CLAREMONT BUCKET LIST TRAVEL
ITALY IMMERSION IN
TUSCANY FOOD, WINE AND CULTURE
7 NIGHTS - PRIVATELY GUIDED TOUR OF TUSCANY, CINQUE TERRE AND FLORENCE ITALY
MAY 13-20, 2023
|
SMALL GROUP OF 32 PEOPLE
Staying in this lovely villa outside of Lucca, Italy Day trips to Florence - Pisa - Cinque Terra Full of wine tastings, culinary demos and exploration! |
DETAILED ITINERARY
HIGHLIGHTS THAT MAKE THIS TRIP SPECIAL
Gorgeous private Villa Amore dating back to 1649 with amazing history
History tours of Lucca, Pisa, Florence and Cinque Terre
Cooking immersion exploring the food culture of Tuscany region
Taste the local wines, olive oils, desserts and more
English speaking guide and your Bucket List travel escorts
And most important, the opportunity to make life long travel friends!
Gorgeous private Villa Amore dating back to 1649 with amazing history
History tours of Lucca, Pisa, Florence and Cinque Terre
Cooking immersion exploring the food culture of Tuscany region
Taste the local wines, olive oils, desserts and more
English speaking guide and your Bucket List travel escorts
And most important, the opportunity to make life long travel friends!
ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS SCHEDULES AND WEATHER REQUIRE
DAY 1 --GUIDED TOUR OF FLORENCE AND ARRIVE AT VILLA (Transfers will be available from Lucca or Pisa - and Florence for small fee). This morning, your guide will meet us at hotel and begin our walking tour of the magnificent city of Florence. Those interested in visiting the Michelangelo's David will have the opportunity to independently purchase VIP skip the line tickets. Then we will have free time for lunch and shopping in Florence, then will meet up to depart to the villa in the countryside of Lucca.
Upon arrival at the Villa Amore, you will have time to settle into your room and enjoy the lavish setting at the villa where we will dine that evening. Weather permitting, we will dine al fresco and enjoy some sumptuous Tuscan cuisine while enjoying spectacular views
DAY 2 -- EXPLORE THE VILLA AND THEN TOUR LUCCA --Following a buffet breakfast at the villa this morning we will visit a local supermarket and Italian 'Alimentari'. This day is a good opportunity to buy some supplies for the week ahead, some various Tuscan meat and delicacies and use to prepare a light lunch.
In Lucca, we will enjoy a guided tour of the city with a wonderful local guide and visit many sights this 'city of Music' is world famous for. Following the tour, you will have some free time to enjoy the marvelous shops in Lucca, which is famous for silk and Italian ceramics. We will dine this evening in Lucca at a wonderful local Tuscan trattoria in the city center prior to returning to the villa.
DAY 3 - TORCIANO WINERY & SAN GIMIGNANO
We will go to the wonderful Tenuta Torciano where we will experience a Vertical Wine Tasting and cooking demo of pasta and lasagna. We will also get to enjoy many local Tuscan specialties. At approx 4 PM, we will head into San Gimignano for a chocolate tasting as well as the opportunity to buy many local products and sample what is considered some of the very 'Best Gelato' in Italy.
Return to the villa in the evening where guests can enjoy a 'light' dinner of supplies purchased over the week, order in pizza or make fresh salads from ingredients purchased over the course of the day in San Gimignano.
Remember - tomorrow, you have a big breakfast and then heading to the Cinque Terre national park for an epic lunch and more wine tasting!
DAY 4 -- CINQUE TERRE, WINERY & PIZZA - Following breakfast today, we will head north of Lucca to the Cinque Terre national park. The Cinque Terre or 'five lands' are beautiful towns, like rainbows set against a dramatic coastline hemmed by vineyards. We will start our day in Portovenere - the port of Venus, from where we will take the boat north to Monterosso al Mare.
From Monterosso, we will head up to an incredible winery with spectacular views, where you will enjoy a wine tasting with lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the five villages and return to the villa in the evening. En-route to the villa this evening, we will stop in a pizzeria for dinner where you can enjoy a terrific Italian pizza.
