savoring italy s harvest - trip well gal … · romans in 217 b.c., and tucked between the medieval...

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Elaine J. Masters

in collaboration with Laura Bianconcini of

Exclusively Italian

Invites you to

Arrive: Fly into Florence where your local assistant, Roman native Laura Bianconcini, and our Californian tour host, Elaine Masters, will greet you. From the airport our small group will venture to Lake Trasimeno, between Umbria and Tuscany, via comfortable coach. The location is perfect for experiencing this “Green heart of Italy” – renowned for artisanal production of wine, olive oil and other culinary delights as well as art, architecture, history and extraordinary views. Our farmhouse home base is just meters from the Tuscan border near the site of Hannibal’s victory over the Romans in 217 B.C., and tucked between the medieval cities of Cortona, Pienza, Montepulciano, and Perugia, to name a few.

SAVORING ITALY’S HARVEST A Tuscan Culinary and Cultural Agri-turismo Adventure

September 14-21, 2013

Seven days amongst the Tuscan people filled with craft, cuisine, art, history, and local culture.

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Stay: Our home for the week is a traditional farmhouse set amongst vineyards and olive groves. The entire ‘borghetto’ is comprised of small, independent and fully equipped apartments with one or two bedrooms including private bathrooms. Each apartment also features a kitchen, private terrace and garden space.

Common amenities and services include reception, large dining/breakfast room, gardens, a large swimming pool and mountain bikes for cycling explorations.

The farmhouse is family run by an organic wine and extra virgin olive oil producer. Their hospitality will fill our week with authentic Italian experiences and tastes.

Day 1: Welcome to Italy!

After arriving early in the afternoon, our group will transfer from Rome Fiumicino International airport by private coach. Relax and explore the farmhouse before sipping a welcoming drink and sumptuous dinner with the owners in the dining room.

Dinner will feature a 4 course meal freshly cooked from local produce and homemade delicacies.

Day 2: Wine tour of the property and excursion to Lake Trasimeno

Gentle Yoga with Elaine for 30 minutes

Breakfast Buffet

Tour the vineyard and olive groves with owner, Stefania, who will explain the family’s tradition of organic production. At the conclusion you’ll taste more than 7 different wines, olive oil and several gourmet appetizers.

Later that afternoon, we’ll venture to the Island of Trasimeno Lake by ferry boat to explore the quaint, tiny village and, weather permitting, enjoy a wonderful sunset. After a boat ride to the medieval city of Passignano, we’ll break for dinner on our own in one of the traditional restaurants located in the historical town center.

After dinner return to the Farm by private coach.

Day 3: Cooking Class / Local Activities

Gentle Yoga for 30 minutes

Breakfast Buffet

11 am: Cooking Class for the first half of our group featuring three traditional recipes followed by lunch from our creations.

The other half of our group may select from several activities or excursions – bike tours, horse riding, sailing, transfer to Cortona, etc. available by fee basis upon request.

Dinner on our own from provided recommendations to local restaurants. Transportation will be by local taxi or, group permitting, by coach.

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Day 4: Pienza and Montepulciano

Gentle Yoga for ½ hour

Breakfast Buffet

Depart by private coach to Pienza – Time to explore this rare Renaissance town built on a model of ideal living and government. The city is also famous for creating Pecorino cheese, made with ewe’s milk. We’ll have time to explore independently before continuing on.

Coach to Montepulciano – Overflowing with interest and charm, this is considered one of the most attractive hill towns in Tuscany. Here we’ll visit the most ancient cellar in Europe, complete with an Etruscan tomb. Our light lunch will feature a wine tasting pairing featuring the well –known ‘Vino Nobile di Montepulciano’ and three other local vintages. A guided tour will follow through the city and down the hill to the entrance wall.

Return by private coach.

Dinner at the agriturismo featuring 4 different courses with local produce and homemade delicacies.

Day 5: Cooking Class Group 2 / Local Activities


Breakfast Buffet

11 am: Cooking Class for the second group featuring three traditional recipes followed by lunch of the creations.

The rest of the group has a selection of extra activities or excursions to choose from – bike tours, horse riding, sailing, transfer to Cortona, etc.

available by fee basis upon request.

Dinner on our own with recommendations provided to local restaurants.

