After breakfast at the hotel, meet our escort and depart on today’s full day excursion through the Tuscany countryside. Journey through picturesque landscapes, reminiscent of the film, ‘A Room with a View’, dotted with majestic cypress trees and scented olive groves. Today’s first stop will be Pienza where we will enjoy a visit to this small Renaissance gem. Once a shepherd’s village with only wooden and mud houses, Pienza was the birthplace of Pius, II, the Pope who initiated the Renaissance. When he was elected Pope, the former Cardinal Piccolomini decided to turn his home village into the perfect Renaissance model town. During our orientation walk, we will visit the main cathedral and stroll by the famous Palazzo Piccolomini, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Palazzo Comunale.

We will have ample time to visit on our own either the Museo Diocesano di Pienza, where we can admire an important collection of Renaissance painting or visit on our own the interior and adjacent gardens of Palazzo Piccolomini. Also, we may want to visit one of the small cheese shops to taste and purchase some of Pienza’s famous ‘pecorini di Pienza, known throughout Italy, as one of Tuscany’s best cheeses. After lunch on our own, continue on to Bagno Vignoni whose thermal pool dates back to the 12th century. After a quick visit to this large stone pool, we may wish to take advantage of the hot sulfur waters at one of the nearby public swimming pools.

Later in the afternoon, continue on to the small village of Montalcino where we will visit a typical wine estate for a private tasting of the local ‘Rosso di Montalcino’ and the famous ‘Brunello di Montalcino.

After our visit to Montalcino, our day culminates with a beautiful scenic drive to a  hidden Abbey, a stunning Romanesque church located at the bottom of small, hidden valley. Every night at 5:00 PM, six French monks walk over two miles from their secluded monastery to this cathedral to sing Gregorian Chants during the evening Vespers. The atmosphere is surreal as we listening to the most perfect music at sunset in the heart of Tuscany. On the way back to Castello di Spaltenna, enjoy a hearty country dinner at a characteristic Tuscan locanda.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading out on today’s full day excursion in further exploration of the hidden Tuscany. Today’s first stop will be in Montepulciano where we will have a relaxing stroll through Piazza Grande and then on to a small ‘enoteca’ where we will sample the local ‘Vino Nobile di Montepulicano’, a well-known red wine. Spend some free time in Piazza Grande where we just might want to sit back and enjoy a cappuccino or a delicious gelato before departing for Cortona.

In Cortona we have some free time for lunch on our own prior to meeting our local guide who will lead an informative guided tour of this important Tuscan city, highlighted by a visit to Piazza della Republica with its imposing Palazzo Comunale and Palazzo Casali. The tour ends with a visit to the Museo Diocesano, to admire two Renaissance masterpieces: Signorelli’s ‘Deposition’ and Beato Angelico’s ‘Annuciation’. After the tour, we will have ample time to wander around Cortona and even do a little shopping or take some wonderful photographs of this fascinating town prior to this evenings dinner at a local restaurant. As we leave Cortona, we will drive by the now famous ‘Bramasole’, the villa made famous by Frances Mayes, author of ‘Under the Tuscan Sun,’

Mid-evening return to Castello di Spaltenna for overnight

After breakfast at the hotel, we check-out formalities prior to departing for Florence, the home to the creative genius of the Italian Renaissance. Today’s first stop will be in Monte Oliveto Maggiore where we will enjoy visit to the fascinating monastery which includes a beautiful gatehouse, the Abbey Church along with Great Cloister with its stunning frescoes depicting the life of St. Benedict. Continue on to nearby Buonconvento where we will stroll through the tiny medieval center and then take in a light lunch on our own.

From Buonconvento, it is a short drive to Siena, home to the famous annual Palio horse races. In Siena, a local guide will lead us through tiny streets, past tall towers and under portico-covered walks to the immense Piazza del Campo and to the main Cathedral, with its striking black and white marble. The tour concludes with a visit to the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo to admire Duccio’s great ‘Maesta’. The remainder of afternoon is free to do some window shopping along the famous and elegant Via dei Banchi di Sopra or visit one of the many artisan pastry shops which produce the delicious ‘panforte di Siena’ or ‘Ricciarelli’ cookies.

Early evening arrival in Florence for check-in at the hotel. Enjoy dinner on our own at any one of the city’s great restaurants.

