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A Trilogy of Taste - Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio

(An Edible Destinations Epic Journey from our Connoisseur Class)

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Priced From
$6,598 USD *
For One Person, Double Occupancy
* Plus taxes. Tours sold on an availability basis.
8 days | 7 nights

Opulent Immersion into the Foods & Wines of Italy
Gastronomic Extravaganza: Tuscany, Umbria & Lazio

Italy's rich culinary heritage is a tapestry woven with flavors that span centuries of tradition and innovation. Among the many regions that contribute to this exquisite fabric, Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio stand out as true gastronomic treasures. With a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, these regions offer a remarkable experience for food and wine enthusiasts. From indulging in renowned wines to uncovering the secrets of truffle hunting and cheese making, this journey promises to tantalize the senses and create lasting memories. Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio are culinary destinations that cater to all senses. The wines tell stories of generations, the truffles and cheeses reflect the connection to the land, and the cooking classes and gelato tastings provide hands-on experiences that bridge the gap between tradition and modernity. As you journey through these regions, you'll uncover the essence of Italian gastronomy – a blend of history, artistry, and a deep-rooted passion for food and wine. So, pack your bags, prepare your taste buds, and embark on a gastronomic journey that promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.
Small Group Friendly
Itinerary Accommodations Map FAQ
VACATION HIGHLIGHTS
Please note: Tour inclusions can change depending upon seasonality and weather conditions.
7 Nights Luxury Accommodations
Round-Trip Rome Airport Transfers
Round-Trip Rome to Tuscany Transfers
Tuscan Breakfast Each Morning
Welcome Tuscan BBQ Dinner
Two Hands-On Cooking Lessons
Five Dinners, Five Lunches
Immersive Wine Tasting
Vineyard and Cellar Visit
Dinner in Siena
Pienza and Pecorino Exploration
Truffle Hunt with Master & Hound
Dinner in Sarteano
Guided Foraging Experience
Citti Della Pieve, Umbria Dinner
Guided Visit to Orvieto & Montepulciano
Temple of San Biagio Tour
Villa Lante & Lake Bolsena Lazio Tour
Funicular tickets in Orvieto
Visit to Orvieto Cathedral
While our tours are designed as soft adventure experiences, walking, climbing stairs, and in rare cases mild hiking may be required. If you have mobility issues, you should speak with one of our culinary travel specialists to determine if this tour is appropriate for your situation.
AVAILABLE DATES
Availability includes April 14 - 21, 2024; September 29 - October 6, 2024. Groups of 4 or more may request alternate dates. This tour runs from Sunday to Sunday.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.
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Day 1
Airport Transfers | Arrival and Check Into Your Rome Hotel
On your arrival day into Italy, you will be met at the Rome Airport by your driver for transfer to the heart of Rome. One of the true luxuries of international travel is to spend one evening adjusting to the time change, allowing your internal clock to reset. This evening is on your own to explore the Eternal City. Your hotel is situated in one of the most beautiful and exclusive areas of the City, between the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain.
Day 2
Roman Breakfast Buffet
A full European style buffet breakfast is included in your package, served in the hotel's Restaurant. Your breakfast buffet features fresh fruits, juices, tomatoes, mozzarella and an assortment of cold meats. Of course, traditional hot breakfast dishes and exquisite home-made pastries are available in ample supply.
Rome to Tuscany Transfer | Wine Lodge Arrival | Tuscan BBQ Dinner
In the late morning your driver will escort you to Tuscany in style for arrival this evening at your luxury Wine Lodge. The 180-year-old farmhouse buildings have been beautifully restored and sit over the cellars that date back through the centuries to the time of the ancient Etruscans. This picturesque wine estate offers magnificent views and accommodation in 14 suites. Enjoy the views from the pretty pergola overlooking the infinity pool as you soak in the Tuscan sun. On arrival this evening taste the most delicious Tuscan steaks prepared for your BBQ dinner and enjoy the red wines grown on the Estate, as you meet your hosts. After a career as a successful bartender, Steve helms the Tuscan estate bought with his brother. In honor of tonight's wine themed please wear something red for dinner tonight.
