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Tuscany, Truffles, Cooking and Wine Culinary Holiday

(Exploring Tuscany's Delights in Siena, Cortona, Montepulciano and Pienza)

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Companion Travels Free Offer Ends on November 30th. Book Now!
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Limited Time 50% Off Sale!
Priced From
$2,649 USD *
regular price: $5,298
(Price Per Person, Double Occupancy)
* Plus taxes. Tours sold on an availability basis.
7 days | 6 nights

Experience the Wonders of Tuscany with a
Visit to Siena, Cortona, Montepulciano and Pienza!

Companion Travels Free Sale Sale (AKA 50% Off)
Experience the stunning countryside and distinguished towns of Siena, Cortona, Montepulciano and Pienza with your private guide and sommelier. This beautiful region of Tuscany is a touchstone of art, food and culture. Dating back to the 19th century, the fully restored and full-service Villa provides the perfect backdrop for this Tuscan culinary adventure. Your "Taste of Tuscany" tour will provide many opportunities to sample some of Italy's finest wines and olive oils. You'll revel in the unforgettable art, take in breathtaking landscapes and delight in traditional Italian dishes with personal attention of the owners and managers. This celebration of Tuscany includes villa accommodations with full buffet breakfast daily, daily dinner and one lunch accompanied by local wines, two hands-on cooking classes, transfers for sightseeing, wine tours and cheese tastings. Your tour also includes round-trip transfers from Rome Fiumicino Airport.
Small Group Friendly

Special Bonus if Booked by November 30th!
(Save Over $2,600 Per Person + Bonus)
(Very Limited Time Pricing)
1-800-390-3292

