Duration: 6 Hours

Type of Service:  Private Tuscan Castle and Ancient Cellars Visit with Cooking Class and Wine Tasting Experience near Florence - small group tour/cooking class

The day will begin with your private, English-speaking chauffeur picking you up in a Mercedes at your hotel. From there you will head up into the beautiful rolling Tuscan hills to a castle in the countryside. Once at the castle, a staff member will lead you on a private tour of the enchanting castle which includes its wine cellars and vineyards.

The castle has an incredibly rich history and was built by the Pazzi family in 1184 AD. At the height of Florence Renaissance in 1478, the Pazzi  family masterminded in these castle halls the now infamous plot to kill two outstanding representatives of  Florence ruling family, the Medici. With the “Pazzi Conspiracy,” the family - long rivals of the Medici - intended to eliminate Lorenzo de' Medici and so dethrone Florence ruler. Today, in the Castle nucleus,  the magnificent “Conspiracy Room” can be admired.

After the tour, you will have a cooking class with three courses which include learning to make handmade pasta, sauces, and dessert. Once you have finished cooking, it’s time to try your masterpieces along with three wines produced at the vineyards of the castle in the castle dining room. Then, you will meet your driver who will take you back to your hotel.  A beautiful and intriguing castle, great food, and delicious wines are awaiting your arrival.

Things to Know:

• In a 4 hour experience, you get to visit a still inhabited 900-year-old castle and wine cellars, you cook 2 different type of handmade pasta and 2 sauces, dessert and taste 3 wines during the light lunch with the self-cooked food
• Private castle tour and wine tasting at a historic estate located 45 minutes from Florence
• The castle tour and wine cellar visit last about 55 minutes and includes the historical part in the castle's courtyard, the family history in one of the private rooms
• The Pazzi family’s crest still adorns our courtyard today and was created by one of the true Renaissance masters, Donatello.
• Learn about wine and olive oil in the ancient cellars and enjoy a typical Tuscan snack of crostini, olive oil, salami, and cheese
• Cooking class with personal chef
• You will have the opportunity to purchase farm products like pure saffron, honey, cheese and natural cosmetics, wine and olive oil, available in the farm gift shop - at the end of the tour, you can walk in the vineyards, olive groves and take pictures in the countryside
• Florence hotel pickup and drop-off in luxury vehicle with English-speaking driver
• No more than 12 people in small group tour and cooking class
• Private Castle and Cellar Visit is available for groups 4 or more.

Duration: 4.5 - 5 hours

Type of Service: Truffle Hunt with Lunch and Wine Tasting - day tour from Florence to San Gimignano

Visit a unique Winery located outside the medieval town of San Gimignano, in the province of Siena. The Giachi Family has been producing wines since 1720. You will spend an amazing time as your host teaches you to taste all the wines produced at this estate and hunt for truffles with dogs who are trained to seek black and white truffles.

Located at the entrance of the Valley of Chianti, in Tuscany, about 45 minutes from Florence. This winery, is a place of relaxation and fun with food and wine. It’s the ideal place to enjoy wonderful wines and Italian specialties. A most precious delicacy of the region is the exquisite, world famous black and white Truffles. You will partake in a truffle hunt with dogs for 60 minutes and then enjoy a Tuscan lunch that includes appetizers: Tuscan salami and cheeses, Bruschetta (Bread with Olive Oil). First Course: Truffle lasagna with meat sauce. Second Course: Roasted meat with potatoes and vegetables. Dessert: Cantuccini with Dessert Wine and the tasting of over 12 wines.

Things to Know:

• You will enjoy a truly authentic "truffle hunting", accompanied by an expert truffle hunter with dogs, through the flat Tuscan woods
• In the private truffle land in Tenuta Torciano, you will find precious white and black truffles
• Learn to identify the different species of trees and the ideal habitat for the growth of truffles
• Enjoy a 4-course lunch with dessert and wine tasting
• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Florence Hotel
• Luxury Vehicle with English-speaking driver/guide
• Tour offered Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday (March - November)
• Tour begins with hotel pickup at 9:30am
• Wear comfortable clothing and walking or tennis shoes

Duration: 8 Day/ 7 night

Type of package: Private trip package

Piedmont, has it all: gorgeous golf courses, deep red wine and some of the most delicious foods in all of Italy. This trip highlights the most gorgeous golf greens, while still making time to enjoy the best culinary and scenic aspects of the region. Come with us, relax on the greens. Enjoy sipping world-class Barbaresco, overlooking the rolling hills of the wineries. After learning how to cook traditional Italian cuisine, heighten your taste-buds by feasting at a Michelin starred restaurant. Allow yourself to be dazzled by the gorgeous city of Turin, the life-blood of the contemporary art movement in Italy. This is truly the height of relaxation.

