Hello. I recently had the good fortune to stay at the Villa Gaia in Tuscany. We had a wonderful host and drive, Francesco who drove my friend and I around the countryside-it’s was absolutely breathtaking. I truly enjoyed my stay at the villa and the people I met there. I especially love learning how to cook with Francesco’s mother Anna. I learned many new recipes and cooking techniques as well. I have to say that I have fallen in love with Tuscany and look forward to returning with my husband.

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Thank you so much for the wonderful adventure, I look forward to returning with my husband.

Jean McManus

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Hello Gregorio,

Where do I begin? Our week at Casa Innocenti was incredible!!

Right from our pick up in Rome I knew this experience was going to something special. Our week was filled to the brim, but we never felt rushed. The hospitality shown to us was outstanding. Our mornings started with the most beautiful breakfast set out by Pascale, she even made me special pots of tea as I was the only tea drinker in our group. Most mornings we enjoyed the beautiful stone patio for breakfast with the wonderful rooftop view because we were blessed with the most perfect weather. On a couple of mornings when it was cloudy or bit cool Pascal set the table in the dining room. Whatever Pascale did it was elegant and delicious.

Romeo would then whisk us off to that days’ destination. Over the week we visited all the towns and villages that would be on anybody's list to see in Tuscany and more. We learned so much from Romeo, about the history and culture and always with such passion and humor. Romeo was our hero and he looked after our every need and request with such enthusiasm.

Then after our busy fun filled days of sightseeing, shopping, wine tastings and fabulous lunches we would return to Arcidosso to more adventures in the culinary world with Carlo and Pascale. I again learned so much but it was very casual and of course full of laughter. We learned how to prepare simple authentic Tuscan dishes that we would enjoy later in the beautiful dining room. Most evenings we would linger at the table with a limoncello and discuss the day or walk into the village for a gelato. One evening Carlo took us to an incredible fireworks display at a neighboring town.

The rooms were spacious and charming........wow! such an amazing stone house. We were on the top floor with a view overlooking the village.

This trip was much more than we expected and truly was “A Tuscan Experience” I will never forget the people I met and the hospitality I was shown.

I have already recommended this trip to friends and colleagues. Best wishes and thank you for all your help,

Lee Anne Cunnington

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Dear Isabella, Judy and I just returned from our "stra-ottima vacanza" in Italy and with your marvelous family in Arcidosso. I just wanted to drop you a few lines to let you know how wonderful a time we had vacationing the Tuscan Way. Not only was Arcidosso a most charming and enchanted town, and not only did we enjoy our exquisite meals, but I just can't say enough about our wonderful hosts Carlo, Pascale and Romeo. This has certainly been my most memorable and enjoyable vacation in Italy, and I will treasure the memory as well as the friendship we found with the Innocenti family. I hope I will also have the opportunity of meeting you in person someday. Hopefully a return trip soon will be upcoming soon, perhaps for the Villa Gaia tour, and I hope to convince my sister and brother-in-law to join us. Best regards to you and Ian, and please also send my warmest regards to Don Carlo, Pascale and Romeo. Sincerely, Michele Messina

Michael , Messina

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Isabel,
Thank you, your brother and his beautiful wife Fede for contributing to the most wonderful vacation I have ever experienced. Romeo is such a charmer and was attentive to all our needs.
Tuscany is where God goes on vacation!
Since my return I have renewed my interest is cooking and have been preparing wonderful Tuscan style meals including fresh pasta. Before the experience, I hardly ever cooked, now my physical trainer has restricted my pasta and cheese to once a week. Ron is really happy about my new interest. But I remember that Romeo said that one uses what one has and that the 5 staples for Tuscan dishes are garlic, onion, parsley, carrots, and celery. So even in my restrictions, I am living la dolce vita.
I plan on return for my 60 birthday. That’s about 20 months from now.
Please continue to keep us abreast of that is happening in the Tuscan Way. And thank you again.

Connie and Ron Davidson

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If I had to summarize our vacation in only one word, that word would be: UNBELIEVABLE!!

I am sure you hear that quite often, but we had such a moving and life-altering experience in Tuscany that I cannot help but think that my husband and I are not entirely the same people we were when we left.  In the back of my mind I am trying to figure out how we can manage to move there - seriously!

 

First of all: Villa Poggiarello - what a breathtaking place!  I was just stunned every morning when I opened my door and gazed upon the scenery.  Every flower, every brick, every plant, tree, and bush created the most captivation environment I have ever had the pleasure of being surrounded in.  It was almost like a dream!  Our room was very clean and beautifully furnished - it was quaint and very comfortable.  Stefano, Chiara, and the staff of the villa were all so kind and accommodating.  They seemed tireless in their pursuit to make their guests comfortable and happy.  Everything there was just like a storybook!  It was so nice.

