WORLDWIDE CULTURAL AND CULINARY VACATIONS
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A Tuscany, Truffles, Cooking & Wine Signature Series

(This is a premium, signature series tour by Edible Destinations)

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Priced From
$5,298 USD *
(For One 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!

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 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 served with personal attention from the owners and managers. This celebration of Tuscany includes deluxe villa accommodations with a full buffet breakfast daily, six daily dinners 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
Itinerary Accommodations Map FAQ Testimonials
VACATION HIGHLIGHTS
Please note: Tour inclusions can change depending upon seasonality and weather conditions.
Round-Trip Transfers from 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
Mid-March through mid-November. Some restrictions may apply. Not available during the month of August. Tours start on Sunday and end on Saturday.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.
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Day 1
Transfer from Rome Airport to the 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. Enjoy a video during your transfer of images related to where you will visit during your stay (Siena, Montepulciano, Pienza, and Cortona). We invite you to ask your guide for information on your points of interest.
Arrival Prosecco | Wine Tasting | Dinner
Arriving at Villa Schiatti at approximately 4:00pm, you'll be welcomed with a lovely glass of Prosecco Valdobbiandene DOCG. After you have settled into your room, attend a wine-tasting ceremony in the wine cellar led by Aleen, a 5th-level professional sommelier. The tasting will consist of three varieties of wines with bruschetta and the Villa's own olive oil. The sommelier will entertain you with facts about growing, harvesting, and production procedures. A traditional Tuscan four-course dinner with wine will be served in the Villa restaurant or, weather permitting, outside on the panoramic terrace at sunset. As an additional bonus, enjoy the mini-bar usage of two complimentary half-liter water bottles and two non-alcoholic canned drinks for the first night! Enjoy your first day in Tuscany.
Day 2
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 is served in the dining room.
Pienza City Tour | Cheese Tasting | Montepulciano Wine Tasting
Today you will embark on a 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 filled with cheese are everywhere. There is free time in Pienza to visit any of the places of interest that you reviewed in the van on the first day, and maps are provided for the city. Restaurants with panoramic terraces and cafes line the streets. We will visit a small local cheese producer and enjoy a variety of cheese tastings with a fully guided visit and explanation of the process of production in the factory. There will be leisure time for exploring. Montepulciano is the "Capital of Wine". Your guide will show you around the area. The wine tasting will feature one of the best brands in the area. A walk around this medieval town with its unique historical center provides 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 in cozy cafes. Lunch is on your own and at your leisure in this wine paradise. Dinner will be back at the Villa this evening.
Traditional Tuscan Dinner
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.
Day 3
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 is served in the dining room.
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 horserace 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 as a World Heritage Site. Siena is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, and medieval cityscape. 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.
Dinner at the Villa
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.
Day 4
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 is served in the dining room.
Free Day to Plan (Additional Cost)
After breakfast, the day will be at leisure on your own accord. Complimentary transfers are available 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 lake tour. Your hosts will help coordinate your day trip and provide the associated costs. Optional day trips are not included in your tour price. You may, however, choose to stay and enjoy the fabulous views and the Villa's pool for a day of relaxation. Lunch is on your own and dinner will be served back at the Villa.
Italian Four Course Dinner with Wine
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.
Day 5
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 is served in the dining room.
Cortona Regional Wine Tour | Lunch
After breakfast you will set off for the Cortona Region for multiple wine tastings. You will visit local wineries which produce the famous "Syrah of Cortona." Enjoy wine tastings at each winery, with views of picturesque Tuscany landscapes, under the guidance of a professional sommelier. This guided experience will provide you with interesting facts about local wine production, types of grapes used, and the differences between wines. The first of the local wineries will be Cantina Canaipo. Here your guide, Aleen, will lead you in a tasting of two Syrah and two Merlots, accompanied by cheese, sausage, and bruschetta. The next stop is the Cantina Valdetti, where you will taste various varieties of wine such as a white, a rosé, 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 some Tuscan Crostinis: red crouton, sausage and stracchino, porcini mushrooms, and tomato and garlic. The first course is Pici with Tuscan ragout; the second course is Fricassea chicken; and the dessert is the Cantucci. This evening your dinner will consist of the dishes you helped to prepare, or observed being made. Recipes and notes will be provided to you to ensure your ability to replicate these dishes when you return home.
Day 6
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 is served in the dining room.
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 to purchase some tasty souvenirs.
Time to Relax in Cortona | Guided Tour
Enjoy a guided tour around Cortona,one of the most popular medieval villages in Tuscany. You will visit the lovely city and see the jail of St. Francis, the Santa Margherita Church, and the Bramasole house from "Under the Tuscan Sun" movie. Afterwards you will have time to explore on your own. Here you will discover more panoramic views of the Tuscan countryside, with the unforgettable atmosphere of an ancient town as your backdrop. The small shops are plentiful, and the restaurants are quaint and cozy. Lunch is on your own today.
All Things Truffles Cooking Class with Dinner
A culinary master chef leads you through this hands-on cooking class based on truffles. You will enjoy antipasto, one first-course dish, one main course dish, and a dessert. The truffle menu consists of cream puffs with crispy bacon, egg, pecorino, parmesan, and mozzarella as appetizers. Tagliolini with butter, thyme, and truffles will be served as a first course; the main dish is suckling pig with truffles; and dessert is the crostata (jam tart). You will prepare the tagliolini and crostata and the other dishes will be a team effort. Enjoy the fruits of your labor during dinner accompanied by 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 is served in the dining room.
Check-Out and Departure
Your final day has come 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 before the beginning of your tour. May your future travels come with 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
Winner
OUTSTANDING
CULINARY TRAVEL
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Member of ASTA Member of ATTA Member of GSTC