“These tours are examples of some of the places to visit and the sights and activities you can experience. They are completely customizable to your time and budget. Please use the “Design Your Own form” to start planning your next vacation with us”
Tour Features
Italian food is loved around the world and Ciao has been featuring authentic Italian cooking lessons for years. Ciao is offering four fabulous cooking lessons on a seven day tour. Each lesson is unique and held in a different area of Tuscany. You can relish the opportunity to cook, and dine, on the sumptuous dishes you prepare. Lessons in pairing the correct Wine and Food will compliment your learning experience.
Ciao Tours will fix the exchange rate at the time of full payment or 60 days prior to departure.
Customize
What’s Included
- 7 Nights in Tuscany at Country Style Lodging including daily breakfast
- 4 Unique Italian Cooking Lessons
- Wine Tasting, Tour & Light Lunch in Montepulciano
- 8 Day Car Rental with Standard Transmission
- Self Guided Tours
- General Driving Instructions Including Maps
- Includes All Taxes except local city taxes
- Assistance from Ciao’s Italian Representatives
What’s Not Included
Air flights, travel insurance, tips, and anything not specifically mentioned in “What’s Included”.
Daily Itinerary
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL – FLORENCE
Arrive at “Amerigo Vespucci” Airport (Florence) and pick up car for 8-day rental (standard transmission ). Drive to Agritourism near San Gimignano and enjoy first evening in Italy.
DAY 2 – VOLTERRA & SAN GIMIGNANO
- Explore the Historical Centers of Volterra & San Gimignano and experience the magnificent views
- Volterra – Palazzo dei Priori, Town Hall, Piazza San Giovanni
- San Gimignano – Palazzo del Popolo, Torre Grossa, Piazza del Duomo with the Romanesque Collegiata
- Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
DAY 3 – MONTERIGGIONI & COLLE VAL D’ELSA
- 5-hour Authentic Cooking Lesson in the Southern Countryside near Siena
- Monteriggioni: The Military Castle, Well preserved historical center with original walls and towers
- Locally-made handicrafts-olivewood cutting boards
- Colle Val d’Elsa: Porta Nuova, Piazza del Duomo
DAY 4 – CHIANTI WINE REGION
- 5-hour Authentic Italian Cooking Lesson in the Chianti region with Wine & Honey Tasting
- Chianti Classico Region
- Historical Italian Castles, Renaissance Villas, Romanesque Churches
- Enjoy the small towns of Greve, Panzano, Castellina and Radda
DAY 5 – SIENA
- 5-hour Authentic Italian Cooking Lesson with Wine Tasting in Siena
- Tour Siena at Leisure
- Arrive at the Agritourism near Cortona and enjoy dinner at leisure
- Home of the Palio famous Horse Race
- Piazza del Campo, Piazza del Duomo and the Basilica
- Museum of Santa Maria della Scala
- Palazzo Comunale
DAY 6 – MONTALCINO & ST. ANTIMUS
- Explore the historic centre of Montalcino and the abbey at St. Antimus
- Duomo di San Salvatore
- On a clear day you can see in the distance the Islands of Corsica and Elba on the Tyrrhenian Sea along with the Apuane Alps and closer still are the vies of the cities of Siena, Pienza and Montepulciano
- Romanesque Abbey of St. Anitmus- a temple founded by Charlemagne in 781 AD
DAY 7 – PIENZA & MONTEPULCIANO
- Wine Tasting, Tour and Product Sampling
- 5-hour Authentic Evening Cooking Lesson at the Agritourism
- Pienza: (Corso Rossellino, Pecorino – sheep cheese, Ancient home of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, Pope Pius II)
- Montepulciano: (Piazza Grande, Renaissance Duomo ,Vino Nobile D.O.C.G. Wine with Sangiovese and Canaiolo grapes, 14th c Palazzo Comunale in Florentine style)
DAY 8 – FLORENCE
Drive to “Amerigo Vespucci” Airport– Firenze (FLR) to return rental car & conclusion of tour.
