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 12 - 23 September 2007 (11 days)
Enjoy the fine Italian cuisine and
wines in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, discover its history, culture, and
architecture.
Day 1: Our tour
begins on 12 September 2007 at the Leonardo da Vinci Rome airport. Please make sure your
flight arrives before 12 noon of that day. Our own driver will greet you at the airport
and take you in our own private bus to the Etruscan small town of San Quirico D' Orcia in the province of
Siena in Tuscany. Enjoy your lunch at our stop in Orvieto in Umbria, home of the world
renowned wine a.k.a. "Italian sun in a bottle". We check in our hotel for
supper. Day 2: Tour of Monteoliveto Maggiore and Sant' Antimo Abbey two of the most prominent art, culture and spirituality centers of Tuscany. After lunch with a tasting of the famous Tuscan Brunello Di Montalcino wine we arrive for supper at our hotel. Day 3: Excursion to picturesque Siena where we visit its famous Piazza Del Campo, home of its famous Palio horse race, and the city hall tower Torre Del Mancia for some amazing views. Supper at our hotel in San Quirico d'Orcia. Day 4: Tour of the medieval villages of Santa Fiora and Citta del Tufo. Enjoy the landscape of tufo, the beautiful volcanic rock formations. Tour of the Etruscan villages of Sorano, Sovana, and Pitigliano with its renovated 17th century synagogue. Supper at our hotel. Day 5: Cooking demonstration and lunch by Chef Gino with local autumn ingredients. After lunch, we tour Pienza, a renaissance town famous for its cheese, and Monticchiello, one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Tuscany. Supper at our hotel in San Quirico d'Orcia. Day 6: Visit to Montepulciano, a medieval and Renaissance hill town of exceptional beauty known for its wines. Wine tasting with lunch in the Cantina of Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano. Visit to the Etruscan city of Chiusi and its renowned museum. Supper at our hotel. Day 7: Visit to Florence with its endless cultural wonders. Gelaterias, pasticcerias, and wine bars with aperitivi are all around us. If time allows, visit to Florence's famous hill of Fiesole. Supper at our hotel in San Quirico. Day 8: Visit to Perugia, the capital of the region of Umbria and one of the most important Italian cities, particularly in art and chocolate. We descend to its spectacular subterranean streets and then we continue to Assisi, a town known for its embroidery. We visit the St. Francis Abbey and return for supper at our hotel. Day 9: Cooking demonstration and lunch by Chef Gino with local wine and cheese. After lunch we are off for a visit to Bagno Vignoni, with its hot springs famous since Roman times. Another wine tasting at the small town of Poggio Grande. Supper at our hotel. Day 10: Tour of the island of Elba, off Tuscany’s coast, Napoleon's exile place, with Bonaparte's house and his Egyptian museum. Supper at our hotel. Day 11: Tour of the hilltop town of Arezzo and the picturesque town of Cortona, where Frances Mayes got her inspiration for "Under The Tuscan Sun." Supper at our hotel. Day 12: After breakfast, our bus will take you to the Rome airport for the flight to the US.
Fee does NOT include air fare, transfer to/from US airports, travel insurance, lunch (unless included above), museums admissions, tips, ferry to Elba
Download a tour brochure [pdf] We invite you to be part of Gino's Italy. The best way to discover Italy's cuisine and culture.
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© Gino's Italy
Culinary & Cultural Tours
