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2006-2007 Prices
* Important
Note: Different options make it possible for you to choose a package which
fits your interests, schedule and budget! Our unique tours are
ALL-INCLUSIVE once you arrive in Italy. Many guests pleasantly find out
just how much really is included. We would like to emphasize that all wine
(table wine), meals, guided excursions, museum tickets, wine/oil tastings,
accommodations, transfers and cooking courses are included. Many of our
competitors, regardless of price, simply do not have the uniqueness,
quality, variety, personality and style we provide our guests (like all
meals and wine included).
We aim to make it possible for anybody
to experience the enchanting magic of these experiences!
*Note: $400 Single Supplement for full week and $200
for ½ week for all programs
We occasionally offer cooking classes
to guests staying elsewhere in the region. Availability is
limited.
| VILLA CASTELLETTI (per person double
occupancy) |
| 1 Week: |
$2790 |
| 5 Night: |
$2325 |
| 4 Night: |
$1860 |
| ½ Week: |
$1395 |
| Other options |
|
| 1 cooking class with meal: |
$300 |
| Rent room: |
$250 per night/room |
| Custom groups/itineraries: |
*Please Inquire |
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Villa Gaia Culinary & Wine Vacation (One week)
The trip includes:
-
6 nights accommodations at the country estate of Villa Gaia,
near the small village of Seggiano, province of Grosseto.
-
All meals as indicated in the itinerary.
-
Small groups: 4 to 10 people.
-
5 hands-on cooking courses in “La Cucina Povera Toscana”
– Tuscan country cooking, Tuscan seafood & homemade pasta making.
-
2 wine tastings at wineries in Montalcino & Montepulciano
-
5 guided excursions to the enchanting towns of Monte
Amiata; Montalcino and Montepulciano (home of the Brunello & Nobile
wines); the early Renaissance town of Pienza; the hot springs of
Bagni di San Filippo and the seaside village of Castiglioni della
Pescaia.
-
All transportation (to and from Florence).
WHERE YOU WILL STAY: In the countryside of the Seggiano
township (Province of Grosseto just a few kilometers from the border
with the Province of Siena) – A charming storybook landscape of a
lesser-known area that is considered by many Italians to be one of the
most beautiful areas of Tuscany. It’s about 50 minutes away from the
seaside, less than 1 hour South of Siena, about two hours from Florence,
and two and a half hours north of Rome. Villa Gaia is a wonderfully
charming country estate that is owned by a wealthy German who lives in
Switzerland. The estate is tended to and managed by Antonio and his
Swedish wife Christine.
WHERE YOU WILL SLEEP: Villa Gaia is comprised of a main
house and a separate building. The separate building is called La
Foresteria, which has four double bedrooms, each with its own en-suite
bathroom. These bedrooms enjoy the use of a large common living room
with fireplace, kitchen, laundry, storeroom, telephone and a large
summer porch. Villa Gaia has a beautiful swimming pool with lovely
panoramic views of the countryside.
The apartment Amiata has its own separate entrance and is located on the
first floor of the main villa. Amiata has a large living room, kitchen,
two double bedrooms with one large bathroom and a beautiful outdoor
porch.
COOKING COURSES & WINE TASTINGS: The cooking courses are taught
by several guest chefs each bringing his or her own specialty to our
kitchen and table. My father Carlo will teach 2 cooking courses during
the week. He specializes in a vast array of traditional Tuscan “Cucina
Povera” (country cooking of the peasants). Next, my brother, Romeo
Innocenti will share his passion for several specific seafood dishes for
which his reputation is growing as is the entire region of La Maremma
where he is from. We will also have a guest chef who will show us how to
prepare hand-made pasta and, when available, Antonio who will fire up
the villa Gaia’s wood-burning oven to show us how to make authentic
Italian pizza. Isabel Innocenti, will be accompanying our professional
guide for tours of smaller private and larger well-known wine cellars of
this famous wine country. Guests will learn genuine Tuscan dishes and
secrets from these talented people. The courses are informal and taught
in a large rustic kitchen.
