Tuscany : A Day in the Chianti

We will meet you at your hotel early in the morning and drive to the the Chianti Region. We'll drive along the famous "Wine Road" where in the late spring you will see a sea of red poppies blanketing the fields while you drive through the lush green of the season. By the time summer breaks through, the poppies will give way to a proliferation of yellow sunflowers bending toward the sun. Fall will bring the harvest of the wine and the intense beauty of the dying leaves.

Tuscany is always a feast for your senses, regardless of the season.

We will make a stop to visit the ancient asymmetrical main square of Greve.
Greve in Chianti, a quiet town well off the main roads, is famous for its excellent butcher shops which feature Wild Boar from the surrounding hills of the region, but it's also home to the famous explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first to explore North America and discover the Carolinas, Newfoundland, New York Harbor and Narragansett Bay in 1524.

Also we'll visit the tiny ancient castle-village of Montefioralle, birthplace of America's namesake, Amerigo Vespucci.

Montefioralle, situated in the hills above Greve, with its vast population of thirty seven people, all of whom you will find gathered in the central piazza after lunch for the mandatory afternoon exchange of conversation, is unspoiled and an unexpected delight to discover.

Another stop on our trip will be at a vineyard in Panzano to explore its cellar and taste some of their wine, or perhaps a stop in the beautiful town of Radda in Chianti.

We will also venture to Castellina in Chianti to explore a group of secret Etruscan tombs, dated from 700 B.C. Our visit to the Brolio Castle will be remembered as a highlight of the day.

From its hilltop garden you'll have spectacular views across the valley and we'll also visit the tiny chapel.

Lunch will be served in Volpaia, a small medieval village inhabited by only 51 people. Your meal here is always a surprise, as there is no menu, but it is always great and never includes less than five courses.

Another medieval village we'll see is Vertine. With only 45 inhabitants, it is truly off the beaten path and unknown, and is one of the most characteristic examples of a Chianti hilltop village that has not changed over the centuries.

Tuscany : A Day in Pisa and Lucca

We will meet you at your hotel early in the morning and drive to the the Chianti Region. Starting from any point in Tuscany.

This wonderful day will be dedicated to visiting some of the most interesting of Tuscany's larger cities, and the countryside surrounding them.

We will begin the day early with a bel cappuccino in a characteristic local bar in Pisa, after which we will proceed to the magnificent Piazza dei Miracoli to admire the Leaning Tower, Duomo and surrounding buildings.

We will then drive to the beautiful walled town of Lucca where we will have a walk or a bicycle ride on the park like top of the wall. There will be time also for shopping or for visiting one of the many beautiful churches inside the ancient walls of the historical center. We will have lunch in Borgo a Mozzano in the Countryside and after Espresso we will visit the Devil's Bridge which was built in the 11th century, and which is famous for its beautiful little hog-back design with arches in five different shapes.

Perhaps there will be time for Gelato before we return to your hotel or residence du jour.

Umbria Region on the way to Rome

Our destinations on this day will be the wonderful hill towns of Spoleto, Assisi, and Deruta or Todi.

Spoleto is acclaimed in modern times because of its noted Music Festival set against a backdrop of Roman ruins. Of great interest throughout the year are the many architectural relics the city offers, La Rocca being among the most significant and dramatic.

La Rocca is a six towered castle which looms impressively over the Piazza Campello.

The Rocca was a popular papal resort frequented by Julius II, who was sometimes accompanied there by Michelangelo. Also important in Spoleto is the Duomo with frescoes of Pinturicchio and Filippo Lippi, masters of the Renaissance.

Assisi is of course best known as the home and final resting place of St. Francis. The Lower Church holds the Tomb of St. Francis, while the Upper Church hosts Giotto's magnificent medieval frescoes representing the life of St. Francis. We will also visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Basilica of St. Clare. Deruta is famous throughout the world for the Ceramics produced there that are characterized by intricate traditional decoration.

Todi is a small but charming hill town with exceptional medieval public buildings which gather around the fine Cathedral. Todi offers good dining , as well as a number of Antique shops, galleries, and fantastic views over the surrounding valleys.