CORTONA - ROSE OF THE WINDS– SIX DAY

THE 5 NIGHT/6 DAY TRIP INCLUDES:

• 5 nights at Rose of the Winds, near Cortona, in a picturesque, restored 18th Century Farmhouse. The villa is beautifully furnished with traditional Tuscan furniture.
• Daily Breakfast baskets
• 4 Lunches
• All Dinners (1 with family 4 self-catered in apartments)
• 1 Cooking course
• Small groups: 4 to 16 people.
• Visits to winery with wine tasting in Montepulciano, Pienza & Montalcino.
• 4 guided excursions to Pienza, Montepulciano, Siena, San Gimignano, Assisi e Deruta.
• All transportation (to and from Cortona).

   

SAMPLE ITINERARY:

• ARRIVAL: DAY 1 (SAT) – Transfer from Cortona to Rose Winds
  We will meet you at the train station in Cortona at 2 PM. Transfer to the villa. After settling in and welcoming you, your hosts Stefano or Barbara will show you around for an introductory tour of their home. Dinner at the villa.
   

• Montepulciano and Pienza: Wine and Cheese tour (Full Day)
  We will meet in the main building at 9:30 AM to prepare for the excursion to Montepulciano, a region that is famous for its Vino Nobile de Montepulciano wines. We will visit a grape farm and winery where you can participate in a wine tasting featuring this sublime wine. We will also visit the historic sites of the village, and you will have the opportunity to spend some time shopping in the local artisans’ shops. We will then transfer to Pienza where we will enjoy a tasty lunch (included) and visit the village of Pienza, built under the instruction of Pope Pius II as the perfect Renaissance city. Dinner at the villa.  

• Siena and San Gimignano (Full Day)
  9:00 AM meeting for our excursion to Siena and San Gimignano. San Gimignano’s famous towers have withstood many centuries. Very few cities in Italy have towers remaining intact like those of San Gimignano. San Gimignano produces one of Italy’s finest Italian white wines, “Vernaccia di San Gimignano. At noon, we will transfer to Siena for lunch (included), and tour of the city’s historical sites: including the Piazza del Campo, Torre del Mangia, the Cathedral, and a stroll along the shopping district of Via de’ Banchi.

• Assisi and Deruta
  We will meet at 9:30 AM and head off to Assisi, the home of Saint Francis (Francesco) and St Claire (Chiara). We will visit the St. Francis Basilica, the “Porziuncola” (death place of St. Francis) and the Church of St. Maria degli Angeli. At 1:00 PM, we will enjoy lunch in a local trattoria. After lunch, we will explore the “Deruta” area visiting the fine ceramic artisan shops, which have been producing some of the world’s finest ceramics since the 15th century. Dinner at the villa.

• Montalcino, Brunello and a cooking class
  We will meet at 9:30 AM and go to Montalcino, the zone where the world famous wine “Brunello di Montalcino” is produced. After a short stop in Pienza, we will visit a historical wine cellar where you will be treated to a tasting of the delightful Brunello wines. We will then take a tour of the town’s beautiful historical sites followed by lunch (included) in a local “trattoria” (popular restaurant). This restaurant offers typical Tuscan foods and there we will experience a second wine tasting. Afterwards, we will return to the villa for a cooking course with Barbara and Ornella. You will enjoy the dinner you helped to prepare and spend the rest of the evening relaxing!

• DEPARTURE: DAY 6 (THR)