EXCURSIONS: We will take you to discover the famous
Southern Tuscan wine towns of Montalcino (Brunello wine & great shopping
for ceramics) & Montepulciano (Vino Nobile di Montepulciano) as well as
some of the charming villages of Monte Amiata: Santa Fiora, Abbadia San
Salvatore & Arcidosso (Carlo & Isabel Innocenti’s hometown!). We will
also visit a town known for its hot springs called Bagni di San Filippo
and another town famous for being the ideal model of Renaissance
architectural planning: Pienza. We will be following parts of the
“Strada del Vino” (the celebrated ‘Road of Wine’ that is recognized by
the Region of Tuscany Authority & Governing Body). Specifically, we will
be visiting and tasting wines in the wine cellars of these different
towns as much as possible.
* We would like to emphasize that we are quite flexible with regard
to the itinerary and the excursions. Isabel, your hostess, will
sometimes switch the days for different excursions and sometimes, based
on local events and activities, new excursions (not mentioned above) can
be added or even replace the normal schedule. The most important thing
is to communicate your specific interests, which will be given priority
if possible and in the best interest of the group.
Back to Top
Sample Itinerary
-
Day 1 – Meet in Florence – Arrival at the Villa Gaia
Our meeting place will be in Florence. After having arrived at the
Villa Gaia Estate (about 2 hours drive from Florence) you will
settle in your rooms. Then you can relax, feel at ease in your villa
and prepare for your first cooking lesson in Tuscan cuisine followed
by dinner.
-
Day 2 – Montalcino & Wine tasting
Today you will visit the renowned Senese (Siena area) town of
Montalcino. You will be visiting La Rocca, the 14th century fortress
and Montalcino’s main piazza where you can stop and have a
cappuccino in the piazza’s authentic liberty style café as well as
shop for pottery in a local store. Then we will take you to visit a
winery where you can have a light lunch and a tasting of the best
wines of the Val d’Orcia including Brunello. Evening cooking course
at the villa followed by dinner.
-
Day 3 – Bagni di San Filippo & Pienza
Tuscany abounds with natural hot springs. During this tour you will
visit the hot springs of Bagni di San Filippo. You will then
continue to Pienza, where you will have lunch in a local restaurant
and then visit its main square, Piazza Pio II, which is a model of
Renaissance planning. Once home at the villa, you can prepare a
healthy Tuscan dinner (cooking lesson).
-
Day 4 - Montepulciano & Wine Tasting
Visit the magnificent town of Montepulciano with architectural
masterpieces by Rosselini, and then enjoy its wines including Nobile
di Montepulciano at a wine estate nearby.
Dinner at Villa Gaia with cooking lesson.
-
Day 5 – The villages of Monte Amiata
Today you will go to Santa Fiora, a village on the slopes of Monte
Amiata. There you’ll visit the historic center and an ancient Parish
Church which contains fine terracotta bas-reliefs by Andrea della
Robbia (15th century), and La Peschiera, the private gardens and
swimming pool of the Sforza family (16th century). Then you will
continue to the other side of the mountain and stop in Abbadia San
Salvatore where you will visit its famous abbey and crypt. For lunch
you will stop in Arcidosso and pay a visit to Carlo. Cooking course
and dinner at Villa Gaia.
-
Day 6 – Castiglione della Pescaia
For the last day in southern Tuscany, you will enjoy a trip to
the seacoast to the pretty seaside village of Castiglione della
Pescaia. This old fishing village stands up high on a hill with its
castle looking over the turquoise bay. You will enjoy a tasty lunch
at a local restaurant. In the evening, you’ll enjoy dinner at one of
the best-known restaurants in the area of Monte Amiata, which
specializes in mushrooms and truffles.
-
Day 7 - Departure
Transfer to Florence.
Back to Top
Villa Gaia Culinary & Wine Vacation (Half week)
The trip includes:
-
3 nights accommodations at the country estate of Villa Gaia,
near the small village of Seggiano, province of Grosseto.
-
All meals as indicated in the itinerary.
-
Small groups: 4 to 10 people.
-
3 hands-on cooking courses in “La Cucina Povera Toscana”
– Tuscan country cooking, Tuscan seafood & homemade pasta making.
-
1 wine tasting at winery in Montalcino
-
2 guided excursions to the enchanting towns of Montalcino
(home of the Brunello wine) the early Renaissance town of Pienza,
and the hot springs of Bagni di San Filippo.
