Enogastronomy and tastes of Tuscany : culinary vacation, cooking classes, wine & oil tours, special tastings

Flavours and scents of Tuscany

Versilia, Pisa, Lucca, Cinque Terre, Firenze, Siena and Chianti
gastronomy & wine tastings

1. DAY
Pisa

Arrival in Pisa in late morning.
Light lunch and tour in downtown: Pisa is one of the most visited cities of Tuscany, through its Leaning Tower and its magnificent Square of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli), world heritage of UNESCO, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful monumental complex in the world. You will find 4 masterpieces of medieval architecture from the 11th to the 14th century tower, the cathedral (il Duomo), the Baptistery and the Monumental Building Camposanto.

Departure for Viareggio, accommodation in the confortable country house with swimming pool and spa area, the welcome drink and dinner on site.

In the evening visit to a sumptuous 17th century farm house producing organic olive oil of high quality for a olive oil degustation course. Here you can enjoy special aromatic oils, along with samples from the Chef and selected wines, discover the aromatic massage oils, the process of organic growing and visit the olive grove.

2. DAY
Versilia

Visit to Pietrasanta, a charming small Roman town, historically and artistically the capital of Versilia. Here are living sculptors from all around the world who work with marble and bronze, in many workshops that you can visit. The city has a pleasant old town and its main square is often decorated with works of modern sculpture. Visit of a wine and local products shop in a wine farm with the possibility of tasting.

Tour in Viareggio, with its promenade along the sea, lined with buildings in the Art Nouveau style, the harbour, shops, hotels, bathing establishments and bars. On Thursday morning you will find a large market.
Free time (beach, shopping).

From 6 pm the 1st cooking class with Tuscan seasonal specialties menu, followed by a tasting dinner (2.5 hours) and wine degustation. The courses are in small groups with experienced chefs, who will transmit the experience to prepare a typical Tuscan cuisine. We use fresh, seasonal products from Tuscany: extra virgin olive oil, fresh vegetables and herbs from the orchard, meat, poultry and fish directly from the farmers ot the fisherman. Each course includes appetizers, pasta, main course and of course desserts. The menu is complemented by tasting of selected wines from Tuscany.

3. DAY
Lucca and Montecarlo

In the morning free time in Viareggio (beach, shopping..).

Afternoon, visit of the city of Lucca, a Tuscan jewel with 100 churches, is known through its walls and amphitheater. This is one of the few Italian cities that has preserved its ramparts of the 16th and 17th centuries, within which is a preserved historic center with a rectangular network of streets. The site of the amphitheatre is one of the most unique in the world: after the fall of the Roman, people have built houses on the walls of the amphitheatre, so the place is now elliptical. Visit other monuments: Napoleon place, Piazza San Martino cathedral and romantic place of S. Michele di Foro, theatre and Puccini place.

Short stop in the wine town of Montecarlo, created in 1333 by Emperor Charles IV. The city lies on a small hill in the center of the wine area and offers fantastic views over the vineyards and the scenery in the valley.

After the city tour we will taste the prestigious wines in a small familiar wine factory benefiting from a stunning 360-degree panorama. The Montecarlo wines are atypical because they contain a high proportion of French grape varieties, imported up to the 18th century. The white wine of Montecarlo was long considered one of the best in Tuscany and it was called the "Chablis of Montecarlo."

Visit of a wine factory in the hills of Lucca, producing excellent organic and biodynamic wines and olive oil "DOP". Tour into the vineyards, visit of the winery and the historic villa of counts Sardi from 17th century, inhabited by the owners, where we will taste the wines with refreshments.

From 6 pm the 2nd cookery course with Tuscan seasonal specialties menu, followed by a tasting dinner (2.5 hours).

4. DAY
Liguria: Cinque Terre

Liguria is a beautiful coastal area with picturesque fishing villages. The bustling town of Lerici is a small resort located in a small harbor, with a castle "Castello San Giorgio", located on a cliff overlooking the city. It allows an incredible view over the entire peninsula with picturesque Portovenere, islands in the Gulf and the city of La Spezia.

From Lerici we will leave by both for Cinque Terre to the first village Riomaggiore, with its colorful houses of typical Ligurian style and small picturesque streets. We will discover the most famous path of Cinque Terre "via del'Amore" (path of love) with a march at the foot of the cliff, where you can admire the magnificent scenery with sea view, listen to waves crashing on the rocks and breathe the salt air.

After 20 to 30 min. of walking we will reach the next village, Manarola, which is located on a cliff with houses grouped in a mosaic of colors. Village of Manarola is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. Then we will stop in Monterosso, the biggest village with many lemon trees and the only extensive sand beach beach in the Cinque Terre.

There will be the light lunch at the local wine farm, where wines are grown on terraces in difficult conditions of access, and we will sample excellent and precious Cinque Terre and Sciacchetrà wines.

Finally, we will drop in Vernazza, one the truest "fishing villages" on the Italian Riviera, without any car traffic.

Dinner with fish menu.

5. DAY
Massaciuccoli, Camaiore and Chiatri Puccini

Free time in the morning (beach, shopping..).
In the early afternoon visit to the Roman terms in Massaciuccoli and tasting of specialties from Roman times. Visit of an old locksmith workshop still working.
Tour of the Roman town Camaiore lying in the foothills of the Apuan Alps. Visit of a producer of handmade chocolate, discovery and tasting of different kinds of artisanal chocolate specialities.

Visit of a small wine and olive oil farm in the hills and virgin forests, in the vicinity of Chiatri Puccini, which inspired Giacomo Puccini in the composition of his opera Tosca. Wine and oil tasting with the owner. Together we will prepare special kinds of local pizza and foccaccia.

