<Buon Gusto> Itinerary
Our 8 day itinerary is outlined below. The actual itinerary may vary due to season, contact us for specific details of your trip at the time of booking.
| Day | Itinerary for the day |
| 1 | Arrive and be greeted by your hosts at Pisa International airport and taken on a short drive to your hotel, a beautiful Villa nestled in the Luchesi countryside. Relax and unwind at the Villa or the nearby San Guiliano Terme Spa. Luxuriate in the many treatments on offer there including thermal therapeutic treatments, massotherapy, energetic techniques and aesthetic face and body treatments or lounge in pools bubbling with natural heated mineral spring waters. That evening dinner in an atmospheric restaurant in the countryside outside Lucca. Dinner included. |
| 2 | Wake up and breathe the invigorating Tuscan country air infused with the scent of pine trees and calmness of the olive groves. A leisurely breakfast and walk this morning before the first cooking class at the Villa. Today a chef will talk to you about the essentials of Italian food - the ingredients - and begin with the basics. The classes are informal gatherings in the Villa's kitchen where you can watch and talk to the chef as he prepares typical simple dishes that you will be able to effortlessly prepare at home. Lunch over a glass of wine before an afternoon visit to the centre of Lucca. A historic lively small city, untouched by 20th century planning and sheltered behind pink ramparts surmounted by a tree lined avenue. Explore the narrow streets lined with the tall facades of old palazzos and numerous churches that are among the finest examples of Pisan Romanesque architecture before returning to your villa or local restaurant for dinner. Lunch included. |
| 3 | Breakfast and then a late morning gathering in the Villa's kitchen for today's culinary adventure and lunch. Rest after lunch before we take you to the Villa Grabau near Marlia. Built in the early 16th Century the villa is an outstanding example of neo classical architecture situated in the foot of the Colline Lucchesi. Built on a pre existent medieval building by the powerful Diodati family it rests in a nine hectare park, one of the most beautiful in the Lucca area. Visit the interiors and walk through the romantic and mysterious gardens with fountains decorated in ornate grotesque masks and valuable marble statues. That evening a Puccini recital in one of Lucca's deconsecrated medieval churches before returning to your villa. Lunch included. |
| 4 | After breakfast a departure for La Perla del Golfo (The Pearl of the Gulf), Lerici, located on the southern part of the Riviera Levant. Lerici is a bustling picturesque little resort town whose waterfront buildings are tightly and pleasantly clustered around the small harbour, and the slopes leading up to Castello San Giorgio which, sitting imposingly on a high outcropping, dominates the town. A leisurely lunch and then the opportunity to visit the Prada outlet on the way to Pietrasanta, home to world famous sculptors and artists, including Bottero and Chia. Wander through intimate galleries late into the night; mingle with the locals in the piazza before returning to the hotel. Lunch included. |
| 5 | Today you will be leaving after breakfast for the Val d'Orcia, located midway between Florence and Rome and just south of Siena. Named a UNESCO Heritage site in 2004, the Val d’Orcia is the quintessential, unspoiled Tuscany of golden pastures, cypress trees and walled hill towns. On the way a shopping excursion to the designer shopping outlets located in the countryside south of Florence including Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Yamamoto, Pucci, La Perla, Fendi, Tod’s, Ermenegildo Zegna, Yves St Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana and others. Settle into the comfort and intimacy of your luxury boutique residence, a restored farmhouse with beautifully serene interiors, which offer a new aesthetic on the traditional Tuscan experience. Tonight an introduction to and dinner with the resident Michelin trained chef. Dinner included. |
| 6 | Morning breakfast and afterwards, a walk in the countryside before heading into the nearby village. Shop with the Chef for the day’s ingredients. Marvel at the range and freshness of the local produce as the Chef guides you through the essentials of selecting the right ingredients. Discover Italian food as simple, seasonal and about quality and freshness. After the shopping, settle into the open kitchen while the Chef reveals how simple Italian cooking really is. Then lunch with your new friends over delicious wines from the Montepulciano and Montalcino areas. Later in the afternoon a visit to a local vineyard and cellar, then onto the medieval hilltop town of Montalcino and it’s fortress built in 1361. Lunch included. |
| 7 | A morning trip after breakfast to the Renaissance gem of Pienza. A perfect example of Renaissance town planning instigated by Pope Pius II, a scholarly man who wanted to build the ideal town. Stroll through Piazza Pio II to the Duomo completed in 1462 and the adjacent streets named after fortune (Via della Fortuna), love (dell'Amore) and the kiss (del Bacio) leading to a panoramic walk on the town walls. That afternoon participate in the preparation of a late afternoon lunch before retiring for the evening or dinner in the nearby hamlet of Monticellino. Lunch included. |
| 8 | A day to unwind and relax or visit the attractive little town of Montepulciano which occupies a remarkably picturesque setting on top of a tufa hill separating two valleys. Nearby an avenue of cypress trees leads to the magnificent Chiesa della Madonna di San Biagio, built of pale golden stone, standing in a delightful grassy stretch high above the valley. That evening drinks around a cozy fire and a farewell dinner prepared by your chef. Dinner included. |
| 9 | Breakfast and a mid morning departure for Pisa International Airport (allow approx 3 hours) or alternatively arrangements may be made for departures from Rome (allow approx 1.5 hrs). |
For further details please contact us