 

There is one thing I must comment upon (and I cannot stress to you enough how important this is): Romeo Innocenti is true asset to your company!! Romeo's passion for the Tuscan area and culinary traditions, enthusiasm, knowledge of the history and geography of the area, and UNMATCHED sense of humor made him a very exciting guide.  My husband, who is also a chef, got along very well with Romeo so that was very refreshing.  Honestly, anyone who spends a day with Romeo strolling along the shadowed cobblestones of Siena or through the shops of Pienza that does not have a moving experience must be a corpse!!  Romeo made everything interesting and personalized - especially the "off-the-itinerary" excursions to Federica's father's house and especially the trip to his home village, Arcidosso.  We felt very lucky to have these parts of his life shared with us.  It was truly an honor to meet Carlo Innocenti and visit the home where Romeo grew up.  I imagine that many people go to Italy and get a very "touristy" version of the country, and our experiences were anything but!  We are truly so grateful for the treatment we received from Romeo, Federica, and all of their families -  they made us feel like family, and I really think that is what Tuscany is all about.  GIVE ROMEO A RAISE!!!!  :)

As I mentioned, my husband is a chef so it was crucial that the cooking courses and each dining experience we had was exceptional.  We were not disappointed in the least! 
Again, much credit given to Romeo for being such an exciting instructor.  Of course, I am convinced that he could not have done it without Federica!!  Each meal was more incredible than the last.  Not only that, but we visited several great restaurants and a couple of home kitchens that provided us with incredible authentic and delicious food!  Just amazing!!!  We especially enjoyed the lunch we had at the Brunello winery (which was an incredible day, by the way) as well as the restaurant in Arcidosso - which was STELLAR!  The day we prepared fresh pastas and sauces for lunch as well as the seafood "extravaganza" dinner were among our favorite cooking classes.  Of course, everything was great, but I'm sure every detail would turn into a VERY long email!

 

There seems to be so much more I could comment upon, but I would probably go on all day long.  I apologize if this is too long-winded!  All in all, everything was just perfect, and I would recommend Tuscan Way to anyone interested in an authentic and beautiful Tuscan experience.  We have already started saving our pennies for our next trip which we hope can be sooner than later!

 

Finally, thank you, Gregorio, for going above and beyond to ensure that every detail of our dream vacation was exactly to our specifications.  You and Isabel obviously work very hard as liaisons for your counterparts who are still in Italy, and without you, the ball wouldn't even begin to roll!!  Please note that below I have included the URL for the online album I created to document our trip.  There are many photos of the breathtaking scenery of Tuscany as well as the shenanigans our group got themselves into.  There are some updated photos of Romeo, Federica, and Carlo, and Romeo though that Isabel might want to use them on the website.  Whatever you would like to do is fine with me - I want to share the photos with the world to show just how incredible Tuscany is.  (There are also some pictures of a day we spent in Rome!).

 

Again, thank you so much for helping make a longtime dream become reality. 

 

Sincerely,

JJ Magliocco

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Cara Isabel,
We wish to tell you of our experience at Torremozza in August. We had a marvelous time! The accommodation and setting was very beautiful. We would have enjoyed the grounds and pool more, but we were too busy!
Our cooking classes with Francesco and sometimes Marie were enjoyable and fun. We learned a lot about Toscana cooking and I have made ravioli and tiramasu since coming home.
Linda Sorgiovanni, our guide most of the time was delightful and very knowledgeable about Toscana and Firenze. She was also very flexible with our itinerary and gave us good suggestions and assistance. She is an amazing driver!
Marie Lyons was also a very knowledgeable guide and good companion. She took us to a fabulous ristorante in Poppi and on a wonderful wine tour that was very historical. We also enjoyed cooking with her.
Francesco was charming and patient - we enjoyed cooking with him very much.
It was a very memorable holiday - we would love to do it again! Grazie mille,

Sonia Hampton (Ruth Ann Eagleson)

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Linda was a wonderful guide. Her knowledge of art history and the areas we visited were superb! She was easy going and helpful. A lovely person and a wonderful tour!

Thanks so much for such an enjoyable time! Our guide Linda was so knowledgeable, friendly and helpful (thanks for the restaurant recommendation Linda). It was so nice to get away from the city for few hours and escape to the Tuscan hills. We will tell our travel agent to recommend your tours to everyone she sends to Florence. You are terrific! Until our next visit.

- Cyndee & Geoff Geoffroy, USA