Discovering the Culinary & Cultural Treasures of Tuscany

(Florence, Siena, Lucca, Pisa and Lari + San Gimignano and Volterra)

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$3,998 USD *

(For One Person, Double Occupancy)

* Plus taxes. Tours sold on an availability basis.

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7 days | 6 nights

The Tastes of Tuscany Epicurean Journey
through Florence, Siena, Lucca, Pisa and Lari

A sumptuous glass of wine, an elegant yet simple meal and views of the rolling countryside are all the ingredients you need to appreciation this region that Italians refer to as Toscana. Welcome to the “Cradle of the Renaissance” where indulging in the simple pleasures of life has been elevated to a new art form. Your tour of Tuscany will introduce you to its most notable cities such as Florence, Siena, Lucca, and Pisa. And if you choose the optional day excursion, you’ll also visit the fascinating city of San Gimignano and the historic hillside town of Volterra. Indescribable beauty can be found on every turn along Tuscany’s winding roads filled with vineyards, olive groves and cypress-lined hills. From your farmhouse cooking class, to wine tastings in Chianti and a visit to Europe’s smallest pasta factory, you will find yourself immersed in a culinary and cultural treasure hunt that is sure to leave you satiated with a true sense of how Tuscans embrace life. Let Tuscany awaken your wanderlust.

Discovering the Culinary & Cultural Treasures of Tuscany

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Itinerary Accommodations Map FAQ

VACATION HIGHLIGHTS

Please note: Tour inclusions can change depending upon seasonality and weather conditions.

•6 Night Four Star Accommodations

•Round-Trip Transfers from Florence Airport

•Tuscan Breakfast Buffet Each Morning

•Multi-Course Welcome Dinner with Wine

•Guided Walking Tour of Lucca

•Farmhouse Cooking Class with Lunch

•Private Walking Tour of Siena

•Chianti Vineyard Tour with Tastings

•Private Walking Tour of Florence

•Visit to Florence Central Market with Lunch

•Private Excursion to Pisa

•Europe’s Smallest Pasta Factory Tour

•Multi-Course Farewell Dinner with Wine

•Tour of San Gimignano & Volterra (Optional)

While our tours are designed as soft adventure experiences, walking, climbing stairs, and in rare cases mild hiking may be required. If you have mobility issues, you should speak with one of our culinary travel specialists to determine if this tour is appropriate for your situation.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.

Click arrows (▶) to show details

Day 1

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Arrival in Tuscany | Airport Transfers | Welcome Dinner

Once you have landed at the Florence Airport your tour leader will welcome you and bring you to the private transfers that will take you to your hotel. Enjoy your ride through the rolling Tuscan hills as you are transferred to the lovely hotel in the spa town of Montecatini Terme. After you have had some time to rest, a welcome dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day 2

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Traditional Tuscan Breakfast Buffet

Each morning, there will be a sumptuous buffet awaiting you with coffee, croissants, small pastries, charcuterie, local cheeses, cereal, fruit juice, fruit salads and fresh fruit, eggs, yogurt and a vast selection of gluten free options.

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Excursion to Lucca and Cooking Class with Lunch

Once you've finished breakfast at the hotel the private bus and tour leader will bring you to the countryside near Lucca for a cooking class. Once you've learned to make some of the local specialties, enjoy a nice, big lunch at the farmhouse before you go into Lucca for a private walking tour of the charming medieval city known for its opera. See the Etruscan, Roman and Bourbon ruins as you walk through its ancient walls and on its cobbled streets. Following the tour the bus will bring you back to Montecatini.

Day 3

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Traditional Tuscan Breakfast Buffet

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Excursion to Siena | Wine Tasting in Chianti

After breakfast the private transfers and tour leader will bring you to a little gem of a city, Siena. The private tour guide will meet your group and explain how the contrade neighborhoods can be identified by their colors and symbols, as you walk the tiny streets that lead into the heart of the city: the magnificent Piazza del Campo. This seashell-shaped square hosts the Palio horse race held there twice each year. After some time for lunch on your own, the private transfers will pick you up and bring you to the Chianti region for a visit of a vineyard so you can enjoy a wine tasting in true Tuscan style. You will then be brought back to your hotel in the late afternoon. This evening's dinner is on your own.