Itinerary Accommodations Map FAQ Testimonials
VACATION HIGHLIGHTS
Please note: Tour inclusions can change depending upon seasonality and weather conditions.
Round-Trip Transfers Rome Airport
6 Nights Deluxe Villa Accommodations
6 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 6 Dinners with Wine
All Land Transfers
Arrival Prosecco, Welcome Dinner with Wine
Pienza City Tour with Cheese Tastings
Montepulciano Visit and Wine Tastings
Visit and Tour Siena
Free Day to Plan (Optional)
Cortona Regional Wine Tour
Tuscan Hands-On Cooking Class
Truffle Hunt with Guide and Truffle Dog
All Things Truffles Cooking Class
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
This tour runs weekly throughout the season between early April and early November. Please click on the orange "Check Pricing & Dates" button above to view available departures.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.
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Day 1
Transfer from Airport to Villa
Your driver will meet you at the Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and transfer you via air-conditioned van to the villa. Water bottles will be available for you in the van. The screen inside the van has images related to what you will visit during your stay (Siena, Montepulciano, Pienza, Cortona). We invite you to see the information and points of interest in each place.
Arrival Prosecco | Wine Tasting | Dinner
Your arrival at the villa will be approximately 4pm. You'll be welcomed to the villa with a lovely glass of Prosecco Valdobbiandene DOCG. After you have had a chance to settle into your room, attend a wine tasting ceremony in the wine cellar lead by Aleen, a 5th level professional sommelier. Tasting three varieties of wines with Bruschetta and the villa's own olive oil will be enjoyed. The sommelier will entertain you with the facts about the growing and harvesting and production. A traditional Tuscan 4 course dinner with wine will be served in the Villa restaurant and, in good weather, on the panoramic terrace at sunset. An extra bonus is the mini-bar usage of two half-liter water bottles and two non-alcoholic canned for the first night is complimentary! Enjoy your first day in Tuscany.
Day 2
Tuscan Breakfast | Dinner
An Italian breakfast of mixed salami and cheese platters, eggs, sausage or bacon, fresh fruits, fresh bakery items, yogurts coffee, tea and juices are served in the dining room. A traditional four-course Tuscan dinner with wine will be served in the Villa restaurant, or in good weather, on the panoramic terrace at sunset.
Pienza City Tour | Cheese Tasting | Montepulciano Wine Tasting
Tour of Pienza – the capital of cheese. This medieval town is the only one with a 360 degree panoramic view of the beautiful Tuscan valley. The historical center is filled with romantic street names like Via dell'Amore (Love), Via del Bacio (Kiss) and Via della Fortuna (Good Luck). Shops are filled with cheese everywhere. There is free time in Pienza to visit any of the places of interest that you saw in the van on the first day Maps are povided for the city. Restaurants with panoramic terraces and cafes line the streets. Visit the small local family business of cheese producers using raw and unpasteurized milk. Enjoy a variety of cheese tastings with a fully guided visit and explanation on the process of production in the factory. There will be time for exploring Montepulciano is the "Capital of Wine". Your guide show you around the area. The wine tasting will feature one of best brands in the area.The visit to a local wine cellar, Cantina De' Ricci, is one of the most beautiful and fascinating in the world. Please note that the access to the cellar requires many stairs as there is no elevator as the structure is very old. A walk around this medieval town with, its unique historical center provides for some of the best panoramic views of Tuscany. Most of the cellars of the historical center are free of charge. You will find wine everywhere…in the shops, restaurants and cozy cafes. Lunch is on your own and, at your leisure in this wine paradise. Dinner will be back at the Villa this evening.
Day 3
Tuscan Breakfast | Dinner
An Italian breakfast of mixed salami and cheese platters, eggs, sausage or bacon, fresh fruits, fresh bakery items, yogurts coffee, tea and juices are served in the dining room. A traditional four-course Tuscan dinner with wine will be served in the Villa restaurant, or in good weather, on the panoramic terrace at sunset.
Visit the Medieval City of Siena
Siena is likely Italy's loveliest medieval city. Siena's heart is the central piazza known as Il Campo, known worldwide for the famous Palio run here, a horse race run around the piazza two times every summer. Movie buffs will remember it from the James Bond movie, "Quantum of Solace". The historic center of Siena has been declared by UNESCO, a World Heritage Site. Siena is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, and medieval cityscape. You'll depart the villa at 9AM and once you arrive in Siena you will have free time to visit the city with the help of the map, shop and have lunch on your own. Your guide will have plenty of personal recommendations. You will return to the villa in the late afternoon, with time to relax before dinner.
Day 4
Tuscan Breakfast | Dinner
An Italian breakfast of mixed salami and cheese platters, eggs, sausage or bacon, fresh fruits, fresh bakery items, yogurts coffee, tea and juices are served in the dining room. A traditional four-course Tuscan dinner with wine will be served in the Villa restaurant, or in good weather, on the panoramic terrace at sunset.
Free Day to Plan (Additional Cost)
After breakfast, this day is on your own to plan. Transfers are complimentary to the railway station in Castiglion Fiorentino, should you decide to spend the day in Florence. A list of optional activities and regional destinations will be provided with your itinerary. For example, you may choose to arrange an excursion to Assisi or a lakes tour. You will organize your free day program early in the week and your hosts will help coordinate your day trip, and provide associated costs. Please review the costs, timetables for trains leaving from Castiglion Fiorentino. This Optional day trip suggestions are not included in your tour price. However, you may just choose to enjoy the fabulous views, and the Villa's pool for a day of relaxation. The swimming pool with free towels and swimming cap is provided. Lunch is one your own and dinner will be served back at the Villa. .
Day 5
Tuscan Breakfast | Dinner
An Italian breakfast of mixed salami and cheese platters, eggs, sausage or bacon, fresh fruits, fresh bakery items, yogurts coffee, tea and juices are served in the dining room. A traditional four-course Tuscan dinner with wine will be served in the Villa restaurant, or in good weather, on the panoramic terrace at sunset.
Cortona Regional Wine Tour | Lunch
Enjoy the Cortona Region with multiple wine tastings. You will visit local wineries, producing the famous "Syrah of Cortona." Enjoy wines at each producer, with a view of picturesque Tuscany landscapes, and under the guidance of a professional sommelier. This guided experience will provide interesting facts about wine production, types of grapes, and the differences between wines. You will visit Cantina Canaio, the first of the local wineries. Your guide Aleen, will lead you in tasting two Syrah and two Merlots. The tasting will be accompanied by cheese, sausage and bruschetta. Visit Cantina Valdetti where you will taste a white, a rose, a Sangiovese and a Syrah. Lunch will accompany one of your tastings after a tour of the production area and vineyards. .
Tuscan Delights Hands-On Cooking Class
