| Oct. 16 - dep Toronto on Air France to Florence, Italy
Oct. 17 - Upon arrival in Bologna we will transfer to Poggibonsi in the
heart of Tuscany and to the 4-star Villa San Lucchese (our
home for 4 nights), a wonderful villa dating back to the 15th
century, completely restored, and boasting an extraordinary
restaurant with open grill and wood oven. The villa overlooks
a luxuriant garden and surrounding hills.
Rest of the afternoon will be at leisure ending with a Welcome
Dinner at the villa.
Oct. 18 - After breakfast we visit Monteriggioni and proceed to Colle Val
Elsa where we will visit a glass factory. We then move to Poggio
Alloro, a farm which produces 'vernaccia' wine. This is a real
farmhouse with cows, chickens….and, most likely at this time,
harvesting of the grapes. This is a treat as we have our wine
tasting and lunch with genuine and typical Tuscan homemade
food. Later on we will visit the famous town of San Gimignano.
We then return to the Villa San Lucchese for dinner.
Oct. 19 - After breakfast we depart for Greve in Chianti. There will be
free time for lunch before we proceed to Radda in Chianti. This is
situated in magnificent countryside and for those who wish to walk,
it is an easy walk of approximately two hours. Along the road you
may admire and be in touch with nature, vineyards, olive groves and
the woods of the Chianti Hills. At Pornanino we have arranged an
olive oil tasting with bruschetta. There will be some leisure time
before moving on to 'Badia a Coltibuono' for a visit of its famous
wine cellars. Here we will enjoy a wonderful dinner at the
'Ristorante Badia' which is the restaurant of Lorenza Dei Medici.
Oct. 20 - After breakfast today we go to Siena where, after a visit of the town
we will have wine tasting and snacks at the popular 'Enoteca'. In the
afternoon we move to Castellina for a wine tasting and snacks at
Cantine Dievole. We then return to Villa San Lucchese for dinner.
Oct. 21 - After breakfast today we travel to Monte Oliveto Maggiore. Here
we see the Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore which is sited on one
of the most beautiful tracts of Sienese countryside through forests
of pine, oak and cypress, and then into the olive groves that enclose
the Benedictine monestary. We continue on to Montepulciano for
a wine tasting and lunch at Cantine Crociani - known for their oil
and vino nobile. In the afternoon we visit the artistic medieval town
of Cortona (area written about in “Under the Tuscan Sun”). We then
continue on to Colle San Paolo-Panicale, 25 kms from Perugia in
Umbria. Here we will check into the restored 18th century
'Villa di Monte Solare'. Amongst the greenery of olive trees,
vineyards and woods, this patrician villa will be our home for the
next five nights. There are 19th century murals displayed on the walls
of the dining room walls, a cozy bar, an elegant lounge, large
fireplaces, floors of antique cotto and period furnishing.
In the pleasant Italian-style garden there is a delightful private
Chapel and an antique orangerie.
We will have dinner at the Villa di Monte Solare.
Oct. 22 - Today we visit Assisi, a well know medieval town in Umbria. We will
visit the wine museum and enjoy a wine tasting at the Lungarotti
winery in Torgiano. In the afternoon we will have free time for -
shopping, lunch or, “dolce far niente”. We then proceed to Perugia,
visiting this charming town famous for chocolate and will enjoy dinner
at 'Café Perugia'.
Oct. 23 - After breakfast we travel south toward Lago di Bolsena to the tiny
village of Civita de Bagnoreggio 'perhaps the most picture-perfect
hill town of all Italy'. It is in this area that Turner set up his easel
for a landscape now in the Tate Gallery. We then travel to Orvieto
a wonderful ancient town perched high on an outcrop of tufa rock with
a magnificent Duomo, so beautiful it is referred to as the 'Wedding
Cake Church'. While in Orvieto we will visit and enjoy a wine tasting
at the fascinating Le Valette, a beautiful family owned winery with
Tufo carved cellars (featured in the April '99 issue of “La Cucina
Italiana”) “The ancient cellar below the winery was originally
carved in the tufaceous rock by the Etruscans (the people who
inhabited northern and central Italy before the Romans) around
500 B.C.” La Cucina Italiana
We will return to the Villa Monte Solare for dinner.
Oct. 24 - After breakfast we visit Bevagna and enjoy a wine tasting and lunch
at the Cantine Adanti, with wines of the Montefalco area. In the
afternoon we proceed to Nocera where we are invited to watch
Edoardo and his dogs searching for truffles and visit a pecorino
cheese factory before enjoying dinner with Edoardo.
Oct. 25 - After breakfast we will tour Montalcino and the Fortezza. After
a break to allow time for lunch we proceed to the Villa Bamfi
Sant'Angelo for a wine tasting. Later we will travel to San t'Antimo
and on to Fattoria dei Barbi for a typical Tuscan dinner
before returning to our hotel.
Oct 26 - After breakfast we transfer to Florence and enjoy a city tour before
settling into our hotel. We are returning to the lovely Hotel Corona
d'Italia. This hotel was a great success for us last year. It is charming with a friendly staff. It is impeccably clean and offers very
comfortable rooms. Just around the corner is the amazing leather
market, and it's on every day! We had a great time Christmas
shopping in this market last year. A very few minutes walk further
is the Duomo and just beyond that the 'Ponte Vecchio'. This is a
delightful city that deserves time on your own.
We will have suggestions for referred restaurants within walking
distance of our hotel.
Oct 27 - We have left this day free to indulge in whatever you want to do in
this amazing city, the birthplace of the Renaissance, not to mention
Leonardo Da Vinci and Dante. You may want to
visit the Ufizzi Gallery, the Accademia (to see Michelangelo's David)
the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, shopping, or any combination of
the above.
Oct 28 - After breakfast we are transferred to the airport for our flight home.
Cost: In Canadian Dollars including return airfare from Toronto (Connections and custom airfares available from the closest major airport to your hometown to join our tour - Please let us know where you would like to fly from.)
Per person based on sharing twin accommodation ------ 4889.00 Canadian Funds
Total tax -------------------------------------------------- 65.00 Canadian Funds
Visa & Mastercard payments accepted with 2.5% credit card commission fee
American Express payments accepted with 3.5% credit card commission fee
Includes:
- Return airfare from Toronto (credit of $840.00 if you do not need airfare from Toronto)
- Accommodation as described with private en-suite
- Breakfast every day
- 3 Lunches
- 9 Dinners
- (Wine included with dinners - 1 bottle per 4 persons)
- Air conditioned touring coach
- Visits to wineries with tastings
- Escorted by Debbie Lloyd and Rose Tomassini
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