TUSCANY This tour is available for private groups of 6 or more. Inquire within for more details. *Sample Itinerary
At Piazza Della Signoria, Florence
Highlights
Four star accommodations in centrally located hotel
Two private culinary classes with meals following
Welcome dinner
Private English speaking city tour led by licensed guide
Private wine tastings and day trip to Chianti with lunch on the winery and plenty of wine samples
Private culinary city tour visiting world famous shops
Private day trip to Pisa and Lucca
Private day trip to Siena
Farewell dinner
Leisure time on your own
Overview The week in Tuscany kicks off with check-in at our four star accommodations. Centrally located, Hotel Orto de Medici will be our home for the week, so unpack and make yourself at home. Perhaps visit their famous gardens and take in some of the Tuscan air. During the week, we will experience the scenic views of Tuscany and sample wines in the wine regions of Chianti with a memorable lunch on the winery. The week will also take us to the world famous cities of Pisa, Lucca and Siena for what are sure to be plenty of photo opportunities. We will also take part in two private cooking lessons and pick up a few culinary tips from our native Tuscan instructors. Our walking city tour in Florence will allow us to get to know our host city while our walking culinary tour will give us the opportunity to sample some of Tuscany's most traditional products.
Sunset over the Arno River
Let Francesca, a native Italian, lead you in Tuscany
Day 1 - Arrival & Welcome Dinner Arrive and settle in your four-star accommodations in the early afternoon. Our home for the week will be the highly regarded Hotel Orto de Medici. Unpack and make yourself at home knowing you will not need to repack until your departure. Enjoy the nearby sights of our home for the week, stretch your legs in the nearby shops or grab your first gelato.
In the evening, we will meet for our first group activity. We will enjoy a welcome dinner with our fellow travelers and get our first taste of the regional cuisine and wine that we will be enjoying throughout the week.
A stop at Piazza Della Republica, with a hop on the famous Merry-Go-Round is a must!
Day 2 - Private Cooking Class & Walking Tour After breakfast at the hotel, we will head towards San Lorenzo Market where our cooking experience begins. Under the guidance of our chef instructor, we will select fresh and healthy ingredients needed for our cooking lesson. Following the market visit in the morning, we will proceed to the school where we will learn how to prepare typical Italian Tuscan dishes. Grab an apron and be prepared to cook up a delicious Tuscan lunch to be enjoyed by all in the group.
In the afternoon, we will walk off our lunch calories with a private city tour from our English speaking, certified city guide. Walk the streets of the Medici, Donatello and Dante as well as the lesser known side streets of the city. We will visit major churches, such as the Santa Maria Novella and if the lines permit, enter the Duomo, among other high profile attractions.
Spend the evening on your own at your leisure. Walk about the city, grab a gelato and people-watch the way locals do.
A typical small square in Chianti
Day 3 - Day Trip to Chianti After breakfast at the hotel, our private driver will pick us up and we will make our way to Chianti where we will visit two highly praised wineries. We will visit the Southern part of Tuscany, undoubtably the most beautiful countryside the region has to offer. Discover the wines of the area and learn the aging process. Enjoy the landscape, olive groves and of course, the many vineyards.
Lunch may include typical items such as antipasti toscani, ribollita, pasta with meat or mushroom sauce or lasagna.
Evening on your own to spend at your leisure.
Some local specialties we will enjoy during our foodie walk
Day 4 - Walking Foodie Tour & Cooking Lesson Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, but be sure to leave room for our many tastings from our culinary walking tour. We will enjoy local specialties at family owned shops and savor Florence’s “street food” of cured meats, cheeses, olive oil, baked goods, breads, chocolates, and artisan gelato.
Enjoy some time on your own in the afternoon, but don't indulge, we're in for a treat this evening!
In the evening, we will head back to our culinary studio for our second private dinner cooking lesson. Be prepared to work for your multi-course dinner tonight as we prepare antipasti, a first and second course and of course, dinner would be incomplete without dessert. A truly memorable dinner experience is expected tonight!
The city square in Lucca
Day 5 - Day Trip to Lucca & Pisa Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading west of Tuscany today on our day trip to Lucca and Pisa. Lucca is a most beloved city in Tuscany, and all of Italy, and we will have time to walk the streets filled with shops, cafes and old-school buildings. Known as the city of 100 churches, Lucca is filled with historical architecture and a can't miss city while in this region. Lunch will be in a trattoria in Lucca.
Getyour camera ready for what will be a memorable afternoon. After lunch, we make our way to the world famous city of Pisa and the famous Miracle Square. Admire the Leaning Tower, Baptistery and Cathedral. Pick up a few gifts to take back, snap lots of pictures and take it all in.
We will return to Florence around 5:00PM and you can enjoy the evening on your own.
The square in Siena.
Day 6 - Day Trip to Siena Today we head to another major attraction and perhaps Italy's loveliest city, Siena! Located on top of three hills, Siena can easily be called Italy's ultimate hill town. Today, we will visit the Siena Cathedral, probably the most precious of Tuscan churches, the Campo Square, famous for the Palio, the annual historic horse-race, the Town Hall, Palazzo Salimbeni and San Domenico Church. Pedestrian friendly, as only residents and cabbies are permitted, Siena is sure to leave an impression. We can walk about the narrow streets, enjoy the adorned balconies and relax with a gelato along the way.
The table is set for our group dinner, we're waiting for you!
Day 7 - Farewell Dinner Our time in Tuscany is sadly winding down. Today you can enjoy the day on your own to walk about the city with freedom. Visit a museum we didn’t get a chance to see, we highly recommend the Uffizi Gallery, return to a place where we’ve been that left an impression, pick up a few foodie gifts for your friends or simply enjoy Italy’s “Il Dolce Far Niente” – literally, the sweetness of doing nothing!!
A farewell dinner is planned for our last evening in Florence. Enjoy a delicious meal with wine, exchange stories and e-mail addresses with your traveling companions and toast to our wonderful week.
Fontana del Porcellino - Florence
Day 8 - Check-Out Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out.
*Day to day specifics subject to change*
INCLUSIONS
7 Nights Accommodations at Hotel Orto de Medici
Minibar in Your Room
Daily Breakfast at Your Hotel
Private Transportation Throughout Tour for Day Trips
Welcome Dinner Celebration
Thank you Dinner Celebration
Lunch on Winery
Day trip to Lucca and Pisa
Day trip to Siena
Winery visits and day trip in Chianti with Wine-Tasting Lessons & Samples
Two Private Culinary Lessons with Tuscan Instructors with Meals Following
Private City Tour Led by English Speaking Certified Guide
Private Foodie Tour With Ample Samples Throughout Walk
Visit to Mercato Centrale
Price & Details This itinerary is currently available for private, pre-formed groups of 6 or more only. If you would like to request additional information, please use the form below. Francesca Montillo, Native Italian, Owner and Tour Leader Accompanies all Activities Contact Francesca at francesca@thelazyitalian.com for booking/reservation and further details. If you would like to reserve a spot for this tour, or have any questions, please use the contact form below and we will send you the necessary booking instructions or additional information.
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