Unlike traditional structured tours where you are hopping from one museum to the next, this tour is an adventure as you live like a true Tuscan! Join Gino Troia for 10 nights of cultural and culinary adventure in the Maremma area of southern Tuscany. Enjoy wine tastings and trips to local markets and food stalls. Visit medieval villages and bathe in hot springs. This package includes lodging with private bath at a restored farmhouse in Montelaterone in addition to breakfast, dinner, wine tastings, and three culinary demonstrations.
OUR PRIVATE BUS WILL MEET YOU AT ROME FIUMICINO, LEONARDO DA VINCI airport. Your journey to Tuscany begins.
Upon your arrival in Montelaterone country bread, cheese and Montecucco wine will be served as well as our organic olive oil, made by my friend Fausto.
Suddenly it will be time for your welcome dinner, and some more Montecucco. Feel free to get settled in your new home before you sit for your "Welcome Dinner" where you will learn more about Montecucco.
Breakfast is served and then you will be off to discover your immediate surroundings like the village of Arcidosso, with its beautiful castle and Castel del Piano. Here we will visit an old olive stone mill, converted into a pizzeria and talk the pizzaiolo into sharing some of his secrets. Soon you will discover that you are the only tourists around.
After a pleasant day dinner will be served - Save room for dessert!
Today is a good day to visit SIENA, famous for the horse race that takes place in the main piazza. The beautiful Piazza del Campo with its majestic tower TORRE DEL MANGIA is a great place for shopping if you don’t mind the crowds. Its also a great place to savor the famous PANFORTE DI SIENA.
If we have any time left we will also visit MONTALCINO the city known for its Brunello di Montalcino a very noble Sangiovese (also pricey).
Today your dinner will be prepared by GINO TROIA
We are leaving early after breakfast today; we are heading for the island of ELBA the last mini empire of NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. We will visit his residence and will dine on local seafood - the freshest you will ever have. The ride back to PIOMBINO is very beautiful and relaxing. On a warm day it is nice to take a nap on the deck. Tonight if you are still hungry we will have some cheese, fruit, prosciutto and some more wine.
BUONA NOTTE e SOGNI D’ORO
Today our host will be the secretary of tourism of Arcidosso. He will guide us to local food and wine producers, cheese makers, and winemakers. We will also taste the local chestnut beer; yes there are so many chestnuts that they have to find new ways to use them. Also we will visit the community of DZOG-CHEN, a Tibetan community that calls this area of Maremma home. On occasions Richard Gere has been seen around the area where he meditates.
Your dinner again made by GINO TROIA and you are welcome to participate if you skip your daily excursion.
After breakfast we will take trip to MONTEPULCIANO where we will visit a very interesting winery, CANTINA DEL REDI, situated in a medieval palazzo. PALAZZO RICCI, the family, has been making wine for centuries. Wait until you see the caves where they store their wine barrels. The caves where built before the Romans and the wooden barrels are the size of an efficiency apartment.
After words we will head for another winery owned by LUCA ZAMPERINI outside SAN QUIRICO D’ORCIA, he is probably the best winemaker in the VAL D’ORCIA, but he also raises horses for the famous PALIO.
Dinner will take place in Montelaterone tonight.
BREAKFAST and then we will head to………….ASSISI one of the masterpieces of the world still standing the church dedicated to SAN FRANCESCO D’ASSISI. Pay good attention to the frescos in the ceilings - some of the best you will ever experience.
Dinner tonight at the ANTICO FRANTOIO
Today is a free day. If you want to stay home and hike, be in the pool, sun tan, or use our brick oven to make pizza or roast something you caught. Our driver will be available to take you wherever you want to buy some shoes or pastries - Whatever you wish.
We will make dinner in our brick oven, and then we will go out for grappas.
On our last day we will take you to PISA, birth place of GALILEO. Take a glimpse of the leaning tower and PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI. Then head pack back to and have cocktails with the area dignitaries, the MAYOR, the secretary of tourism, and some other beautiful people from the area.
Our wakeup call is early today (it may still be dark out) but we will stop on the way to the airport for cappuccino and cornetti. Buon VIaggio.