ON THE MOUNTAINS AND MAREMMA TOUR - AND SOUTHERN -

The Monte Amiata is an ancient and mystery volcano. It was celebrated as the holly mountain for the Etruscan inhabitants. It was the biggest religious centre between the VIII and the XII century, thanks the Benedictine Abbey of San Salvatore. The atmosphere and the buildings of all the medieval villages, which surrounds the volcano, are deeply linked to their origins. The volcano offers different landscapes from his peak until reaching the smooth hills of Val d’Orcia and the rough area of Maremma, from the beech trees, down to the chestnut woods, reaching the olive groves and wine yards of Montecucco, Brunello di or Morellino di Scansano, and finally to the hot spring waters of Saturnia and Bagni San Filippo. It is a fantastic landscape, where discovering means taking care. Taking care means keeping in touch with people, traditions, culture and nature as an unforgettable travel experience. For lovers of activities, Mount Amiata offers an extraordinary experience, a true temple of fun, both for those seeking challenging itineraries, and for those who enjoy quiet strolls in the countryside.

DAY 1 - October 7th PISA - MONTE AMIATA

Arrival to Pisa airport. Departure for Monte Amiata. Arrival to the hotel, check-in and welcome cocktail. If suitable with the time of arrival of participants (that will be lately communicated), visit to a local cellar for a wine tasting of local productions. Lately, dinner with traditional local dishes and local great wines such as Montalcino, Montecucco, Scansano and . After dinner, interesting slide show “Discovering Mountain Amiata”.

DAY 2 - October 8th MONTE AMIATA PEAK

After Breakfast, we will leave to Vetta Amiata (peak of Amiata), where we will discover the Monte Amiata- Bike Resort, one of the best down hill circuits of central and the Acrobatic Adventure Park, known for its suspended paths inside a beech forest at 1400 mt height. Here we will have the chance to admire the outdoor activities typical of the territory, such as trekking, Nordic walking and quad. Following the lunch. We will leave for an e-bike tour on a charming path crossing the beech forest and leading us to the production area of Montecucco wine. Here we will visit an olive oil mill. Return to the hotel by bus and dinner with local dishes. During the dinner, Wine Challenge ‘The two banks of river Orcia’: tasting special reserves produced by different companies on the two banks of the Orcia, the river running along the valleys of Mount Amiata; it will be a competition between the well known Brunello di Montalcino and the younger Montecucco. Here

you are the competitors: Trottolo 2013 Montecucco Sangiovse Riserva, Licurgo 2011 Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino 2011, Brunello di Montalcino 2009

DAY 3 - October 9th BAGNI SAN FILIPPO -

After breakfast departure for and visit to the suggestive San Salvatore Abbey, a magical and capturing place, where you may breath the history oft he town. According to the legend, the Abbey was founded in 743 by the Lombard King Ratchis, right in the very spot where the Trinity is said to have appeared to him under a white fir tree. It happened over a hunt around the Amiata forest where he decided to stop during his trip to Rome along the Via Francigena. The Lombard king entrusted the new monastery to the Benedictines and the abbey was dedicated to the Saviour, which was typical of people at that time and in the tradition of Christian religion. Later handed over to the Cistercians, the abbey played an important regional role: overlooking the Via Francigena, main road to Rome, it rose on the east side of Mount Amiata in order to reclaim the surrounding woods and forests. Following the entrance at the Mine Museum; the visit includes the multimedia hall inside the museum and the visit to the underground mine gallery by a historical train. After lunch, departure for Bagni San Filippo, where a pleasant walk will lead us to the famous Balena Bianca (White Wale), the spectacular waterfall of sulphurous water.

16:00 Transfer for all the buyers to the hotel in Florence 17:00 Arrival in Florence, check-in at the hotels Rivoli and Adriatico. Delivery of the shopper with folder and gadget 18:00 Walking transfer to Palazzo Strozzi 18:30 Visit of exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi 20:00 Dinner at the restaurant of the Hotel Baglioni DAY 4 - October 10th FLORENCE

08:15 Group meeting at the Hotel’s lobby with a tour leader, badges delivery. Transfer to Leopolda station 09:00-13:00 BtoB. Part I. 13:00-14:00 Lunch 14:00-18:00 BtoB. Part II. 19:30 Transfer to Villa La Vedetta – farewell party.

DAY 5 - October 11th FLORENCE

Transfer to the airport and departure.

Organized by:

Le Macinaie S.R.L. - Loc. Prato delle Macinaie, 58033, , Grossetto, Italia Contact: Enrico Bracciali Tel. +390564 959010 Email: [email protected]