Breakfast is at the hotel prior to this morning’s walking guided tour of this important Renaissance city. The tour stars with a visit to the Accademia to admire Michelangelo’s ever imposing ‘David’, once symbol of Florence’s great power and wealth. Continue on to the main Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, crowned by Brunelleschi’s immense dome and flanked by Giotto’s Bell Tower. At the adjacent Baptistery, admire Ghiberti’s famous bronze ‘Gates of Paradise’, almost lost during the floods of 1966. Stroll through Piazza Signoria, past the imposing Palazzo Vecchio and on to the colorful Piazza Santa Croce where you will visit the interesting Chiesa di Santa Croce. This afternoon our day continues with a guided visit to the famous Uffizi Gallery which houses the world’s largest collection of Renaissance masterpieces, including Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’ and “Spring Time.’ This evening dinner is on our own.

After a breakfast at the hotel, depart for Volterra where we will enjoy a morning guided tour of this important medieval town. We will see the ‘Porta all’Arco’, the best preserved Etruscan gateway dating back to the 4th century, the surrounding fortified city walls and the 12th century Romanesque Cathedral. After the tour there will be plenty of time to stroll about Volterra to visit one of the many shops specializing in alabaster works prior to enjoying a relaxing lunch on your own at any of the small trattorias.

From Volterra, we will journey to nearby San Gimignano, long-considered on the best preserved medieval towns throughout Europe. Enjoy the afternoon walking through the remaining towers, once-considered the skyscrapers of the 12th and 13th centuries. As a special treat, arrangements have been made to enjoy a tasting of the local ‘Vernaccia’ wine at one of the small ‘enotecas’, followed by a wonderfully prepared dinner.

Mid-evening return to Florence overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we have a free morning to continue our personal exploration of Florence. We may wish to visit some of the other museums for which Florence is noted or perhaps do some shopping in one of the many fashion ateliers or local artisan shops specializing in century old crafts. After lunch on our own, journey to nearby by Torre del Lago for a guided visit of Villa Puccini where Puccini lived for many years and composed many of his great operas. The villa was elegantly decorated by great architects and artist of the late 19th century and still houses the Maestro’s Foster piano. Inside the villa there is a small chapel which contains the remains of Puccini and those of his wife and son. Early evening return to Florence for dinner on our own and overnight.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel prior to leaving for today’s full day excursion to Pisa and Lucca. Upon arrival in Pisa, meet our local guide who will lead us through the ‘Campo dei Miracoli’, which contains some breathtaking monuments, including the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Monumental Cemetery and, of course, the Leaning Tower. Since the tower has recently reopened for public visits, enjoy a once in a life thrill as we ascend to the top of the tower for a panoramic view of Pisa. From Pisa, continue on to nearby Lucca where we will enjoy a wonderfully prepared picnic lunch along the walls of the ancient fortified city.

First built in around a Roman amphitheater, now an oval market place, Lucca has grown in circles; each one having become a circular-shopping street. Here we will meet our local guide for an informative tour of this fortified Tuscan city, highlighted by a visit to the ‘Tomb of Ilaria del Carretto’, considered Jacopo della Quercia’s most serene work. En-route back to Florence, enjoy a specially arranged olive oil tasting, followed by dinner at the ‘Fattoria del Lischetto’ for a true Tuscan country experience. Late evening return to Florence for overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel we head out to Monsumanno Terme where we will participate in a ‘hands-on’ cooking lesson at the ‘Fattoria Medicea’. Here, under expert guidance, we will learn how to create our very own Tuscan meal to share with our friends when we are back home. After class, enjoy the fruits of our labors as we sit down to a tasting buffet of the dishes we have just learned to prepare. In the afternoon, visit the famous thermal spa town of Montecatini where we might want to visit any one of the beauty centers for a facial, massage or other treatment. Or we might want to do some last minute shopping in Montecatini’s many fabulous shopping areas.

Later this evening, as we return to Florence, enjoy a gourmet farewell dinner at ‘Ristorante Da Delfina’, long-considered one of the area’s top dining establishments. This is the perfect way to end our back roads and hidden treasures odyssey as we enjoy dinner in the hills, overlooking Florence.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport for our return flight home or extend stay in Italy.