TUSCAN COAST & HILLS
JUNE 9-16, 2024
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An Italian land and sea escape, exploring the walled city of Cortona and the sparkling Ligurian coast.
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Spend 3 nights in the hill towns of southern Tuscany visiting farms, wineries, and medieval villages. Pecorino cheese, fresh pastas, bistecca Fiorentina, and Vino Nobile are just a few of the culinary gems of this area.
We then move northwest to Liguria for 4 nights, where brightly colored villages dot the coast where fish, pesto, focaccia, olive oil, and citrus are the stars, and the scent of wild herbs permeate the salt air. Follow the goat paths through vineyards that cling to the mountainside to taste the region's crisp, fruity, white wines and the rare schiacchetra, a sweet wine produced here.
Contact Angela@cicalarestaurant.com to reserve your space.
Complete booking form in button below:
The Ligurian Coast
"hotel diffuso" style
Liguria is like a watercolor painting come to life. Wake up to a landscape of pastel colored
houses and the sound of fisherman selling their catch. The scent of freshly baked focaccia Genovese
fills the air in the mornings and centuries old church bells truly are the best alarm clocks.
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Each guest will have their own apartment or room at a boutique hotel in the village of Vernazza in Cinque Terre. This is common in small towns, and is known as a "hotel diffuso", with rooms spread thought the village. Due to the unique design of the homes which are built onto the rock formations, large hotels are not permitted to be built in order to preserve this UNESCO site. All accommodations have Wi-Fi and air conditioning.
DAY 1 WELCOME TO ITALY!
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We will pick you up at the Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence or Camucia-Cortona station, (or Rome if everyone is traveling together) according to your needs depending on your arrival airport, and head to Vernazza.
Stop for wine pairing and tasting of local products in Monterosso at Buranco Winery. Check into your apartments and we meet for dinner in the village.
DAY 2 SAIL TO THE VILLAGES
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.One of the best views of the Cinque Terre villages is from the sea. We enjoy light bites and wine aboard a private boat and sail to The 5 villages. Dinner together tonight.
DAY 3 LIGURIAN COOKING CLASS
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Rise early today as we head high into the mountains to Leivi to make the local specialty street foods of focaccette, farinata, and recco and more with an Italian chef-food writer in her 18th century villa, and enjoy lunch together in her garden. Free time in the center of Chiavari after lunch to visit the corzetti stamp shops. Dinner together tonight.
DAY 4 FOOD & WINE TREK
You’ll explore the secret side of the Cinque Terre area with a food trail and pesto lesson. You’ll continue discovering the ancient village of Framura with an easy walking tour (downhill) immersed in the beautiful landscape of terraced gardens sloping down to the sea. Along the path, you will do a gourmet stop to taste typical local street foods.
Dinner on your own tonight.
DAY 5 TRANSFER TO TUSCANY
Early departure from Vernazza to Cortona. Check into Hotel Villa Marsil.
Hotel Villa Marsili
Cortona, Italy
Located within the walls of the picturesque Tuscan city of Cortona, Villa Marsili is within walking distance of the center of the village. A gated entrance, 24 hour concierge, and all of the modern amenities of a luxury property await you.
All guest rooms are all tastefully decorated and have a view of the lush, green Val di Chiana. Ceilings are adorned by frescoes and rooms are decorated with original and antique furniture.
A daily breakfast buffet is served in the hotel's softly colored dinning room, and in the evening guests can enjoy an aperitivo on the garden terrace before dinner.
Meet for dinner in the village tonight, with local Cortonese Sommelier, Francesco Fratini at AD Bracceria for Tuscan specialties perfectly paired with local wines.
DAY 6 A DAY IN FLORENCE
Visit Florence today. History and food crawl stopping at artisans’ workshops. Discover the secrets of the historic center and the very cool neighborhoods just across the Arno River. Dinner in Cortona.
DAY 7 WINE & CHEESE
Visit the villages of Pienza and Montepulciano. Tour, wine tasting and lunch at Cantina di Ricci and free time to explore the towns. Dinner at a nearby agriturismo tonight.
DAY 8 ARRIVIDERCI
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After breakfast we check out and take you back to Florence. If you are extending your travel, we can help organize your departure as needed according.
TUSCAN COAST & HILLS 2024
$3,700.00 total cost per person, based on double occupancy
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Included in price:
4 Nights at your own private apartment Vernazza, Italy.
3 Night accommodations at Hotel Villa Marsili, Cortona Italy.
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Double Room, Queen size bed, air conditioning.
En-suite private bath, TV, Wi-Fi.
Breakfast daily in Cortona.
5 Lunches & 6 Dinners.
Wine included with all meals.
Private transportation costs during tour, and
transportation by boat or train between Cinque Terre villages.
All fees for excursions outlined in itinerary.
All taxes and gratuities.
Transfers to and from Florence, Italy.
Not Included:
International Airfare
Travel insurance
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TRAVEL NOTE:
During certain legs of travel in Liguria we will be taking ferries and a short train ride (10-12 minutes as
locals also do), as the Cinque Terre villages do not allow vehicles, and the national park's roads often do
not have guardrails on many points along the mountainous coast.
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Due to rainy weather conditions in previous years it is safer and
faster to use the train or ferry system when traveling between the Cinque Terre villages.
For travel to other points in Liguria we will travel by normal modern highway.
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Contact Angela@cicalarestaurant.com to reserve your space.
Complete booking form in button below:
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