Trip at a glance:

(Day 1): Transfer from airport in Milan. Check in – relax at your luxury golf resort, enjoy dinner

(Day 2): Truffle Hunt, wine tasting and dinner

(Day 3): Golf at an 18 holes par 70 course along the gentle slopes of the surrounding hills, in an area of 75 hectares (185 acres) with an overall length of 5,320 m (3,29 miles). Dinner at Michelin starred restaurant

(Day 4): Market tour and cooking class in Asti, then guided tour of Asti

(Day 5): Wine tasting at a Barolo winery. Guided tour of Alba, dinner in Nieve.

(Day 6): Guided tour of Turin + dinner

(Day 7): Drive to Cherasco to play golf in another scenic 18 holes course, designed by Marco Croze, surrounded by water and green vegetation. After, guided tour of Pollenzo. Farewell dinner.

(Day 8): Transfer to the airport (Milan)

Things to know:

• Private Trip
• Minimum of 8
• Maximum of 16
• Meeting Place: Driver will pick up from Airport
• Must be booked twenty days in advance
• Transportation will be provided when visiting wineries and for 5 dinners. Airport transfers are included
• A rental car is required for this trip

Included:

• 7 Breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 brunch with wine tasting
• 6 dinners (including one Michelin starred dinner)
• 1 wine tasting at a Barolo producer
• 1 cooking class
• 2 full days of guided tours
• Transportations on minibus or van as per program (including transfers for 5 dinners)
• 2 hours of guided tours (days 4,6,7)
• Food tasting in Alba
• Chocolate drink in Turin
• Truffle Hunting

Not included:

• Golf cart, equipment and gear
• Any meal or entrance fee expenses
• Transportation outside of program

We partner with incredible wineries in every region in Italy. Enjoy excursions from Florence to the countryside, where our private chauffeurs will whisk you away through the rolling hills to a breathtaking winery with a panoramic view. There enjoy 5 premiums reds, the owner himself will walk you through their process while his wife will cook you homemade pasta. Or, enjoy a crisp bottle of prosecco in a castle a little north of Venice. If you prefer the south, perhaps a bottle of Grillo on the side of Mt. Etna? That’s just the tip of the ice burg, the options are limitless.

So you’ve decided you are GOING TO ITALY! How Exciting! Many people dream of visiting Italy and experiencing la bella vita, and while you certainly can’t avoid it anywhere in the country, there are some things to think about before you take off that will make your time that much more enjoyable.

First, Italy is a large, and very diverse country. Traveling across regions is almost like traveling across countries themselves. The Italian people are very attached to their City, Region, and Country, in that order, so be sure to talk to locals wherever you go to get to know the intricacies of the very different regions of Italy.

Planning your trip’s itinerary won’t be easy since there is SO much to see and do, but a little background on the country’s layout is helpful when decided what it is you want to get out of your time: are you looking for sports? history? art? food? beaches? mountains? fashion? design? Italy has it all, but some places have it better than others!

Italy can best be divided into three geographical areas: north, middle and south, although again across those areas culture, food and tradition varies greatly.

Northern Italy: Alta Italia

Northern Italy is made up of the Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino Alto-Adige. It boasts such famous cities as Milan, Venice, Turin, Genoa and Bologna. The weather is cooler than the rest of the country due to the northern location and proximity to the Apennines and Alps. This area is traditionally the more wealthy part of Italy, and houses most of the country’s industry. Cities like Milan and Venice can be slightly more expensive than some cities in the central or southern parts of Italy. However, public transportation and tourism services are much more developed and functional than in other parts of the country!

