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Tuscany: Art, Wine & Food
 Enjoy 7 days of art, wine and food in and around Florence Italy. With your expert guide in Florence, visit the Accademia Gallery, home of the famous "David". Stroll over the Ponte Vecchio. Enjoy a gourmet lunch then continue to the Uffizi Gallery. You'll see the Battistero and the Duomo with its magestic cupola.
Monday is dedicated to Chianti Classico. You'll visit a typical Chianti village for a visit to Tuscany's most famous butcher shops. After, enjoy a wine tasting and food sampling, followed by lunch and another top-rated winery stop for more tastings.
You'll also spend 3 days in Siena where you'll enjoy a wine tasting and private lunch at Paneretta Castle including their private cellars. From Siena you'll also visit one of the region's first wineries where you'll taste Rosso do Montalcino, Vin Santo and of course Brunello. And, you'll be treated to one of Tuscany's most celebrated restaurants for lunch.
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| For more information call Toll Free: (877) 394-8130 and mention offer: 1035. OR, click a button below for quick, convenient online assistance. |
| | | Itinerary | | Date (2009) | Day | Destination | Notes | | Apr 18 | Sat | 1 | Florence, Italy | Upon arriving in Florence your driver will be waiting to transfer you to our hotel. The balance of the
day is yours to unwind or explore Florence. This evening meet your fellow travelers at our Welcome
Dinner. | | Apr 19 | Sun | 2 | Florence, Italy | After breakfast, meet in the hotel lobby as we depart for a half day guided tour of Florence.
UNESCO estimates that 60% of the worlds most important art works are in Italy, with over half of
them located in Florence.
Our expert guide will accompany us to the Accademia Gallery, home to the most famous sculpture
in the world, Michelangelos David. From here its a short walk to the Piazza della Signoria, the
center of Florentine politics and home to a captivating outdoor sculpture gallery. Shopping,
architecture and shopping collide as we stroll over the Ponte Vecchio. But were not done yet!
After a gourmet lunch, we continue to the Uffizi Gallery whose collection includes masterpieces by
Giotto, Botticeli, Raphael, da Vinici, Michelangelo and Caravaggio. Our next stop will be the
Battistero where we find Ghibertis bronze doors. We then head for the Duomo with its majestic
cupola (used as a model for the dome of St. Peters in Rome) and Giottos Campanile. With a full
day of sightseeing under our belt we stop and enjoy a late afternoon cocktail or cappuccino. | | Apr 20 | Mon | 3 | Chianti Region, Italy | Today is dedicated to Chianti Classico. Our guide will be an expert in this field. The Chianti wine
region was developed in the mid 1800s by baron Bettino Ricasoli, who combined Sangiovese grapes
for the strength of character, with the Canaiolo and Malvassia grapes, to add grace and zest to the
wine. Our first stop will be in a typical Chianti village for a visit to one of Tuscanys most famous
butcher shops. We will then be guided to a magnificent historical villa for a tour of the winery. Our
expert guide will give insight into the world of Tuscan wine and wine-making and share its history
and legends. Here we will enjoy a wine tasting and food sampling including a selection of fine hams,
salamis, cheeses and extra virgin olive oils. After a wonderful lunch, were off to another top-rated
winery for more tasting before returning to Florence. | | Apr 21 | Tue | 4 | Florence, Italy | A visit to Florence is a must for any art lover. Surrounded
by the wine growing hills of Chianti, no
other city can match the image if Brunellschis
cathedral dome bursting through the morning mist - a
terra cotta balloon floating above the medieval
rooftops.
It seems that every building is a masterpiece of art
demanding our attention. Our experts will help
navigate this marvel as we begin our tour at the
Mercato Centrale (Central Market). A haven for
everyone from world class chefs to those who just
love to cook, this market is a feast for the senses rich
with culinary delights.