This culinary master class will be held at the Villa, which begins with a discussion of recipes, accompanied by delicious snacks. The chef will lead you through this hands-on experience which includes a traditional Tuscan, four-course menu. Typically there will be 5 Tuscan Crostinis: red crouton, black, with sausage and stracchino, with porcini mushrooms and with tomato and garlic. The first course, ravioli with meat sauce (ragu); as a second course Quail and as a dessert the Torta della Nonna, or grandmothers cake. This evening your dinner will be the dishes you helped prepare, or observed, along with regional wine. Recipes and notes will be provided to ensure your ability to replicate these dishes when you return home.
Day 6
Tuscan Breakfast | Dinner
An Italian breakfast of mixed salami and cheese platters, eggs, sausage or bacon, fresh fruits, fresh bakery items, yogurts coffee, tea and juices are served in the dining room. A traditional four-course Tuscan dinner with wine will be served in the Villa restaurant, or in good weather, on the panoramic terrace at sunset.
Truffle Hunt
Today you will enjoy a foraging experience by joining a professional truffle picker and his dog, as you unearth the most famous gourmet mushrooms (tubers) in the world. You will also have the opportunity to visit a local truffle shop with a wide assortment of truffle products, at very good prices, should you wish some tasty souvenirs.
Time to Relax in Cortona
Enjoy a guided tour around Cortona, the most popular medieval village in Tuscany. Then you will have time to explore on your own. Here you will discover some of the best panoramic views of the Tuscan countryside, with the unforgettable atmosphere of an ancient town as your backdrop. The small shops are plentiful, and restaurants quaint and cozy. Lunch is on your own today.
All Things Truffles Cooking Class with Dinner
A culinary master chef leads this hands-on cooking class based on truffles. You will enjoy antipasti, two first-course dishes, two main course dishes and a dessert. The truffle menu consists of Cheese and Cured Meats with Truffle as appetizers. Risotto and tagliolinii with truffles as first course and the main is fillet of suckling pig with truffles and sliced beef with flaked truffle and a dessert of Crostata. You will prepare tagliolini and crostata individually and the other dishes as a team effort. Enjoy the fruits of your labor during dinner with wine.
Day 7
Tuscan Breakfast
An Italian breakfast of mixed salami and cheese platters, eggs, sausage or bacon, fresh fruits, fresh bakery items, yogurts coffee, tea and juices are served in the dining room.
Check-Out and Departure
Your final day comes too soon, but it is time to pack your bags along with your newly-acquired cooking skills, and travel back to the Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO). 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 check-in. May your future travels come from sweet dreams, and create tasty memories!
Castiglion Fiorentino, ItalyPienza, ItalySiena, ItalyMontepulciano, ItalyCortona, Italy
I wanted to follow up with you and let you know that Liz and I had an amazing time with our Rome and Tuscany trips (and have already given your info to a couple folks since we have gotten back home as they are interested in this experience). The Rome option was a very good way to experience Rome. The hotel was very nice (they actually gave us an upgraded room) and the location was excellent. We ate dinner at Alfredo alla Scrofa, the restaurant where fettuccine alfredo was created. They actually make the dish in front of you. It is a 10-15 minute walk to the restaurant from the hotel so if you have clients asking for suggestions for things to do, I would highly recommend this restaurant. But as good as the Rome trip was, it did not hold a candle to the Tuscany trip. The staff at the resort were awesome, the itinerary was excellent, the food and wine were incredible . . . to be honest we do not have enough time or a large enough vocabulary of superlatives to say how awesome it was. We highly recommend this experience to anyone and thank you so much for leading us in this direction.
Robbie and Liz - April 2024
Thanks for making this a truly exceptional experience on all levels: location(s),food, wine, transportation, escorts, and all the people involved, including the guests.
Melanie & David - November 2022
We had a fabulous time on this Tuscany trip. Everything went very smoothly and the weather was great. Our hosts and everyone at the Villa were really friendly and helpful and the food and wines were excellent. We really enjoyed all of the activities and the truffle hunting was successful! Mike Brown was incredibly helpful with our booking. We look forward to another adventure with Epitourean.
Adrian & Deborah - November 2022
Wow! Now that word has been used by many to describe a number of events in ones life. I am using that word to describe the experience that my wife and I had on Tuscany Truffles Cooking and Wine adventure that we shared with a few other individuals on our venture into Tuscany. Think about a time when you and a number of total strangers all came together from all over the country to meet and be with each other for a number of days in a magical place. As you got to know each other daily, you realized that all of us were so privileged to have come together at a Villa in Tuscany and to be hosted by such an incredible assemblage of hosts to take us as a group and thoroughly enjoy all our times together. From the food, the tours, the cooking classes, and truffle gathering etc. the time together is such a memorable event in our lives. Well done, Edible Destinations.
Elsie & Mel - November 2022
Having a reasonably small group of people,13 in all, made this all the more enjoyable. Eating gluten-free was a must for me and I couldn’t be more pleased with the attention given making sure that there were gluten-free products available for all the meals and at the wineries we visited. The staff and everybody involved with the tour were exceptional and professional.
Allen & Anita - October 2022
Our Edible Destinations tour in Italy with fellow newly made friends exceeded our expectations. Excellent food and wine aplenty and the staff at the villa were warm and gracious meeting all our needs.
Alan & Cynthia - October 2022
I can’t stop thinking about the fabulous adventure with Edible Destinations – the deep journey into the destination, the people we met along the way and with the active touring and fabulous fresh food and wines, learning to cook food that was fresh and from the land was incredible. I felt so amazing when I returned home and am incorporating this new way of being more sustainable with food into my everyday life. Don’t tell anyone -but with all the fabulous food and wine – I actually lost a few pounds as it was eating healthy and farm to table food.
Chris H. - October 2022
I recently returned from my first Edible Destination package trip to Tuscany and on a scale of 1 - 10, it was a 20! The itinerary was executed flawlessly and our Villa, host and staff were first class. The food, wine and cultural experiences were unforgettable! I look forward to my next trip with Edible Destinations in 2023.
Mary J. - October 2022
I totally enjoyed my trip with Edible Destinations! The art, history, food, and wine were amazing. The scenery was beyond expectations. I look forward to future trips.
Dianne E. - October 2022
I just returned from a Tuscany tour with Edible Destinations which far exceeded my expectations! I expected the food to be good but the 4-course dinner every night was beyond amazing. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable not only about food but also the history of each Tuscan town. I can’t wait to book another tour with Edible Destinations!
Susan P. - October 2022
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