Itinerary

ALL FLIGHT DEPARTURES LEAVE WEDNESDAY AND ARRIVE IN ITALY THURSDAY (Preferably an overnight flight)

Day 1 Thursday: Benvenuto! Welcome!

Our private bus will meet you at Rome Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci Airport to begin your journey of Tuscany. Upon arrival at the farmhouse in Montelaterone, fresh country bread, cheese and Montecucco wine will be served as well as organic olive oil made locally by Gino’s good friend Fausto. Feel free to get settled in your new home before you sit for your “Welcome Dinner” where you will learn more about Montecucco.

Day 2 Friday: Arcidosso

Buongiorno! Good Morning! We hope that the aroma of fresh pastries and coffee did not awake you too early this morning. Feel free to help yourself to some fresh breakfast before we head out to discover the immediate surroundings of our town like the village of Arcidosso, with its beautiful castle and the town of 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 in our surrounding cities, we will head back to our house for a wonderful dinner, but make sure to save room for dessert!

Day 3 Saturday: Siena

Today is a good day to visit the heart of Tuscany, SIENA. Famous for the horse race that takes place in the main piazza, walk the beautiful town square of Piazza del Campo with its majestic tower, TORRE DEL MANGIA. Siena is also a great place for shopping if you don’t mind the crowds and make sure to savor the famous PANFORTE DI SIENA., a specialty cake of Siena. If we have any time left today, we will also visit MONTALCINO the city known for its Brunello di Montalcino, a very noble Sangiovese (also pricey). Tonight your dinner will be prepared by GINO TROIA.

Day 4 Sunday: Elba

We are leaving early after breakfast today to head to 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. On the ride back to PIOMBINO. take in the beauty while you relax and reflect on the scenery. On a warm day it is nice to take a nap on the deck. Tonight if you are still hungry after your day of seafood, we will have some fresh cheese, fruit and prosciutto with some more wine of course! BUONA NOTTE e SOGNI D’ORO!

Day 5 Monday: Experience Maremma!

Today we have a special host, the secretary of tourism of Arcidosso. He will guide us to local food and wine producers including cheese and wine makers. We will also taste the local chestnut beer; yes chestnut beer! In Arcidosso there are so many chestnuts that they have to find new ways to use them. We will also 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. Tonight, dinner will be made again by our very own GINO TROIA and you are welcome to participate if you skip your daily excursion.

Day 6 Tuesday: Free Day!

Today is a free day. Feel free to stay home and hike, be in the pool, sun tan, or use our brick oven to make pizza. You may even want to roast something you caught. Our driver will be available to take you wherever you want to buy everything from shoes to pastries… Whatever you wish! We will make dinner tonight in our brick oven, and then we will go out for grappas.

Day 7 Wednesday: Assisi

Enjoy another fresh breakfast before we head to the town of ASSISI where we will visit one of the masterpieces of the world still standing, the BASILICA OF SAN FRANCESCO D’ASSISI, a church dedicated to St. Francis. Pay good attention to the frescos, some of which cerated by late medieval artists Cimabue and Giotto. These frescos are some of the best you will ever experience! Enjoy dinner tonight at the ANTICO FRANTOIO.

Day 8 Thursday: Montepulciano!

After breakfast we will take a trip to MONTEPULCIANO where we will visit a very interesting winery, CANTINA DEL REDI which is situated in a medieval palazzo. PALAZZO RICCI, the family, has been making wine for centuries and the barrels are stored in caves, a basement below the rock.Wait until you see this true wine temple which was built before the Romans. You will also notice the size of the wooden barrels which can be compared to an efficiency apartment. After Cantina del Redi, we will head for another winery owned by LUCA ZAMPERINI outside SAN QUIRICO D’ORCIA. Luca is probably the best winemaker in the VAL D’ORCIA, but also raises horses for the famous PALIO. We will enjoy dinner tonight in Montelaterone.

Day 9 Friday: Pisa

Today we will make the trip to PISA, the birthplace of GALILEO. Take a glimpse of the infamous Leaning Tower and PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI, one of the main centers for medieval art in the world. After a day in Pisa, we will head back to Montelaterone to prepare for another Gino Troia meal.

Day 10 Saturday: Free Day!

Today is a free day. Today is a  great day to catch up, pack your bags, do some last minute shopping or even a private excursion. Feel free to stay home and explore, shop or spend some quality time with your new friends. Our driver will be available to take you wherever you wish. Tonight we will have “Send Off” cocktails with some of the area dignitaries, the MAYOR, the secretary of tourism, and some other beautiful people we have met from the area.

Day 11 Sunday: Buon Viaggo!

Our wakeup call is early today (it may still be dark out) but no worries, we will stop one last time on the way to the airport for cappuccino and cornetti. Buon VIaggio!