Itinerary

Day 1

Via private transfer from Chiusi railway station, (about halfway between Florence and Rome ) you'll arrive at your elegant four-star villa near Montepulciano. Once you're settled, if you wish, walk through the pristine countryside of rolling vineyards and olive groves. That evening, sit down to a jovial dinner with your group in a renowned local restaurant.

Soothe your body and your mind with pampering at the nearby Terme di Montepulciano spa. From massages to mud baths, you'll leave the spa at lunchtime feeling utterly refreshed. (Spa visit is optional. You may wish to relax at the villa)


Drive to a farm near Montepulciano and join a friendly Italian grandmother, a thirty something dad, mother and little son for lunch. The family will show you around their vegetable gardens, barns and sheds where they make Vin Santo.


Drive to medieval walled Pienza. Take a two hour walk along the beautiful and winding country roads on a lovely ridge with valley views all around you from Pienza to the walled hill town of Monticchiello. If you don't take the walk, we'll drive you there to meet the rest of the group.


Light dinner tonight is in a wine bar.

Day 2

Take a guided walk through walled hill town, Montepulciano, passing the beautiful Renaissance San Biagio church and admiring the splendid views over the vast countryside.


Stop and shop! Montepulciano has an amazing array of stores selling homewares such as tablecloths and ceramics, leather goods and art. Lots of wine shops offer you free wine tastings of the famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a top red wine.


Lunch today is on your own in Montepulciano.


Visit a winery in a 14th century palazzo in little Montefollonico. The hospitable winery owner will take you on a tour of the cellars and lead you through a wine tasting. Enjoy tasting his Rosso di Montepulciano, Vino Nobile and Vin Santo and chatting about life on his garden terrace with fabulous views across the valley to Montepulciano.


Drive to a family's farm on a panoramic ridge with magnificent views of Val d'Orcia and Pienza. The outgoing owners will welcome you to cook a full menu dinner with them in their big farmhouse kitchen. Make chestnut pasta with creamy sheep ricotta made on the farm and Tuscan arista—a pork roll stuffed with herbs. They'll tour you around the farm, totheir pecorino cheese making rooms, herb gardens and animals, so you'll get a taste of Tuscan farm life.

Enjoy a country style four-course dinner in their warm and dining room.



Light dinner tonight is in a wine bar.

Day 3

Visit the medieval hill town of Montalcino, famous for its Brunello wine. Enjoy a tasting of Brunello and other wines at the Medici fortress, now a wine shop. Stroll through its narrow streets to browse the clothing, leather and ceramic shops or stop at a bakery to sample the Sienese panforte.


Outside Montalcino you'll visit a winery to discover and drink the famous Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino right where it's made.


Light lunch on your own in Montalcino. You may want to enjoy some local pecorino cheeses and salami with Tuscan bread and a glass of Brunello at wine bar and watch local life go by.

Visit the 1000 year old Romanesque Sant'Antimo church. Set in an idyllic valley, you'll stand in awe, admiring a quintessential Tuscan view of cypresses zigzagging up hills, olive trees, vineyards and fields.

Arrive at an organic farm, full of exotic trees and plants where the smiling, proud owner, Alberto still makes olive oil using the traditional granite wheel.

He's a fabulous cook too! In your cooking lesson in his cozy farmhouse kitchen, you'll work with him to cook some traditional Tuscan dishes that were vanishing from the local cuisine. Dine on your delicious creations around a wood table in his cozy olive oil production room, where he explains how he makes olive oil and answers all your questions about olives and olive oil.

Day 4

This morning experience the weekly market in Montepulciano, where local people shop for everything from cheese, to tablecloths, to underwear. Lots of time to browse and pick up pretty tablecloths or bed linens.


Light lunch on your own at the market. Why not be like a Tuscan and at a market stall get a freshly made sandwich bulging with the local porchetta, pork with savory rosemary and other herbs.


Can you get anymore relaxed? We think so with an afternoon of pampering at the Terme di Montepulciano spa where you can choose from their array of treatments. Or you may wish to go for walk, relax at home or go shopping.


Back at the villa, stretch out for a bit and then relax at the villa's fine restaurant for a sumptuous dinner of dishes like a sformato (heavy flan) with carrots with a tasty pecorino cheese sauce, hand-made ravioli with tomatoes and fresh basil, country style chicken with herbs, vegetables, red wine and a semifreddo with contucci, the local almond biscuits.

Day 5

Take a scenic drive for about an hour up into the hills of Monte Amiata to a tiny hamlet with lots of chestnut trees to a restaurant well known for its outstanding cuisine, especially its mushroom dishes, praised in many guidebooks.


You'll cook beside chef and owner Roberto, our most popular chef. He is the epitome of warm hospitality, an excellent cooking teacher and a charming man passionate about food and wine.

Dine on your creations with wines specially chosen by Roberto.
Drive back to your villa to relax in the garden with a book or enjoy a leisurely walk.

Your “arrivederci Tuscany ” dinner will be at home at the villa. After your multi course lunch, you'll want to eat light!

Day 6

Checkout after breakfast and return to the Chiusi train station, marking the end of this unforgettable food, wine and cultural immersion, sparkling with tales of good times you shared with wonderful local people.

Day 7

Note: Itinerary is subject to minor changes. We will do our best to keep them to a minimum.

Instead of a Tuscany Villa you can stay at a nice, modern, three star hotel in Pienza. 1795 - 2355 Euros double occupancy per peron

Extra Information

Inclusions -

6 nights accommodation with breakfast

Exclusions -

3 lunches

Extras -

A wonderful mix of Tuscan activities so you meet lots of local people like farmers & chefs you'd never meet otherwise in places you'd never find. A real Tuscan cultural immersion in beautiful areas!

Dates are by request for 2 to 7 people so you travel in small groups & feel you're travelling with friends.

We can custom design this tour so you get just the Tuscan experiences you've always wanted.