DAY 5 - RELAXING AT THE VILLA, VISIT PISA AND FREE TIME IN MONTECATINI AND COOKING CLASS -- This morning, enjoy a leisurely buffet breakfast the villa after two full days of touring and wine tastings and then the opportunity to go to Pisa for a glimpse of the leaning tower and the Plaza of Miracles. It will be fun this morning for some great photos and a chance to visit one of Italy's iconic sights. Here, you will have the optional opportunity go to the top of the Tower of Pisa and see the Cathedral.
Then we will head to the spa town of Montecatini Terme to visit this Tuscan town, which is divided into the lower and higher villages. In the lower village, Montecatini offers visitors access to the natural 'Terme' spring waters , whereas in the upper ancient village, we have numerous beautiful restaurants with panoramic views over the entire Tuscan countryside.
Free time for lunch today in Montecatini Alta. Return to the villa in the evening for hands-on cooking class. Bring your own wine this evening to accompany the hand-made pasta dishes you will be making as your dinner at the villa this evening.
DAY 6 - OLIVE OIL EXPERIENCE FOLLOWED BY LIVE MUSIC NIGHT AND BBQ AT THE VILLA
Your villa in Tuscany, is located in a rich olive oil producing area in Tuscany. Minutes from your villa, walking distance, only 600 meters is the beautiful Colle Di Bordocheo Olive farm and winery.
Following a relaxing morning at the villa, at approximately 11:45 AM, you will walk up the road from the villa to the farm estate to begin your olive oil tasting experience. Over the course of the day, you will have the opportunity to sample olive oil, taste 6 of the properties different wines and enjoy a variety of locally produced Tuscan cheese, various local products and various fruits and vegetables.
Return to the villa in the evening for a leisurely evening where you can prepare yourselves a local BBQ feast or go into Lucca to dine at a restaurant there. Also live musical evening at the villa in Tuscany.
DAY 7 -- BEACH TOWNS AND FAREWELL DINNER - After breakfast today, we will head to the coast of Tuscany and visit the towns of Forte Dei Marmi and Viareggio which are two of the most famous beach towns in Italy, notorious for their luxury shopping, hopping cafes, bars and sea-food restaurants.
Here, you can opt to enjoy one of the area's beach clubs and take some sun, dip your toes in the Mediterranean sea and enjoy the sun, or you can opt to shop, take an Italian apperativo and a delicious seafood lunch. After an enjoyable day here at around 16:00 PM we head back to the villa for a farewell dinner.
DAY 8 -- CONCLUSION OF TOUR - After breakfast, we take you to either the Pisa airport or Lucca rail station where you can continue your journey in Italy.
ONLY 32 SEATS AVAILABLE SO THIS TOUR WILL SELL OUT QUICKLY! GET YOUR RESERVATION NOW!!
Upon arrival at the Villa Amore, you will have time to settle into your room and enjoy the lavish setting at the villa where we will dine that evening. Weather permitting, we will dine al fresco and enjoy some sumptuous Tuscan cuisine while enjoying spectacular views
DAY 2 -- EXPLORE THE VILLA AND THEN TOUR LUCCA --Following a buffet breakfast at the villa this morning we will visit a local supermarket and Italian 'Alimentari'. This day is a good opportunity to buy some supplies for the week ahead, some various Tuscan meat and delicacies and use to prepare a light lunch.
In Lucca, we will enjoy a guided tour of the city with a wonderful local guide and visit many sights this 'city of Music' is world famous for. Following the tour, you will have some free time to enjoy the marvelous shops in Lucca, which is famous for silk and Italian ceramics. We will dine this evening in Lucca at a wonderful local Tuscan trattoria in the city center prior to returning to the villa.
DAY 3 - TORCIANO WINERY & SAN GIMIGNANO
We will go to the wonderful Tenuta Torciano where we will experience a Vertical Wine Tasting and cooking demo of pasta and lasagna. We will also get to enjoy many local Tuscan specialties. At approx 4 PM, we will head into San Gimignano for a chocolate tasting as well as the opportunity to buy many local products and sample what is considered some of the very 'Best Gelato' in Italy.
Return to the villa in the evening where guests can enjoy a 'light' dinner of supplies purchased over the week, order in pizza or make fresh salads from ingredients purchased over the course of the day in San Gimignano.
