Itinerary
Thursday, October 14, 2010 to Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Thursday, October 14th – Our adventure begins with a transatlantic group flight from Toronto to Florence, Italy
Friday, October 15th – Bonjourno! Welcome to Italy!
Arriving in Florence, we are greeted by our Italian guide. After checking into our hotel located in the heart of renaissance Florence, we enjoy a guided walking tour in the footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. We celebrate our first night in fabulous Florence with a group dinner in the company of our Broad Horizons travel buddies.
Meals: Dinner
Saturday, October 16th – We begin the day with a delicious continental breakfast.
This morning is at leisure so you'll have time to further explore the beautiful and ancient city of Florence. Stroll the historic Piazza della Signoria area and shopper's paradise around Ponte Vecchio spanning the picturesque Arno River. Visit local shops where you can purchase Italian specialties, such as leather or a unique piece of jewelry. You'll be the envy of your friends when you return wearing a buttery-soft leather jacket that you picked up in Florence!
Lunch at leisure (on own) is the perfect opportunity to sample Italian delicacies at one of the many local restaurants. Perhaps you'll simply buy a gelato and stroll the cobblestone streets of the magnificent city centre. You'll be fascinated by the colorful history of Florence that dates back to 59BC!
This afternoon we board our private motorcoach for a scenic drive through the Tuscan hills to our private villa, Il Palagio in Panzano. Here, we settle in for seven nights and enjoy day trips throughout the Tuscan countryside. Rated as one of the most beautiful villas of its kind in the region this truly beautiful destination has an added advantage -- it is only necessary to unpack once, greatly adding to your comfort.
As the sun sets over the vineyards of Tuscany, we'll enjoy a wonderful dinner prepared by the private chef at our villa, Il Palagio. Website: www.agriturismoilpalagio.it
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Villa Features: Il Palagio in Panzano
- Rated as one of the most beautiful villas of its kind Il Palagio is comprised of six separate apartments furnished with wonderful antique furniture and works of art
- The apartments vary in size from 1 to 3 bedrooms per apartment. Note: All bedrooms have separate bathrooms
- Request can be taken for small groups of up to five women per apartment, for groups of women who wish to share an apartment
- Each apartment has a full kitchen equipped with breakfast provisions, so that we can easily make our own breakfast during our stay at the villa
- Upon arrival, each apartment will receive a welcome basket that includes provisions for your first breakfast, wine, olive oil etc
- All apartments have washing machines, dishwashers, fridge, freezer, stoves, working fireplace
- The villa is an easy 5-7 minute walk from the picturesque town of Panzano in the beautiful Tuscan hills. Located on a working olive grove and vineyard, the villa is only 30 km from historic Greve, Florence and Siena
- The villa has its own pool, garden, outside picnic area and beautiful grounds
- During our 7 night stay, some dinners are included. For an occasional evening at leisure there will be opportunities to go to restaurants in town (a very short taxi ride) or some may choose to make a meal at the villa. Ideas include a "potluck" with other BH travellers, where local produce purchases are available in the town of Panzano. Our ladies are also welcome to use the herbs and items in the garden at our villa as well as the barbeque and picnic areas.
- A supply of firewood will be provided for each unit. If you choose to have a fire every night, additional firewood is available for purchase.
- Although we offer a full and exciting itinerary throughout the tour, our villa stay will give you flexibility. Should you wish to "do your own thing" and relax by the pool or spend the day in town, no problem! Simply inform your Broad Horizons escort of your plans and you're all set! That's the beauty of staying in one location for seven nights.
Sunday, October 17th – Relax during our morning at leisure. Enjoy breath-taking beauty, as we stroll into the town of Panzano for market day.
Here you'll discover that Tuscan food celebrates the seasons with a host of fresh vegetable dishes, wonderful bread-based soups, savory meats and game perfumed with sage, rosemary, and thyme.
This afternoon we visit one of Tuscany's true gems, the medieval walled town of San Gimignano. Most striking about San Gimignano seen from a distance is its skyline punctuated with towers; it is also referred to as the "Town of the Beautiful Towers." There were at one time as many as seventy towers in the medieval town, although today only thirteen remain. Our excursion includes admission to the Collegiata as well as an informative walking tour with our English speaking guide. Return to the villa for evening at leisure.
Monday, October 18th – Learn secrets of the Tuscan table with our private Tuscan cooking class at Paneretta Castle which is situated in the Chianti Classico area looking towards San Gimignano.
Our visit includes lunch and wines from their award winning winery. See www.paneretta.it. The easygoing Italian way of life that visitors find so alluring and desirable, la dolce vita, is indisputably linked to the Italians' instinctive knowledge of how to drink and eat well. After lunch our excursion continues to a local cheese-maker. Here we will tour the farm and learn about the process of making the cheese followed by cheese tasting and pairing it with wines of the region. Return to the villa for evening at leisure.
Meals: Lunch
Tuesday, October 19th – Experience the breath-taking beauty of traditional Tuscan towns during our guided excursion.
