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VIAGGIO DI MAGGIO- Daily Experiences Experience Details Location Length Capacity Dates Explore one of the best wine shops in Italy… Bottles come from all the regions of Italy and range from 100 years old to current vintages. Most of the wine is stored (and displayed) in underground caves that span entire city blocks! They offer curated tasting Lucca 5/14, 5/17, Enotecca Vanni and Lunch experiences with their in-house sommelier; we'll enjoy that (inside the 5 hrs 16 5/20, 5/22 together, as well as take some time to peruse the history on the walls) shelves on our own. A traditional Lucchese lunch will follow at the famous Buca di Sant'Antonio restaurant, which, at over 200 years old, is the oldest restaurant in Lucca. Lucca Help Colleen and Loretta shop for dinner, or explore the treasures Market Excursions (outside the 2.5hrs 16 5/16, 5/20 of the market for yourself! walls) In total, it is about an 11km trek from Riomaggiore to Monterosso al Mare. We'll stop at the bottom and work our way up. We'll stop in Corniglia, the middle of the five towns, for lunch (about a 3.4 mile hike from the start) at one of the locals favorite spots, A Cantina Cinque 5/15, 5/18, Hiking in Cinque Terre Mananan. Corniglia is a great stopping point because it's generally Terre 10 hrs 16 5/21 the least busy of the five towns. After lunch, keep trekking! Your (Liguria) pass also gets you on the busses and trains in between the towns, so no need to hike all the way to the finish if you'd rather linger and enjoy. Colline Lucchesi (the Lucca Hills) is one of the oldest DOCs in Italy (established in 1969, right alongside Chianti). Tenuta Valgiano is one of the pioneers of biodynamics in the region, and have been farming that was since 1992. The owner, Laura is a transplant from Turin, who was ready to leave her busy corporate life behind and start Segromigno 5/14, 5/16, Colline Lucchesi Wine Tasting living the good life. She says, "Our wines are made in the vineyard 4 hrs 12 in Monte 5/20, 5/22 and are the liquid expression of this landscape." Sound familiar?? By the way, she'll also make lunch for us in her 15th century villa with goodies straight out of the garden. We'll walk the 2km distance up the hill from our property to hers, so wear appropriate footwear and expect some pretty epic views of the Lucchese hills. Spend the morning at the beautiful Podere Le Ripi, a world class biodynamic Brunello producer. We'll then head onto Siena for lunch and an afternoon exploration. Dine on traditional Sienese delicacies Brunello Tasting + Siena at Taverna San Giuseppe (a local favorite) in the heart of the walls. Motanlcino/ 5/15, 5/18, 10 hrs 16 Lunch Expect the best fegatini (Chicken liver crostrini), guanciale (cured Siena 5/21, 5/22 pork), and pici pasta you've ever had! After lunch, roam the Sienese streets or grab a caffe at the Piazza del Campo, site of the world famous Palio horse race. We'll begin the day at Querciabella, a biodynamic producer in one of the most important towns of Chianti: Greve. After our tour and Greve in 5/15, 5/18, Chianti Wine Tasting + Lunch tasting, we'll head into the center of Greve for a typical lunch at a 8 hrs 12 Chianti 5/21, 5/22 local favorite, Ristorante La Castellana. Of course, there will be a little extra time to meander about town post-lunch. Start the morning at the sweet "mom and pop" operation of Fattoria Le Fonti. They are boutique organic Chianti growers and producers (with tremendous passion). And speaking of passion-- we'll follow this up with a visit to Antica Macelleria Cecchini, where Chianti Wine Tasting + Dario Cecchini is carrying on 250 years of his family's traditional Panzano in 5/14, 5/15, 8 hrs 16 Famous Butcher Visit + Lunch butcher business (you may have caught him on Netflix's Chef's Chianti 5/18, 5/21 Table). We'll tour his shop and have an incredible lunch with all his creations (there is a vegetarian option available). He specifically says this is not for someone who wants to eat light, so leave your diet behind... A newly emerged wine category in their own right, SuperTuscans are quickly solidfying themselves as some of the best wines of Italy (thank you, Sassicaia). We'll visit a lesser known producer named 5/16, 5/18, Super Tuscan Tasting + Lunch Chiappini--not available in the states and one of the few from this Bolghieri 