Villa Gaia is a luxurious Italian Villa, nestled in organic olive groves, Sangiovese grape vineyards, and medieval forests; Villa Gaia represents Tuscany in the elegant, classical style of the Noble Etruscans. As our guest at Villa Gaia, we offer you an exclusive wine and culinary tour of our beloved Tuscany. The territory of Seggiano, where Villa Gaia is located, is rich with the well-preserved Italian culture and cuisine of generations of Tuscans. Geographically close to the cities of Rome and Florence, Seggiano is worlds away from the hectic pace of these urban areas. Here you will be immersed in a culture of gentle nobility; simple, understated elegance.
Delightful Italian wine flows at every meal, fresh, organically grown foods make every meal a culinary delight, and your hands-on cooking courses will prepare you to dazzle your dinner guests. Your guided excursions of the Italian countryside will immerse you in the culture and heartbeat of the Tuscan people.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet in Rome – Arrival at the Villa Gaia. Our meeting place will be in Rome. After having arrived at the Villa Gaia Estate (about 2.5 hours drive from Rome) you will settle into your rooms. Then you can relax, feel at ease at the villa and receive a welcome tour of the estate. Dinner at Villa Gaia.
Day 2: Montalcino and Wine tasting. Today you will visit the renowned Senese (Siena area) town of Montalcino. You will be visiting La Rocca, the 14th century fortress and Montalcino’s main piazza where you can stop and have a cappuccino in the piazza’s authentic liberty style café as well as shop for pottery in a local store. Then we will take you to visit a winery where you can have a light lunch and a tasting of the best wines of the Val d’Orcia including Brunello. Evening cooking course at the villa followed by dinner.
Day 3: Bagni di San Filippo and Pienza. Tuscany abounds with natural hot springs. During this tour you will visit the hot springs of Bagni di San Filippo. You will then continue to Pienza, where you will have lunch in a local restaurant and then visit its main square, Piazza Pio II, which is a model of Renaissance planning. Once home at the villa, you can prepare a healthy Tuscan dinner (cooking lesson).
Day 4: Montepulciano and Wine Tasting. Visit the magnificent town of Montepulciano with architectural masterpieces by Rossellini, and then enjoy its wines including Nobile di Montepulciano at a wine estate nearby. Dinner at Villa Gaia with cooking lesson.
Day 5: The villages of Monte Amiata. Today you will go to Santa Fiora, a village on the slopes of Monte Amiata. There you’ll visit the historic center and an ancient Parish Church which contains fine terracotta bas-relief by Andrea della Robbia (15th century), and La Peschiera, the private gardens and swimming pool of the Sforza family (16th century). Then you will continue to the other side of the mountain and stop in Abbadia San Salvatore where you will visit its famous abbey and crypt. For lunch you will stop in Arcidosso and pay a visit to Carlo. Cooking course and dinner at Villa Gaia.
Day 6: Castiglione della Pescaia. For the last day in southern Tuscany, you will enjoy a trip to the seacoast to the pretty seaside village of Castiglione della Pescaia. This old fishing village stands up high on a hill with its castle looking over the turquoise bay. You will enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant. In the evening, you’ll enjoy dinner at one of the best-known restaurants in the area of Monte Amiata, which specializes in mushrooms and truffles.
Day 7: Departure. Transfer to Grosseto.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices shown are per person double occupancy rates. There is a $350 - $450 Single Occupancy Surcharge.
Price Includes:
- 6 nights accommodations at the country estate of Villa Gaia, near the small village of Seggiano, province of Grosseto
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Small groups: 4 to 12 people
- 4 hands-on cooking courses in “La Cucina Povera Toscana” – Tuscan country cooking including homemade pasta making
- 2 wine tasting at wineries in Montalcino and Montepulciano
- 5 guided excursions to the enchanting towns of Monte Amiata; Montalcino and Montepulciano (home of the Brunello and Nobile wines); the early Renaissance town of Pienza; the hot springs of Bagni di San Filippo and the seaside village of Castiglioni della Pescaia
- All transportation (including transfer from Rome and drop-off in Grosseto).
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