Day 3
Tuscan Breakfast
This morning you will enjoy a traditional Tuscan breakfast that embodies the simplicity and authenticity that characterizes the region's culinary traditions. Tuscan breakfasts are a reflection of the region's commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and celebrating the flavors of the land. It's a meal that encourages savoring simple pleasures and setting the tone for a day filled with authentic culinary experiences.
Hands-On Cooking Lesson | Winery Visit with Tastings | Dinner in Siena
This morning enjoy a classic cooking lesson to prepare fresh Pici, a wonderful dish of the local pasta traditionally prepared in Montepulciano, which is often prepared with L'Aglione, a spicy tomato sauce made the large local Valdichiana Garlic bulbs, which can weigh 800g or a frugal sauce of toasted spiced breadcrumbs. Unlike fresh egg pasta, pici are lighter so you can eat even more of them every day – they are perfect with the local Vino Nobile. Once you have finished enjoying your creation. During the afternoon take a visit through history and discover the Etruscan foundations under the Wine Lodge. Talk with the wine maker to discover the grape varieties farmed on these ancient lands, the methods, and viticultural traditions. Enjoy a tutored tasting to understand how each vintage is different from the next. If you fall in love with the wine and want to ship some home, you can even design your own label to display at home. This evening transfer to Siena, a majestic medieval city that rivalled Florence for supremacy over Tuscany. Strolling the ancient streets, you can see the Piazza del Campo where the Palio horse race is held twice a year, and shop for Panforte, the local specialty sweets, before dinner in a typical Sienese Trattoria.
Day 4
Tuscan Breakfast
This morning you will enjoy a traditional Tuscan breakfast that embodies the simplicity and authenticity that characterizes the region's culinary traditions. Tuscan breakfasts are a reflection of the region's commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and celebrating the flavors of the land. It's a meal that encourages savoring simple pleasures and setting the tone for a day filled with authentic culinary experiences.
Exploration of Pienza and Pecorino | Truffle Experience & Tastings | Dinner in Sarteano
Pienza's pecorino cheese is today renowned as one of Tuscany's best, but it owes much to the Sardinian shepherds who moved to the area in the 1960s. Learn how pecorino cheese is heated gently until the curd can be shaped in perforated 'fuscelle' baskets, before it is dry salted to ensure the formation of the rind and then affined, often with grape pomace or walnut leaves for superior flavor. Enjoy lunch tasting the young and seasoned cheeses with accompaniments such as local honey, figs and balsamic vinegar to find your perfect pairing. This afternoon there will be time to explore the hill top Pienza, transformed at the behest of Pope Pius II who wished to renew his birthplace according to the Renaissance ideas of the perfect city As the evening dusk approaches enjoy a truffle hunt in the woods accompanied by a local Lagotto Romagnolo truffle hound and his master to find the world's finest white truffles. The gourmet specialty grows in symbiosis on the roots of local oak trees and is so prized by gourmands, it fetches its weight in gold. This evening enjoy dinner in the picturesque town of Sarteano, a small hilltop hamlet with a Sienese castle.
Day 5
Tuscan Breakfast
This morning you will enjoy a traditional Tuscan breakfast that embodies the simplicity and authenticity that characterizes the region's culinary traditions. Tuscan breakfasts are a reflection of the region's commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and celebrating the flavors of the land. It's a meal that encourages savoring simple pleasures and setting the tone for a day filled with authentic culinary experiences.
Guided Foraging Experience | Hands-On Cooking Lesson | Citta Della Pieve, Umbria Dinner
Enjoy a second lesson with your hosts in a celebration of Tuscan resourcefulness and frugality. Enjoy a walk in the beautiful estate foraging for local herbs before learning to make a classic Ribollita. Meaning 're-boiled', you will discover how to preserve this wonderful vegetable soup, enjoyed with Tuscan bread and topped with the excellent local olive oil. This afternoon you journey to neighboring Umbria for a visit to the charming hilltop town of Citta della Pieve, celebrated as the birthplace of the painter Perugino, Raphael's master. See the masterpiece Adoration of the Magi conserved in the church of Santa Maria dei Bianchi before discovering the secrets of the town's celebrated spice saffron with an expert chef who will explain how to use it in cooking. Enjoy an included dinner in Citta della Pieve.
