Day 1
Arrival day in Florence, meet at the B&B. Depending on various arrival times of the travelers, an afternoon walk to the Oltrarno (which means the “other side of the Arno”), will be offered, or the travelers may choose an afternoon of rest. This evening, dinner at “ZaZa” will provide an opportunity to meet fellow travelers.

Day 2
The walking tour begins with a prepaid & reserved visit to the Accademia – home to Michelangelo’s “David”, plus much more. We will also visit Brunelleschi’s Duomo, Giotto’s Tower, and the Baptistery. Travelers will have the opportunity to climb up into the Duomo or the Tower for the spectacular views. Before lunch, we will go to the Museo Dell’Opera, where, among other wonderful items, the actual tools, ropes, and other masonry tools belonging to Brunelleschi are housed. Lunch will be enjoyed in Piazza della Repubblica, where we can sit outside and people watch. After lunch, we will see more sites such as the Orsanmichele, Mercato Nuovo, and the Ponte Vecchio. We will bus ride up to Piazzale Michelangelo and visit the old church of San Miniato. The rest of the afternoon travelers will have free time to explore on their own. Tonight we’ll have dinner in another wonderful trattoria. 

Day 3
This morning (for all early risers), breakfast at Caffe Giubbe Rosse is not to be missed. Then it’s off to the Uffizi (prepaid & reserved) to experience the best Renaissance art in the world. Following lunch, we will head to the open air market of San Lorenzo and a stop at the famous pharmacy of Santa Marie Novella. Travelers will have free time until dinner, which will be another lovely gastronomic treat. 

Day 4
Today we begin our Chianti adventure with a morning van pick-up. We will journey along the scenic route with a stop for cappuccino and “dolce” (pastry) and a walk around the ancient village of Montefioralle, which provides a number of “Kodak” moments. We will stop at Greve for their open-air market to experience a typical Saturday morning at a Tuscan event and then it’s on to Casa Emma. My friends there will take us on a tour of the winery and provide us with an absolutely fantastic lunch with a wine tasting. (cost: 30 euro/person)  Casa Emma is not a restaurant and this special experience is for TRLTT travelers only. We will then journey to the country house where later we will enjoy dinner catered by my Italian friends. (cost: 30 euro/person)

Day 5 
After breakfast (all breakfast food items provided), we will drive to Chianti Cashmere Farm, which is owned by my friend, Nora Kravis. Nora is a fascinating person, a vet who raises cashmere goats that produce the wool for the most luxurious items, which the traveler may purchase. After our time there, we will stop in the village of Radda for some exploration – this hilltop fortress town has existed since 1003 – and lunch at Bar Dante, which is owned by my friends, Fabrizio & Carolyn Ferrucci. After lunch, our adventure continues at the little-known, but amazing outdoor Chianti Sculpture Park. There you will meet my friend, Dr. Piero Giadrossi, who will host us. On the way home, we will stop in Castellina for dinner.

Day 6
Today’s adventure begins with a trip to Colle val D’Elsa where we will visit a lead crystal factory. Not only do we get to watch the glassmakers create mouth-blown crystal, but we are allowed access to a showroom where items can be purchased at discount. This is a special opportunity provided for TRLTT travelers. Afterwards, we will arrive at Tenuta Torciano where “Wine Tasting 101 Class” will take place. The owner and my friend, Pierluigi Giachi, will not only feed us lunch, but will lead the class in the art of drinking wine (cost: 15 euro/person). He is quite a character and this is so much fun! The afternoon will be spent in the magical town known as “the Manhattan of Tuscany” – San Gimignano. Of the original 77 medieval towers, only 15 remain. Tonight, any cooks in the group can join in preparing dinner at the house.

Day 7
This morning, the adventure will take us to “Il Pornanino”, an olive farm owned by my friend, Franco Lombardi. Be ready to learn everything about olive oil that you never knew existed! We will attend his entertaining seminar, tour the olive oil processing plant, and be treated to “bruschetta”, the typical Tuscan snack of Italian bread and oil. (cost: 12 euro/person)  Following this, we will drive to a mystical spot known as “San Galgano”, where we will have lunch and explore the ruins of this ancient place. You will view the original “sword in the stone”, from which all the other “sword in the stone” stories come from. Tonight’s dinner at home will be created and catered by my Tuscan friends (cost: 30 euro/person).  

Day 8
ROAD TRIP! Today, we will head south to explore an indescribably beautiful area, including a village that looks like a Disney movie set. We will also enjoy the amazing city of Orvieto with its underground caves and awesome cathedral. After a full day, we can choose to stop in Radda for dinner or cook at home. 

Day 9
It's off to the beautiful little village of Panzano where the best leather shoes, jackets, belts, etc., are handmade in a family-run shop. The travelers will have time to explore this tiny town and take in the fantastic views. From here, we will drive to Siena, one of my very favorite places, as very little of the historical center has changed since medieval times. After a tour of the major spots, travelers will be given time to explore on their own. We will enjoy a wonderful dinner in Siena before returning home. 

Day 10
Today we are going to Volterra, the “City of Alabaster”. This is a fabulous place to visit, it includes a great Etruscan museum and an area called “the Balze”, which is an ongoing creation of Mother Nature. On our last evening, we will relax and enjoy dinner at a country trattoria known only to a few, before preparing for a reluctant morning departure.