Tuscany, Umbria and Rome
September 14-25, 2013
This fall, enjoy a splendid culinary exploration of Tuscany, Umbria and Rome with Chef Michael and his dear friend and fellow Slow Food Chef, Craig Flinn. Craig is the author of four cookbooks and the owner of Chives in Halifax NS and certainly one of Canada's most well know chefs. He and Michael have travelled together in Italy many times and we look forward to cooking for you and showing you OUR favourite spots in Tuscany, Umbria and Rome
day 1 - arrivals and casa limoni - September 14
You fly into Pisa airport where we are waiting for you. Our villa, Casa Limoni is actually a private compound of 3 separate buildings on the grounds of an historical estate 10 km north of Lucca. Its about a 3o minute drive from the airport. 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 Craig and 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!
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The grounds of Casa Limoni, 10 km north of Lucca
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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, 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. Climb the medieval Torre di Guinigi where trees grow from the top for a riveting view of the city. Craig and 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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day 3 - Pisa and vino- SEptember 16
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 a pizza lunch.
We will then make our way to back toward our villa for a wine tasting at Tenuta Valgiano, a 3 Bicchierri award winner in the Gambero Rosso, Italy's definitive wine guide. We'll pick up some wines for dinner. A quick detour to la Ponte Diavolo to see and explore an 800 year old bridge and quaint hamlet. Then we'll head pack to Casa Limoni , and then revel in a feast created by Craig and I. A leaisurely evening of great food and wine awaits us.
We will then make our way to back toward our villa for a wine tasting at Tenuta Valgiano, a 3 Bicchierri award winner in the Gambero Rosso, Italy's definitive wine guide. We'll pick up some wines for dinner. A quick detour to la Ponte Diavolo to see and explore an 800 year old bridge and quaint hamlet. Then we'll head pack to Casa Limoni , and then revel in a feast created by Craig and I. A leaisurely evening of great food and wine awaits us.
day 4 - Florence - SEptember 17
The Home of the Rennaisance, Leonardo, the Medici and so many more. We will get an early start so we can visit the Majestic Duomo, get to our reserved tour of the Accademia to see Michelangelo's 'David' and many more. Then a Tuscan lunch at a great local resto, before making our way to the Gallery Uffizzi, one of the world's great art museums with an art historian guide.
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
day 5 - Marble, Lardo and sand! - September 18
Optional excursion day.
Its up to you. Enjoy the villa today or go on a road trip. If you choose to remain at the villa please do so and enjoy the surroundings: go for a walk in the hills or ride a bike into the nearby village of Ponte a Moriano - you are welcome to take a chill day. We'll leave behind a buffet lunch for you to partake in or make a reservation for you at one of the nice little places in the village.
For those who want to get out, we will make a day journey with three stops. We will drive up into the hills and visit the adorable hilltop town of Barga, famous for a jazz festival and its inviting location. Then we will take a scenic drive 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 if you wish. Then we will contiue to nearby Colonnata where the world famous Lardo di Colonnata comes from. Taste it if you dare.
Then we will head back to Lucca stopping by the beaches of Viareggio for a dip in the Mediterranean at a private beach club and a little beach time. Then back to the villa for a poolside barbeque and a tasting of artisanal Italian beer! If we like we can head into Lucca for an evening of fun and strolling
Its up to you. Enjoy the villa today or go on a road trip. If you choose to remain at the villa please do so and enjoy the surroundings: go for a walk in the hills or ride a bike into the nearby village of Ponte a Moriano - you are welcome to take a chill day. We'll leave behind a buffet lunch for you to partake in or make a reservation for you at one of the nice little places in the village.
For those who want to get out, we will make a day journey with three stops. We will drive up into the hills and visit the adorable hilltop town of Barga, famous for a jazz festival and its inviting location. Then we will take a scenic drive 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 if you wish. Then we will contiue to nearby Colonnata where the world famous Lardo di Colonnata comes from. Taste it if you dare.
Then we will head back to Lucca stopping by the beaches of Viareggio for a dip in the Mediterranean at a private beach club and a little beach time. Then back to the villa for a poolside barbeque and a tasting of artisanal Italian beer! If we like we can head into Lucca for an evening of fun and strolling
Viareggio waterfront
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Viareggio beaches
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day 6 - San Gimignano and Siena- SEptember 19
We bid Casa Limoni 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 restaruant of Chef Michaels for lunch.
Then its less than an hour's drive to Siena, where we will check into our hotel for one night. After a little breather we will head out late afternoon to visit Il Campo, site of the Famous Palio horse race, and then over to the grand Duomo for a visit inside this magnificent church. We will dine nearby at a Slow Food recommended osteria before an evening stroll through this pedestrian only jewel of a city to our hotel.
Then its less than an hour's drive to Siena, where we will check into our hotel for one night. After a little breather we will head out late afternoon to visit Il Campo, site of the Famous Palio horse race, and then over to the grand Duomo for a visit inside this magnificent church. We will dine nearby at a Slow Food recommended osteria before an evening stroll through this pedestrian only jewel of a city to our hotel.
