Castles, Coasts & Countryside

Cooking and Walking in Tuscany
May 16-21, 2008
A 6 Day Tour of the Countryside and Cuisine of Tuscany
$2195  9-10 travelers
$2495  6-8 travelers
Single Supplement $700
This is a small group tour, with a maximum of only 10 travelers!

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Come walk with us as we unlock the secrets of Tuscany’s incredible cuisine.  During this hands-on experience we’ll learn a variety of styles from a variety of local cooks.  We’ll roll up our sleeves with an Italian housewife in her kitchen overlooking the valley, join a professional chef in a medieval castle, and learn family cooking secrets from aunt Pina in her farmhouse kitchen.  In between we’ll have a few easy walks to enjoy the stunning springtime Italian countryside of wildflowers, seashores, olive groves and vineyards.  Like all of our Lost in Italy trips, we’ll hang out with the locals, enjoy the wines, feast on the food, and “go native” as we explore some of Italia’s best “off-the-beaten-path” areas.

Day 1
Friday, May 16
Suvereto

You should plan to arrive by midday at the tiny medieval walled village of Suvereto, near Tuscany’s little-known southwest coast. (When you book your tour your guides will help you make arrangements for transferring from your arrival airport.)  Suvereto is nestled in the slope of the mountains, overlooking the beautiful blue Mediterranean just a few miles away.  For the next three days we’ll be staying in a delightfully renovated 16th century convent, with gorgeous stone walls, oak beamed ceilings and modern bathrooms.  Most of the rooms can be considered mini-apartments, with separate bedrooms and kitchens.

This evening we’ll have a “get-acquainted” party to have our first tasting of the world-famous Tuscan wines.  Afterwards we'll go to one of our favorite restaurants for a get-to-know-each-other dinner while enjoying some delicious local dishes.  Hanging out with the townsfolk in the piazza after dinner will cap off an excellent first day.

Dear Jeff and Amber,
We’ve only been to Italy two times and both times were with your group. So right there, that says a lot! Obviously, we love traveling with your tour… 

Cheryl and Jack Prindiville
Westport , CT

For more testimonials, click here

Day 2
Saturday, May 17
Wine, Olive Oil, and Grazia’s Kitchen

After breakfast today we’ll board our small private bus and travel through the charming Tuscan landscape to the nearby area of Bolgheri, home to some of Tuscany’s finest olive oil groves and a few very unique vineyards.  Many grape varieties flourish in this seaside climate, from local types like Sangiovese and Vermentino to newer imports like Cabernet and Merlot.  We’ll take a tour (and a tasting, of course) of a couple of the most fascinating vineyards you’ll ever encounter, then have a lovely easy walk along a country road to a typical family-owned olive oil estate.  Here we’ll learn how olives are cultivated, harvested, and processed for their oil…some of the best in the world.  Of course we’ll get to taste it, maybe even buy some to take home!  A lunch on the terrace overlooking the olives will cap off our afternoon.

Tonight we’ll stroll through town to our friend Filippo’s house, where his mother Grazia will invite us into her kitchen to help prepare the evening meal.  Don the aprons and roll up your sleeves, you’re about to take your culinary talents to a new level!  You’ll learn how to prepare antipasto, main courses, and maybe even the dolce!  As is the Italian custom, local in-season produce will always be featured in the cuisine.  Perhaps fresh seafood from the coast, maybe vegetables and fruits from the gardens in the valley, certainly wine and olive oil from the nearby farms!  After all of our hard work in the cucina, we’ll get to relax and sip wine on the veranda while we enjoy our incredible meal. 

Day 3
Sunday, May 18
Elba, Remaiolo Beach

Today we journey a few short miles to the nearby coast to board a local ferry and spend the day on the island of Elba, pearl of the Tuscan Archipelago.  This rocky, mountainous isle rivals Capri for scenic beauty, but without the hordes of tourists!  Covered in verdant chestnut forest, lined with romantic beaches, and dotted with small fortress towns, Elba is a paradise that begs to be explored. 

Perhaps Elba’s most famous resident was the Emperor Napoleon, exiled here after his defeat.  After landing in Portoferraio, one of our first stops on the island will be San Martino, Napoleon’s residence during his stay.  We’ll also have a visit to a local vineyard that produces a luscious wine only found on Elba.  Then we’ll enjoy a beautiful walk with stunning sea views, eventually finding ourselves at gorgeous Remaiolo Beach, located in a postcard-perfect bay…without tourists!  We’ll have the chance to swim, relax on the beach, and have a picnic, (while sipping the local vintage, of course)!

Tonight is free to enjoy the ambiance of Suvereto and find a local ristorante for dinner.  As this is our last night here, this evening you’ll have to say goodbye to the townsfolk you’ve befriended, and have a last glass of wine at your favorite sidewalk café.

…This trip has spoiled me for all others - I don’t know how I’ll top it!!...
Tina Belanger
Valparaiso IN

For more testimonials, click here

Day 4
Monday, May 19
Castello Oliveto, Podere Villuzza

After breakfast today we’ll board our private coach and head north into the Tuscan heartland.  Along the way we’ll be treated to views of classic Tuscany…rolling hills, wooded valleys, small villages, and vineyards.  Variety is a key component of our “Lost in Italy” philosophy, and is never more evident than today as we journey from the tiny town of Suvereto to the magnificent 15th century castle of Castello di Oliveto.  Built in 1424 by the Pucci family of Florence, it is still owned today by the descendants of the original owners.  The castello has a long and fascinating history, being the site of countless bloody battles and sieges over its 600 year lifespan.  Many illustrious people have stayed here, too.  At least three popes resided at the castello, along with the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the King of Italy, and the American general Mark Clark, who made it the headquarters of his Fifth Army during WWII.

