DAY 2

FLORENCE (Wine in lounge before dinner and Welcome Dinner are included) 

From the airport it's a short taxi ride to our beautiful hotel in the center of historic Florence. We will keep track of your flights and meet you at the hotel. At 2:00 we begin the tour with an orientation walk to show you the historical center of Florence including the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, Uffizi, street markets and the Duomo. Then you are free to explore on your own. Meet us in the lobby for wine before our Welcome Dinner.

Our hotel  is  located in the very heart of the historic area of Florence- just off  Piazza Repubblica.  This location is no more than 15 minute from all the attractions.. You can enjoy an after dinner stroll  and experience Florence at night as well as when it is bustling with tourists during the day. For those who would like to see Florence from atop a double deck bus there is a "hop on and off"  bus that circles the historic area and includes a narrative  in English. With one ticket you may get off and on the bus at any of its stops for 24 hours. 

Florence is where the Renaissance happened. The Medici funded some of the greatest art ever. Their offices or “Uffizi” now  house the greatest collection of Renaissance art in the world. Lines are notoriously long so let us know if you want a reservation. You can "pass to the head of the line."   Recorded audio tours are available at the door. Florence’s second museum, the Accademia, houses Michelangelo’s original  "David". Art lovers will probably also want to see the famous Borgello National Museum and the Pitti Palace.

Before dinner we'll get together in the hotel lobby for a glass of local wine and to get to know each other. Tonight's meal is included and is at one of the most popular restaurants in Florence.  This 13th century Palace has gorgeous vaulted ceilings and ancient frescoes. It is a great place to sample local dishes. Some of our favorites are the thick Tuscan tomato soup, the delicately fried eggplant and calamari. Just when you think you can't eat another spoonful... the dessert cart  rolls up. 

Florence (Breakfast included) 

Lovely Piazza Signorelli outside the Uffizi is a great place to enjoy lunch in a sidewalk café while gazing at the magnificent sculptures that encircle it. There we'll get our first glimpse at Michelangelo's "David".  This copy is in the place where Michelangelo’s original stood before it was moved to Galleria Accademia. Nearby is the spectacular Cathedral (Duomo).  Michaelangelo thought that its dome was the highlight of the Renaissance. He is buried in Santa Croce Church where he "had a view of the dome".You may choose to climb the dome or the campanile or just enjoy sitting in the piazza and taking in the incredible exterior of this masterpiece. The colors and workmanship are breathtaking.  A block away is a Museum that houses many original works of art from the Duomo. The Baptistery is also special especially the bronze door. It is a separate building since the unbaptized could not enter a church at that time.

Florence is a shopper's paradise.  Jewelry shops specializing in gold line the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. There are streets lined with designer shops such as Gucci, Ferragamo, and Yves Saint Laurent.  For those who love street markets, there is a century’s old market with merchandise ranging from fruits, vegetables and flowers to leather and clothing. You can get good buys on leather items, jewelry, tapestries and much more. It is possible to get a leather jacket altered in just a couple hours or you may have one made and they will mail it to you.  Make an offer. It's half the fun!

We'll can make reservations for the famous Uffizi art museum and the Galleria Accademia so you can bypass the long lines.  Just let us know if you'd like us to. You may also want to tour the famous Boboli Gardens or the Pitti Palace. 

Each night we meet for drinks in the lobby before dinner. We'll pick a place for dinner and you are welcome to join us (not included). If you choose to go on your own let us know and we will help you pick a special place or just find a great pizza

Monterosso-al-Mare (Cinque Terre) (Breakfast & excursion to Pisa  included)

Monterosso-al-Mare (Cinque Terre) (Breakfast included)

In Cinque Terre you can explore on your own but Larry usually takes a group to Riomaggiori the first full day and does the walk to Cornillia.   People love just exploring the five little villages and some of the neighboring ones. We will gladly explain your choices as to how to get to the other four towns by boat, train or on foot. If you want to go beyond the “five” villages, there are boats that go to fabulous Portofino or Portovenere. Just check the ferry and train schedules. Boats and trains are constantly shuttling along the coast. It’s fun to experience the different methods of transport to each of them. Here are two activities we highly  recommend that you not miss:

• Take the train to Riomaggiori (one of the five villages) and then walk or ride the elevator to top of the trail for an unforgettable and incredible view.  Even those who have trouble walking long distances can enjoy this experience since the elevator is located right where you exit the train.

