Experience the culinary, gastronomic side of Tuscany on this Getaway trip! Relax in the expansive surroundings of a great Country House - complete with extensive orchards and olive groves while you learn the secrets of Tuscan cuisine under the tutorage of experienced chefs. Take in the sights with trips to various towns and villages in the vicinity - from the walled city of Lucca, to the charming town of Pietrasanta, and the well known Cinque Terre. Get an insight into the world of wine, olive and chocolate as you meet with local producers and taste their delights.

Even among Italy's finest cities, Florence is something special, rising from the beautiful landscape of Tuscany as a living piece of history. Everywhere you turn you'll see works by Michelangelo, Donatello, Brunelleschi and any number of Masters of Italy's Golden Age. It is in the museums and galleries of the city that most of Florence's treasures are concentrated. The piazzas are full of fashionable boutiques and ever more fashionable people, and the café is still central to the Florentine social life. In the evening the city lights up and its squares and streets are thronged with visitors and locals taking their "passeggiata" as the denizens of the city have done for thousands of years.

Airport transfer with private vehicle and English speaking driver. (Extra surcharge will be applied if after 8pm or before 7am).

A welcome package with your itinerary, vouchers, a city map, train tickets (if relevant) and any other touristic information that we deem you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip.

Enjoy a half day walking tour with your private English speaking local guide in Florence, taking in a visit to the Uffizi gallery. You will be met at your hotel and proceed on foot to view the Piazza Duomo and Piazza della Signoria.  This personalized tour will give you local insight into the real history and hidden gems. A visit to Florence is not complete without visiting one of the most important art galleries in the world, the Uffizi. Enjoy a private guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery to have an unforgettable journey through the masterpieces of famous artists such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto, Cimabue and Masaccio. At the end of the tour, you are free to remain in the museum to explore further at your leisure. (The tour includes a prebooked entrance and guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery in English).

The Hotel Brunelleschi (4*) is located in the historical centre of Florence, a stone’s throw from the Uffizi Gallery, the “Piazza della Signoria” and one of the world’s most famous  shopping streets. The Brunelleschi has 96 rooms and suites, spectacular views of the “Duomo”, a restaurant, and a gym. The hotel has been created within a circular Byzantine tower and a medieval church, entirely reconstructed, but keeping the original characteristics of the buildings. Inside you can find a private museum in which is conserved the architectural ruins discovered during the restoration of the buildings.  This hotel is also featured at the end of Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code”. 

Overnight at Brunelleschi (4*).

The popular seaside town of Viareggio is situated on the Tuscany coast. The sandy beach of Viareggio falls gently into the sea, ideal for children, is spacious, clean and outrageous. Alongside runs the promenade with boutiques, shops, cafés, discos, cinemas, art-galleries and much more for your entertainment. There are two beautiful pine-forests on either side of the town, allowing all kinds of activities sports, games and you can relax in healty clean air. 

Enjoy a private transfer between Florence and Pisa.

Meet up with your Tour Leader and enjoy a light lunch before partaking in a tour of Pisa. Pisa is one of the most visited cities of Tuscany, through its Leaning Tower and its magnificent Square of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli), world heritage of UNESCO, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful monumental complex in the world. You will find 4 masterpieces of medieval architecture from the 11th to the 14th century tower, the cathedral (il Duomo), the Baptistery and the Monumental Building Camposanto.

This afternoon you will get to enjoy a visit to a sumptuous 17th century farm house which produces high quality, organic olive oil. Here you can learn about the secrets behind aromatic oils, including massage oils, as well sampling some oiks and wine from the Chef while you learn about the whole process of organic growing and visit the olive grove.

The Rural Country House outside of Viareggio in the green hills of the Versilia is a rustic 19th century country house which has been completely renovated to allow for an extremely pleasant stay while you are in Tuscany. Surrounded by unspoilt countryside, it provides the perfect location to relax and unwind. The house has five bedrooms and all have air-conditionning, TV, DVD, satellite, minibar and safe. There is a wonderful swimming pool on the property as well as a vegetable garden, orchards and a large olive grove, where ancient varieties are grown. There is also a wellness zone in which you can relax in, where there is a Turkish bath and a mini-swimming pool with a jacuzzi for up to 6 people. The decor is warm with an ethnic style and finished in marble mosaic.