Day 4

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Traditional Tuscan Breakfast Buffet

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Excursion to Florence | Market Tour with Traditional Lunch

Visit the amazing Renaissance city of Florence with a private, licensed guide before trying one of those pork panini sandwiches the city is so famous for. See the world-famous architecture of the city that is, effectively, an open-air museum brimming with beauty and art. Enjoy some time to explore the central market and the Ponte Vecchio. At the end of the day the private transfers and tour leader will take you back to the hotel. This evening's dinner is on your own.

Day 5

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Traditional Tuscan Breakfast Buffet

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Free Day in Montecatini Terme | Optional Excursion to San Gimignano and Volterra

Take time to catch your breath, enjoy the very walkable Montecatini Terme, or wind down in the Grand Hotel Vittoria's Spa and Montecatini's Thermal Baths (fee applies). Or, you could enjoy an [optional] excursion to San Gimignano and Volterra. After breakfast the private transfers will pick you up for your excursion to Volterra and an afternoon of discovery in "The Manhattan of the Middle Ages", San Gimignano. Visit first the tiny town of Volterra, featured recently in a series of films and famous for its alabaster. The guide will take you to see an alabaster producer before giving you some time for lunch and to do a little shopping on your own. In the afternoon go to San Gimignano to enjoy a cultural "Treasure Hunt" for local sites and hidden gems in this town of towers. The local center for tourism has organized this unique way for day-trippers to explore its culture and history in more depth. Complete the activity, with the support of your tour leader, then visit a vineyard for a wine tasting. Try three types of vino, accompanied with various, and delicious bruschetta, then head back to Montecatini. This evening's dinner is on your own.

Day 6

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Traditional Tuscan Breakfast Buffet

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Excursion to Pisa | Europe's Smallest Pasta Factory in Lari | Farewell Dinner

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. The private transfers and tour leader will take you to Pisa, where you can have some time to walk around the historic area, sip an espresso and take the silly selfie (a "must") of you holding up the tower. Then visit Lari, a lesser known Tuscan town located inside castle walls. The Famiglia Martelli has been making pasta there since 1926 and are always happy to show you how. Tour the pasta factory, Europe's smallest, and pick up a bag or two as a souvenir to bring home with you. At the end of the day the private transfers and tour leader will bring you back to the hotel for your farewell dinner.

Day 7

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Traditional Tuscan Breakfast Buffet

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Check-Out | Departure

With many new memories – and perhaps some souvenirs and samples to share with your loved ones back home – take the private transfers back to the Florence Airport for your return home or other destinations within Italy or Europe. Buon Viaggio!

Grand Hotel Vittoria

Located in Montecatini Terme, Grand Hotel Vittoria has 81 rooms with satellite flat-screen TV, free WiFi, air conditioning, private bathroom with shower, hairdryer and amenities. The hotel also has an onsite spa, sauna and wellness center, as well as an outdoor pool. The Grand Hotel Vittoria has three restaurants offering typical Tuscan dishes, using locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible. Special attention is given to vegetarian and celiac menus. At guests' disposal there is also the Liberty lounge bar to relax and enjoy excellent cocktails.

Montecatini Terme , Italy•Florence, Italy•Siena, Italy•Lucca, Italy•Pisa, Italy•Lari, Italy•San Gimignano, Italy•Volterra, Italy

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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What Currency is being quoted?

The Currency Code is listed directly after the published amount. If it states USD, then the quoted price is in United States Dollars. If it states CAD, then the quoted price is in Canadian Dollars. If it states EUR, then the quoted price is in European Union Dollars…etc. However, please note that all charges are processed in USD, and Epitourean’s Merchant Bank automatically calculates the currency conversion on the day of the charge.

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What does Double Occupancy mean?

Two persons traveling together, and staying in the same room. Tour prices are normally quoted as “per person, double occupancy” in case two people are traveling together and staying in the same room, but paying separately. The cost of the lodging is also shared by two people, thereby reducing costs. This could be a married couple, two friends or relatives.

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What is a Single Supplement?

Whenever a person travels alone, the cost of their lodging cannot be shared by another person. When tour products are priced, they are normally stated as “per person, double occupancy.” Whenever a guest occupies a room as a solo, the whole cost of the lodging must be incurred by that one individual. Tour companies accommodate this by charging a Single Supplement. Epitourean does its best to keep the single supplement as low as possible, but it is a real cost that tour companies must absorb, and must pass along to the single traveler.