The major airport for the northern region is Milan’s Linate International Airport. There are many other airports in the region however, including Bologna, Venice and Genoa, so do some price comparisons before booking your ticket. The climate in this region varies considerably, both depending on time of year and location. Venice gets extremely hot in the summer, while Turin and the Lake District (Cuomo) stay much cooler and tend to be flocked by Italians trying to beat the heat during the summer months. The Italian Alps begin their ski season as early as November in some places.

Northern Italy has many attractions and offers activities for everyone. Those who enjoy sport and the outdoors may want to visit the lakes for water sports, or go hiking in the Italian Dolomites. Everyone should see Venice at least for a day while they still can! Milan is great for anyone interested in design or fashion, and also has a wide selection of galleries and museums for those interested in both Renaissance and contemporary art. One can also visit the Italian Riviera for some great beaches.

The cuisine of this region is also quite variable, but generally tends to be no the heavier side of some of the traditional Italian specialties we normally think of. This is where Italians eat risotto with saffron, polenta, LOTS of parmigiano reggiano (from the Emilia Romagna province – an area that all foodies must visit), heavy meat dishes and stews, etc. Closer north near the Austrian border we see a lot of Austrian or Slovenian influence in the cuisine, as well as the wines. Prosecco is from the Veneto, and Gewürztraminer is from Trentino Alto-Adige. Think lots of nice white wines, and a LOT of grappa!

Central Italy: Tuscany and Rome

Central Italy is made up of the regions Lazio, Marche, Tuscany and Umbria. Geographically it also contains Abruzzo and Molise, but they are traditional grouped with Southern Italy due to cultural similiarities. This is where the rolling hills of Unbria and Tuscany call to mind Napa Valley. This is wine country. Central Italy is home to cities like Florence, Siena, Perugia, and of course Roma. Still quite wealthy, but more varied wealth across regions, central Italy is also extremely easy to explore via bus or train, so you can visit some little hill towns in the Val D’Orcia, or take a train and ride up and down the coast. This section of Italy is full of tiny medieval towns, and if you do your research ahead of time, you could get to participate in one of their on-going traditional medieval festivals!

Rome and Florence both have international airports, as does Pisa. Flying into Bologna is also an easy way to get to Florence as they are connected via both fast and regional trains. The weather in the region is quite temperate, with clearly distinct seasons similar to the weather on the mid-Atlantic coast of the U.S. The winters are cold, and although snow is uncommon it is not unheard of. The summers get quite hot, going up to one hundred degrees, and the air tends to be humid, especially inland.

Florence and Rome are the dominating destinations in Central Italy, and rightfully so. Rome as the capital and Florence as the birthplace of the Renaissance are not to be missed if possible. I would argue each city really deserves its own trip to truly get the most out of what they have to offer. Rome is a massive metropolitan center, filled with tourists all year round. The Vatican is a major destination, its museums housing some of the most beautiful and famous Renaissance artwork, as well as the Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The City of Rome of course has many ancient Roman ruins that would excite anyone remotely interested in human history: the Coliseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Catacombs, just to name a few. Florence on the other hand is the must-visit for anyone interested in Renaissance art or history, and is also a good base to explore some of the smaller towns in the region that will have you thinking of Under the Tuscan Sun. The Chianti region is full of tiny gems to visit and have an amazing meal at, as is the area between Siena and Rome. You’ll have to get to know the regional bus lines though!

Again, each region has its own traditional cuisine, but Central Italy has some of the healthiest, heartiest, what traditionally would have been peasant food but has now been elevated to an incredible level of International renown. Bistecca alla Fiorentina can only be truly enjoyed in Tuscany, just as Rome is the place to eat Saltimbocca or Osso Buco. Siena is famous for its sweets, traditionally eaten at Christmastime, and the Umbrian town of Norcia, in the Appennine foothills is where the best black truffles can be found, as well as some of the best pork products like prosciutto and salame. The hills are home to wild boar, which is cooked into many traditional stews or sauces. This is also wine country, so look out for Chianti, Montalcino, Montepulciano, and Vernaccia di San Gimignano. I could write a whole article about Tuscan cuisine, and I probably will, so check our blog frequently!

Southern Italy: Untouched

Southern Italy is where many Italian Americans origins are. It is the poorest part of the country, and encompasses the “foot” part of the boot of Italy, as well as the island of Sicily and some other Islands off the coast of Naples. It is made up of the regions of Abruzzo, Apulia, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Molise and Sicily. Due to traditional poverty and well-known corruption, transportation to many less-frequented yet extremely beautiful areas is difficult without a car of your own. The trains are regional and buses connecting cities are infrequent. We’ll talk more about renting cars in Italy later, but this may be the area to do so if you are up for the challenge!

