Travel with The Manhattan Wine Group to the beautiful vineyards of Tuscany. This tour is escorted by group organizer Lyndon Freedman and Tuscany Cooking Tours escort, Steve O'Connor. This 10 day tour takes place from September 30 - October 9, 2008 and will include sightseeing as listed in the itinerary and an authentic Tuscan cooking class along with wine tasting in three very special wineries.
The entire cost of this 10-day Tuscany Tour is only $2988.00 | per person |
 Lyndon Freedman Group Organizer |
Tuesday, September 30th
Hilly landscapes, great Italian cuisine, a Tuscany cooking class, authentic Tuscan wineries, fantastic shopping, stunning architecture, and the world’s greatest collection of art all await you on this 10-Day Tour in Tuscany presented by The Manhattan Wine Group. We will travel roads that are off-the-beaten path, enjoy leisurely-paced walking tours, participate in a Tuscan Cooking class, visit magnificent historical sites, enjoy two separate wineries and learn more about how they operate and what kinds of wines they produce. Our adventure begins with an overnight flight from NEW YORK. Onboard the plane, dinner will be served. D
Wednesday, October 1st
This morning our plane will make a stop and then continue onto PISA. Breakfast will be served onboard the plane. Upon arrival at the Pisa Airport, we will be met by our bus driver who will take us to our awaiting motorcoach. We will make a stop on the way to our hotel, to see the famous Leaning Tower and Baptistery. We’ll spend a half hour or so here to take photographs, before continuing on to our delightful hotel, the Villa Maria, located in the heart of the charming resort town of MONTECATINI TERME. This will be our home for the entire time, so we’ll only unpack our suitcases one time. Once we settle in and unpack, we will take a leisurely stroll through the streets of the town and learn what makes this place one of the most attractive resort spa towns in all of Italy. Tonight, a special orientation with Lyndon Freedman, Organizer for The Manhattan Wine Group, and Steve O’Connor from Tuscany Cooking Tours, will take place before we enjoy a “welcome dinner” at our hotel. B, D
Thursday, October 2nd
Today, following breakfast, we will drive through the picturesque hills of Tuscany to the hillside town of SAN GIMIGNANO, which is famous for its ceramics and leather goods. Here we can shop and enjoy the views of the Tuscany Valley below. We will then journey to the SAN DONATO Winery, where we will learn how Tuscan wines are produced in this region. A light Tuscan lunch will be served at the winery and there will be a chance to purchase wine and virgin olive oil. We will stagger; I mean return back to our hotel in the early part of the evening. B, L
Friday, October 3rd
This morning, after a hearty breakfast, we will travel to the historical town of SIENA, where we will meet our local expert guide who will take us on a leisurely walking tour through the narrow streets, learning more about the history and seeing extraordinary architecture. We will arrive at the Piazza del Campo, site of the biannual Palio, Siena’s spectacular medieval-style horse race. This race is so popular that the horses actually walk into the church with the rider and are blessed inside the church! There will be plenty of time to shop and stroll through the inviting streets on your own, as well as have an opportunity to enjoy lunch in any of the charming outdoor cafes located in the square. We will leave Siena in the middle of the afternoon and return back to our hotel. The remainder of the evening is at your leisure. B
Saturday, October 4th
This morning we will visit the charming town of LUCCA, birthplace of composer Puccini. Our local expert guide will provide a leisurely walking tour for us, and we will have an opportunity to shop in some of the charming stores before we board our motorcoach and drive to the Verrazzano Castle in the Chianti Region. Here we will enjoy an afternoon wine tasting and learn more about how they produce their famous Chianti Classico wines. We will have a late lunch at the winery and return back to our hotel in the early part of the evening. B, L
Sunday, October 5th
Today, following an early breakfast, we will journey to the “Cradle of the Italian Renaissance,” the beautiful city of FLORENCE. A local expert guide will meet our group and enlighten us with many highlights of the city’s priceless treasures, including the Academy Gallery, which houses Michelangelo’s monumental figure of David. We will then proceed to Piazza del Duomo, the center of religious life in medieval Florence and see the impressive Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistery, where we will view the masterfully crafted bronze doors. We will also see the magnificent outside walls of the Church of Santa Croce, burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. We make our way from piazza to piazza and pass special boutique shops that will beckon us to step inside. Once we decide on a meeting place and time, you will have an opportunity to enjoy Florence at your leisure. You may opt to go to one of the famous art museums, or shop for jewelry on the Ponte Vecchio. You just might browse the dozens of stalls at the San Lorenzo leather market. Whatever you decide to do, Florence will be a delightful experience for you. We will drive back at our hotel in the late afternoon where the remainder of the evening is at your leisure. B
Monday, October 6th
This morning we will drive to the IL POGGIO Winery where we will enjoy a unique opportunity to participate in an authentic Tuscan Cooking class taught by one of the local Italian grandpas. We’ll learn how to prepare homemade pasta, different sauces and even the typical Italian drink, limoncello. We’ll also have an opportunity to learn more about the five local wines that are produced at this winery, which will be followed by a great lunch. We will return back to our hotel where the remainder of the afternoon and evening are free for you to enjoy at your leisure. B, L
Tuesday, October 7th
This morning, following breakfast, we will drive to the town of VIAREGGIO, where we will board a train that will take us north to the CINQUE TERRE. This northern part of Tuscany boasts some of the most beautifully photographed towns in all of Italy. We will stop in two of the towns where we will enjoy shopping, leisure time and lunch on our own. Our motorcoach will meet us and transfer us back to our hotel, traveling through the beautiful hills and valleys of Tuscany. We will return back to our hotel in the early part of the evening. B
Wednesday, October 8th
This morning, following breakfast, we will have a free day. This will be a great time for you to enjoy the day at your leisure. You may choose to do any of the following: go to a spa, go shopping, take a nap, take a train to your family heritage, or anything else you may want to do. Tonight we will have our “farewell dinner” at the hotel, where we will share laughs, conversation and good cheer as we recall all the events of our enchanting tour of Tuscany, sponsored by The Manhattan Wine Group. B, D
Thursday, October 9th
This morning we will pack our luggage and depart for the Pisa Airport for our flight back to NEW YORK. B
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