Gourmet Tuscany
Gourmet Tuscany
$2072
Gourmet Tuscany
8 Days Starting and ending in Montecatini Terme, Italy
Visiting: Arrive In Montecatini, Italy, Montecatini. Excursion To Vinci, Montecatini. Excursion To The Chianti Valley, Montecatini, Montecatini. Excursion To Lucca, Montecatini. Excursion To Bolgheri
Tour operator:
Tour code:
6240-2025
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
On this affordable Italy, small group adventure, the town of Montecatini serves as home base from which to venture out to explore the surrounding landscapes of breathtaking Tuscany and getting to know its culinary and wine traditions. Indulge in picturesque scenery, world-class local wines, traditional cuisine, and cultural discoveries. From the rolling hills of Montalbano to Vinci and beyond, we’ll take you through bountiful vineyards, olive groves, and chestnut trees. You’ll even visit the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci to experience the Renaissance master’s life and art. Traveling through some of the most stunning and lush natural landscapes in Italy, you’ll embark to visit idyllic spots, including the gorgeous Chianti Valley and the Etruscan Coast. As you visit quaint wine shops, cafes, historic estates, and museums, you’ll feel immersed in the history and traditions of each destination. In addition to sampling the local gourmet Tuscan fare, you’ll also be treated to an Italian cooking lesson. You’ll prepare an authentic Italian dish inside a rustic Tuscan farmhouse where you and your travel companions will enjoy your culinary creations—complete with master-chef prizes. You’ll also learn the art of Italian dessert making at your hotel and get to taste some of the celebrated Chianti and Super Tuscan wines right where they are produced. You’ll revel in the beauty of becoming familiar with a single destination of Montecatini while making priceless discoveries of locales that are off the beaten path—perfect for the smart, creative, and budget-minded travel lover.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Montecatini,Italy
Location: Arrive In Montecatini, Italy
Meals Included: Dinner
Check into your hotel. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a special welcome dinner.
Day 2: Montecatini. Excursion To Vinci
Location: Montecatini. Excursion To Vinci
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, head out into the lush, rolling landscape of the Montalbano hills. Pass terraced grape vineyards, olive groves, and chestnut trees on your way to the quaint village of Vinci, birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. Here, learn all about the Renaissance master at the museum dedicated to his life and many areas of interest from painting, sculpting, and inventing, to anatomy, music, and cartography! Round up the morning with the visit to a local bakery. Learn how bread is made and enjoy a light lunch with an opportunity to sample local products such as focaccia bread, sandwiches, wine, cheese, cold cuts, and olive oil. Everything tastes better in Tuscany! See for yourself with an optional culinary experience in the Tuscan countryside to indulge in authentic traditional dishes—with wine, of course!Today’s Distance: 25 mi/ 40 km
Day 3: Montecatini. Excursion To The Chianti Valley
Location: Montecatini. Excursion To The Chianti Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Cradled between the provinces of Florence and Siena, the Chianti Valley is the heart of Tuscany and has been hailed for its exceptional wines since the 13th century. Your journey today takes you to Greve, with time to visit the village and to enjoy lunch at a charming wine shop. Complete the day with the visit to a historic Tuscan estate known for its Chianti wine production. Today’s Distance: 96 mi/ 155 km
Day 4: Montecatini
Location: Montecatini
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy a leisurely morning in Montecatini. Maybe go for a walk in the Parco delle Terme with its tall shady trees. Most of the afternoon is dedicated to the Italian cooking lesson at a rustic farmhouse in the Tuscan countryside. Once you arrive at the farm, enjoy a welcome drink, explore the orchard to pick some fresh ingredients, learn about Italy’s most famous delicacies, and then roll up your sleeves for a fun, hands-on cooking experience. This evening, relax with your traveling companions and taste the delectable dinner you prepared—maybe your team will win the master chef prize!
Day 5: Montecatini. Excursion To Lucca
Location: Montecatini. Excursion To Lucca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Visit Lucca, a stunning showcase of medieval architecture and layer upon layer of rich history and culture. Marvel at the beautiful art and tapestry collections at the baroque Palazzo Mansi National Museum, then take a guided walking tour around the Old Town with its fine, intact Renaissance-era wall, cobblestone streets, and café-lined piazzas. A lively café-crawl snack brunch is included, followed by a main course at a local restaurant. Then, your Local Guide will introduce you to the stunning ornamental gardens and grand arched ceilings of Palazzo Pfanner. Today’s Distance: 39 mi/ 62 km
Day 6: Montecatini. Excursion To Bolgheri
Location: Montecatini. Excursion To Bolgheri
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Travel through the vineyard-dotted countryside and along cypress tree-lined Viale dei Cipressi for your grand entrance into enchanting Bolgheri. With its red-brick castle and atmospheric Old Town, it’s not hard to imagine that Bolgheri jumped right off the pages of a storybook. There’s time here to visit one of the wine cellars and taste Bolgheri’s celebrated Super Tuscan reds. First created in the 1980s, many wine experts believe these now rival French Bordeaux. Later, stop at nearby Castagneto Carducci, known for its splendid panoramic views of the Etruscan Coast. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and the chance to sample the local liqueur.Today’s Distance: 155 mi/ 250 km
Day 7: Montecatini
Location: Montecatini
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning is yours to do as you please. You could choose to explore more of the city on your own, to relax and shop for souvenirs. This afternoon is dedicated to a baking class at your hotel, focusing on the creation of cakes and desserts.