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If I am a Solo Traveler, will I be paired with another person?

Epitourean never pairs a solo traveler with another person without a special request. If you book Single Occupancy, you will have a room entirely to yourself. However, should you wish to be paired with another solo traveler to save on the single supplement, you may make this request. We cannot guarantee that we can accommodate such requests, since it would take another solo traveling on the same tour for the same dates. But if requested, we will certainly try.

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Are flights included in the tour price?

No. Flights are never included in the price of our land-only tours. Epitourean does not provide air, rail or sea travel, unless expressly noted in the itinerary.

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May I give a culinary tour as a gift?

Yes. Epitourean has a special program designed specifically for this purpose. Our Gift Packages come with features such as special messages to the recipient, gift box option, gift link (without pricing), and floating dates (should you not know when the gift recipient wants to travel). Contact a Culinary Travel Specialist at 800-390-3292 or customerservice@epitourean.com to receive additional information about this unique offering.

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May we request separate beds if sharing a room?

Yes. In most cases, Epitourean can accommodate a request for two beds to be placed in one room. Just make sure to make this request in the comments section of the reservation process.

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Does each guestroom have a private bathroom?

Yes. Epitourean partners with the best lodging options in each destination, and private (en suite) bathrooms are a requirement. However, you should inquire as to the configuration of bathrooms should you have a special need. For example, some tours include accommodations in medieval villages, where either a shower or bath(but maybe not both) are present.

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Can your tours accommodate my dietary restrictions?

In almost all cases, Epitourean can accommodate dietary choices and restrictions. But we do request that you ask a Culinary Travel Specialist prior to making your reservation so that we can assess your individual situation.

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If I am unable to use a portion of the tour, can I get a partial refund?

Unfortunately, due to vendor and supplier contracts, we are unable to provide partial refunds for unused portions of any tour or tour component.

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Are Transfers included in the Itinerary?

Round-trip transfers from the airport or train station are normally included in our international tours. Transfers to the destination (for both international and domestic tours) are not included in the tour price. Please see the Sample Itinerary. If it mentions that transfers are included, then yes, transfers are included at no additional cost.

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What meals and excursions are included in the tour?

The Sample Itinerary should be your reference. If the meal or excursion is described in the Sample Itinerary, then it is included at no additional charge. For those days where it expressly notes Free time, then any optional activities you elect to participate in might have an additional cost. In addition, if the itinerary states "evening on your own," it would imply that you have the opportunity to visit a restaurant of your own choosing, and at your own expense. If you have any question about inclusions, please submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button under the price section.

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Is it possible to book pre or post tours or stays through Edible Destinations?

Yes, we often do have optional 2 and 3 night excursions that are priced separately from the tour. We can also assist with pre and post night stays in a hotel if you choose to come in early before the tour starts, or stay on after a tour ends. The price of those hotel stays are not included in the price of the tour, but we would be happy to provide a quote. Simply ask your Culinary Travel Specialist, or submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button.

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Are Guide or Host Gratuities included in the price of the tour?

Since tipping guidelines and customs vary widely between countries, we do not include gratuities in the price of the tour. Your Culinary Travel Specialist can provide you with recommendations. But the general rule is to tip modestly when you are pleased with a guide’s services, either at the end of the tour, or at the conclusion of a specialty day excursion where you will only be with that guide (or chef) on that day.

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Should we plan on any personal expenses during the tour?

All lodging, meals, transfers, classes and excursions mentioned in the Sample Itinerary and Vacation Highlights are included in the price of the tour. However, we highly recommend taking local currency for purchasing personal items, souvenirs, tipping, etc. You can either get the local currency at an airport exchange service, ATM or from your local bank prior to travel. However, you should note that many hosted destinations do not accept credit cards for personal purchases.

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Do you recommend Travel Protection?

We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more. For more information on the available plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 06-0248.

The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex CA Agency License #0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (formerly known as Stonewall Insurance Company), 1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102. 11.17 E7N

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The Tastes of Tuscany Epicurean Journey through Florence, Siena, Lucca, Pisa and Lari

Discovering the Culinary & Cultural Treasures of Tuscany

The Tastes of Tuscany Epicurean Journey
through Florence, Siena, Lucca, Pisa and Lari