Ladies Only
Culinary Tuscany

(waitlisted)

11 Day Italy Tour
Private and personally escorted by Joslyn White, Nov 2 - 12, 2023

Itinerary: 

Day 1 – 02NOV (THU) – ARRIVE FLORENCE, ITALY -- MONTECATINI

• Welcome to Italy.

• Meet your hostess Joslyn White at the Florence Airport

• Welcome Dinner.

• (D)

Day 2 – 03 Nov (FRI) – MONTECATINI. EXCURSION TO THE CHIANTI VALLEY

• Cradled between the provinces of Florence and Siena, the Chianti Valley is the heart of Tuscany, and has been hailed for its exceptional wines since the 13th century. Your journey today takes you to Greve, with time to visit the village and to enjoy lunch at a charming wine shop.

• Visit a Cheese Farm for tasting.

• Complete the day with the visit of a historic Tuscan estate known for its Chianti wine production.

• Stop for Gelato tasting and treat.

• (B,L)

Day 3 – 04 NOV (SAT) – MONTECATINI 

• Enjoy a leisurely morning in Montecatini. Maybe go for a walk in the Parco delle Terme with its tall shady trees. Most of the afternoon is dedicated to the Italian cooking lesson at a rustic farmhouse in the Tuscan countryside. Once you arrive at the farm, enjoy a welcome drink, explore the orchard to pick some fresh ingredients, learn about Italy’s most famous delicacies, and then roll up your sleeves for a fun, hands-on cooking experience. This evening, relax with your traveling companions and taste the delectable dinner you prepared—maybe your team will win the master chef prize!

• (B,D)

Day 4 – 05 NOV (SUN) – MONTECATINI. EXCURSION TO LUCCA

• Visit Lucca, a stunning showcase of medieval architecture and layer upon layer of rich history and culture. Marvel at the beautiful art and tapestry collections at the baroque Palazzo Mansi National Museum, then take a guided walking tour around the Old Town with its fine, intact Renaissance-era wall, cobblestone streets, and café-lined piazzas. A lively café-crawl snack brunch is included, followed by a main course at a local restaurant. Then, your Local Guide will introduce you to the stunning ornamental gardens and grand arched ceilings of Palazzo Pfanner.

• (B,D)

Day 5 – 06 NOV (MON) – MONTECATINI. EXCURSION TO FLORENCE

• After breakfast return to Florence for a day of guided sightseeing. Guided sightseeing includes Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David, at the Academy of Fine Arts, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gates of Paradise,” and Signoria Square.

• Enjoy an unforgettable day of artisan-made foods and handicrafts on this fun walk through Florence’s bohemian Oltrarno district! As you stop by area shops and delis, learn all about typical Florentine Lampredotto street food; sample Tuscan cheeses, salami, crostino, Chianti wine, and gelato; and meet and interact with the families that for generations have been serving up these culinary treats. Also watch master artisans at work during a visit to neighborhood botteghe workshops, where ancient crafts dating back to the Renaissance are still practiced today.

• (B,L)

Day 6 – 07 NOV (TUE) – MONTECATINI. EXCURSION TO BOLGHERI

• Travel through the vineyard-dotted countryside and along cypress tree-lined Viale dei Cipressi for your grand entrance into enchanting Bolgheri. With its red-brick castle and atmospheric Old Town, it’s not hard to imagine that Bolgheri jumped right off the pages of a storybook. There’s time here to visit one of the wine cellars and taste Bolgheri’s celebrated Super Tuscan reds. First created in the 1980s, many wine experts believe these now rival French Bordeaux. Later, stop at nearby Castagneto Carducci, known for its splendid panoramic views of the Etruscan Coast. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and the chance to sample the local liqueur.

• (B,L)

Day 7 – 08 NOV (WED) – MONTECATINI.  

• This morning is yours to do as you please.

• This afternoon is dedicated to a baking class at your hotel, focusing on the creation of cakes and desserts.

• Group dinner at local restaurant.

• (B,D)

Day 8 – 09 NOV (THU) – MONTECATINI – SAN GIMIGNANO – ROME  

• After breakfast this morning travel south to San Gimignano.

• Orientation tour of the tour, followed by time for lunch (one your own)

• Continue to Rome.

• Dinner at your hotel this evening.

• (B,D)

Day 9 – 10 NOV (FRI) – ROME

• Locally guided tour of the Colosseum and Forum

• Afternoon is at leisure

• (B)

Day 10 – 11 NOV (SAT) – ROME

• Guided tour of the Vatican including St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum.

• After lunch (on your own) transfer to Navona.

• Special Farewell Dinner this evening.

• (B,D)

Day 11 – 12 NOV (SUN) – DEPART ROME, ITALY

• One group departure for the Rome airport.

• (B)

All payments are made directly to wholesale suppliers and any cancellations or changes are subject to their fee schedule and policies. Please be aware that deposits are non-refundable. If insurance has been purchased you may be entitled to a credit up to the full amount paid, minus the cost of the insurance. Exceptions may be made for medical reasons, but it is at the sole discretion of the insurance company. The Joy of Travel, LLC does not have any control over insurance claims or payments.