Strolling from the market, we arrive at one of
Florences true gems the Medici Chapel at the
Chruch of San Lorenzo. The Medici Chapel is home
to some of Michelangelos most compelling sculptures
including the famed Dusk and Dawn, Night and Day
A gourmet lunch awaits us after which we cross the
Arno to discover one of Florences most romantic and
undiscovered neighborhoods Oltrarno. Here you
will discover charming middle class homes and
magnificent private villas and gardens the
combination of which makes this neighborhood unlike
any other in the city. After a stop for cappuccino,
we make our way to the Pitti Palace where we will
tour the Royal Apartments. Following our visit to the
Pitti, you will have free time to wander the Bobili
Gardens before returning to the the hotel. | | Apr 22 | Wed | 5 | Siena, Italy | Today we depart for beautiful Siena. En route we will
stop for a wine tasting and private lunch at Paneretta
Castle where we will enjoy a guided wine tour
including a visit to the private cellars. In addition to
the fine wines, we will enjoy a selection of Tuscan
farm products, local specialities and olive oils.
After lunch, we depart for San Gimignano, one of the
most famous villages in all of Tuscany. Famous for its
dominating medieval towers, you will get the feeling
you have traveled back in time to a world of princes
and elegant nobles. Our walking tour will take us
through charming streets and gardens as we learn
about the art and history of this incredible city. We
depart San Gimignano for Siena. | | Apr 23 | Thu | 6 | Siena, Italy | Its easy to lose oneself in Sienas maze of narrow
cobblestone streets. On our tour, the guide will make
sure we dont miss out on any fascinating detail.
Our walking tour includes the 13th century Piazza del
Campo, Sienas stunning main square, wehre the
famous Palio horse race is still held each summer. The
campo is domniated by the Palazzo Pubblico (Town
Hall) and its majestic bell tower. We are then onto the
cathedral, one of the best examples of Italian gothic
architecture, built between 1180 and 1370. At the
Museo dellOpera you will view treasures of great
Sienese art and ascend to the top for a breathtaking
view.
The next stop is the palace and courtyard of Chigi-
Seracini. It was here that the works of Antonio
Vivaldi were rediscovered in the 1930s and performed
publicly for the first time since his death. Before
lunch, we will make an all important visit to the
worlds oldest existing bank, the Monte dei Paschi di
Siena founded in 1471!! | | Apr 24 | Fri | 7 | Siena, Italy | Today we depart Siena for a Brunello Wine Tour. Brunello was developed by Ferruccio Biondi Santi
a little more than a century ago and almost immediately drew the attention of connoisseurs. Ever
since then it has been produced exclusively within the Montalcino area and only from Sangioveto
Grosso grapes.
The unspoiled character of Montalcino and the surrounding countryside is impressive and in todays
world, rare. In a nearby valley slumbers the Abbey of SantAntimo, founded in the eighth century as
a holy offering by Charlemagne.
Our wine expert will accompany us through the astonishing countryside to one of the regions finest
wineries. Here we will taste Rosso di Montalcino, Vin Santo and of course Brunello.
After our tasting we are off to Montalcino for a walk through town. We make our way to a local wine
bar for another tasting of the three top labels of Brunello. We end our tour with lunch in one of
Tuscanys most celebrated restaurants.
Back to Siena to relax before our Farewell Dinner is served. |
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| | Dates/Prices | | Departure Dates | Price From | | (USD) | | April 18, 2009 | $5,565.00 | | Category Description | Price From | April 18, 2009
Land Accommodation | $5,565.00
 | | Click a button above or call (877) 394-8130 to get additional information. Special offers or competitive pricing may be available!
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| Sold Out - This categrory is no longer available on this date and no further reservations are being taken. Wait List - This category is no longer available on this date. However you may join a waitlist where you'll be offered this category/price as previous confirmed reservations are cancelled or changed. To guarantee travel on this date, you must reserve an available category AND waitlist your preferred category. |
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| | Inclusions |
- Private transfers
- Travel by luxury motor coach
- Assistance upon arrival and check-in
- 7 night in 5 start hotels/villas
- Daily Breakfast
- Meals as outlined
- Services of experts on all tours
- Wine tastings as outlined
- Comprehensive sightseeing as per itinerary
- All hotel taxes and service fees
- GLBT Info Pack
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| | Exclusions | Prices do not include Flights, Gratuities, Luggage/Handling fees, personal items and expenses such as drinks, laundry, phone charges, etc. meals not included in program, travel/cancellation insurarance (strongly suggested)
Ask us about savings available on your international flights. |
| | Disclaimer | | Prices are per person, double occupancy in US dollars. |
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