Day 6: Day in Siena


Breakfast Buffet

Depart by private coach to beautiful Siena. In 1200, Siena was the most important city in Tuscany, due to its position on the Via Francigena, the most important road linking Rome with the North. Our guide will tell us all about Siena, with its quaint, clean, medieval look characterized by the stones called cotto. It is also renowned for the Palio, a historic equestrian competition among the contrade (districts), which originated in 1260 and today is still passionately raced twice each year in the peculiar Piazza del Campo – an elliptical and sloping corral.

After the tour there will be time for a leisurely lunch on your own.

Return by private coach to the Farmhouse with dinner on your own.

Day 7: Day in Perugia


Breakfast Buffet

Depart by private coach to the regional capital of Perugia, twenty minutes away. The hilltop town is home to the world famous chocolatier, Perugina, music venues and expansive plazas. We’ll visit La Casa del Cioccolato Perugina, the chocolate museum, for a tour about the history of the Perugina chocolate company including tastings.

Our guide will show us other highlights with time left to wander, enjoy lunch on our own, shop and take in the views.

Return by private coach.

Farewell dinner in the dining room featuring another unique four courses, wine and homemade delicacies.

Day 8: Arrivederci Italy!

Departure by private coach will return you to the Rome Fiuminino airport.

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PRICE

The price of the package as described in the Travel Plan is USD 2,900 per person based on a group of 16 participants in double room accommodation. Accommodation in single room is possible for an extra charge.

A deposit of USD 500 is required to ensure your place and will be deducted from the balance.

Deposit is required by May 1, 2013. Second payment is due by June 1, 2013. Balance is due by July 1, 2013.

Please contact [email protected] for Payments, Terms & Conditions and Registration Form.

We reserve the right to cancel this tour for circumstances beyond our control. In this case a full refund of all payments will be made.

THE PACKAGE INCLUDES

Accommodation and Meals

7 night accommodation in double bedroom (double occupancy) with private bathroom, in a 1 or a 2 bedrooms apartment.

Daily cleaning

Morning buffet breakfast

3 four course dinners based on homemade traditional recipes to discover the best flavors of the area. The dishes will be paired with the wine produced by the owners.

2 light lunches

Wine during included dinners and lunches

Activities and Excursions

Tour of the property followed by an educational wine and olive oil tasting by the owner with light lunch

Excursion by boat to Trasimeno Island and Passignano. Boat tickets included

Excursion and guided tour of Pienza and Montepulciano with wine tasting and light lunch

Excursion and guided tour of Siena

Excursion and guided tour of Perugia with visit of the Perugina Chocolate factory with chocolate tasting

Cooking class at the farmhouse divided in 2 groups

Other services

Tax and gratuities

Private transportation with highly comfortable coach for all the above excursions

Group transfer from/to Fiumicino International airport on day of arrival and departure

Professional tour leader native Italian to provide full time assistance and coordinate activities onsite

THE PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Airfare, Travel insurance, Individual transportation arrangements

Meals, wine or drinks or other personal items not listed in ‘The Package Includes”

Optional

Individual extra activities or visits can be arranged separately upon request

Individual trip extension planning and reservation can be arranged separately upon request

About Elaine Masters

Travel writer, Yoga teacher and international scuba diver, Elaine hosts monthly travel gatherings in San Diego, including the Travel Well meetup, plus local chapters of Meet Plan Go and Travel Massive. As a sought after speaker she's addressed corporate and business groups including flight attendants, bus and RV drivers, Senior groups, Home caregivers and Hospice workers amongst others. The award-winning author of Drivetime Yoga also hosts The Gathering Road Podcast on the Women’s Radio Network and has been featured on Fox.com, NBC.com, Women’s Day.com, Huffington Post and San Diego Living plus many more.

About Exclusively Italian – Travel by Design Exclusively Italian is a tour operator specialized in customized tours to Italy and is led by its founder Laura Bianconcini, native of Rome. Laura has lived in Italy most of her life and visits Italy 4-5 times a year, to personally select accommodations, suppliers and places, that she trusts they will exceed her traveler’s expectations. She proposes a style of traveling at a relaxed pace to truly appreciate every single moment of the journey, emphasizing the diversity that every destination has to offer: art and history, food and wine, traditions, culture, life-style and especially a close contact with the local people.

CONTACTS: Elaine Masters [email protected] tel. 858 449-5151

Laura Bianconcini [email protected] tel. 619 564-4798

mailto:[email protected]



savoring italy s harvest - trip well gal … · romans in 217 b.c., and tucked between the medieval...

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