Tuscany is a fascinating land, rich in history and beauty, where old stone farmhouses stand surrounded by sun-baked vineyards and olive trees. Dominating the landscape are green hills that stretch to the horizon and century-old cypresses stand majestic and benevolent. Many towns and villages are little changed from medieval times. Get ready for a wonderful day as we explore the Tuscan countryside with our English speaking guide and Broad Horizons travel companions. Our memorable day will conclude with a wine tasting and dinner at CASTELLO VICCHIOMAGGIO in Greve, Chianti. Website: www.vicchiomaggio.it
Meals: Dinner
Wednesday, October 20th – Today we visit the beautiful town of Siena, regarded as the best-preserved medieval city in Europe. Set in the beautiful Tuscan countryside with lush vine escarpments and gray-green olive trees, Siena offers much to see, from the fine palaces that line its cobbled streets to the Duomo and celebrated Piazza del Campo. It's market day in Siena on Wednesdays, so you'll have time in the morning to enjoy this popular Tuscan market. Lunch is at leisure followed by a guided half day walking tour with our local English speaking guide. Return to the villa for evening at leisure.
Thursday, October 21st – During our stay at Il Palagio we'll live the life of a Tuscan in a beautiful fortified farmhouse structure dating back to the year 400.
Il Palagio is regarded as one of the most beautiful houses of its kind. It was modified in the course of the centuries and has been completely restored by the owner with great care in keeping the original layout and style to its former design.
We start our day with a tour of Il Palagio's famous vineyard and olive grove. World renowned for the finest Chianti Classico wine and extra virgin olive oil, these famous products are produced and sold right on the premises of our villa.
Following our tour, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Tonight we celebrate our Tuscan adventure with an early evening cocktail party hosted by Broad Horizons. Life doesn't get much better than sipping a glass of wine (or cappuccino) while watching the sun go down over the vineyards of Tuscany!
Friday, October 22nd - Immerse yourself in local culture during our day trip to picturesque Monteriggioni, Colle de Val d'Elsa and Volterra.
Our day will be filled with bustling markets, glass crystal shops, spectacular views, walking tours and more. Lunch will be at leisure in the charming ambiance of Monteriggioni followed by a walking tour of Volterra. Our day would not be complete without a stop at a local wine shop for a glass of wine with cheese and salami before returning to our villa.
A group dinner in a quaint Panzano restaurant is planned for tonight.
Meals: Dinner
Saturday, October 23rd – We say good-bye to Il Palagio and depart our villa for a drive to Villa San Donnino in Modena, "Home of Balsamic Vinegar".
On arrival we tour the Villa to see how Modena's famed balsamic vinegar is produced. After the tour we'll enjoy a delicious lunch featuring the Villa's balsamic vinegar.
Drive through the most beautiful and artistic lands of Parma. On arrival in historic Parma we check in to our centrally located hotel. Parma is famous for its architecture and the fine countryside is perhaps better known for its world famous products such as: Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and D.O.C. Colli di Parma wines such as Lambrusco. At our group dinner this evening we'll savour Tuscan recipes that are passed down from generations.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Sunday, October 24th - Continental breakfast at our hotel.
A visit to Parma isn't complete without a tour of the Parmesan Cheese Factory. Here we learn about the origin of Parma's cheese, and the daily process of a Parma cheese-maker. After the tour we'll have an opportunity to taste and purchase these exquisite products. We continue on a scenic drive towards the Italian Riviera. Considered one of the most beautiful areas of the Liguria region, Cinque Terre is known for its five small villages that are suspended between the sea and earth. Here, nestled in the cliffs overlooking the sea and hills are where the land's finest wines are grown. Upon arrival we will check into our charming hotel in the town of Monterosso al Mare. Afternoon at leisure to explore the towns of Cinque Terre by train or by trail. Group dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Monday, October 25th - Continental breakfast
Cinque Terre is an exceptional area made up of five towns, which until recently were only accessible by boat. Today one can stay in one town and play at all five by accessing the towns either by foot on the well marked trails or by train. Our ladies will receive a Cinque Terre card allowing unlimited access on the trails and trains between the 5 Cinque Terre towns. Our Broad Horizons tour leader will start out in the morning by taking the train to Riomaggiore and walking the short trail to the town of Manarola. Those wishing to remain in a group can do so and those who would like to explore on their own will have the day to do so. Those wishing to continue hiking can take the walking trails to Corniglia, Vernazza and back to Monterosso. Others can take the train to explore each of these unique villages. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Visitors are amazed at how much intense beauty, great cuisine and amazing aromas are jam-packed into such a compact space. Artists and photographers flock to this stunning coastline!
Feel free to explore Cinque Terre on your own, with your travel companions or with our Broad Horizons tour escort. We'll regroup again in the evening for dinner in Monterosso.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Tuesday, October 26th - Continental breakfast
We depart this morning for fascinating Florence. After checking in to our centrally located hotel you'll have time for sight-seeing, shopping or last minute souvenier ideas.The jewel of Renaissance Italy, historic Florence contains numerous elegant piazzas, museums, art galleries, parks, gardens and churches. Florentines are born into a world of extraordinary timeless beauty, so it is hardly surprising that they cultivate their appearance, and do it so effortlessly. Home to the likes of Gucci and Ferragamo, Florence means one thing: style, both past and present. Rows of stylish boutiques line up alongside the galleries and palazzi. The afternoon is yours......... ENJOY! Our final night in Florence will be celebrated with a farewell group dinner where our globe-trotting gals will have an opportunity to share their memories of their Tuscan adventure.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Wednesday, October 27th – Continental breakfast
Early departure to Florence airport for transatlantic flight home. Arrivaderci Firenze!
Meals: Breakfast
***Itinerary is subject to change***
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