Day 01 Arrive at Florence Airport and transfer to 'Villa Lecchi'. The restored
20 bedroom (all with ensuite) 18th century home to the Florentine Ginori
family will be our home for five nights.
Dinner & Overnight
Day 02 Monteriggioni, Colle Val'Elsa, Poggio Alloro, San Gimignano
After breakfast visit Monteriggioni - this amazing perfectly round
walled town. We go next to Colle Val'Elsa to visit a crystal glass
factory (this is one of only a few factories where all crystal is made
by hand. We then enjoy a wine tasting/lunch at the farmhouse Poggio
Alloro near San Gimignano. Amico Fiornoni's farm is perched on a hill
with a stunning view of San Gimignano, and along with his vernaccia
chianti wines he is also very proud of his own Chiana Beef Cattle and
offered for us to meet them. They are snowy white, muscular, and have
the most beautiful 'cow eyes' I have ever seen. Apparently these cattle
were raised in this area by the Etruscans. After our lunch we will
have free time in San Gimignano.
Dinner and overnight at the villa.
Day 03 Greve, Pornanino, Badia a Coltibuono
After breakfast we leave for Greve (Saturday is 'market day' in
this beautiful Chianti Classico town with a huge square surrounded
by arcaded shops). In the afternoon we visit Pornanino for an olive oil
tasting with Steve Lombardi who is very passionate about the purity of his
extra virgin olive oil, it's health benefits, antioxident nutrient qualities
and the traditional methods his family still uses to make the 'Il Pornano
We then carry on to an annual favourite visit 'Badia a Coltibuono' for
a wine tasting and supper by the staff of Lorenza de' Medici.
Day 04 Montalcino, Sant'Antimo Abbey, Castello Banfi
After breakfast we leave for Montalcino, the town of the famous
Brunello Wines referred to as 'Tuscany's BIG RED'. Montalcino is an
interesting medieval town. We always like to visit the Enoteca inside
the Fortezza to see the selection of Brunello wines and an option to
climb to the bastions for a stunning 360 degree view. There will be
time for lunch here before we leave for Castello Banfi wineries for a
tasting, on route we will make a visit to the ancient and beautiful
Sant'Antimo abbey which legend claims was started by Charlemagne
in the 8th century. After standing empty for some five hundred years
the abbey is today maintained by a small group of French monks who
celebrate Mass several times daily in haunting Gregorian chant.
Day 05 Siena, Dievole
After breakfast today we visit the classic Italian city of 'Siena'. We will be
working with a Sienese guide to relate to us the colourful history of this
amazing and dynamic city. There will be free time for lunch after the tour
and we will meet for a visit of the 'Enoteca Nazionale' which has one of
the best collections of Italian wines on display. In the afternoon we visit
Dievole for a wine tasting of Chianti Classico selections. Dievole's
sommelier, Andrea Anichini recounts his family's 900 year history in
winemaking as he leads us through a tasting in a selection of settings
from the chapel to the winery's cellars.
Day 06 Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Montepulciano, on route to Residenze dell' Oscano
After breakfast we will make our way to Monte Oliveto Maggiore, this
is a busy, imposing benedictine abbey. This abbey has a fine series of
Signorelli frescoes to see at your leisure and the monks here make and
sell a wonderful selection of herbal medicines and balms. After the visit
we continue to the charming hilltown of Montepulciano for a wine tasting
of the famous Vino Nobile. We will then continue on our way to
Umbria and another villa stay, again for five nights. The Residenze dell'Oscano
Our accommodation is in 'Villa Ada' a late 19th century residence adjoining the
Castello The rooms are elegantly furnished, the selective brichwork, warm
wood paneling and neutral colours reflect authentic Umbrian tradition. Break-
fast, bar-service and restaurant are provided in the Turandot Hall of the
adjoining Castello. Guests are also welcome to spend enjoyable evenings
together with friends in sitting-rooms and library of the Castello.
Dinner and overnight at the Villa
Day 07 Asissi, Torgiano, Perugia
After breakfast we are off to fabled Asissi, the home of St. Francis.
On route to Perugia we will stop in Torgiano for a tasting at Lungarotti
Wineries, the Lungarotti Wine Museum is probably the most important
of its kind in Europe. In the afternoon we visit an amazing city and
capital of Italian chocolate, Perugia. Escalators take us up hundreds
of feet through the ancient medieval town to the new 'old town' and
pedestrian streets of this hip, ancient, exciting city. We have a
fascinating walk through the main sights, then free time for shopping
or visiting the Galleria Nazionale before a sumptuous dinner at Caffè di
Return to the villa for overnight.
Day 08 Day at Leisure
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast. This villa and its setting is so beautiful
that a day of leisure is a must! You can read in one of the sunlit antique
furnished lounges, admire the never ending vista of hillsides from the
cupola at the top of the villa, or walk the olive groves owned by the
proprietors.
Day 09 Visit a Cashmere Factory, Le Vellete, Orvieto
After breakfast we will make a stop at a cashmere factory that has a
salesroom offering discounts on ladies and men's cashmere.
Then it's on to Orvieto where there will be time for lunch in this 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 bisit and enjoy a wine tasting at the fascinating Le Vellete,
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 BC.” La Cuchina Italiana
Dinner and overnight at the Villa
Day 10 Montefalco - Nocera - Bevagna
Today we first go to Montefalco 'The Falcon's Mount' (also referred to
as 'The Balcony of Umbria', and the home of 'Tessuti di Montefalco'.
We will enjoy here a wine tasting of the rare 'DOCG' wines made from
the Sagrantino Grape that is found nowhere else in Europe, and as noted
by the wine guru Burton Anderson - “has voluptuous body and staggering
full flavour”.
We then go to Nocera to visit Edoardo for lunch in his farm restaurant to
enjoy truffles on eggs and toast along with filet of boar and roast hare, and
of course good wine.
Back to the villa for dinner and overnight.
Day 11 Umbria to Florence
After breakfast we leave for Florence. As we arrive we first go to Piazza
Michelangelo. You can see all of Florence from this vantage point looking
down across the Arno at the city's heart. We then check into our hotel with
time for lunch before meeting our guide for a walking tour to orient us with
the main landmarks all within easy walking distance of our hotel.
Dinner is on our own - we have some restaurant suggestions for you if
you like.
Day 12 Florence at leisure
Breakfast is included at our hotel and the day belongs to you. This day is
for our passengers to do whatever they have in mind - see the David at the
Accademia, visit the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens,
shopping in the outdoor leather market or any of the hundreds of shops,
or just sit, eat & relax in one of the many piazzas watching the activity.
For those who want to we will suggest a restaurant for everyone to enjoy
for our last evening together.
Day 13 After breakfast transfer to Florence airport. |