Day 8: Montecatini
Location: Montecatini
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay at Settentrionale Esplanade in the heart of Montecatini Terme, offering hospitality and courtesy with amenities such as a restaurant and an outdoor pool.
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Meals
Buffet breakfasts daily; 4 lunches; 3 dinners, including dinner at a local farm in Montecatini.
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Welcome Dinner
Special welcome dinner with the Tour Director and travel companions on the first night.
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Excursions
Excursions to Vinci, Chianti Valley, Lucca, and Bolgheri with guided tours and local experiences.
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Cooking and Baking Classes
Italian cooking lesson at a rustic farmhouse and a baking class at your hotel.
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Local Products Sampling
Opportunity to sample local products such as focaccia bread, sandwiches, wine, cheese, cold cuts, and olive oil.
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Wine Tasting
Visit to a historic Tuscan estate known for its Chianti wine production and a wine cellar in Bolgheri to taste Super Tuscan reds.
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Local Guides
Expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides ensuring a comprehensive and safe experience.
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Small-Group Discoveries
Limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure, ensuring extra space and a more personal experience.
What's Not Included
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Flights
Flights to and from Italy are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be purchased separately.
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Airport Transfers
Transfers to and from the nearest airports (Florence or Pisa) are not included.
Meals
Buffet breakfasts daily; 4 lunches; 3 dinners, including dinner at a local farm in Montecatini
Notes
Nearest airports for Montecatini are Florence or Pisa
Small Group
Cosmos offers Small-Group Discoveries on select Europe dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Cosmos escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.
UNESCO Sites
The great Spa Towns of Europe - Montecatini
Accommodation
Montecatini:Settentrionale Esplanade
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The accommodation is at Settentrionale Esplanade in the heart of Montecatini Terme. The hotel offers hospitality and courtesy, and it features a restaurant and an outdoor pool.
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What activities are included on the first day of the tour?
On the first day, you will check into your hotel and meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a special welcome dinner.
-
What can I expect during the excursion to Vinci?
During the excursion to Vinci, you will pass through the Montalbano hills, visit the village of Vinci, and learn about Leonardo da Vinci at the museum dedicated to his life. You will also visit a local bakery, learn how bread is made, and enjoy a light lunch with local products such as focaccia bread, sandwiches, wine, cheese, cold cuts, and olive oil.
-
What will we do in the Chianti Valley?
In the Chianti Valley, you will visit the village of Greve, enjoy lunch at a charming wine shop, and visit a historic Tuscan estate known for its Chianti wine production.
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What is included in the Italian cooking lesson?
The Italian cooking lesson takes place at a rustic farmhouse in the Tuscan countryside. You will enjoy a welcome drink, explore the orchard to pick fresh ingredients, learn about Italy’s famous delicacies, and participate in a hands-on cooking experience. The evening concludes with a dinner featuring the dishes you prepared.
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What will we see in Lucca?
In Lucca, you will visit the Palazzo Mansi National Museum, take a guided walking tour around the Old Town, enjoy a café-crawl snack brunch, have a main course at a local restaurant, and visit the ornamental gardens and grand arched ceilings of Palazzo Pfanner.
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What can I expect during the excursion to Bolgheri?
In Bolgheri, you will visit a wine cellar to taste Bolgheri’s celebrated Super Tuscan reds, and stop at Castagneto Carducci for its panoramic views of the Etruscan Coast. You will also enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and sample the local liqueur.
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What activities are planned for the last day of the tour?
The last day of the tour includes breakfast in the morning, marking the end of your vacation.
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What meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes buffet breakfasts daily, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners, including a dinner at a local farm in Montecatini.
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What are the nearest airports for Montecatini?
The nearest airports for Montecatini are Florence or Pisa.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1961
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Cosmos is committed to minimizing our impact on the environment and to reducing dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
All guests are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for travel through February, 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, while we highly recommend vaccination, we will no longer require it. We ask all guests to comply with airline and destination requirements, which still may apply. To check your destination requirements for your travel dates, view the Latest Travel & Health Restrictions for Travel.
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Low Deposit
Cosmos requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of cosmos charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.