| Tuscany, and its neighbours Umbria and Liguria, | | | | Pilgrims from all over the world come to visit this |
| are incredible locations with perfectly preserved hill | | | | special place every year. Dinner with fish dishes |
| cities, fabulous art, essentially the most lovely | | | | will be a true delight in Castiglione del Lago on |
| countryside imaginable, virtually tropical coastal | | | | Lake Trasimeno. |
| areas, nice cities (Florence, Siena, Perugia, | | | | Excursion Four: Lucca – Pisa – Carrara. |
| Cortona, Montepulciano,Orvieto), high quality eating | | | | It will take you in the morning not more then 2 |
| places and food shops, possibly the best cafes on | | | | hours drive to reach Lucca, go toward Firenze on |
| this planet, and pleasant and exquisite public. | | | | the A1 and turn to Prato, continue on this way till |
| Tuscany is exceptional partially because of | | | | you reach Lucca, an ancient walled city known for |
| restrictions which were placed on development. | | | | it's splendid olive oil, shopping and fortress walls |
| New buildings are allowed only on the outskirts of | | | | that are wide enough to go for a bike ride on. |
| certain towns. Very few new buildings are allowed | | | | Here you'll have time for lunch, a stroll and if you |
| in the countryside. Farmhouses could be | | | | feel like it a ride around the walls. Next stop |
| remodelled or rebuilt on their authentic footprint | | | | Carrara. Michelangelo's Pieta in Rome, and David in |
| and must be built within the unique style. Due to | | | | Florence were both carved out of marble taken |
| these growth restrictions, many vacation leases | | | | from right here. |
| are remodelled barns or other farm out-buildings. | | | | Known for it's pure glistening white stone, |
| Tuscany is now a prosperous area and money | | | | Michelangelo spent several years here locating just |
| has poured into the cities to revive them. Italians | | | | the right blocks for his masterpieces. Carrara's |
| and citizens from other international locations are | | | | long and proud history stretches back to the |
| buying up the previous houses within the cities | | | | pre-roman period and marble is still quarried here |
| and restoring them to be used as vacation | | | | today and shipped all over the world. |
| properties or for their own first or second homes. | | | | At the Carrara musem you will learn all about the |
| Tourism and the wine trade have introduced in | | | | history, working processes, and the legends |
| good jobs, making this a affluent area that caters | | | | behind this unique Tuscan treasure. In the |
| to tourists however has a full of life native life as | | | | afternoon you can visit Portovenere (the port of |
| well. | | | | Venus), and on the way back just stop for half |
| The style of farming in Tuscany makes the | | | | an hour to see the tower of Pisa because there is |
| countryside beautiful. Farms are principally owned | | | | nothing else to see there. |
| by households, which turned them into holiday | | | | Excursion Five: Montalcino – Sant'Antimo |
| farmhouses. Regularly they grow many various | | | | abbey. |
| kinds of crops. In the Chianti area the hills are laid | | | | Leaving from La Mucchia casa vacanze you go to |
| out like an exquisite quilt: straight rows of dark | | | | the the heart of Tuscany to discover the richness |
| green grapes vines right here, a misty | | | | and flavour of the area. You will begin your |
| inexperienced olive grove splashed with brilliant red | | | | gastronomic journey with "Brunello di Montalcino". |
| poppies there, a lush forest in-between, all of it | | | | Your tasting of this prestigious wine will be at |
| topped with a perfect blue sky. Off in the | | | | Altesino, one of the most well known Brunello |
| distance a city sitting on the crest of a hill. That is | | | | estates, which sits in an area so beautiful you'll call |
| the colour palette in June, it adjustments through | | | | it paradise. From the garden you can see the |
| the seasons. | | | | majestic hill town of Montalcino and the |
| To see all this you need a good location where | | | | surrounding vines that produce Sangiovese |
| you can stay in comfort and travel each day or | | | | "grosso" along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot |
| second day to see all the lost retreats and at the | | | | and Chardonnay. From here you will take the road |
| same time not to drive for hours looking at the | | | | for Castelnuovo dell'Abate on route you can have |
| views from the car window. | | | | lunch in a local "osteria" of the nearby hamlet. |
| La Mucchia farmhouse is the perfect place for | | | | After lunch you will visit one of the best |
| your day trips, excursions of one or half day, can | | | | preserved Roman monuments in Tuscany, the |
| be done from this location, and still to enjoy a | | | | abbey of Sant'Antimo. |
| quiet evening by the swimming pool looking | | | | In Sant'Antimo you can hear monks sing their |
| toward Cortona lights and have a "Fiorentine | | | | daily Gregorian Chants as their voices eco off the |
| steak" over the barbecue in the garden. | | | | ancient walls. Then you proceed to Montalcino to |
| Cortona: | | | | visit the small town. |
| Recently made famous by the movie "Under the | | | | At the entrance to this ancient town lies the |
| Tuscan Sun", Cortona offers spectacular views | | | | "Fortezza". Built in 1362 this historical fortress has |
| and a true Tuscan feel. Here you will have time to | | | | suffered many attacks on it's walls but has never |
| explore the winding streets and small shops, | | | | fallen. This incredible example of medieval |
| enjoy a good lunch in one of the many "Tratorias" | | | | architecture offers 360° views on its walls and a |
| and soak up the Tuscan sun. | | | | lively "enoteca" inside. |
| Visit up on top of the hill, the Santa Margherita | | | | Excursion Six: Bagno Vignoni – Castiglione |
| Chapel and the fortress of the Medici, going down | | | | d'Orcia. |
| toward south you can see the Frances Mayes | | | | Two hidden villages of southern Tuscany are |