Overnight at Rural Country House.

Enjoy a tour of Viareggio this morning before having some free time to do some independent exploring. With its promenade along the sea, lined with buildings in the Art Nouveau style, the harbour, shops, hotels, bathing establishments and bars, there is plenty to see. If you are lucky enough to be here on Thursday - you can wander around the market in the centre.

This afternoon you can enjoy a visit to Pietrasanta, a charming small Roman town, historically and artistically the capital of Versilia. Sculptors from all around the world who work with marble and bronze live in this area and it is possible to visit some of their workshops. The city has a pleasant old town and its main square is often decorated with works of modern sculpture. Visit of a shop of local wine maker with different sorts of gastronomical specialities from the area before returning to your accommodation.

Late this afternoon, you'll have your first cooking class with a Tuscan seasonal specialties menu, followed by a tasting dinner.The cooking classes are in small groups with an experienced chef, who will guide you on the preparation of a typical Tuscan meal. Fresh, seasonal products from Tuscany are used including extra virgin olive oil, fresh vegetables and herbs from the orchard, meat, poultry and fish directly from the farmers or local fishermen. Each cooking class includes appetizers, pasta, main course and dessert. The menu is complemented by tasting some selected wines from Tuscany.

Overnight at Rural Country House.

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

In the early afternoon, visit the city of Lucca - a Tuscan jewel with 100 churches, and preserved ramparts from the 16th and 17th centuries within a preserved historic center. The site of the amphitheatre is one of the most unique in the world: after the fall of the Romans, townspeople built houses on the walls of the amphitheatre, so the place is now elliptical. Other monuments of note include Napoleon place, Piazza San Martino cathedral and romantic place of S. Michele di Foro, theatre and Puccini place.

After seeing Lucca, you will then be brought to a wine factory in the hills of Lucca, which produce excellent organic and biodynamic wines and certified "DOP" olive oil. Tour the vineyards, visit the winery and the historic villa of counts Sardi from 17th century, which is inhabited by the owners, where we will taste the wines with refreshments. Then enjoy a visit of a small wine and olive oil farm in the hills and virgin forests, in the vicinity of Chiatri Puccini, which inspired Giacomo Puccini in the composition of his opera Tosca. As you enjoy a wine and oil tasting with the owner, you'll also get to taste various kinds of pizza and foccaccia made before you.

Enjoy learning the art of Italian pizza this evening before sitting down to dinner of..pizza (what else!) and sip on some great local wines.

Overnight at Rural Country House.

Today you can get to enjoy a day trip to Liguria and the well-known Cinque Terre, with its picturesque fishing villages. The bustling town of Lerici is a small resort located in a small harbor, with a castle "Castello San Giorgio", located on a cliff overlooking the city. It allows an incredible view over the entire peninsula with picturesque Portovenere, islands in the Gulf and the city of La Spezia. From Lerici we will leave by boat for Cinque Terre to the first village Riomaggiore, with its colorful houses of typical Ligurian style and small picturesque streets. We will discover the most famous path of Cinque Terre "via del'Amore" (path of love) where you can admire the magnificent scenery with and seascape, listen to waves crashing on the rocks and breathe in the salt air.

After 20 to 30 min. of walking we will reach the next village, Manarola, which is located on a cliff with houses grouped in a mosaic of colors. The village of Manarola is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. Then we will stop in Monterosso, the biggest village with many lemon trees and the only extensive sandy beach beach in the Cinque Terre. There will be the light lunch at the local wine farm, where wines are grown on terraces in difficult conditions of access, and we will sample excellent wines of Cinque Terre and Sciacchetrà.

Finally, we will arrive in the pedestrianised village of Vernazza, one the most authentic "fishing villages" on the Italian Riviera.

Enjoy a seafood dinner this evening with views of the sea before returning to your accomodation.

Overnight at Rural Country House.

This morning you'll visit the Roman town of Camaiore which lies in the foothills of the Apuan Alps. Enjoy a visit to a producer of handmade chocolate, as you discover and taste different kinds of chocolate from the four corners of the world!

You will depart for Pisa airport this afternoon for your onward journey. The airport is located approximately 30 minutes from the Country House.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport).