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Truffles in Tuscany 2011
A photo/culinary experience for all the senses
 Come join me, Chef/Photographer Rico Mandel as your host on this wonderful Photographic and Culinary adventure. Through the lens, tuscan scenery, kitchens and vineyards you will explore the rich history and culinary traditions of Tuscany. Come with me as we explore the towns, streets and countryside of this richly picturesque and culinarily provocative region. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the life that is Italy.
We’ll be visiting Florence, a city rich in renaissance history and art where we’ll experience some of the culinary traditions, see wonderful works of art and architecture, sample an array of restaurants from simple to fine dining and have time to explore and photograph the city.
We’ll visit the San MIniato Truffle festival and take in our share of the wonderful fungus. We’ll even have an opportunity to go truffel hunting as well.
We’ll stay at a Villa in Tuscany where we will take day trips to some of the surrounding cities to take in what each has to offer. We’ll be attending some cooking classes, Tasting local wines and olive oils from the region and photographing the sights that the rich history has left for us to see.
I put together a fabulous itinerary for you. In addition, I will select one of the images I create on our tour and produce an exclusive limited edition photographic print just for the participants of our tour. One signed and numbered for each. The edition will be limited by the number of participants.
Here are some of the highlights that you will explore on this wonderful journey -
We have a fabulous itinerary for you and in addition, Rico Mandel will select one of his images created on our tour and produce an exclusive limited edition photographic print just for the participants of our tour. One signed and numbered for each. The edition will be limited by the number of participants.
Take a look and see what's in store for you -
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL FLORENCE
Welcome to Italy. Upon arrival, in Pisa you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Florence. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax or begin exploring on your own. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your travelling companions in a restaurant known for the best “Fiorentina bone steak” in town.
Accommodation: Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco (D)
DAY 2 - San Miniato
Truffle hunting in the woods around San Miniato with a truffle expert and his dog to discover the secrets of the precious product of this area; at the end of the walk, tasting of the truffles we harvest. But that's not all, we then spend the afternoon in San Miniato at the Truffle Festival where we will take photographs and enjoy all the festival has to offer. Lunch will be on your own. We will leave the festival and return to the Florence for a wonderful dinner in a typical Florentine Trattoria.
 Accommodation: Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco (B, D)
DAY 3 – Florence
Breakfast at the hotel. We will have a guided tour of Florence and visit the Accademia. Lunch will be on your own and then we will meet to visit the Uffizi Gallery. Optional late afternoon photography at the Ponte Vecchio and surrounding area. In the evening we will meet at one of the finest restaurants in Florence, Cibreo for a multi-course fine dining experience.
Accommodation: Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco (B, D)
DAY 4 – Florence and Chianti Region
After breakfast, This morning, we will have a cooking class at and enjoy our creations for lunch. We will leave Florence and make a stop at Tenuta San Piero, makers of traditional sausages, wines and olive oils. We will have the opportunity to take some photographs along the way. Our full day will conclude at our villa in the Chianti region where we will relax and have a gourmet meal at the Villa.
Accommodation: Castello Vicchiomaggio in Greve (B, L, D)
DAY 5 – Greve & Montefioralle
We will have an optional photo walk for those interested before breakfast to capture the morning light. Then we will depart for the town of Greve to explore the streets, markets and castles of this medieval town. There will be time to taste some of the local wines and olive oil and visit the Wine Museum. Next we will visit Macellaria Falorni (butcher since 1729) and lunch and then have lunch at La Cantina. We will then travel to Montefioralle for a cooking class and dinner returning to our Villa to relax for the rest of the evening.
Accommodation: Castello Vicchiomaggio in Greve (B, L, D)
DAY 6 – Siena and San Gimignano
The morning will be spent in the beautiful city of Siena where we will have a guided tour of the city followed by lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we will drive to San Gimignano, a fantastic apparition amidst the green hills of the Sienese countryside! The city of majestic towers unexpectedly springs from the sunbathed hills of the Val d’Elsa, where for centuries the famous Vernaccia wine, the only DOCG white wine in Tuscany, has been produced. Inside the city, surrounded by medieval walls, we can admire the Duomo, Piazza della Cisterna and the Church of San’Agostino. Tower-houses, palaces, doorways, fountains and secret piazzas: time seems to stand still here. The stone-paved alleyways are animated and full of people; in the summer, almost every evening, there are shows, concerts in the beautiful Piazza del Duomo, which is still the centre of the city.
There is plenty of time to explore the town with its squares, winding streets and artisans. We will have a short guided tour of the town and then you will be free to roam until dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Castello Vicchiomaggio in Greve (B, L, D)
DAY 7 – Pienza and Montalcino
After breakfast, a visit will be made to the Abbey of Saint Antimo before we continue to Montalcino to take in the surroundings and taste some of the finest wine Italy has to offer. We will have a private tasting at two wineries along with lunch and cellar tours. Next, we will stop in Pienza for a visit to a local farm to see the different stages of cheese production. There'll be time for cheese tasting before we continue to the historical center of Pienza, where we will have free time for exploring. We will dine in a typical Osteria in Montalcino before going back to the Villa.
Accommodation: Castello Vicchiomaggio in Greve (B, L, D)
DAY 8 – Depart for Pisa
Following breakfast, you will transfer to the airport for your homebound flight that arrives the same day. You will take with you fond memories, images of the beautiful scenery and the many mementos you found along the way. (B)
Cost: The land cost of the tour is $3997.00, per person, based on
double occupancy.
Registration:
Early discount save $500.00 with your deposit of $500.00 by September 15, 2011.
To reserve your place and get your early bird discount for this tour, please fill out the form and a representative will be in contact with you shortly.
INCLUDED SERVICES:
• 7 nights hotel accommodation as per our itinerary in standard run-of-the-house rooms based on double occupancy.
• Meals: Breakfast: 8 / Lunch: 6 / Dinner: 7 as per our suggested itinerary.
• Services of a professional English-speaking Tour Director throughout the tour.
• Services of professional driver/guide, local guides/assistants as specified in the itinerary.
• All transfers* as specified in the itinerary.
• Sightseeing and cooking classes with entrance fees as specified in the itinerary.
• Hotel porterage for 1 piece of luggage per person.
• Service charges and taxes.
*Airport transfers are based on one group transfer to/from the airport. If individual or additional transfers are required, then supplements will need to be applied.
NOT INCLUDED IN SERVICES:
Tips and gratuities
Items of a personal nature
*Itinerary and hotel list are subject to change.
Additional services required while touring are paid directly.
AIRFARE:
Not included.
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