to rest, relax by the pool, or begin to
explore your surroundings on your own. This evening you’ll enjoy a typically
Tuscan dinner at the hotel.
Day 03 - Chianti Wine Region-Siena
Following breakfast, this morning you’ll begin your Italian cooking
lessons in the kitchen along with your chef. A general introduction to
the fresh ingredients which are the key to Italian cooking along with
the preparation of a variety of appetizers and a discussion of local wine
accompaniments. Following the lesson you will enjoy lunch featuring some
of the dishes that you’ve just helped to prepare and the local wine that
accompany them. After lunch you’ll be given driving directions for the
short distance to the city of Siena. This medieval city is filled with
art treasures and you will have an opportunity to see them unveiled to
you by your private art historian and guide. You will begin at the Piazzo
del Campo, one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe with its
Palazzo Pubblico - the civic center of the city. Afterwards, your guide
will take you on foot to the spectacular Cathedral, begun in the late
1200’s. It is one of the most complex and interesting artistic structures
in Italy. Inside you will see several masterpieces including one of the
Renaissance’s most unknown jewels, the Piccolomini Library by Pintoricchio.
This evening you have an appointment at the Enoteca Italiana, a medieval
fortress which creates a unique atmosphere to view and savor wines from
all over Italy but especially the famed Chianti and Tuscan wines. This
evening you are free to dine wherever you’d like.
 Day 04 - Chianti Wine Region
Today we begin our cooking lessons with the art of making fresh Italian
pasta and the creation of local sauces made from only the freshest ingredients.
Following your lesson an aperitive will be served in the garden followed
by lunch which will be served in the restaurant and again you will have
the pleasure to enjoy tasting what you’ve just prepared and will have
a much better appreciation of the art of Italian cuisine. This afternoon
we’ve made an appointment for you to visit a local producer of wine and
olive oil. You’ll have a chance to taste a few of the wines and learn
something about their production. If you enjoy the wines and oil you’ll
find them packaged and ready for transport if you’d like to take some
home with you. This evening is at your leisure to explore the Tuscany
countryside on your own.
Day 05 - Chianti Wine Region-San Gimignano
This morning’s lesson finishes with a variety of main courses known
in Italian as “secondi” as well as the final touch of any good meal, the
desserts followed by lunch and local wines. This afternoon we’ve made
an appointment for you to visit a local cheese producer in the nearby
town of San Gimignano. You’ll have a chance to try two local favorites,
Pecorino Toscano and ricotta and to learn about the process of making
these fine cheeses. Spend some time browsing the medieval village of San
Gimignano famous for its 7 towers and products of wild boar. This evening
is at your leisure to dine where you please.
Day 06 - Chianti Wine Region-Florence
This morning you will be drive the short distance to Florence, drop
off your rental car and check into your hotel. This afternoon we have
made you a reservation to visit the famed Academia of Fine Arts which
houses the original statue of David by Michelangelo along with some of
his unfinished sculptures. The remainder of the day and evening are at
your leisure to explore this Renaissance city on your own.
Day 07 - Florence
The morning is at your leisure to either visit the Uffizi Gallery
famous for its Renaissance painting collection, shop the open-air flea
market of San Lorenzo or the boutiques along the Ponte Vecchio. This afternoon
you may take an optional tour to visit the charming town of Pisa. This
evening you are free to dine wherever you’d like and savor the cuisine,
which makes this city so unique.
Day 08 - Florence-U.S.A.
This morning you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred by
private car with an English speaking driver to the Florence airport in
time for your departure flight home.
*Itinerary is based on inclusion of airfare. The actual tour of Italy
starts on Day 2. Land package can be bought separately but will not include
transfers to/from airport (click on 'exclude airfare' for land-only pricing)
| Cost of Tour |
Villa Belvedere &
3 Star Hotel |
| From |
To |
Price (Prices quoted without airfare)
|
| 11/1/02 |
12/12/02 |
$1,208.00 |
| 12/13/02 |
12/24/02 |
$1,208.00 |
| 12/25/02 |
2/28/03 |
$1,208.00 |
| 3/1/03 |
3/26/03 |
$1,386.00 |
| 3/27/03 |
3/31/03 |
$1,386.00 |
| 4/1/03 |
6/12/03 |
$1,386.00 |
| 6/13/03 |
9/4/03 |
$1,386.00 |
| 9/5/03 |
10/31/03 |
$1,386.00 |
| *price
per person in double occupancy ONLY; weekend surcharges, airport taxes/fees
not included; holidays may effect rates |
Note: Tour and Tour Information are subject to change.
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