Tuscan Treats

Colours as rich as the melodies that chime in the heart of the city, Tuscany’s romantic capital is where we begin our journey. We’ll meet our Tour Leader and fellow travellers at the hotel before a short amble through the Renaissance streets to our first taste of Tuscan cuisine. Wafts of creamy pesto tortellini and sweet tiramisu will hit as we settle into our seats. Is your mouth watering yet? 

Nothing says Buongiorno Italia! like a cup of smooth cappuccino and a plate of flaky cornetti (Italian croissants) fresh from the oven. Bellies adequately filled, we’ll meet our local guide who’ll share legendary tales like those of two families and their aristocratic influence – the Pazzi and the Medici. What will you make of their bloody-yet-beautiful tapestry of artistry, executions and charismatic allure?  

Before we gather for the first journey in our luxury minicoach, there’s time to enjoy a bite of focaccia (Italian flatbread) or schiacciata (Tuscan flatbread). Your Tour Leader will be able to point you in the direction of their favourite haunts! 

Ciao Lucca! Get to know the small city affectionately nicknamed “the town of a hundred churches” during some free time. Seek the Puccini Museum – the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini, famed opera composer. Or visit one of the many churches and let their mosaic facades enrapture you... 

Postcards and photographs don’t do the Cinque Terre justice when it comes to the candy-coloured houses surrounded by laps of shimmering teal waters. We’ll begin today’s venture in La Spezia where our Tour Leader will walk us past places that take you beyond the surface.  

Then, the journey you take is completely your own. Between soaking up blue views that blur between sky and sea and hopping on and off the train between villages, you’re sure to feel the rumblings of your stomach... Our suggestion for lunch: seafood. For fried food fanatics who love salty goodness, frittura mista (mixed fry) is the dish to find! Fried shrimp, squid and calamari are tumbled together with a side of chips – deliziosa!  

Back to Lucca for the evening where a hint of opera twirls in the air. Perhaps your journey will take you along the Le Mura di Lucca for a wander into the past. Or maybe the hint of crushed ruby red grapes swirling in a sparkling glass calls to you in Piazza dell’Anfiteatro... 

A short and comfortable drive away from Lucca is the next stop of our Tuscan adventure: Pisa. Practice your scusami for a passerby to take a group photo and strike a pose! Then, wander the city, soaking up the Romanesque architecture that reflects the city’s host of stories about structural blunders and maritime adventures. 

As the sun begins to dip into its afternoon glow, we’ll turn our attention towards Volterra. Mismatched stone buildings swept in a warm breeze, red-roof tiles baked under daylight and squares gilded in gold... wherever you turn a secret waits to reveal itself. Savour every moment as you get acquainted with this town before we come together for a group dinner at a local restaurant. Here, the chef will dish up a selection of cured meats, unsalted bread and bruschetta. For main? A traditional Italian dish will be scrawled on your menu – best enjoyed with a smooth glass of wine. 

Hope your trainers are laced tight for the day ahead! First up: San Gimignano. Our Tour Leader will take us to one of the most famous (and award-winning!) gelatería shops. Will you try an innovative flavour such as rosemary, parmigiano, or pumpkin? 

From one Tuscan treat to another – we have a wine tasting to get to. Our host will share tales from the mahogany wine cellar before taking us upstairs to the restaurant. There, a selection of meats, olives and cheese will be served. Sample and swirl a glass of red and a glass of white, noting the distinct ingredients blended in these local wines. 

Our next stop is medieval Siena. Settled upon a Tuscan hill like many of her sisters, Siena is a small city filled with yellow-painted buildings that smoulder pink when the sun begins to dip. Here, our Tour Leader will walk us past Siena Cathedral – the Gothic crown amongst medieval treasures. We’ll wrap up our day in Pienza. Stop for a plate of tagliata di rosmarino (rosemary tagliatelle) and watch as locals live their lives with a pinch of dolce far niente. 

Are you more likely to nibble at a piece of cheese or take a whole chunk? Your small group will find out during this morning’s tasting at a local farm shop with sweeping views of the Tuscan countryside. We’ll sample a range of pecorino cheese – famous in this part of the world. Dotted along the table will also be an array of condiments: balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt... It’s not just a tasting, it’s a miniature feast; one that will entice you to buy your own slab (or two) of pecorino cheese to take home for a taste of Italy when our adventure ends. 

Be honest, how many espressos have you tallied during this adventure so far? With an entire afternoon and evening to do as you please in Pienza, why not stop at a local café for another? Or perhaps you wish to get lost amongst the maze of alleyways you were introduced to when we first arrived in this rural city. Your Tour Leader is on hand with any questions you pepper them with – perhaps they have a favourite restaurant or scenic vista of their own to share with you. 

All aboard the minicoach this morning for a journey through the rolling hills of the Chianti countryside to our final accommodation. It will not disappoint – especially as we have a hands-on cooking class to attend! Surrounded by rustic beams, shiny tiles and fields of forest green, the farm-turned-hotel's in-house chef will greet us in the restaurant. Here, we’ll powder our hands with dusty dough, mix thick tomatoes into a sauce that drips off the spoon and dangle thick tagliatelle in the air. Take a moment to bask in this memory. It’s sure to be one filled with warmth and laughter. 

Once the plates are cleared after devouring our heartily made lunch, the afternoon is yours. Read the last few chapters of the book that’s been tucked away whilst you’ve been on your own adventure. Get acquainted with the hotel’s majestic creatures during a languid horse ride through the grounds. Or practice your tennis skills in a singles or doubles game as the Italian sun beams down. Tonight is our farewell dinner where we’ll clink glasses, swap stories and say “salute!” to a group, a time and a place that nobody else will ever experience the way we have. 

The last day of our journey together is here, but the adventure’s not over until we’re back in Florence where we’ll part ways.  

Before we say our goodbyes, we’ll head to an oil mill in rural Tuscany. Surrounded by olive groves that fill the air with a sweet scent, we’ll learn about the two types of trees that grow and change with every season. After our guided tour, we’ll sit together one last time for an olive oil tasting. Compare the notes and textures of the liquid splashed across crumbling bread for one final taste of Italy (until you return in the near future!). There’s a cosy shop at the mill, too, so you can buy a bottle or two to take home with you.  

As we climb into our luxury minicoach for the last leg of our adventure, sit back and watch as the countryside transforms into city life once more – and replay all the moments, big and small, that now exist in your memory.