8 hrs 16 5/21 area farming regeneratively. After that, we'll head into the center of Bolghieri for lunch at Enoteca Tognoni, where we'll get to feast on local fare and continue to taste their many local wines by the glass! The nature preserve is beautiful, lots of moderate hiking trails and very quiet. We'll follow up with lunch in the darling town of San Gimignano, where tasting wild boar products is absolute must. Castelvecchio Nature Afterwards, there will be the opportunity to visit the Museo del San 5/15, 5/19, Preserve & San Gimignano + Vino Vernaccia, an interesting cooperative of many of the local 10 hrs 16 Gimignano 5/21 Vernaccia Tasting DOCG Vernaccia producers. If you opt not to taste wine, you can always roam around the medeival metropolitan town. Make sure to stop at Gelateria del Dondoli to taste the two-time World Champion gelato! Segromigno Start your day off with a 4-hour ride through the breathtaking + 5/14, 5/17, Lucca Road Cycling 4 hrs 16 Tuscan country side. Bikes and helmets will be provided. surrounding 5/19, 5/21 areas We'll start with a morning visit to the Duomo, one of the most epic sites in all of Italy. From there, we'll head to a guided tour of the Accademia, which houses some of the most remarkable works of art in Italy (not to mention, the David). Depending on which day you The Duomo, Accademia + journey to Florence, you'll visit one of two Florentine restaurants for 5/16, 5/17, Florence 8 hrs 16 Florentine Lunch lunch that will serve up local and traditional fare. (Il Latini on 5/16 5/20, 5/21 and 5/17; La Giostra on 5/20 and 5.21). There will be a bit of extra time for you to wander around old Florence, grab a drink along the Arno, do a little shopping, visit more museums or art galleries-- whatever your heart desires! We'll start the afternoon with a typical Tuscan lunch at La Pergoletta, a staple in central Pisa since 1959. After that, you'll have the next few hours free to roam around town. Though busy, a walk over to Campo dei Miracoli and the Leaning Tower will take your 5/14, 5/15, Pisa afternoon breath away. There's also an option to climb the tower, if you'd like Pisa 5 hrs 16 5/19, 5/22 (advanced reservations required). Much like Florence, the Arno river flows right through Pisa. Take a river walk with a gelato. Visit an art gallery. The beautiful Pisa offers a wide range of ways to pass an afternoon. Where Vermentino reigns supreme! If Ottaviano Lambruschi's wines were in the US, people would go nuts for them. Alas, like us, he's a tiny producer who's wines don't go too far beyond the borders. This Colli di Luni (Liguria) Wine Castelnuovo 5/15, 5/18, is a gem not to be missed! (Aside from Vermentino, he also grows 8 hrs 16 Tasting Magra 5/20, 5/21 Sangiovese, Merlot and Canaiolo). After this special tour and tasting, we'll head into town for a typical Ligurian lunch (this is for all you seafood lovers). Pistoia is Tuscany without the crowds. It was recently given the status as a European City of Culture, and you must visit to see why. We'll start the afternoon with lunch athe Slow Food Mecca, Osteria 5/17, 5/19, Pistoia Afternoon La Bottegaia, where you'll eat both the dishes of tradition and try a Pistoia 5 hrs 16 5/21, 5/22 few newer innovations. You'll have the next few hours free to roam around town, taking in the well-preserved medeival architecture juxtaposed with striking contemporary art. Tuscany has many thermal spas; the largest of them is Montecatini Terme, a beautiful town that was built around it's mineral hot springs. We'll start the afternoon with lunch at Pellegrini's Osteria Moderna, yet another Tuscan fare gem. The rest of the afternoon Montecatini 5/15, 5/16, Montecatini Terme Afternoon can be spent wandering the town and parks. If ever you're going to 5 hrs 16 Terme 5/18, 5/20 get a spa treatment in Italy, this is the place to do it! You may opt to forego lunch and spend your afternoon relaxing. Spa treatments are not included but we'll certainly be happy to point you in the right direction and help you book. Lucca will capture your heart! We'll arrive in the morning so that you can take a picturesque stroll around the wall (it's a little over 2 miles all the way around), meander the old town and all it's Lucca 5/16, Lucca Morning + Lunch wonders (after all, Lucca is the city of 100 churches), or shop on Via (inside the 6 hrs 16 5/17,5/19, Fillungo.