Remember - tomorrow, you have a big breakfast and then heading to the Cinque Terre national park for an epic lunch and more wine tasting!
DAY 4 -- CINQUE TERRE, WINERY & PIZZA - Following breakfast today, we will head north of Lucca to the Cinque Terre national park. The Cinque Terre or 'five lands' are beautiful towns, like rainbows set against a dramatic coastline hemmed by vineyards. We will start our day in Portovenere - the port of Venus, from where we will take the boat north to Monterosso al Mare.
From Monterosso, we will head up to an incredible winery with spectacular views, where you will enjoy a wine tasting with lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the five villages and return to the villa in the evening. En-route to the villa this evening, we will stop in a pizzeria for dinner where you can enjoy a terrific Italian pizza.
DAY 5 - RELAXING AT THE VILLA, VISIT PISA AND FREE TIME IN MONTECATINI AND COOKING CLASS -- This morning, enjoy a leisurely buffet breakfast the villa after two full days of touring and wine tastings and then the opportunity to go to Pisa for a glimpse of the leaning tower and the Plaza of Miracles. It will be fun this morning for some great photos and a chance to visit one of Italy's iconic sights. Here, you will have the optional opportunity go to the top of the Tower of Pisa and see the Cathedral.
Then we will head to the spa town of Montecatini Terme to visit this Tuscan town, which is divided into the lower and higher villages. In the lower village, Montecatini offers visitors access to the natural 'Terme' spring waters , whereas in the upper ancient village, we have numerous beautiful restaurants with panoramic views over the entire Tuscan countryside.
Free time for lunch today in Montecatini Alta. Return to the villa in the evening for hands-on cooking class. Bring your own wine this evening to accompany the hand-made pasta dishes you will be making as your dinner at the villa this evening.
DAY 6 - OLIVE OIL EXPERIENCE FOLLOWED BY LIVE MUSIC NIGHT AND BBQ AT THE VILLA
Your villa in Tuscany, is located in a rich olive oil producing area in Tuscany. Minutes from your villa, walking distance, only 600 meters is the beautiful Colle Di Bordocheo Olive farm and winery.
Following a relaxing morning at the villa, at approximately 11:45 AM, you will walk up the road from the villa to the farm estate to begin your olive oil tasting experience. Over the course of the day, you will have the opportunity to sample olive oil, taste 6 of the properties different wines and enjoy a variety of locally produced Tuscan cheese, various local products and various fruits and vegetables.
Return to the villa in the evening for a leisurely evening where you can prepare yourselves a local BBQ feast or go into Lucca to dine at a restaurant there. Also live musical evening at the villa in Tuscany.
DAY 7 -- BEACH TOWNS AND FAREWELL DINNER - After breakfast today, we will head to the coast of Tuscany and visit the towns of Forte Dei Marmi and Viareggio which are two of the most famous beach towns in Italy, notorious for their luxury shopping, hopping cafes, bars and sea-food restaurants.
Here, you can opt to enjoy one of the area's beach clubs and take some sun, dip your toes in the Mediterranean sea and enjoy the sun, or you can opt to shop, take an Italian apperativo and a delicious seafood lunch. After an enjoyable day here at around 16:00 PM we head back to the villa for a farewell dinner.
DAY 8 -- CONCLUSION OF TOUR - After breakfast, we take you to either the Pisa airport or Lucca rail station where you can continue your journey in Italy.
ONLY 32 SEATS AVAILABLE SO THIS TOUR WILL SELL OUT QUICKLY! GET YOUR RESERVATION NOW!!
$3995 Person Based
on Double Occupancy
Includes 7 nights lodging, all transportation within Italy and
meals & tours as described above
INTERNATIONAL AIR TO ITALY NOT INCLUDED
*Price is subject to fluctuation with exchange rate
Single Supplement $850
on Double Occupancy
Includes 7 nights lodging, all transportation within Italy and
meals & tours as described above
INTERNATIONAL AIR TO ITALY NOT INCLUDED
*Price is subject to fluctuation with exchange rate
Single Supplement $850
Tour specially designed and guided by Italy Vacation Specialists in conjunction
with Bucket List Travel For Boomers and Travelooza just for you!
with Bucket List Travel For Boomers and Travelooza just for you!
