VINEYARDS & CASTLES OF
TUSCANY
8 days/7 nights
Offering a well-balanced mix of culinary and
artistic experiences, this tour is well-suited to travelers who love wine, food, and art.
The tour
includes historic hill towns, ancient castles, and exploring some of the best vineyards in
Italy.
Participants will have the opportunity to taste notable wines in the cellars where they are
produced.
Wines featured include Chianti,
Brunello di Montalcino,
Rosso di Montepulciano, Vernaccia di
San Gimignano and Orvieto. Also included in the tour are olive oil tasting and field trips to
local food producers.
Art centers on the itinerary include Siena, Florence, Pienza, San Gimignano and Orvieto.
Professional, bilingual guides will help participants understand and appreciate the artistic
highlights of each city.
The routes traveled on this tour are off the main highways so participants get a more
personalized view of the countryside and its people. Accommodations are in charming country
inns, stylish villas, and medieval castles. Scheduled dining ranges from upscale, elegant
restaurants to carefully selected rustic trattorias and a castle setting.
Buon Viaggio!
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Typical
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival day
Arrival in Florence where you will be met by your driver and transferred to the
Relais
della Rovere hotel in the heart of the Chianti area of Tuscany. Hotel check-in, a
refreshing drink and time to relax before dinner at Il Cardinale restaurant.
Day 2 - San Gimignano
Our professional escort will guide your visit to San Gimignano,
the city famous for its towers,
built to demonstrate its wealth and power during the Middle Ages. Nearby we will taste a
delicious locally-made white wine called Vernaccia, produced by the Fattoria di
Torciano.
You will also have the opportunity to taste their estate olive oil. There will be free time
to shop or stroll the narrow streets of San Gimignano. Return to the hotel is planned to
reserve a little time to relax before dinner at the
Ristorante Casalta in Strove.
Day 3 - Montepulciano/Pienza
Montepulciano is on tap for today where we will tour the town and visit its most historic wine
celler Cantine Del Redi, the best producer of Nobile di Montepulciano, among the greatest of the
Super Tuscan red wines. We will taste its outstanding wines right where they are produced.
We will continue on to visit Pienza, the city of Pope Pius II from the powerful Piccolomini family.
While in Pienza, take the opportunity to savor one of its famous cheeses, Cacio Toscano and a
slice of Fettunta (the Tuscan version of Bruschetta). Dinner tonight will be at our hotel.
Day 4 - Siena
Siena's artistic and architectural highlights will be the focus of our guided tour with
Erica this morning. She will be able to answer all of your questions and place Siena's
history in perspective. We will also visit the Enoteca Nazionale, home to one of Italy's
best vintage wine libraries, where we will taste and have a chance to purchase notable wines.
Free time will be available to further explore Siena. Dinner will be at La Leggenda dei Frati
restaurant in Strove.
Day 5 - Orvieto
Today we will travel to Orvieto where we will take a walking tour of the city with our
professional guide. A wine tasting is scheduled at a well-known producer of Orvieto wine.
Free time will be available before returning to Relais della Rovere. Dinner will be at
our hotel tonight.
Day 6 - Montalcino
Montalcino, its wine and territory is scheduled for today.
Montalcino produces Brunello,
another exquisite Super Tuscan wine made with the ubiquitous San Giovese grape. We will
participate in a wine tasting at the Villa Banfi winery, one of the areaÕs oldest Brunello
producers. We will continue to Montalcino and Sant'Antimo to admire its beautiful
Benedictine Abbey built by Charlemagne in the 8th Century. In the spectacular setting
of St. Antimo, we will experience the ethereal voices of the monks chanting their daily prayers.
On our return to Siena, we will stop for a wine tasting at a famous winery called
Altesino.
Return to the Relais. Dinner will be at Il Pozzo, a typical Tuscan restaurant in Montereggioni.
Day 7 - Chianti
After breakfast we will visit the medieval quarter of Colle Val d'Elsa where its outdoor
market will be in full swing. Following the market visit, we will take an excursion in the
Chianti area including Greve in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, and Radda in Chianti with a
stop at Castello di Volpaia for a tour of the cellar followed by a tasting of its excellent
red wines. Return to the hotel. A farewell dinner is planned to culminate the tour.
Day 8 - Departure day
End of tour transfer to Florence and departure for your next destination.
Gabriele's Travels to Italy continually strive to improve tour
itinerary and features. If improvements can be made, or unforeseen circumstances
beyond our control make changes necessary, we reserve the right to vary itinerary
excursions and to substitute hotels and restaurants.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
• Wine and Food Exploration:
• Visits to many of Tuscany's finest wineries
• Wine tastings of many notable wines
• Opportunities to learn about "super-tuscan" wines
• In-depth view of wine-producing areas
• Restaurants carefully selected for quality, authenticity and atmosphere
• Exclusive accommodations with impeccable service
• Professional English-speaking guides and escorts
• Opportunities to deepen your knowledge of ItalyÕs many artistic and culinary treasures
• Transportation throughout the tour
• Our Vineyards and Castles of Tuscany program, is a well-balanced, entertaining tour
that educates both mind and palate.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
7 nights accommodations at
Relais della Rovere or similar class hotel
Breakfast and dinner daily
Olive oil and wine tastings
Guided walking tours with professional guide in Siena, San Gimignano and Orvieto
Transportation throughout
Bilingual tour manager/guide
All local taxes and charges
Group size limited to 12 people
2008 DEPARTURE DATE:
October 11
PACKAGE PRICE: €2,099 per person double occupancy.
Single room supplement €250
PACKAGE PRICE: €2299, per person, based on double occupancy.
PLEASE NOTE: PRICE INDICATED IN EURO CURRENCY
USE THE CALCULATOR TO FIND THE EQUIVALENT IN USA
DOLLARS.
CURRENCY CONVERTER
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We reserve the right to cancel any tour due to lack of participants or for circumstances
beyond our control. In this case, a full refund of all payments will be made.
Prices listed are based on tariffs and exchange rates at the time of printing and are subject to
change without notice, availability and confirmation.
Gabriele's Travels to Italy is not responsible for typing mistakes and/or tour features
descriptions.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 1-888/287-8733
email: info@travelingtoitaly.com
Tour Booking Code GT08
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