Tuscany Wine Tasting Trips, Cooking Holidays/ Vacations Italy

VILLA GAIA PROGRAM

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Walking along medieval cobblestone piazzas & fountains… you will be in the best of hands with Carlo Innocenti, the quintessential Tuscan:

and you will learn to cook the way the Grandmothers and Grandfathers of this gentle land have cooked for centuries. You will explore lesser known hill-towns and walk amidst the splendid vistas and meadows of the Val d'Orcia. From Montalcino to Arcidosso and the quaint seaside village of Castiglione della Pescaia to Siena, Carlo will show you the way of this world in Toscana - glimmering olive groves with their silvery hues and the rich vineyards of the celebrated Brunello wine. In the horizon here, your eyes will follow the fine curves which outline majestic Cyprus trees and sunflower fields … and you will savor all of the flavors of incredible Tuscan Country Cooking – La Cucina Povera

THE ONE WEEK TRIP 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, Tuscan seafood & homemade pasta making.
2 wine tastings at wineries in Montalcino & Montepulciano
5 guided excursions to the enchanting towns of Monte Amiata; Montalcino and Montepulciano (home of the Brunello & 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 transfers to and from Rome).

DAY 1 (SUN) Meet in Florence – 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 (MON) Montalcino & 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 (TUE) Bagni di San Filippo & 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 (WED) Montepulciano & 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 (THR) 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 (FRI) 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 (SUN) Departure
Transfer to Rome.

Dates: Programs run all year long. Flexible schedule depending on when guests can travel.

Cost: $2990
Single Supplement: $400

VACATION OPTIONS

We created four exciting packages for you:

Upon request we can arrange your stay at Villa Gaia for fewer or more days with or without cooking courses.

VILLA GAIA TOURS
ITALIAN CHEESES
RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE

Another culinary treat for the Villa Gaia guest will be the tour to Pienza, famous for its Pecorino cheeses. This delicious and distinctively flavorful Italian cheese, made from sheep’s milk, has been produced in the Pienza area since the first man domesticated the first sheep. It is so irresistibly delectable, that Italian school children forgo the sweet shops and spend their pocket money on chunks of Pecorino cheese! It also boasts being the birthplace of Pope Pius II, and because of this, this medieval Italian farming hamlet became one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany, encompassing all of the classical Italian Renaissance ideals.

ITALIAN SEA FOODS
ITALIAN COOKING; IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN PASTA!

For another look at traditional Italian cooking, sea food will be the focus when we take you to the ancient fishing village of Castiglione della Pescaia. With a view of the islands Elba and Giglio, and guarded by an ancient fortress that has withstood countless attacks from medieval pirates, the pure azure waters attract discerning visitors from all over Europe. Castiglione della Pescaia is home to only a few thousand residents, many of whom can trace their ancestry back to the ancient Romans and Pisans who originally settled here. Because of it's beauty and diversity, this seaside village has become a favorite Italian destination amongst discerning Europeans. Here you will sample delicious Italian seafood while you enjoy the fresh sea breezes in an authentic Tuscan Trattoria.

HANDS ON COOKING COURSES
La Cucina Povera (Tuscan Peasant Cooking)

Tuscan cooking is fast becoming one of the most prized of all Italian cuisines. Top Italian chefs from all over Italy are adding Tuscan recipes to their own menus. The reason for this is that Tuscan cooking, while simple and non-elaborate, celebrates freshness and the natural flavors found in foods. In the evenings, you will take part in a hands-on cooking course, learning about the traditional flavors of Italian cooking particular to the Tuscan region. You will cook in a traditional Tuscan rustic kitchen, and food and wine will become a truly social event, enjoyed among good friends in authentic Italian style. You will dine in authentic Italian trattorias, lingering over your glass of red wine, enjoying the conversation of your companions and guide. Tuscan cooking utilizes the availability and freshness of it's native organic produce, the purest and most sought after olive oils, the freshest herbs and home-made, fresh pasta to bring out the natural flavors in foods. Tuscan cooking will shed a whole new light on the typical image of Italian cooking of heavy tomato sauces and pasta. Instead, Tuscan cooking is light, fresh, healthy and delicious, with lots of health-promoting olive oils and fresh herbs and vegetables. Tuscan cooking can definitely become a part of a healthy lifestyle!