Today however, the beautiful grounds of this historic castle will surround us as we settle into the castle kitchen to learn yet another aspect of Tuscan cuisine.  The Oliveto estate produces some of the best wines in Italy, and olive oil to rival anything found on the peninsula.  So of course we’ll have to sample the produce while we cook today!  Our menu today will feature dishes typical of central Tuscany…cheeses, long pasta like tagliatella and short pasta like ravioli and tortellone, crostini with the typical sauces, and of course no meal in Italy is complete without a dolce!

After a stupendous lunch, (that you helped prepare) you can relax for the short trip to the nearby farm of Podere Villuzza.  Here we’ll be welcomed by the owners, Pina, her son Salvatore and daughter Antonella.  Villuzza straddles a long, gently sloping ridge, with their grapes on one slope and their olive trees on the other.  A few miles away the stunning skyline of the medieval town of San Gimignano dominates the view.
After checking in to our rooms in this beautiful restored property, we’ll have the afternoon free to relax by the pool, nap in the shade of the veranda, or perhaps take a walk around the farm with the guides. 

Tonight before dinner we’ll have a wine tasting of the farms several varieties, followed by an excellent farm dinner prepared by Pina.  (If you’ve been on one of our previous Lost in Italy walking tour adventures, you’ve probably marveled at Pina’s cooking at Fattoria Voltrona).  You can envision the scene after dinner…a great bottle of wine, our group gathered around a few tables on the veranda, watching the stars and the lights of San Gimignano as we relive the days adventures…or perhaps if there’s a chill in the air we’ll stay in the cozy farmhouse and gather around the fireplace…ah yes, a little bit of heaven!

This trip is our second trip with Lost in Italy, and if you want to see Italy in a unique and special way, make new friends, hike your behind off in beautiful scenery, eat great food, and drink fabulous wine, this trip is for you.  It’s the “non-tour tour”!

Jeff and Hope Rabinovitz
Sacramento CA

For more testimonials, click here

Day 5
Tuesday, May 20
San Gimignano

With the wonderfully bizarre town of San Gimignano only two miles away, it provides a perfect opportunity to visit.  The high walls and narrow streets of this imposing fortress are typical of Tuscan hill towns, but the 14 medieval towers that dominate San Gimignano's skyline set it apart from all the rest. Here we will have the rest of the morning to relax, wander, and "get lost" in the maze of streets, shops, and cafes.

Late this afternoon the setting Tuscan sun will find our group back at the farm, cleaned up, aprons on, wine glass in hand, and ready for our final cooking class…farmhouse cuisine as taught by the charming Pina…right in her own kitchen!  Over the years many people have begged for her recipes…most have failed, but now you’ll be treated to not only the recipes…but the techniques as well! 
As this is our final evening in enchanting Tuscany, a special feeling seems to permeate the air…adventures and misadventures from the previous week are re-lived and laughed about, everyone and everything is toasted, addresses and recipes are copied, and heartfelt goodbyes are exchanged with all your new lifelong friends that you made during the magical week you “Got Lost” in Italy.

Day 6
Wednesday, May 21
Arrivederci Toscana

Our “Lost in Italy” cooking and walking adventure comes to an end today after breakfast.  We will have a private transfer arranged to the train and bus station in Florence, so you will be able to make connections for your departure.  Your tour guide can help you with any plans you may have.

What’s Included on This Tour?

• 3 Nights Accommodations at Il Chiostro in Suvereto or similar
• 2 Nights Accommodations at Villuzza near San Gimignano or similar
• 5 Breakfasts
• 3 Lunches

               -Lunch at Frantoio
               -Picnic Lunch on Elba
               -Lunch at Castello Oliveto

• 4 Dinners

               -Arrival Dinner at Osteria in Suvereto
               -Dinner at Filippo’s House in Suvereto
               -Dinner at Podere Villuzza
               -Farewell Dinner at Podere Villuzza

• 3 Cooking Classes (mentioned previously)

               -With Grazia in Suvereto
               -At Castello Oliveto
               -With Pina at Villuzza

• 4 Wine Tastings

               -Bolgheri Vineyard
               -Petra Vineyard
               -Elba
               -Villuzza

• 1 Olive Oil Tasting at Frantoio
• 2 Walks

               -Countryside Walk near Bolgheri
               -Seaside Walk on Elba

• All entrance and sightseeing fees specified in the itinerary.
• Transportation once the tour has begun.
• Departure Transfer to Florence train and bus station.
• Completely escorted by an American Lost in Italy Tour Leader with local guides at specified sites throughout the itinerary
• Lost in Italy Apron and Wineglass
• A lifetime of unforgettable memories

What’s Not Included On This Tour?

• Airfare package
• Arrival transfers, the tour begins at the hotel in Suvereto on the morning of Day 1, and the tour ends at the bus or train station in Florence on the morning of Day 6.  Suvereto has easy train connections to Rome or Milan, your Lost in Italy guide can help you with these arrangements before your trip.
• Gratuities for meals, porterage, local guides, coach drivers, etc.
• Visa fees, if applicable
• Meals not specified in itinerary
• Beverages at meals unless specified in itinerary
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption and Medical Insurance (strongly recommended), call for details
• Single supplement charge, (this varies depending on availability of rooms when single room request is made)
• Items of a personal nature; phone calls, laundry, etc.