Day 6
Tuscan Breakfast
This morning you will enjoy a traditional Tuscan breakfast that embodies the simplicity and authenticity that characterizes the region's culinary traditions. Tuscan breakfasts are a reflection of the region's commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and celebrating the flavors of the land. It's a meal that encourages savoring simple pleasures and setting the tone for a day filled with authentic culinary experiences.
A Full Day Visit to Historic Orvieto and Montepulciano
This morning journey to Orvieto, taking the funicular railway to the top of this city perched on a volcanic outcrop above the Tiber Valley. Discover the beautiful Cathedral, whose triptych silhouette can be seen from miles away and see the celebrated cycle of frescoes painted by Luca Signorelli at the turn of the 1500s. Here in the chapel of San Brizio gaze on the faces of the past. The artist has painted himself standing next to his forebear, the painter Fra Angelico, and a host of notable figures such as Pope Pius II witness the unfolding of the Apocalypse. You will also explore the markets and enjoy the stalls where the vendors hawk their wares in the local market before and an Italian gelato tasting in the pretty historic center. In the afternoon visit the extraordinary Temple of San Biagio, designed by Antonio da Sangallo and simply the most hauntingly beautiful and perfect Renaissance masterpiece in Tuscany. Enjoy the ethereal architecture set against the backdrop of Tuscan hills before strolling up the village streets in nearby Montepulciano with its many cantina, the perfect place to enjoy the city's noble wines with dinner. (Please note on this day lunch and dinner are on your own to explore)
Day 7
Tuscan Breakfast
This morning you will enjoy a traditional Tuscan breakfast that embodies the simplicity and authenticity that characterizes the region's culinary traditions. Tuscan breakfasts are a reflection of the region's commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and celebrating the flavors of the land. It's a meal that encourages savoring simple pleasures and setting the tone for a day filled with authentic culinary experiences.
Villa Lante in Lazio | Lake Bolsena in Northern Lazio | Farewell Dinner
Today journey into Lazio to visit one of the region's most beautiful gardens, Villa Lante created by the 17th century architect Vignola which is celebrated for its water features that adorn the three levels of the gardens, most famously the water-chain cascade. Next visit a wine producer to learn the story of the famous local white wine Est Est Est! from Montefiascone. They say this Latin message 'Here It is! Here it is! Here it is! was enthusiastically scrawled on the doors of a Montefiascone inn in the 12th century by the servant of a wine loving Bishop, on his way to meet the Pope. You can try the wine together with the local specialty Coregone, Whitefish, overlooking the beautiful lake of Bolsena nearby. This evening back at your wine lodge share your own stories with new friends over a special farewell dinner.
Day 8
Tuscan Breakfast
This morning you will enjoy a traditional Tuscan breakfast that embodies the simplicity and authenticity that characterizes the region's culinary traditions. Tuscan breakfasts are a reflection of the region's commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and celebrating the flavors of the land. It's a meal that encourages savoring simple pleasures and setting the tone for a day filled with authentic culinary experiences.
Check-Out and Departure | Transfers to Rome Airport
Your final day has come too soon, but it is time to pack your bags with an new appreciation for "la dolce vita" at its finest, and travel back to the Rome Fiumicino Airport. Remember, short excursion packages are often available in nearby cities or historic destinations (such as Rome). Should you desire an extension, please let your Culinary Travel Specialist know prior to your departure. May your future travels come from sweet dreams and create tasty memories!
Rome, ItalyChianciano Terme, ItalyPienza, ItalySiena, ItalySarteano, ItalyCitti Della Pieve, ItalyMontepulciano, ItalyOrvieto, ItalyVilla Lante, ItalyLake Bolsena, Italy
Winner
OUTSTANDING
CULINARY TRAVEL
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