DAY 7 - Cortona and into Umbria - September 20
After breakfast, we move on to Cortona, location for the book and movie Under the
Tuscan Sun for a healthy walk through the town and up the hill to visit the
Fortezza di Girifalco.
Then its into Umbria "the Green Heart of Italy" and off to our accommodations. After checking in (we are here for three nights) we will take a little time to explore our region, get some supplies at local markets and then enjoy a lovely dinner at our extraordinary digs
Tuscan Sun for a healthy walk through the town and up the hill to visit the
Fortezza di Girifalco.
Then its into Umbria "the Green Heart of Italy" and off to our accommodations. After checking in (we are here for three nights) we will take a little time to explore our region, get some supplies at local markets and then enjoy a lovely dinner at our extraordinary digs
Cortona street scene
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Tuscan plain from Cortona
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Day 8 - Perugia
After a leisurely morning we will head into this lovely University city and visit the sites including a lovely walk around this medieval town. Enjoy a great Slow luncheon, and then visit the Casa Di Cioccolata at Perugina - one of the worlds most well known chocolates visit a wine cantina and some markets and t and then back to our vehicles. We will stop at the quaint town of Torgiano (home of Lungarotti Wines) and visit their Olive Oil Museum before continuing on to the villa for some rustic Umbrian cooking with Craig and Mike
DAY 9 MONTEFALCO AND ASSISI - SEptember 22
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 lanscape of this iconic italian destination.
Then off to the wine town of Montefalco where one of our favourite wines, Sagrantino, is produced in quantity and quality. Lunch there at L'Alchemista will include terric modern spins on Umbrian Classics and likely some of the local plonk. We will visit the town, taste wines at a renowned producer and thn return to the agriturismo for a little r and r (or hillside hike) and time to work up an appetite for dinner, a barbeque we prepare al fresco!
Then off to the wine town of Montefalco where one of our favourite wines, Sagrantino, is produced in quantity and quality. Lunch there at L'Alchemista will include terric modern spins on Umbrian Classics and likely some of the local plonk. We will visit the town, taste wines at a renowned producer and thn return to the agriturismo for a little r and r (or hillside hike) and time to work up an appetite for dinner, a barbeque we prepare al fresco!
DAY 10 - CIVITI DI BAGNOREGIO TO ROME SEptember 23
Rick Steves (renowned guidebook author) has always advocated 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 trhough the hills to Civita di Bagnoregio, a crumbling former city, nearly deserted, where only a handful of people still live. This extraordinary town is perched precariously on an eroding drumlin and is like stepping back in time.
We will visit the town and a bruschetteria for some delicious snacks and a glass of local stuff and then a walk down the backside to some secret cliff side caves that have their own story to tell.
Then we board our vehicles for the 1.5 hour run into central Rome, where we end up housed near the Trastevere district in a pleasant hotel close to everything. We take a quick walk to the Testaccio district to see a real slice of Rome, visit Keats Grave and Hadrian's Pyramid, and then make our way back to Trastevere for a seafood insired dinner at one of Michael favorite Roman restaurants - then some nightlife for those with some energy left to explore the Eternal City a la notte!
We will visit the town and a bruschetteria for some delicious snacks and a glass of local stuff and then a walk down the backside to some secret cliff side caves that have their own story to tell.
Then we board our vehicles for the 1.5 hour run into central Rome, where we end up housed near the Trastevere district in a pleasant hotel close to everything. We take a quick walk to the Testaccio district to see a real slice of Rome, visit Keats Grave and Hadrian's Pyramid, and then make our way back to Trastevere for a seafood insired dinner at one of Michael favorite Roman restaurants - then some nightlife for those with some energy left to explore the Eternal City a la notte!
DAY 11 - ROME September 24
Our last day. We send you out on the Angels and Demons tour which hits the high points of Rome in a fantastic 6 hour tour that will show you much of Rome.
If you would rather, we will set you up with a personal guided tour of the Vatican museums which includes the Sistine Chapel at the end.
OR, if you like, you can join Chef Michael on a personal walkabout of a market inspired Rome. Campo Di Fiori, Piazza Navonna and other Roman beauty spots
If you would rather, we will set you up with a personal guided tour of the Vatican museums which includes the Sistine Chapel at the end.
OR, if you like, you can join Chef Michael on a personal walkabout of a market inspired Rome. Campo Di Fiori, Piazza Navonna and other Roman beauty spots
DAY 12 - rOME - DEPARTURES SEptember 25
Up early for a caffeine redolent Roman breakfast and then your transfers to Fiumicino for you trip home.
We would recommend that if possible, you stay a day or two more and explore Rome on your own to really get a taste of the city.
11 nights $3995 pp/do (single supplement $300)
We would recommend that if possible, you stay a day or two more and explore Rome on your own to really get a taste of the city.
11 nights $3995 pp/do (single supplement $300)