WHERE YOU WILL STAY: In the countryside of the Seggiano township
(Province of Grosseto just a few kilometers from the border with the
Province of Siena) – A charming storybook landscape of a lesser-known
area that is considered by many Italians to be one of the most beautiful
areas of Tuscany. It’s about 50 minutes away from the seaside, less than
1 hour South of Siena, about two hours from Florence, and two and a half
hours north of Rome. Villa Gaia is a wonderfully charming country estate
that is owned by a wealthy German who lives in Switzerland. The estate
is tended to and managed by Antonio and his Swedish wife Christine.
WHERE YOU WILL SLEEP: Villa Gaia is comprised of a main
house and a separate building. The separate building is called La
Foresteria, which has four double bedrooms, each with its own en-suite
bathroom. These bedrooms enjoy the use of a large common living room
with fireplace, kitchen, laundry, storeroom, telephone and a large
summer porch. Villa Gaia has a beautiful swimming pool with lovely
panoramic views of the countryside.
The apartment Amiata has its own separate entrance and is located on the
first floor of the main villa. Amiata has a large living room, kitchen,
two double bedrooms with one large bathroom and a beautiful outdoor
porch.
COOKING COURSES & WINE TASTINGS: The cooking courses are
taught by several guest chefs each bringing his or her own specialty to
our kitchen and table. My father Carlo will teach 2 cooking courses
during the week. He specializes in a vast array of traditional Tuscan
“Cucina Povera” (country cooking of the peasants). Next, my brother,
Romeo Innocenti will share his passion for several specific seafood
dishes for which his reputation is growing as is the entire region of La
Maremma where he is from. We will also have a guest chef who will show
us how to prepare hand-made pasta and, when available, Antonio who will
fire up the villa Gaia’s wood-burning oven to show us how to make
authentic Italian pizza. Isabel Innocenti, will be accompanying our
professional guide for tours of smaller private and larger well-known
wine cellars of this famous wine country. Guests will learn genuine
Tuscan dishes and secrets from these talented people. The courses are
informal and taught in a large rustic kitchen.
EXCURSIONS: We will take you to discover the famous
Southern Tuscan wine towns of Montalcino (Brunello wine & great shopping
for ceramics) & Montepulciano (Vino Nobile di Montepulciano) as well as
some of the charming villages of Monte Amiata: Santa Fiora, Abbadia San
Salvatore & Arcidosso (Carlo & Isabel Innocenti’s hometown!). We will
also visit a town known for its hot springs called Bagni di San Filippo
and another town famous for being the ideal model of Renaissance
architectural planning: Pienza. We will be following parts of the
“Strada del Vino” (the celebrated ‘Road of Wine’ that is recognized by
the Region of Tuscany Authority & Governing Body). Specifically, we will
be visiting and tasting wines in the wine cellars of these different
towns as much as possible.
* We would like to emphasize that we are quite flexible with regard to
the itinerary and the excursions. Isabel, your hostess, will sometimes
switch the days for different excursions and sometimes, based on local
events and activities, new excursions (not mentioned above) can be added
or even replace the normal schedule. The most important thing is to
communicate your specific interests, which will be given priority if
possible and in the best interest of the group.
Back to Top
Sample Itinerary
-
Day 1 – Arrival at Villa Gaia
Once arrived at Villa Gaia (about 2 hours drive from Florence) you
will settle in your rooms. Then you can relax, feel at ease in your
villa and prepare for your first cooking lesson in Tuscan cuisine
followed by dinner.
-
Day 2 – Montalcino & Wine tasting
Today you will visit the renowned Senese (Siena area) town of
Montalcino. You will be visiting La Rocca, the 14th century fortress
and Montalcino’s main piazza where you can stop and have a
cappuccino in the piazza’s authentic liberty style café as well as
shop for pottery in a local store. Then we will take you to visit a
winery where you can have a light lunch and a tasting of the best
wines of the Val d’Orcia including Brunello. Evening cooking course
at the villa followed by dinner.
-
Day 3 – Bagni di San Filippo & Pienza
Tuscany abounds with natural hot springs. During this tour you will
visit the hot springs of Bagni di San Filippo. You will then
continue to Pienza, where you will have lunch in a local restaurant
and then visit its main square, Piazza Pio II, which is a model of
Renaissance planning. Once home at the villa, you can prepare a
healthy Tuscan dinner (cooking lesson).
-
Day 4 - Departure
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