Tastes & Traditions of Tuscany: 10 Day Detailed Itinerary
Day 0
Leave the US for Italy, arriving one day later.
Day 1
Arrive at the agriturismo, La Montalla and settle into our rooms. A welcome dinner in the dinning room and a chance to meet your hosts and tour guide and review the tour ahead.
Day 2
Today we will visit The Fattoria dei Barbi winery and learn about their patented system of vinification. One of the first to produce a “Super Tuscan,” they continue to be leaders in innovation. After lunch we drive to the Abbey of Sant’Antimo. This beautiful Romanesque church dates back to the 12th century and, if our timing is right, we will hear the Gregorian chant by the monks.
Day 3
Today we will spend the morning exploring the shops, artisan studios, churches and museums of Montepulciano. After lunch we will visit the vineyard and cellar of Romeo for a tour and tasting of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and other excellent wines produced by this cellar.
Day 4
After breakfast we will take a short walk into the village of Contignano. Here our host, Giuseppe, will give us a tour of his family’s historical cellar and tell us the fascinating history of his town and the Val d'Orcia area. We will explore the village and then return to La Montalla to board our van for a ride to the estate of La Foce and lunch at the historic Dopolavoro restaurant. We will have a private tour of the La Foce Estate of Iris Origo and her husband the Marchese Antonio Origo. The beautiful gardens were designed in the 1930’s by Iris and renowned garden architect, Cecil Pincent.
Day 5
We drive north to the city of Siena. Our expert guide, Francesca, will lead us on a walking tour through the maze of Medieval streets, bringing the culture and history of this fascinating town alive for us.
Day 6
Today we will have a private tour of the vineyard and cellar of Casanova di Neri. We will see the production, barrel ageing and bottling processes and learn how the different “terriors” influence flavor and texture of these unique wines. After lunch we will have an opportunity to explore the Renaissance village Pienza. In the late afternoon will drive to Podere il Casale, an organic farm and restaurant. We will have a hands on pizza making lesson, a farm tour and then bake our own pizza creations into the huge, wood burning oven. We will enjoy our pizzas as part of a larger meal in the rustic dinning room.
Day 7
A trip to the hill town of Radicofani is on the agenda today. We will explore this charming village, sip a coffee in the piazza and then drive to the hill top to explore the historic fortress, where it is said the infamous brigand, Ghino di Tacco, once lived. We will lunch at the restaurant near the fortress with an expansive view of the Val d'Orcia far below.
Day 8
Ah, a day to relax and soak in the thermal waters of Bagni Vignoni at the spa of Hotel Posta Marcucci, perhaps followed by a massage. After returning to La Montalla we will be treated to lessons in traditional Tuscan cooking and then eat what we have prepared.
Day 9
We drive south to Pitigliano, a village rising up out of the tufa cliffs. There are evidences of Etruscan habitation and it is sometimes referred to as "Little Jerusalem" because of centuries of a flourishing Jewish community with stories of the Jews escaping capture by the Nazis with the help of their Christian neighbors.
Day 10
Today we have an opportunity to visit fascinating Etruscan Tombs and then the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Chiusi, one of the major museums of Etruscan artifacts in Italy. This is one of the areas of Tuscany of great significance of ancient Etruria, where the Etruscans lived from the 9th to the 1st century BC. This is our last full day together and tonight Enza will prepare an arrivederci dinner for us at La Fattoria Bellandi in Contignano.
Day 00
Our driver will deliver us to train station to board the train back to the airport or for more travel in Italy.
Day 0
Leave the US for Italy, arriving one day later.
Day 1
Arrive at the agriturismo, La Montalla and settle into our rooms. A welcome dinner in the dinning room and a chance to meet your hosts and tour guide and review the tour ahead.
Day 2
Today we will visit The Fattoria dei Barbi winery and learn about their patented system of vinification. One of the first to produce a “Super Tuscan,” they continue to be leaders in innovation. After lunch we drive to the Abbey of Sant’Antimo. This beautiful Romanesque church dates back to the 12th century and, if our timing is right, we will hear the Gregorian chant by the monks.
Day 3
Today we will spend the morning exploring the shops, artisan studios, churches and museums of Montepulciano. After lunch we will visit the vineyard and cellar of Romeo for a tour and tasting of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and other excellent wines produced by this cellar.
Day 4
After breakfast we will take a short walk into the village of Contignano. Here our host, Giuseppe, will give us a tour of his family’s historical cellar and tell us the fascinating history of his town and the Val d'Orcia area. We will explore the village and then return to La Montalla to board our van for a ride to the estate of La Foce and lunch at the historic Dopolavoro restaurant. We will have a private tour of the La Foce Estate of Iris Origo and her husband the Marchese Antonio Origo. The beautiful gardens were designed in the 1930’s by Iris and renowned garden architect, Cecil Pincent.
Day 5
We drive north to the city of Siena. Our expert guide, Francesca, will lead us on a walking tour through the maze of Medieval streets, bringing the culture and history of this fascinating town alive for us.
Day 6
Today we will have a private tour of the vineyard and cellar of Casanova di Neri. We will see the production, barrel ageing and bottling processes and learn how the different “terriors” influence flavor and texture of these unique wines. After lunch we will have an opportunity to explore the Renaissance village Pienza. In the late afternoon will drive to Podere il Casale, an organic farm and restaurant. We will have a hands on pizza making lesson, a farm tour and then bake our own pizza creations into the huge, wood burning oven. We will enjoy our pizzas as part of a larger meal in the rustic dinning room.
Day 7
A trip to the hill town of Radicofani is on the agenda today. We will explore this charming village, sip a coffee in the piazza and then drive to the hill top to explore the historic fortress, where it is said the infamous brigand, Ghino di Tacco, once lived. We will lunch at the restaurant near the fortress with an expansive view of the Val d'Orcia far below.
Day 8
Ah, a day to relax and soak in the thermal waters of Bagni Vignoni at the spa of Hotel Posta Marcucci, perhaps followed by a massage. After returning to La Montalla we will be treated to lessons in traditional Tuscan cooking and then eat what we have prepared.
Day 9
We drive south to Pitigliano, a village rising up out of the tufa cliffs. There are evidences of Etruscan habitation and it is sometimes referred to as "Little Jerusalem" because of centuries of a flourishing Jewish community with stories of the Jews escaping capture by the Nazis with the help of their Christian neighbors.
Day 10
Today we have an opportunity to visit fascinating Etruscan Tombs and then the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Chiusi, one of the major museums of Etruscan artifacts in Italy. This is one of the areas of Tuscany of great significance of ancient Etruria, where the Etruscans lived from the 9th to the 1st century BC. This is our last full day together and tonight Enza will prepare an arrivederci dinner for us at La Fattoria Bellandi in Contignano.
Day 00
Our driver will deliver us to train station to board the train back to the airport or for more travel in Italy.