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Inclusions
· 6 breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 2 Dinners · 24 hour services of your Tour Director · Complimentary plush terry cloth robe & slippers · 6 nights at the Hotel Montebello in Florence · Transportation to and from all group activities · All entry fees to group activities · All tips for hotel staff, tour guides & drivers · A photograph portfolio of you and your travel mates in action on your tour to help remember your adventure for years to come
Highlights
· Small Groups · An invite to a private Italian home for a classic home cooked dinner · A guided walk through the shimmering olive groves, rolling hills and fields of wildflowers that reign over the Tuscan countryside · A chocolate tasting · A visit to a 400 year old pharmacy full of all natural perfumes, lotions and beauty products that still follow the same recipes perfected in the 1500s · A private Italian cooking lesson · Wine Tasting · Private tour of the Uffizi and other famous sites · An exclusive candlelit concert sung by an internationally esteemed baroque singer |
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~Our Most Charming Tour~
Be prepared to fall in love with Italy on our most charming tour ever. We have captured the Italy of novels, of movies and of your daydreams in this seven day tour. Based in the culturally rich city of Florence, we will spend our time divided between this fascinating history rich city and the tranquil medieval villages that surround it. |
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Seven Day Tuscany Itinerary
Day 0: Saturday Fly to Florence
Day 1: Sunday
Arrive in Florence
Evening: For centuries, the traditional evening passeggiata before dinner has been practiced throughout Italy. A leisurely stroll with the sole intention of seeing and being seen is a key component of living “La Dolce Vita”. Tonight we will gather to meet one another and enjoy a warm introduction to the city through our own passeggiata. We will wander the open air piazzas at sunset when everything turns a peachy hue as we make our way to dinner.
Evening Continued: Italians have a distinctly decadent streak, relishing nothing more than fine dining, a glass of wine and chatting with friends. Tonight we will join the Italians in focusing on the simple pleasures in life, indulging in style al fresco at a traditional Italian restaurant.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Monday
Morning/Afternoon: Tuscany is known for its breathtaking scenery and the daydreams it inspires. Today we will spend the whole day experiencing some of the best that Tuscany has to offer. We will enjoy a scenic walk (a very easy walk, at any time you can hop into a van) through its countryside of glorious sunflowers, sweet smelling basil fields and sparkling olive groves. You will be guided through hidden roads and ancient paths inaccessible by cars where you will be able to view panoramic views of the Tuscan & Chianti countryside. Wine tastings, medieval towns, a traditional lunch and unique shopping are but a few of the delights we will encounter today.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Tuesday
Morning/Afternoon: This morning we will explore some of Florence’s most famous sites. With a local guide we will walk the path of Michelangelo & Leonardo Di Vinci. Our guide will recount the tantalizing tales of past residents and their extravagant living. We will discover for ourselves how Florence became one of the greatest centers of art on Earth. Our tour will conclude with a stop at Western world’s most revered male beauty— the statue of David where we will learn about the multi faceted genius—Michelangelo.
Afternoon: One of the oldest pharmacies in the world resides in Florence. It was established in 1221 by Dominican fathers as a garden to cultivate the herbs they needed to prepare medications, balms and creams for the monastery’s little infirmary. 400 years later the Grand Duke, Fernando I di Medici gave the Dominicans permission to open their little store to the public. A century later their herbal secrets became internationally renowned. We will visit this beautiful ornate scent filled pharmacy, where you are free to browse, sample and purchase the all natural perfumes, lotions and beauty products that still follow the same recipes perfected in the 1500s.
Evening: One of the most picturesque moments of all in Florence is strolling the floodlit streets at night when everything from the Duomo to the Uffizi takes on even greater drama. Tonight is a perfect opportunity for you to wander the illuminated town. Cross the Ponte Vecchio and watch the Arno river flow below you.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4: Wednesday
Morning/Afternoon:
The masterpieces of Italy extend far beyond its museum walls and into the reaches of every family kitchen. The simple act of cooking and dining together with the family is a great source of pleasure in the Italian household. Today we head to a private cooking lesson with a chef who will reveal the secrets of Italian cooking that have been passed down for generations. We will spend the day learning how to prepare some classic dishes and the brave ones among us—serenading us with their favorite opera. After being instructed on the preparation of our meal we will then enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Afternoon Continued: One of the most appealing aspects about famous works of art is not simply their beauty but rather the story behind their beauty. Today when we visit the Uffizi Gallery our private guide will bring the past alive, we will hear about the life of the beautiful and famous model in Botticelli’s famous “Birth of a Venus” painting. Learn how Michelangelo outsmarted a famous skinflint and why specific works of art were created.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5: Thursday
Morning: Chocolate has been called a “sin” by some, but if it is, how could it exist and thrive (Baci!!) in a country imbedded in religion? Even though Tuscany’s wine has shaped its reputation throughout the world, chocolate is also a world famous treat produced in Italy’s heartland. This morning we will journey to a family run chocolate factory to discover the origins of chocolate, have secret recipes revealed and indulge in rich dark unforgettable creations.
Morning Continued: The present will slip away and the past come alive. As we continue our drive through the beautiful Tuscany countryside we will come upon the ancient village of Lari where we will visit its 14th century castle.
Afternoon: Lunch will be at a quaint farm house where we will be able to taste all the region’s specialties capped off with area’s special drink—a sweet cherry liquor.
Afternoon: What would Italy be without pasta? We will unearth the reason behind this country’s love affair with pasta at a famous family run pasta factory. You will find yourself surprised at the traditional pasta making techniques and later rewarded with a package of fresh made pasta to take home with you.
Afternoon/Early Evening: We will turn you loose for a little free time exploration in the town of Pisa. Marvel at its famous tower, wander the local shops or just relax on a shady bench and soak up the atmosphere.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6: Friday
Morning: Enjoy a relaxing morning—sleep in, take a long bath and then head to Piazza della Signoria, the heart of Florence. Take a seat at one of the outdoor cafes that line the square, order a Caffe-Choc (espresso laced with pure bitter chocolate) and pass the morning admiring the open-air museum that makes up the square or simply by watching the world go by.
Evening: The most magical and memorable way to truly understand the Italian way of life is to be invited into an Italian’s home—and tonight we will given this honor. We will begin our evening with a scenic drive through the Chianti region to a 14th century monastery located in the heart of a winery estate, where we will enjoy a private wine tasting. We will then continue on to a private 6000 acre estate just outside of Florence were we will be welcomed by the owner with an apertivio and later a traditional home cooked Tuscan meal. After dinner depending on the season, we will either gather outside on the terrace or inside around the glow of the fireplace and enjoy an exclusive concert by an internationally esteemed baroque singer.
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Saturday Depart for home.
Meal: Breakfast
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Wildflowers in Tuscany |
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Michelangelo’s David |
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Tuscan Restaurant |
