Complete Itinerary

Oct. 1 Wednesday- Depart New York via Delta nonstop direct to Pisa.

Oct. 2 Thursday- Arrive Pisa International Airport, meet our bus and enjoy an orientation bus tour of Pisa and then on to Grand Hotel Vittoria in nearby Montecatini.  In the afternoon, relax, visit a spa, or shop, and then join us for a Welcome dinner with wine tasting at Grand Hotel Vittoria.

Oct. 3 Friday- In the morning, participate in a Tuscan cooking class including lunch.  In the afternoon we will have a guided tour of Montecatini, and a ride to Montecatini Alto on Italy’s oldest Funicular overlooking the area. Dinner is on your own.

Oct. 4 Saturday- Full day excursion to the Tuscan countryside exploring food and wine with stops in charming San Gimignano, the medieval city of 12 towers, and a visit with our friend, Sergio Dondoli, at his famous Gelateria di Piazza to sample his award-winning gelato.  We will also visit Greve, a friendly market town with cafes, craft shops and great tasting Chianti, with a tour and wine tasting at Fattoria Viticcio Winery owned by our friends Alexandro and Nicoleta Landini, and a short stop at the famous Castello da Verrazano. Dinner is on your own.

Oct. 5 Sunday- We will visit the beautiful medieval cities of Montalcino (a wine lover’s mecca for Brunello wines), Montepulciano (known for its cheeses, olive oil, and Sangiovese wine), and Pienza (for Pecorino cheese). We will spend the late afternoon and evening in Siena. Dinner in Siena is on your own.

Oct. 6 Monday- We will spend the day in nearby Florence exploring this famous Renaissance city with its magnificent Duomo, The Galleria dell’ Accademia (Michelangelo’s David), shop on the famous Ponte Vecchio, and sample Florentine food. We’ll stop off for a light Tuscan dinner on the way back to Montecantini.

Oct. 7 Tuesday- We will go to Bologna to participate in a Tuscan cooking class at the world-famous Tamburini, owned by our good friend Giovanni Tamburini, where we will learn how to cook Bolognese food, and eat what we have prepared. We will stop off at La Sorbetteria to taste the best gelato in all of Italy. In the late afternoon we will continue on to Verona and check in to the Grand Hotel of Verona. Dinner is on your own.

Oct. 8 Wednesday- After breakfast, we will enjoy a guided tour of Verona, and in the afternoon we will go to the Lake Garda area, beautifully imbedded between high mountains, olive groves and vineyards, and visit a vineyard farm for a wine tasting. Dinner back in Verona is on your own.

Oct. 9 Thursday- We will make an excursion to the Veneto region around Verona to the Vicenza countryside offering a variety of food products from truffles to olive oil, and  Bassano del Grappa (home to the Nardini distillery where the grappa liqueur has been distilled for more than a century, and white asparagus when in season.)  We will return to Verona for last minute shopping.  You will be our guest at a Farewell Dinner at the hotel.

Oct. 10 Friday- Morning transfer to Venice airport for return nonstop flight to New York.

By making your reservation by May 31, 2008, you will receive
a $250 discount per person off the total cost of the tour.