| "Brama sole" home. | | | | Bagno Vignoni, a fascinating village surrounded by |
| The "MAEC" is the Etruscan-Roman museum at | | | | castles and medieval ruins. It has been an |
| the town hall in via Nazionale. | | | | important thermal hot springs area since Roman |
| Excursion one: Montepulciano - Pienza - | | | | times. The hamlet was developed around a large |
| Monticchiello | | | | open air bath which was used to cure and relax |
| Leaving from Cortona through the Tuscan most | | | | weary pilgrims, and the likes of Lorenzo de Medici |
| beautiful countryside to Montepulciano in the | | | | and Saint Catherine. Now you too can soak your |
| breathtaking area of Southern Tuscany. | | | | feet in the healing waters of Bagno Vignoni. You |
| Get out of the main road 2 km before reaching | | | | will next visit Castiglione d'Orcia. This small |
| Montepulciano to Tana Gatta winery for a truly | | | | medieval town looks and feels as it did some 700 |
| unforgettable wine tasting experience and light | | | | years ago. Once a battle ground for the |
| lunch featuring typical Tuscan products produced | | | | Florentines and the Sienese, Castiglione lost it's |
| in the area at the main street of Montepulciano. | | | | importance when Siena fell to Florence and the |
| After resting proceed 10 km to visit the town of | | | | Medici family took over the area. As this is a |
| Pienza. | | | | placed not usually visited by tourists you will get a |
| Completely restructured on the orders of Pope | | | | special look at daily life in the Tuscan country side |
| Pius II to be the perfect Renaissance town, | | | | and have a relaxing place to sip coffee and stroll |
| Pienza's architecture and charm will delight you. It | | | | the ancient streets. After your visit to Castiglione |
| is also famous for it's Pecorino cheese (sheep's | | | | d'Orcia you will head back. |
| cheese). | | | | Excursion Seven: Siena. |
| Make sure you take time to wander through the | | | | One of the most fascinating towns in Tuscany |
| shops on the main street that offer free tasting. | | | | but is also in a particularly beautiful position, with |
| If you are not tired and want to proceed, you | | | | lovely environs. The town is the capital of the |
| pay a visit to St. Anna Camprena where part of | | | | Tuscan province of the same name. |
| "The English Patient" was filmed before being | | | | It preserves its medieval character to a |
| treated to a spectacular dinner in the tiny hilltop | | | | remarkable degree, and has been largely unspoilt |
| town of Monticchello before heading back to your | | | | by new buildings. Its beautiful Gothic buildings |
| La Mucchia country home accommodation. | | | | include the Cathedral and Palazzo Pubblico, as well |
| Excursion two: Orvieto – Civita di Bagnoregio | | | | as numerous churches. |
| – Civitella d'agliano. | | | | The delightful Sienese school of paint ing |
| After breakfast at La Mucchia vacation | | | | produced, in the First half of the 14C, |
| farmhouse in Cortona, you'll head south, taking | | | | masterpieces by Duccio di Buoninsegna, Simone |
| the A1 to Rome crossing Umbria, the region just | | | | Martini, and Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, all of |
| below Tuscany. Here you will find Orvieto an | | | | whose work is well represented in the Pinacoteca, |
| incredible ancient town perched upon a plateau of | | | | Palazzo Pubblico, and Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. |
| volcanic "tufo" rock. Here you go on an amazing | | | | The Campo is one of the most remarkable |
| underground tour of the ancient Etruscan ruins | | | | squares in Italy. The seventeen Contrade or |
| upon which Orvieto was built. You will also visit | | | | wards into which the town is divided still manage |
| Orvieto's cathedral, one of the finest examples of | | | | to play an active part in the life of the city, |
| Gothic architecture in all of Italy. It is a must to | | | | culminating in the famous Palio horserace which |
| include a visit to Civita Bagnoregio, a tiny ancient | | | | has survived as perhaps the most spectacular |
| town with few inhabited today. As you pass over | | | | annual festival in Italy, in which the whole city |
| the foot bridge (the only way to reach the town) | | | | participates. |
| you'll take a step back in time to a place where | | | | The town is built on a Y-shaped ridge and spreads |
| you can leave your modern worries behind. A | | | | into the adjacent valleys; the streets are |
| wonderful dinner can be taken in the small village | | | | consequently often steep, and to pass from one |
| of Civitella D'Agliano. | | | | part of the city to another it is often necessary |
| Excursion Three: Perugia – Assisi – | | | | to cross a deep valley. For this reasonv and also |
| Catiglion del lago. | | | | because its treasures are unusually scattered, |
| Taking the road to Trasimeno lake, you are on | | | | several days are needed for an adequate visit. |
| the "Superstrada" to Perugia, a hill town, in Umbria, | | | | From the town there is an extensive and varied |
| became famous for the 9-18–July Jazz | | | | panorama which includes Monte Amiata and the |
| festivals, with famous artists such as: Eric Clapton, | | | | metalliferous hills, as well as the clay downs of |
| Diana Krall, Sergio Mendes, Pat Metheny, James | | | | Asciano and the wooded district of Montagnola. |
| Brown, Paolo Fresu, Pino Daniele, Russel Malone, | | | | To the north, the scenery changes once again, |
| beautifull views, Churches and Perugina Chocolate | | | | with the densely cultivated hills of the Chianti. |
| factory.You are then continue on the same | | | | Excursion eight: Firenze |
| "superstrada" to Assisi, home of the animal loving | | | | Only by train, from Terontola or Camucia train |
| Saint Francis. Visit the magnificent Basilica and | | | | station, and within one hour and twenty minutes |
| many monuments dedicated to this legendary | | | | you will be in the centre of this important town, |
| saint in this lovely small town just over the border | | | | fresh and happy to start your walking. |
| from Tuscany, in Umbria. | | | | |