Why is Tuscany so everlastingly popular? In so many other parts of the world, culture is an optional extra, something you do in your spare time… but here, in Tuscany, it’s at the foundation of everything. From the Etruscans, Romans to the Renaissance, Tuscany is potentially the supreme source of art in the world, from extraordinary paintings and sculpture to frescoes and architectural masterpieces. This sun-drenched, viticulture region is rich in slices of gourmet delights, and a feast for the senses with rolling vineyards and natural scenery…
Location: Tuscany
Recommended International Airport: Rome Fiumicino Airport
Flying Time (from Sydney, Australia): 21 hours
Airlines: Emirates Airways , Qantas and Etihad.
Getting to Florence: After exploring Rome, take the luxurious Italian Rail for a scenic transfer through the Italian country-side.
Traveller Types: the gourmet traveller, the Free-Spirit, the Cultural Explorer, the Authentic Experiencer and the Genuinely-Curious.
Best Time of Year to Visit: June – September
Maximum Average Temperature: 26 degrees
Minimum Average Temperature: 14 degrees
Ideal Length of Stay: 8 days
Benvenuti nella bellezza della toscana
Welcome to the beauty of Tuscany
Day One
Transfer…Upon arrival at the airport of your choice, you will be privately escorted from the aircraft to a waiting luxury private sedan for your hotel transfer.
Stay… Arrive at the stunning Portrait Firenze Hotel where your Studio Deluxe River view room is overlooking the Ponte Vecchio.
Activity…Today’s activity is dine and dine by design, with a gastronomic guide. For the duration of two hours, your taste buds will be tantalised by the likes of Procacci for prosecco, truffle crostini and ricotta torta.
Day Two
Colazione…Wake up to your sun speckled suite and enjoy a morning espresso on your balcony overlooking the Ponte Vechhio. Stroll downstairs to breakfast at the caffe dell’oro for an authentic Italian feast.
Activity…Today you will have a local guide who tailors your tour specifically to suit your travel needs and tastes. Some of the Escape Beyond teams’ recommendations include:
- Piazza della Signoria
- The Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore
- The Arno River
- The Ponte Vecchio
- The Academy Museum
Dine & Wine… For a Romantic and luxurious evening, a stroll down to La Loggia Restaurant is a must. This restaurant is situated on the exquisite hillside of Fiesole, with alfresco dining. Be sure to share a bottle of Chianti while enjoying their signature dish, Tuscan Panzanella and lamb while absorbing the amazing ambiance and cultural surrounds.
Day Three
Colazione… Stroll down to breakfast at the caffe dell’oro for a tasty Italian Fritata with a caffe latté on the side.
Activity… Start your day at Florence’s Mercato Centrale to meet Italian mamme and local chef for their Tuscan cooking class. With guidance from your cooking gurus, you will source Italy’s freshest produce from the local markets, and venture to their authentic family home at Porta Romana for your culinary class. This is not your average cooking class, but a time of sharing of culinary history, igniting passion for traditional recipes and creating inviting table settings.
Dine & Wine… Often described as the finest restaurant in Europe is Enoteca Pichiorri, with and extensive wine cellar… need we say more?
Day Four
Transfer…Check out of the Portrait Firenze Hotel and be ready for your full day tour of the Chianti Vineyards.
Activity… Today you will be escorted through the Tuscan viticulture hills by your local guide. On this transfer tour, you will explore picturesque towns Gaiole, Radda and Greve, spot the many hilltop castles dotting the horizon and stop off along the way to sample some of Italy’s best food and wine while reaching your beautiful hotel in Tuscany.
Stay… Arrive at your castle, Hotel Castello del Nero where your Deluxe Suite awaits. This hotel is nestled in the Tuscan countryside and contains all of the original property features like fanciful frescoes, vaulted ceilings and massive fireplaces.
Escape Beyond Benefits at Hotel Castello Del Nero
- Buffet Breakfast in the Breakfast Room;
- Complimentary Wi-Fi;
- Shuttle to/from Florence or Siena city center according to day and schedule;
- Use of our outdoor heated swimming pool (during summer), of our Fitness Suite and Tennis Courts;
- A 300 Hectare (750 acre) of wine and Extra Virgin olive oil producing estate;
- Complimentary soft drinks in Minibar;
- Complimentary daily entrance to the Heat Experience of the spa.
Dine & Wine…This evening your dinner is reserved at La Torre, where the chef conveys that, “if you want quality then you must follow nature.”
Day Five
Activity… Today you will have an eight-hour day trip to one of Tuscany’s greatest treasures, Siena, and later the town of towers, San Gimignano.
Your local tour guide and driver will escort you to a wine tasting, as well as bucket-list sights such as…
- Piazza del Campo, where thousands gather for the annual Palio races and flag-throwing ceremonies.
- Torre del Mangia, boasting panoramic city views
- Duomo, a spectacular cathedral perched on a hill.
Later, you will make your way down the winding countryside through the vineyards and farms to the gorgeous town of San Gimignano. Your Tuscan tour guide will bestow you with the towns rich history of aristocracy, familial rivalry and architecture. You will have ample chance to bask in the ancient culture of San Gimignano’s and enjoy its ancient lanes, antique stores and art galleries, medieval art, ancient city walls and architecture.
Dine & Wine…The Escape Beyond Team recommends Ristorante La Fattoria as your evenings low-key dining experience needed after a long day of touring. We recommend for entree,Pappardelle sul cinghiale, for mains the Filetto in brace al Tartufo marzolo and dessert a smooth Panna cotta.
Day Six
Colazione… Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel, ready for a day of luxurious Tuscan adventure.
Activity… Nestled between Tuscany’s traditional rolling hills and the rugged Tyrrhenian coast lies the prestigious Bolgheri wine region, where you’ll spend the day enjoying an exclusive behind-the-scenes wine tour.
This gorgeous estate’s motto, “Quality without compromise” governs every stage of the process, from hand- Your guided tasting of the estates’ current vintages, olive oil and grappa culminates in an elegant lunch with one of the estate’s top executives. Along with a three-course meal of local delicacies and the company of one of Italy’s premier winemakers, you’ll have the rare opportunity to sample a selection of the estate’s celebrated vintages.
Day Seven
Colazione… Enjoy a continental breakfast at the hotel with a fresh Italian espresso
Activity… Today is focused on living the life of a traditional Tuscan. You will visit the villages, vineyards and vistas of the beautiful Val d’Orcia as well as tasting award-winning food and wine in Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino.
Dine & Wine… La Locanda di Pietracupa is a bucket list for foodies. La Locanda is a sensory heaven where typical and the imagination join forces in pursuit of the aesthetic perception of taste. You will be seated in the refreshing surroundings of the magnificent terrace overlooking the medieval village of San Donato in Poggio.
Day Eight
Colazione… Enjoy Italy’s finest breakfast at the hotel with a fresh Italian espresso while overlooking the sun-drenched rolling Tuscan hills.
Transfer…Check out of the Hotel Castello Del Nero. After which you will be privately escorted from the castle in private sedan to the Tuscan airport of your choice.
Wanting to explore Tuscany & Florence like our VIP clients? Contact our luxury travel managers on 1300BEYOND.
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