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

Flavours and scents of Tuscany

Versilia, Pisa, Lucca, Cinque Terre
special 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 area, accommodation in the confortable and luxury private suite with swimming pool in a beautyfull 17th century olive farm, where between the tradition, innovation, art and culture exist a perfect harmony. A special place which leaves some poetry in your heart and in your mind.

In the late afternoon olive oil degustation, during which you can enjoy special aromatic oils, along with some special delicatessen prepared by the Chef and with selected wines. You will discover the aromatic oils, the process of organic growing, visit the garden, the olive grove and the cellar.

2.DAY
Versilia

Tour and free time 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.

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 . The city has a pleasant old town and its main square is often decorated with works of modern sculpture. Apepetizer in a art gallery and visit of a wine and local products shop in a wine farm with the tasting.

In the afternoon Tuscan cooking class with a full 5-course seasonal menu with 2 options and the subsequent joint wine-tasting dinner, prepared by internationally recognized chef.

3.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 wines Cinque Terre and Sciacchetrà.
Finally, we will drop in Vernazza, one the truest "fishing villages" on the Italian Riviera, without any car traffic.

Dinner with fish menu in a 1st class restaurant with the live music, in front of the sea.

4. DAY
Lucca and Montecarlo

Viisit 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.

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.

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. 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."

Private lunch and degustation of prestigious wines in a familly wine farm benefiting from a stunning 360-degree panorama on the whole valley of Lucca. Wines from French varieties, Chardonnay, Semillon, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Merlot, noble Tuscan "Sangiovese Grosso" and "brut".

Departure for the airport of Pisa in the afternoon.

The price of the stay includes

• 3 nights with breakfast
• Half board (dinner)
• 4 tastings of wines, olive oils and other specialties
• 1 Tuscan cooking courses and recipes
• Transportation in a luxury car with driver
• Assistance, accompaniment.