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Tastes of Tuscany
Tuscany, Italy
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Tour
Description |
 About
the location: Palaia is a beautiful walled medieval town close
to Pisa, Florence, Volterra, San Gimignano Lucca, Siena and the
region of Chianti. The landscape is gorgeous, nature is pure and
the small medieval villages are still full of fascination and
authenticity, with their cafés, local bakers and butchers, small
groceries, few restaurants, and open markets. Before you lies
the the beautiful Tuscan panorama; rolling hills, with their
profiles marked by the dark shade of the cypresses.
Welcome to a bit of heaven! Your hosts, Paolo (a former fashion
photographer) and Patrizia (who has a degree in philosophy)
greet you at their charming restored farmhouse nestled on top of
a hill, surrounded by cypress and olive trees. Traveling around
the world, Paolo and Patrizia came to understand what it is that
transforms a typical holiday into a special experience you will
remember for a lifetime; real people in an authentic
environment. Tastes of Tuscany offers exactly that, an
opportunity to experience genuine Tuscan lifestyle at a
century-old farmhouse. The farmhouse has been their home for the
last fifteen years, and staying at the farm you'll take part in
their life, sharing with them their experiences, family and
friends.
The house has four bedrooms and one suite, all with ensuite
bathrooms, each with it's own character and handcrafted
furniture handed down from generation to generation. There is
lovely outdoor space, complete with a pool in a large garden
full of wisteria and olive trees. This is an inviting place
where everything combines to create a cozy atmosphere to make
you feel completely at home The goal is to make you feel like a
welcome guest for the week, which is exactly what they do!
About the classes: Patrizia will take you through the four hands
on cooking classes, teaching you about the traditional family
food of Tuscany, introducing you to the treasured family recipes
that have been handed down through the generations. From picking
the vegetables and fresh herbs in the organic garden, collecting
freshly laid eggs from the chicken coop, shopping at the
colorful local markets, to visits with local wine and food
producers, this will be a feast for all your senses and the
experience of a lifetime.
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Included
in the Program: |
- Six nights accommodations
with en suite bathrooms.
- All meals, including wine
- Four hands-on cooking
classes
- Four half day excursions
including transportation and restaurant meals (art towns,
medieval villages, traditional art workshops, wineries, open
markets)
- One full day guided
excursion to Florence
- Transfers to/from
Pontedera train station or Pisa/Florence airport
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Tour
Itinerary |
Day One - Sunday
Transfer from the the Pontedera train station or
Pisa/Florence airport to Podere il Pogggione. Settle into your
accommodations before lunch. Early evening at leisure. Tonight's
welcome dinner is around 8:00 p.m. Overnight.
Day Two - Monday
Breakfast. Around 9:30 a.m. depart for a half-day excursion to
San Gimignano. Enjoy a visit to the winery of San Donato
followed by lunch. Return to Podere il Poggione for your first
hands-on cooking class with Chef Patrizia. Dinner will follow
based on your culinary efforts. Overnight.
Day Three - Tuesday
After breakfast, depart for a visit Certaldo. Return to the
property for a light lunch. Around 4:30 p.m., your second
cooking class. Dinner to follow based on your efforts.
Overnight.
Day Four - Wednesday
After breakfast, depart for a visit to the Baroque monastery in
Calici. Return to the property for a light lunch. Around 4:30
p.m., your third cooking class with Chef Patrizia. Dinner to
follow based on your efforts. Overnight.
Day Five - Thursday
Breakfast followed by a guided art excursion to Florence with
Grazia Bandino.
Today's lunch will be in Florence. Return to the property with
time to relax.
Dinner and overnight.
Day Six - Friday
Breakfast.
Today you will visit the open market in Pontedera. Lunch at the
property followed by time at leisure. Your final cooking class
with Patrizia followed by dinner. Overnight.
Day Seven - Saturday
Breakfast followed by departure.
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| Departure
Dates and Rates |
2008 Price Per Person
US$2500 per person based on double occupancy
US$2400 per person for four or more
US$300 single supplement
2008 Tour Dates
Spring
April 6-12
April 13-19
April 20-26
April 27-May 3
Summer
May 4-10
May 11-17
May 18-24
May 25-31
June 1-7
June 8-14
June 22-28
June 29-July 5
July 6-12 (sold out)
July 13-19
July 20-26
July 27-August 2 (sold out)
Fall
August 3-9 (sold out)
August 10-16 (sold out)
August 17-23
August 24-30
August 31-September 6
September 7-13
September 14-20
September 21-27
September 28-October 4
October 5-11
October 12-18
October 19-25
October 26-November 1 (2 spots left)
November 2-8
November 9-15
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