Day  7   Wednesday
Sept. 3     

Monterosso-al-Mare (Cinque Terre)(Breakfast, dinner & wine included) 

Tonight we have a special dinner prepared by the hotel's owners, Felicita and her husband, Angelo. Felicita will show us the secrets to making pesto just like fishermen's wives have been doing for centuries. She'll explain the  history of pesto and how important it was to the families who lived by the sea. We'll then have homemade pasta and fresh seafood.  Dessert is always a surprise that we know you'll enjoy.  This homemade meal will give you a chance to not only enjoy local food but to get to know our innkeepers. This charming couple will  make you feel welcome. Our past customers have said this evening in Cinque Terre was one of their favorite experiences in Italy. Felicita and Angelo reflect the warm friendly nature of the Italian people.  They are happy to meet Americans.

DAY  8
Thursday
Sept. 4

After breakfast we leave Cinque Terre and stop in Lucca on our way to Castellina.  Lucca is the only city in Italy with an completely intact Roman wall surrounding it. The top of the wall is not only wide enough for a comfortable walk or bike ride around Lucca but it has parks and playgrounds as well. You can rent a bike at the tourist information area where we will be dropped off.  Lucca has two beautiful churches and lots of shopping.  The Romanesque cathedral has a Last Supper by Tintoretto.

We will be dropped off and picked up on the west side of town by the tourist information office.  We will walk through this beautiful town to the beautiful church of San Michele. It closes at noon. Next we head to the Piazza dell' Anfiteatro  There was once a Roman Theater on this plaza and it's shape is evident.  After a quick lunch we will go on to the Cathedral San Martini. Be sure to see the  “Last Supper” by Tintoretto  and a wood carving of Christ that is said to  have been carved by Nicodemus of olive wood from the garden of Gethsemane.  On the way back to the van there will be a little time to shop, enjoy a coffee, wine or ice cream  and  walk along the town wall.  Next we drive into the Chianti region  through vineyards  and spectacular scenery  to  Castellina in Chianti.

Our hotel was once a palace that belonged to a family involved in the dramatic history of Florence and connected with the Medici's. The hotel has been painstakingly restored. We hope you'll take time to explore and appreciate all the architectural features that have been preserved. The renovation has preserved a sense of  warmth and coziness that makes you feel right at home. You'll feel so comfortable that you won't want to leave.   There is a bar and terrace overlooking the Tuscan landscape and a large swimming pool.  There are gorgeous public rooms with original frescoes still intact and ancient beamed ceilings. You can relax  in the bar, the terrace or one of the lovely lounges. The guest rooms are all uniquely beautiful as well. Last year the talented owner completed a special project for your enjoyment.  Now there is a  beautiful spa for the guests' use. (Whirlpool, steam room, sauna).

Some people  say  "the hotel doesn't matter".  We disagree.  This hotel and the others we choose are experiences in themselves. Every hotel on this tour is unique and we've chosen each of them for reasons unique to that hotel.  Some are fancier than others but all are close to the main sights in town and everyone of them has a great staff to welcome and assist you.  They and the charming people who staff them are part of what makes an experience in Italy - so real and so wonderful.

Before dinner we'll have a get together on the terrace with its peaceful view out back. We hope you will join us for dinner tonight. This town is where we especially love to order the grilled veal steak or "lombata of veal".  It's so good we've sometimes ordered it two nights in a row!  

Castellina-in-Chianti (Tuscany) (Breakfast, wine tasting included )

Today we'll spend the day in Castellina to experience life in a small wine Tuscan wine Tuscanyclose up. You'll be able to sleep late and then still enjoy a delightful breakfast (until 10:00). Relax on the terrace and take in the beauty of the Tuscan landscape.  There is a wonderful spa with hot tub and aroma showers.  Over at one end there are loungers set up for just relaxing or perhaps reading.  If you'd like a massage let us know so we can make an appointment.

