Tuscany: Gastronomic Tour

Arrival in Florence
Welcome to Florence! Upon arrival, your private driver transfers you to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your own leisure to relax after the trip. 

Florence Sightseeing 
After breakfast at your hotel, meet with your private guide and go on a comprehensive walking tour of Florence's highlights.

Today's program includes exploration of the Piazza del Duomo with a visit to the Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

As you proceed to the main square of the city - Piazza della Signoria - you pass through the heart of the historical center with its landmark sites like Piazza della Repubblica and the Strozzi Palace. Stroll down via Tornabuoni, one of the most beautiful streets of the city, famous for its fine shops.

During the tour we also visit the Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's famous colossal statue of David, a must-see in Florence.

After the tour return to your hotel and enjoy an evening at your own leisure.

Departure
Following breakfast in your hotel, you check out and meet your private driver for the transfer. 

Arrival in Tuscany Hotel
Upon arrival you have a check-in in a charming hotel. 

Tour to Cheese Farm and Montepulciano Winery
Following breakfast in your hotel, you have an amazing experience as today you visit a Pecorino cheese farm.

Your driver takes you to Pienza, the area known for the wonderful Pecorino di Pienza cheese, which gets its name from the word pecora, Italian for "sheep". You visit the rustic organic cheese farm that sits on top of a hill overlooking the entire Val d’Orcia and even Pienza itself. Here the local cheese producer shows you how the pecorino sheep cheese is made and the many stages of aging from soft and fresh to hard and complex.

Later you carry on to Montepulciano, a small village of Etruscan origin and one of the most beautiful hill towns in Tuscany. After some free time in the Montepulciano historical center, you visit a traditional winery in a small farm. Here you enjoy tasting one of the most famous Italian wines: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The Nobile wines of Montepulciano were the first to be given the ultimate quality level of DOCG certification.

In the late afternoon, you are transferred back to your hotel.

Cheese tasting included.

Cooking Class in a Local Farmhouse
Today your private driver picks you up from the hotel and takes to a small group cooking class in a local farm restaurant. Here you learn how to cook a traditional Italian meal and about Italian dining traditions.

Your experience starts with picking up spices and vegetables and collecting eggs. After about 3 hours of the workshop, you enjoy a full Italian lunch which includes starters, home-made fresh pasta with sauce, the main course and a dessert. Later you have a private visit to an amazing winery located inside a historical castle.

At the winery you have a tour of the cellars, the vineyards, take in the gorgeous views and taste Brunello "Riserva" and also Rosso di Montalcino.

After the tour, you are transferred back to your hotel and have the evening on your own.

Lunch and tasting included

Departure
Following breakfast in your hotel, you check out and depart from Tuscany. 

Arrival in Florence & Optional Tours

Following breakfast, you check-out from the hotel and your private driver transfers you to Florence. Upon arrival, you check-in and have a choice to either have a free day or join one of our carefully-planned optional tours.

• Optional tour 1: Florence Gastronomic tour
  In the morning you have a gastronomic tour with a chef. You visit the best gastronomic shops in the historic center where you taste Prosciutto, Tuscan cured meats and Parmigiano Reggiano. Then you visit the best cheese shop where you taste Italian cheeses (sheep, goat and cow). Then onto a superb artisan chocolate shop, the owner and master buys the best cocoa beans and produces his own excellent chocolate. Your next stop is one of the most historic delicatessens in the city, which still represents a classic meeting place for Florentines as well as the preferred destination for lovers of specialties made with truffles. You taste the famous sandwich with truffle paste. Your afternoon gastronomic tour ends at the well known historic Enoteca (wine shop) where you have wine and olive oil tasting. Time at leisure in the afternoon. Overnight in Florence.
   
• Optional Tour 2: Truffle-hunting tour
  Your truffle-hunting day starts early in the morning. Your local, professional truffle hunter and English interpreter (accompanied of course by the truffle dog) meets you in the morning and accompanies you on silent paths through the crisp, misty morning. You look for, listen, and learn, and in the end, you will almost certainly find the precious tuber, a moment of great excitement. Then move onwards to the farm and wine cellar for a tasting of local products and a guided sensory analysis of the black and white truffle. Lunch at the farm is available upon request at an extra charge depending on which type of truffle is featured in your meal. After the tour, you are transferred back to the hotel in Florence.

Breakfast is included.

Departure
This is the last day of your Tuscany exploration. Today you check-out from the hotel in Florence and your driver transfers you to the airport for your flight back home. We wish you a safe flight and hope to work on your future vacations!

• Recommended extension: If you would like to extend your Italian vacation, continue exploring its wonders with our extensions, please, contact your specialist for details.