Tuscan Gastronomy - Italy Holiday Package

Today you will be checked in at your hotel. Rest of the day is free at leisure.

This morning, head out into the lush, rolling landscape of the Montalbano hills, where you will see many Italian cuisine ingredients growing in their native environment. Pass terraced grape vineyards, olive groves, and chestnut trees on your way to the quaint village of Vinci, birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. Here, you will learn all about the Renaissance master at the MUSEUM dedicated to his life and many areas of interest, which included everything from painting, sculpting, and inventing to anatomy, music, and cartography! Later, visit a bakery in the Chianti Montalbano area to learn the secrets of ITALIAN BREAD MAKING.

Cradled between the provinces of Florence and Siena, the Chianti Valley is the heart of Old Tuscany, and has been hailed for its exceptional wines since the 13th century. Your journey today takes you to Greve to visit a Macelleria, a traditional Italian BUTCHER SHOP, where you’ll learn about Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak) and tasty Finocchiona (fennel salami). Then, enjoy lunch at a charming wine shop, and visit a HISTORIC TUSCAN ESTATE known for its Chianti and Supertuscan wine production.

Your day begins at a LOCAL MARKET in Montecatini, where an expert guide will help you select fresh ingredients for an Italian cooking lesson at a rustic farmhouse in the Tuscan countryside. Once you arrive at the farm, enjoy a welcome drink, explore the orchard, learn about Italy’s most famous delicacies, and then roll up your sleeves for a fun, hands-on COOKING EXPERIENCE. This evening, relax with your traveling companions and savor the delectable dinner you prepared—maybe your team will win the master chef prize!

Today features a visit to Lucca, a stunning showcase of medieval architecture and layer upon layer of rich history and culture. Marvel at the beautiful art and tapestry collections at the baroque PALAZZO MANSI NATIONAL MUSEUM, then take a guided walking tour around the Old Town with its fine, intact Renaissance-era wall, cobblestone streets, and café-lined piazzas. A lively CAFÉ-CRAWL snack brunch is included, followed by a main course at a local restaurant. Then, your Local Guide introduces you to the stunning ornamental gardens and grand arched ceilings of PALAZZO PFANNER.

Travel through the vineyard-dotted countryside and along cypress-lined Viale dei Cipressi for your fascinating entrance into enchanting Bolgheri. With its red-brick castle and atmospheric Old Town, it’s not hard to believe Bolgheri jumped right off the pages of a storybook. There’s time here to visit one of the WINE CELLARS that produce Bolgheri’s celebrated reds. First created in the 1980s, many wine experts believe these now rival French Bordeaux. Later, stop at nearby Castagneto Carducci, known for its splendid panoramic views of the Etruscan Coast.

This is your final day in Montecatini. Splurge on all the gastronomical offerings of this city. Savour the French bakery products and the authentic French cuisine. Overnight in Montecatini.

Today you will be transferred to the train station for the ongoing connections. The Tour ends here.