There are several enotecas (wine bars)  along the main street in case you'd like to sample wines from nearby wineries.  Shoppers will like the small but  interesting shops up and down main street.  Across the street from the hotel there are a couple cafes where you can sit under an umbrella and watch the people walk up and down main street.  This afternoon we'll get together on the terrace for a wine tasting where you'll learn all about the robust wines of Chianti and the history of the Chianti area.

Tonight no group dinner is planned.. You may want to have a later than usual dinner so you can experience the spa that opens in the late afternoon. Or you may want to make special arrangements at one of the town's well known restaurants that features wild game.  You may also want to have a larger lunch and just picnic for dinner by poolside or on the terrace. Just across the street from the hotel there is a pizzeria with delicious pizzas and a wonderful antipasto bar. We'll be glad to help you with arrangements.

Throughout the middle ages Siena was the long time enemy of Florence. The competition between the two towns was a constant factor in the history of  Italy.  Even in the construction of the Cathedral in Siena you can see the effect of the competition.  Before the Black Plague disrupted their plans the people of Siena were attempting to build a church bigger than the grand Cathedral in Florence. Competition wasn't just with Florence either.  For centuries the different neighborhoods within Siena itself competed at the annual Palio horse race.  Weeks before this main event the town celebrates with ceremonies, flag throwing and parades as a send off for this highly anticipated race. As you sit at one of the cafes in "il Campo" try to imagine it during the Palio horse race.  Where you are sitting is the racetrack and all the windows around the piazza will be filled with merry makers as they watch the frenzied  two minute race. 

Shopping is a popular activity in Siena. There are shops to keep everyone interested. You can investigate the department stores of Italy to compare them with the ones we are familiar with.

After everyone has absorbed the dramatic history of Siena we will stop at the Dievole Winery for a tour and tasting before we return to Castellina-n-Chianti.

After breakfast we drive to San Gimignano. It's a perfectly preserved medieval walled city.  There are shops, restaurants, a cathedral, a fortress and museums to explore.  The beautiful piazzas and ancient buildings carry you back to a time when each wealthy merchant tried to outdo the others by building the tallest tower. Fourteen of these towers survive today.  The Collegiata Church was a Cathedral at one time and the frescoes on its walls are spellbinding.  In the main piazza one gelateria has been awarded the "best gelato in Italy" award for several years in a row.  (We can vouch for that!) This piazza is a great place to take pictures in front of the charming well as you enjoy a gelato. There are numerous outdoor cafes with comfortable tables and chairs waiting for those who'd like to relax as they absorb the beauty of the ancient buildings that enclose this beautiful piazza.  

Breakfast at the farm is a delightful affair.  Homemade jams, breads, pastries, yogurt and fruit provide a bountiful meal to set us up for the rest of the day.  For lunch  panini, salads and other tasty snacks are available by the pool (charged to your room).  If you must leave this tranquil oasis  taxis are available to the train station and its a short ride to Florence. 

If you sign up for a Tuscan cooking class it will meet after breakfast with the chef who runs the fantastic restaurant which is located on the farm. Locals come for special occasions to enjoy the wonderful food and atmosphere. The  "cooks"  will enjoy the fruits of their labor for lunch. If your friends would like to join you for lunch they can purchase lunch at the restaurant (prepared in large part by you) and dine with you for a fee.

This afternoon there is a tour of the  farm's windmill  that powers their flour mill.  It is part of a  research project and is one of the  few active windmills still in operation.  You will also learn all about the farm's olive oil production and taste it as well.  All the food we'll enjoy at  the farm is produced on the farm  The homemade jellies and  spreads on the breakfast buffet are delicious.  Its the freshness and  the fact that all the Tuscan foods are local that make Italian food so great.  Your experiences on the farm  will  make  it  easy to understand why every one loves  Italian food and wine.

Today we'll take a tour of the vineyards and taste the delicious wines produced on the farm. You'll have time to sit out by the pool soaking in the incredible Tuscan landscape.   

Whatever you choose to do with your time, we're sure you'll love it. These days at the farm were a big big favorite of the last 
group that went there. They thought it was the perfect ending for any tour of Italy.  It  gives you  a wonderful restful time to make sense of all you've seen and done in Italy and sends you home rested and ready to dive back into reality - whatever yours may be.

Day 14
Wednesday
Sept. 10