Tuscany and Umbria
JUNE 11-20, 2019
The artistic AND the green heart of Italy in the same 9 day tour. Travel the most famous region of Italy but discover hidden gems, non touristy secret finds and riveting food and wine experiences in Tuscany and Umbria.
June 11 day 1 - arrivals and Villa Nobile, Aquilea
You fly into Pisa airport where we are waiting for you. Villa Nobile (The Noblemans Villa)is our home for five nights. Its in a small hamlet in the hills above Lucca. We'll gather our various guests, whisk you to the villa to settle in, decompress and enjoy our first night with a large buffet dinner that I prepare for you. We'll take a post prandial walk around the estate and then let you take it easy for the evening and get ready for the next nine days of culinary adventure!
June 12 day 2 - lucca - September 15
One of the most beautiful cities in Italy, this charming town is ours to explore today. We visit the city and its main piazza for coffees; if you wish you may ride bikes around the city walls that were built by Napoleon's wife Josephine; enjoy a Tuscan lunch at a well known osteria, and then visit the town market, just outside the city walls where we will pick up the ingredients for tonights extravaganza dinner back at the villa, with exceptional wines from Tuscany. If you are feeling energetic, you may climb the medieval Torre di Guinigi where trees grow from the top for a riveting view of the city. I love this town and so will you...
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Lucca - aerial view (left) city walls (above) and Piazza Anfiteatro (right)
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June 13 - Pisa AND CARRARA
One of the most definitive of Italian experiences is the Leaning Tower of Pisa and The Court of Miracles. We will get away early this morning and make our way to Pisa and explore the Tower, surrounding area and then enjoy stroll through history, and a little Italian jet fuel (espresso) for a quick drive North. If the weather beckons, we can fit in a quick visit and maybe even swim at a private beach club the famous resort of Viareggio (featured in many Italian movies with beach scenes). We'll grab a lunch at the very least before we continue through the mountains to the famous marble quarries of Carrara, where much of the marble you see anywhere in the world has been excavated. We'll take a tour of a local museum.
. We then enjoy an photogenic drive through mountains to the Devil's Bridge before finishing our day back at our digs for a comfortable dinner in our own private dining room
. We then enjoy an photogenic drive through mountains to the Devil's Bridge before finishing our day back at our digs for a comfortable dinner in our own private dining room
June 14 - Florence
The Home of the Rennaisance, Leonardo, the Medici and so much more. We have arranged a private guide for your day in Florence so we will get an early start. You will visit the Majestic Duomo, the Accademia to see Michelangelo's 'David'. Then a Tuscan lunch at a great local restaurant that is a long standing favourite of Michaels.
Afterwards, we will visit the Ponte Vecchio bridge, walk to the Pitti Palace and finish with a stroll through the Boboli Gardens and a late afternoon vista over the beautful city. Finally, we'll pick you up for the quick drive back to the villa and a light pasta and salad dinner with some great local wines
Afterwards, we will visit the Ponte Vecchio bridge, walk to the Pitti Palace and finish with a stroll through the Boboli Gardens and a late afternoon vista over the beautful city. Finally, we'll pick you up for the quick drive back to the villa and a light pasta and salad dinner with some great local wines
June 15 - Vacation Day Right
Lets enjoy our villa today without driving. Read a book by the pool. Walk the property. We'll dip into the nearby town for a light lunch. Drink in the fabulous Tuscan hill views. Chef Michael prepares a multi course repast at the villa for dinner. Learn from "Il Cuoco" or sit by the pool and let you real world worries melt away.
June 16 - San Gimignano
We bid Villa Nobile goodbye enroute to the majestic town of San Gimignano, famous the world over for its 13 towers. We will ramble our way through town and find a favourite small restaurant of Chef Michaels for lunch.
Then we make our way to our second Villa overlooking Lago Trasimeno and settle in for four nights. We'll do a provisioning run and then enjoy an evening in with one of the best sunsets in all of Italy
Then we make our way to our second Villa overlooking Lago Trasimeno and settle in for four nights. We'll do a provisioning run and then enjoy an evening in with one of the best sunsets in all of Italy
June 17 - Cortona and into Umbria
After a 'colazione con uova' egg fritatta breakfast, we head out to Cortona, the unbelievably stunning location for the book and movie Under the Tuscan Sun. We spend a leisurely day here, shopping the lovely boutiques, wine tasting, planning our dinner shopping at markets and then a healthy but robust walk through the town and up the hill to visit the Fortezza di Girifalco for ridiculously riveting views - below. We then make our way back to our villa for a pizza dinner
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Cortona street scene
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June 18 Perugia
After a leisurely morning we will head into this lovely university city and visit the sites and enjoy a guided tour of this 3000 year old city. Enjoy a great Slow Food luncheon, and then visit the Casa Di Cioccolata at Perugina - one of the worlds most well known chocolates. We will stop at the quaint town of Torgiano (home of Lungarotti Wines) and visit their Olive Oil Museum before returning to the villa for some rustic Umbrian dishes from Michael
June 19 Assisi and MONTEFALCO
Assisi is the ancestral home of St Francis and one of the most important religious pilgrimmage sites in Italy. Extraordinary architecture and pristine art enrich the cultural landscape of this iconic Italian destination. We will lunch nearby on local specialties.
Then off to the famous wine town of Montefalco where one of our favourite wines, Sagrantino, is produced in quantity and quality. We will visit the town, taste wines at a renowned producer and then return to our villa to enjoy some of those wines with a barbeque finale from Chef Michael we prepare al fresco!
Then off to the famous wine town of Montefalco where one of our favourite wines, Sagrantino, is produced in quantity and quality. We will visit the town, taste wines at a renowned producer and then return to our villa to enjoy some of those wines with a barbeque finale from Chef Michael we prepare al fresco!
June 20 - CIVITI DI BAGNOREGIO TO ROME
Rick Steves (renowned guidebook author) has maintained for decades that Civita di Bagnoregio was one of the most unique places in all of Italy. He is so right. After breakfast and checking out of our digs, we take a thrillingly scenic drive through dramatic valleys to Civita di Bagnoregio, a crumbling former city - now nearly deserted, where only a handful of people still live. This extraordinary town is perched precariously on an eroding drumlin - it's like stepping back in time.
We walk the town exploring alleys and staircases and finish at a bruschetteria for some delicious snacks and a glass of local vino.
Then we retrace our steps for the last run into central Rome, where we finish our tour with drop offs at your hotel or the airport. Extend your stay for a couple of days to visit Rome if you wish with lots of great recommendations from Michael. Tours concludes in Rome at 4:00pm
We walk the town exploring alleys and staircases and finish at a bruschetteria for some delicious snacks and a glass of local vino.
Then we retrace our steps for the last run into central Rome, where we finish our tour with drop offs at your hotel or the airport. Extend your stay for a couple of days to visit Rome if you wish with lots of great recommendations from Michael. Tours concludes in Rome at 4:00pm
