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Tuscan Experience Getaway Tuscan Experience getaway Life under the Tuscan sun… Tuscany is the perfect place for those who wish to discover this intriguing ancient culture, magnificent art,delicious gastronomy and breathtaking nature all in the trip of a lifetime. This true Tuscan experience begins with a one week stay in an amazing luxury villa and gives you the opportunity to enjoy unique tours and activities, living the authentic local life and creating precious memories to bring back home. Escape from the mundane, as you relax and unwind, while living the simple pleasures of Tuscany’s countryside in the most inspiring ways... This delightful Tuscan home is immersed in the woodlands around Cortona and will be yours for one spectacular week. Once here, you will not want to leave! VILLA RUFFIGNANO Your home for this unique holiday will be a stunning Villa, dating back to the 16th century when it was the center of an antique farm on which 30 people worked. It was recently beautifully renovated, respecting its traditional Tuscan characteristics combined with the necessities of modern life, while maintaining its old-world splendor. Immersed in an oasis of natural beauty (over 200 acres) which you will be free to explore during relaxing walks - this is an ideal location for leaving behind your daily routine. Here you will get a taste of the traditions and customs, while enjoying breathtaking views over Cortona’s mountains and valley, in the utmost of privacy. The refreshing pool lies at the foot of the house and overlooks the pristine scenic valley. Its waters inviting you to dive in! The Villa is on three levels. On the ground floor there is a wine cellar, a large living-room with ancient stone fireplace, bathroom, a large dining-area and big professional kitchen. The first floor has a living-room, a cozy kitchen with fireplace, three bedrooms of which two have bathrooms en-suite plus one more additional bathroom. The top floor has three bedrooms, two of which have bathrooms en-suite plus and additional third bathroom as well. This top floor is complete with another living-dining-area plus a second kitchen. TUSCANY AND CORTONA This picture postcard town is a perfect representation of exquisite Tuscany: soft rolling hills, lines of cypress trees, endless vineyards, orderly olive groves, art cities, majestic castles, and a history that goes back centuries. The charming and noble town of Cortona is a jewel which dominates the enchanting landscape of the rich Valdichiana valley, bordered on the horizon by sweeping hills and the wide expanse of Lake Trasimeno. Cortona’s storied history is rich in archaeological wonders from the Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance eras. The hill town is magnificently positioned between Arezzo, Perugia, Florence, and Siena, and sits right between the Chianti region and Umbrian valleys. This is a strategic location for anyone who wants to experience the heart of Italy by taking brief and relaxing day excursions to the surrounding areas. THE WEEK Upon your arrival, your group will be greeted with a welcome drink, as you are ensconced in the warm atmosphere of Villa Ruffignano. We will be there to meet you and share with you all the information that you’ll need as you start your trip of a lifetime. You will have full autonomy in deciding your schedule the way you prefer, with plenty of interesting explorations on your free time and the wonderful experiences we include in this unique week away. Here you will live like Etruscan Royalty, as you will have a private chef for the entire week prepare your breakfast each morning and spectacular dinners every evening featuring amazing dishes! Each time you sit at the table will become a memorable experience in itself! So let yourself be carried away into our culinary tradition by the smell of fresh made bread baked in the ancient wood stove, the homemade pasta, delicious meat sauces, the roasted meats, fresh vegetables and locally produced cheese. Here you will taste the real flavors of Tuscany’s traditional food. On one of your days, we have even arranged for a cooking class, with your chef, in the charming kitchen of Ruffignano. This class is not only about executing recipes, but you will discover the authentic traditional Tuscan cooking the way that it was in the past, when families were self-sufficient thanks to their own farms. You will learn about how to choose natural and wholesome ingredients directly from the villa’s own farm, such as gathering fresh eggs, picking vegetables, mushrooms in the woods and other local crops (all depending on the season). You will be “hands on”, mastering the techniques and family recipes for making wood oven baked crunchy bread using an original 16th century wood stove, delicious crostini and bruschette with mouthwatering toppings, fresh handmade pasta and tasty sauces, roasted wild meats and scrumptious desserts. Nothing will beat the feeling you will experience when you sit down with a delicious bottle of local wine and relax in the comfortable atmosphere, enjoying the delicious meal that you prepared with your own hands with guidance from our expert! This experience is complete with us arranging a private wine tour experience, not typically available to tourists, in the charming countryside of Cortona. Here you will be immersed in paradise and you will learn the secrets of the winery that is famous for the production of Cortona Syrah DOC. And as a very special treat, you will not only enjoy a special tasting, but you will also be welcomed by the owner of the vineyard and be his guest for a delicious lunch in his amazing, private villa. EXPERIENCE MORE! If you wish additional activities during your free time outside of what is included, we can arrange other wine tastings, unique one-day tours to explore the charming cities that you can reach from Cortona such as Florence, Siena, Assisi, Perugia, Gubbio, Todi, Orvieto, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, Arezzo; private cheese making experiences; olive oil and truffle tours; sport and nature experiences such as bike and trekking tours; horseback riding through the Tuscan countryside; golf; tennis; fishing & hunting; shopping tours to wonderful fashion outlets and much, much more! Terms and conditions Tuscan Experience Getaway is a vacation package of a one week stay at Villa Ruffignano from Saturday to Saturday, for a maximum of twelve guests. Arrivals take place between 4.30 pm and 7.30 pm. Departure by 09.30 AM. The Pool is Open from April 1st to October 30th. Please consider that it is very important to book your one week stay at Villa Ruffignano within one month of the auction. The actual timeframe or booking window you can choose your week from depends on the package being offered and is announced at the auction event. The booking window cannot be extended or transferred into the future. Bookings are based on availability so we encourage people to be as flexible as possible with their desired week and book as soon as possible after the auction. Carefully consider the week you book as once the week is booked and confirmed it is very difficult for us to make changes to the schedule. This vacation package cannot be resold and is not transferable. Summary of Included Services: Seven days & Seven nights stay for twelve people at Villa Ruffignano * Arrival day welcome drink and orientation * Chef every day for breakfast and dinner (food is included and different menus can be chosen in advance by guests) * Maid service every day * Mid week change of linen and towels * Private wine tour experience in exclusive winery and lunch in the owner’s villa * A one-day traditional Tuscan cooking class (from learning how to choose natural ingredients to preparing, “hands on”, delightful dishes) * Heating and electricity, phone, Internet and final cleaning * A member of our staff will always be at your disposal before and during your holiday for trip details preparation and arranging free time extra activities and services. Airfare, ground transportation, private driver and free-time activities (such as city tours, trekking and walking tours, bicycle tours and many more) are not included but can be arranged separately as extra services. Please keep in mind that it would be appropriate to organize the transportation that can be arranged renting private cars or booking a private driver. Wine for dinners is not included but we will be pleased to suggest the best places where to purchase delicious Italian wines to enjoy during your holiday or to be shipped to your home. There is no refund for unattended or guest-canceled services and we cannot trade or reschedule the services..
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