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Your driver will pick you up from the hotel this morning to take you to Radda, where you will begin your excursion into the Chianti countryside.
Radda has retained more of its ancient character than most towns and villages of the area. It still retains the elliptical form it had in medieval times, and the streets of the miniscule town center are centered around the square, Piazza Ferrucci. It is here you will find the Palazzo del Podesta, with frescoed decorations and numerous ancient shields and crests, and the main church, raised on a platform directly opposite the palace.
Your route will take you to the tiny village of Volpaia, and on the way you can stop to admire an old watermill. In Volpaia, a delicious lunch awaits you before your tour of the cellars and wine tasting at a prestigious local winery.
In the afternoon your driver will return you to Figline Valdarno, where a cooking lesson with the expert cooking staff has been organized for you. You will enjoy private instruction in the preparation of authentic Tuscan dishes, and will enjoy your creations for dinner.
Return to your hotel.
This morning you will depart with your driver to the Arno Valley. This unique and picturesque valley begins at the point where, in the vicinity of Arezzo, the river Arno changes course and heads north.
A landscape of olives, vines and forest, sculpted by man with wisdom and respect.
Here, in every small ancient village we feel this atmosphere. This is an occasion to
discover all secrets of the "yellow gold" from Tuscany: the olive oil. You will follow an
interesting route, passing the natural development of the journey made by the Tuscan man,
who since ancient times has produced the olive's oil with attention and respect for
the work of olive tree. This is done by cold pressing in a traditional oil press (a crushing
press), careful selection of the olives, harvesting at the correct time and
by filtering only through cotton, resulting in a production of oils which retain all
the character of the original fruit.
To know also means to know how to taste, for this reason a voyage around the culinary table offers a chance to experiment and take part in a sampling of the mill's products.
You will then proceed to a local Chianti vineyard for a guided tour of the cellars and the estate. Afterwards, you will be given a private oenological lesson before enjoying dinner with the house Sommelier. Your driver will return you to your hotel in the evening.
Today your driver will take you into the Chianti Rufino - a somewhat lesser known section of the Wine Region to the west of Florence.
You will visit the Abbey at Vallombrosa, an ancient Benedictine monastery nestled in a protected forest of fir and
birch trees. A visit to this secluded retreat will reveal an imposing construction,
dominated by an ancient bell tower that gives the monastery the aspect of a
castle. Inside, you will find a wealth of artworks from several periods, and perhaps
sample some of the monks' excellent home-made liqueur.
You will then stop for a delightful picnic before continuing to the medieval castle of Trebbio. Your day will close with a fascinating visit to the medieval castle, still standing as it was five hundred years ago, with the exception that the dungeons are now used to store the estate's olive oil production. In October you will also be able to see the Saffron plantations and production. You will enjoy a dinner in the Castle before returning to the hotel.
Today you will depart with your driver/guide to the Mugello Valley, where you will taste the wine of the area and visit a chestnut plantation on horseback.
After your ride, you will return to the plantation house where a delicious, homemade Tuscan lunch will be waiting for you.
But before you leave, you will have a chance to visit the curious saddle museum. Upon returning, you will have a nice stop in the center in a historical bar, "Il Bar Bianco". Here in the heart of the village, in a palace rich of frescos and works of the 17th century, you must taste one of the specialty desserts by Alvaro Lombardi, chef and patron: a chestnut ice cream, the castagnaccio, fried chestnut tortellini crêpes with chestnuts and ricotta cheese or the superb marrons glacés.
You will also visit the fortified settlement of Palazzo dei Vicari for a chance to see its Renaissance fresco decorations and its Museum devoted to
the history of knife production in Scarperia. You will also see the
knife-maker's workshop and have the centuries-old forging process explained by contemporary
craftsmen. You will return to your hotel at the end of the day. Tonight's dinner
will feature the new wine and fruit of the forest.
Today your driver will take you to the region around Vinci - the lands of Leonardo - for some truffle hunting. The surrounding landscape has a magical and enchanted quality, worthy of the most suggestive of the great master's images. The gentle hills of green and gold, topped by hamlets and bell towers, also testify to an agricultural past which still continues to this day.
You will visit a very interesting crystal making laboratory
The typical Tuscan need to cultivate produce for self-consumption results in an area of delightful gastronomical surprises: sweet raisin wine, salami, pastries and of course, truffles. During your guided tour, you will accompany a licensed truffle hunter and his trained truffle-sniffing dog in an exciting hunt for the prized delicacy. You also visit a local truffle laboratory and get a chance to taste its products.
This evening your dinner will include white wines.
Your driver will meet you after breakfast. Being dipped in ravishing and exotic scents, we will reach Sant'Andrea di Compito, also called the "Camellias Village" thanks to the "old Camellias" from Lucca. You will begin a truly interesting experience, always guided by the very famous "Camellias Sage", Mr. Guido Cattolica. He will lead you through the tea roads in his own tea plantation.
You will be led through the evergreen shrubs,
with dark and tough leaves, that during the blossom time in October exhale a
delicate scent, with a light camphor's wind. From these plants can be obtained the
spices' drink, that will seem to you as thin as a needle, and when mixed
with water, will take the leaves into their natural dimension. The trip
is not complete without a stop on the return way at a sweet shop, the Slitti shop in Monsummano Terme, for a nice tasting to appreciate the most famous chocolate of Italy.
Return to the hotel for your farewell dinner with wine. Tonight you will also receive a booklet with all the receipes of the dinners you have enjoyed on your program along with the list of wines.
Today you will be transferred to the rail station or airport.
er Person based on number of people travelling together
Based on 2 people
Euro €5070 per person
Based on 4 people
Euro €3750 per person
Based on 6 people
Euro €3500 per person
(Prices may vary with different season, weekend, holiday or trade fair date surcharges)
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