5. DAY
Florence

Florence is one of the most beautiful cities of Italy, the second most visited city in the country and called "the pearl of renaissance. We will arrive to Piazzale Michelangelo, where you can enjoy the view of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. In the historic center you will visit the external complex of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral with the magnificent dome of the architect Brunelleschi, that dominates Florence and is part of the largest cathedrals in the world. The Campanile of Giotto and the Baptistery of San Giovanni with the famous Gates of Paradise are also part of this complex.

After a short walk through the streets of the historic heart of the city you get to the Galleria dell'Accademia, to the Piazza della Signoria with the Fountain of Neptune, and the copy of the famous statue of David by Michelangelo and other works. The main symbol of the city is the “Ponte Vechio” bridge of the 16th century with goldsmiths' shops.

In the evening we will leave for the beautiful hills in south of Florence and north of Siena, the heart of Chianti Classico - San Gimignano. Accommodation and dinner in a organic wine farm with swimming pool, producing Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, Vinsanto DOC, grappa di Chianti, Rossi Supertuscan, extra virgin olive oil, jams and honey.

6. DAY
Shopping outlet The Mall and Prada outlet, Castellina in Chianti

We will drive to the shopping outlet center "The Mall", near Florence: here you will find the Gucci, D & G, Yves Saint Laurent, Armani, La Perla, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tod's, Fendi, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Burberry, Emanuel Ungaro, Hogan, Stella McCartney, Valentino, Yohji Yamamoto etc.. with discounts ranging from 35 to 70%.

Not far from here we will drop to Prada outlet, where are also very interesting articles and prices.

In the afternoon visit of the small georgeous town Castellina in Chianti, important for its wine farms, wth many craft shops. Opportunity to try thermal cures, esthetic treatments and fitness at the thermal center of Gambassi.
Accomodation in the organic wine farm in San Gimignano area and dinner.

7. DAY
Siena, Monterrigioni

Those 2 days will be a journey of exploration in the heart of Chianti Classico, between the beautiful hills south of Florence and north of Siena. The routes around Siena are of a rare beauty unifying nature, medieval life and spirituality or those of painters and poets who crossed the Val d'Elsa in the past centuries, including Pontormo, Leonardo, Boccaccio and Dante.

We start the day in Siena, one of the best-preserved and probably Italy's loveliest medieval city, famous for its artistic heritage and the medieval character, where takes place on its central piazza in form of the shell "Il Campo" the world-reknown festival and horse race "The Palio".

Then we will taste excellent and famous Chianti wines accompanied by a light lunch in Castello Bossi, the 16th century castle surrounded by vineyards.

In the afternoon we will stop in Monterrigioni, a fortified town with the castle and craft shops. Here craftsman of ship leather, ceramics and crystal are famous, having a long tradition in Val d'Elsa and on the hills of Chianti.

Dinner with degustation of locales wines and special meals. Accommodation in the farmhouse near San Gimignano.

8. DAY
Colle Val d'Elsa, San Gimignano, Certaldo

We will start the day visiting Colle Val d'Elsa, town located on a hill in the picturesque landscape of Siena. A crystal city, with many craft shops which produces 95% of all Italian crystal and 14% of the whole crystal in the world with a products of great value, beauty and variety.Visit the historical center is like stepping back in time, in the authentic Tuscan artisan workshops, with the views of the countryside and genuine flavors. We will lunch in a place where you'll taste simple, homemade and traditional organic dishes in a homely atmosphere.

In the afternoon we will stop in San Gimignano, medieval little town with majestic towers, where it seems that time has stopped, built on a hill overlooking the valley of Elsa. San Gimignano and the hills are considered one of the most beautiful places of Tuscany and travel for his campaign we will see some of the spectacular sights that made this area famous throughout the world.
San Gimignano is famous for its towers, but also for producing one of the most important Italian white wine Vernaccia. After lunch, we will visit familiar winery for a guided tasting of Vernaccia di San Gimignano made by the producer, to understand the history and unique features that make this grape.

Then we will see Certaldo, the charming medieval small town well preserved in every detail. A picturesque scenery with an attractive hillside panorama, with Bocaccio’s house, and the Palazzo Pretorio, former castle with facade decorated with picturesque coats of arms in stone and glazed terracotta.
Accomodation in the organic wine farm in San Gimignano area with dinner.

9. DAY
San Miniato

In the morning we will leave to San Miniato, an ancient city in the heart of Tuscany and one of the most important centers of prestigious truffles, exported worldwide. You will visit one producers of specialties such as truffle olive oil and other products with truffles. After a city tour we will have lunch in a restaurant offering specialities.

In the afternoon departure to Pisa airport.

During our tours, you will meet farmers, taste wines and other local products, with opportunity to discuss about wines and wine making with owners or enologists. You will receive information on the Tuscan viticulture, gastronomic traditions and cuisine.Through these tastings you will understand the Tuscan region. The wineries and other farms visited during the excursions are usually of the small, familiar and making excellent wines (when possible organic or/and biodynamic).

The price of the stay includes
• 9 nights with breakfast
• Half board (dinner)
• 10 tastings of wines, olive oils and other specialties
• 2 Tuscan cooking courses and recipes
• Transportation in a vehicle for 6 persons
• Assistance, accompaniment.

The price does not includes
the flight to Pisa. With Ryanair London-Pisa from 40 € roundtrip, Paris-Pisa with Easyjet 60 € roundtrip.

Tarifs Rates
per person based on double room and groups for 4 people

Low season 3.1.-21.3.et 1.11.-31.12.: from 1420 Euro vat
Mid Season 21.3-13.6. and 12.9-31.10: from 1490 Euro vat
High season 13.6.-12.9. : from 1440 Euro vat

For each additional day off in the Country house in Viareggio area, price per person:
Low season 45 Euro
Mid season 50 Euro
High season 60 Euro