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Taste of Tuscany 8 Day Small Group Foodie Tour
For no less than 7 nights, you’ll get to experience a Tuscan farmhouse villa complete with your own single, double, or triple bedroom apartment and a luxurious pool that can be enjoyed throughout your trip. This Taste of Tuscany tour is by far one of the most popular, with guests frequently commenting on just how far the experience surpassed their expectations.
With a first-hand look at some of the most vibrant and traditional locations in Tuscany, from Cortona to Siena, you’ll have the opportunity to indulge in the finest wines, partake of the local cuisine and even stimulate your culinary skills with a 4 course cooking lesson.
For fans of bareback horseracing, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can see where the famous Il Palio race takes place in the iconic Piazza del Campo. We’ll also be exploring the fabled town of San Gimignano which produces the exemplary white wine known as Vernaccia. Your tour will also take you into the heart of Chianti’s countryside, where you’ll get up-close and personal with vineyards and olive groves.
This tour is guaranteed to satisfy your senses in many ways; with exhilaratingly authentic tastes from the region, right through to the stunning sights found throughout. You’ll get to ingratiate yourself with the local artisans and craftsmen and women, visit a host of vineyards, taste fine food and wine, explore captivating locations and villages that date back to the medieval period – and perhaps most importantly of all; feel like a local and not a visitor.
Your accomodation is a rural house dating back to the 17th Century which has been restored in keeping with its original shape and materials. It is located in the valley ‘Val di Chiana’ nearby the historical centre of Cortona. The house is divided into five apartments with all modern facilities including air conditioning and WI-FI. The grounds are beautifully maintained and the infinity swimming pool provides a panoramic view of the historical centre of Cortona and surrounding valley. Set in a quiet location but close enough to the main roads which connect to all the well-known historical cities and villages. It is an image of rolling hills, vineyards, age-old trees, golden wheat in Spring, Sunflowers in Summer and the constantly changing shades of the earth.
Train Travel to the Villa
Arrival from Rome Airport:
Arrival from Florence Airport:
Slow Tours offers a range of Small Group Tours Europe
Arrival
You’ll be personally picked up and transported to your accommodation. Once back at the villa, you’ll be given the opportunity to unwind and settle in. For dinner, we’ll take you into Cortona where you can enjoy your first traditional Tuscany dining experience
Cortana
To get the first full day of your tour off to an exciting start, we’ll head into the nearby town of Cortona where we have plenty of things for you to see and do! Our enthusiastic tour guide will take you on an enjoyable walk of the town, with coffee included. To integrate you with the Tuscan lifestyle, you’ll experience lunch at a local trattoria. With your stomach full, you’ll have the opportunity to sit and relax to your heart’s content or explore the town in greater detail. Mid-afternoon If you feel ready to return to your apartment, we’ll give you the option to be collected and transported at this time. If you chose to stay in Cortona or travel back home to the villa – we’ll meet back up and take you into town in preparation for your evening meal. What better way to savour the flavours of Cortona than with a traditional aperitivo in the Piazza, followed by dinner!
Siena & San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a town so iconic that you have to see it to truly believe it – and this is where we’ll be headed at 9am. Upon arrival we’ll have a brief coffee break and you will be given an overview of the town and its rich history. Shortly after your introduction, you’ll have free time to explore, ingratiate yourself with the locals and partake in activities at your own leisure. We’ll then travel to Siena, where you’ll meet your tour guide who will fill you with knowledge, expose you to the traditional lifestyle and allow you to get to grips with the town first-hand. To allow you to take in as much as possible, you’ll have a little more free time before your evening meal. For dinner, you’ll be taken to one of the local restaurants in Siena, where you’ll get to taste the mesmerising flavours of the region.
Lazy morning and Cooking Class
For fans of cooking, this part of your tour will introduce you to the art of making Italian cuisine. You’ll have the opportunity to enhance your culinary skills with a Traditional Tuscan Cooking Class where you’ll prepare 4 courses and then get to enjoy eating with the chef.
Pienza & Montepulciano
Featuring 15th Century architecture, Pienza is the next town on your tour and it’s as stunning as it is traditional. We’ll take a quick break for coffee, before allowing you the opportunity to explore the town in greater detail. At 12:30pm, we’ll transport you to Montepulciano where we will enjoy lunch and wine tasting – which takes place in a traditional underground cellar. You’ll then have some free time to enjoy. You can spend it viewing the stunning scenery, taking photos, or talking to the locals to name just a few options. At 5pm, we’ll take you back to your accomodation where you can unwind for a couple of hours before dinner.Your visit to Tuscany wouldn’t be complete without an authentic pizza, so we’ll head back to Cortona to enjoy this traditional Italian meal in style
Chianti
This morning we have an exciting tour of Chianti on the cards. We’ll be stopping in Castellina for a coffee and the exhilarating opportunity to explore the town and all it has to offer. We then have an extended lunch and tasting session planed at an exquisite organic winery, where there will be the opportunity to meet the winemakers.
Tour free day
As your trip slowly comes to an end, we allocate this time for you to choose the types of activities that you’d like to partake in – from exploring the nearby area, to relaxing by the pool. Whatever you choose to do, we’ll ensure that you’re back in time for a traditional Italian Aperitivo, followed by a farewell dinner to mark your visit.
Departure
In the morning, we’ll take you back to the local station where you can commence your return journey with plenty of Tuscan memories to savour for a lifetime.
Tours marked with are special prices.
Start | End | Max. No. Guests | Accommodation | Price p.p. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aug 31 2024 | Sep 07 2024 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,020€ | ||
Double rooms | 2,720€ | |||||
Sep 07 2024 | Sep 14 2024 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,020€ | ||
Double rooms | 2,720€ | |||||
Sep 21 2024 | Sep 28 2024 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,020€ | ||
Double rooms | 2,720€ | |||||
Sep 28 2024 | Oct 05 2024 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,020€ | ||
Double rooms | 2,720€ | |||||
Oct 05 2024 | Oct 12 2024 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,020€ | ||
Double rooms | 2,720€ | |||||
May 03 2025 | May 10 2025 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,610€ | ||
Double rooms | 3,150€ | |||||
May 24 2025 | May 31 2025 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,610€ | ||
Double rooms | 3,150€ | |||||
Jun 21 2025 | Jun 28 2025 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,610€ | ||
Double rooms | 3,150€ | |||||
Jun 28 2025 | Jul 05 2025 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,610€ | ||
Double rooms | 3,150€ | |||||
Jul 05 2025 | Jul 12 2025 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,610€ | ||
Double rooms | 3,150€ | |||||
Sep 06 2025 | Sep 13 2025 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,610€ | ||
Double rooms | 3,150€ | |||||
Sep 27 2025 | Oct 04 2025 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,610€ | ||
Double rooms | 3,150€ | |||||
Oct 04 2025 | Oct 11 2025 | 8 | Single rooms | 3,610€ | ||
Double rooms | 3,150€ |
If you would like to drive yourself before or after your tour, ask us for a quote on any brand new Renault, Peugeot or Citroen vehicle for driving in Europe.
Pick up your vehicle from most capital cities in Europe and return it to your drop off destination. Top insurance cover. Email [email protected] for a competitive quote