The nearest major international airport is Rome, but there are two smaller airports on the east coast: Bari and Brindisi, both in Apulia. Naples has an international airport, and the island of Sicily may be reached via Palermo in the north or Catania in the south. The climate in the South is Mediterranean, so again variable across seasons but markedly warmer than the north or center of the country. The area is frequently overlooked as a tourist destination, so it is a nice respite from the throngs of Florence or Venice if you have the chance to visit. The beaches are spectacular, overlooking truly crystalline water. On clear days you can even see Africa from certain points along the coast.

While Sorrento, the Amalfi coast and the island of Capri are all beautiful places to visit, they are also the most famous tourist destinations in this area. If you are looking for beautiful vistas and country club style and treatment, these resort towns are a perfect place to pamper yourself or take a boat out. If you are more on the adventurous side, continue south and explore the towns of Calabria, famous for its spicy peppers and warm inhabitants. From Naples you can climb Mount Vesuvius and eat a traditional Neapolitan pizza. Matera, in the Basilicata region, is slated to be the European Capitol of Culture in 2019, and boasts what are thought to be among the first ever human settlements in Italy carved out of the rocks that make up its ancient city center. Those interested in architecture will enjoy the cities along the southern coast of Sicily, where due to volcanic and seismic damage, many buildings were rebuilt in a new Sicilian Baroque style.

Southern Italian cuisine is what most Americans think of as Italian cuisine: eggplant parmigiana, pizza, calzone, spaghetti, maccheroni, and the list goes on. The region is big on short, dry pasta, as opposed to the soft egg pastas of the northern, wealthier regions. Mozzarella is from this area, as is ricotta, made light and fresh. San Marzano tomatoes are grown in the volcanic soil under mount Vesuvius, and are used ubiquitously. Many of the dishes served in the south have Italian-American counterparts due to generations of Italians emigrating to the US from these regions due to extreme poverty. This part of Italy also of course produces much of its own wine, but the wine tends to be drunk young and domestically, rather than bring preserved and shipped. So come here if you are okay with some chilled red table wine or a beer with your pizza!

This has just been an EXTREMELY brief overview of what you might expect as you plan your trip to Italy. Every part of the country has its own secrets, cuisines, and traditions, but if you can’t move there, these generalized descriptions should help you tailor where you want to start and end your visit to the big boot. Once you determine your itinerary, be sure to check seasonal weather charts so you can pack accordingly to where you will be visiting. Read on for more about the items that you will need to bring with you to get the most out of your Italian vacation!

Unless you are coming to Italy with a butler, packing light is essential. Part of Italy’s charm is its old-worldliness, but that comes with some uncomfortable compromises to your comfort sometimes. Many hotels do not have elevators, and if they do they are extremely slow and small, so cramming a suitcase in isn’t always an option. That being said, try to pack things that are multi-use, and only bring clothes that you know you will want to wear to avoid adding bulk to your luggage.

The next thing to keep in mind is that you will be walking, a lot! Even if you’ve hired a private driver to take you from town to town, many small beautiful towns and cities are not accessible via private car unless you live in them. Which means your driver will have to park. And you will have to walk. That being said, Italy is not the place to wear your stilettos from morning to night. It’s nice to dress up and go out, but flats and comfortable walking shoes are crucial. Asics makes nice, lightweight slip-on sneakers, and Toms are great too. Sandals are tempting but be sure you will be able to rinse your feet off after a day out walking around because city-walking can be quite dirty!

Voltage in Italy is significantly higher than it is in the United States, so plugging your American hairdryer in an Italian socket will most likely result in disaster and melted plastic. Power comes out of the wall socket at 220 volts alternating at 50 cycles per second. In the US, the power is 110 volts, 60 cycles per second. So if you do want to use your laptop, battery charger, or other electrical appliances in Italy you will definitely need plug adaptors, and possible a step-down power converter or transformer. Plug adaptors are good for many of today’s small electronic devices and laptops, but you will need a converter if you plan on using your hair dryer or curling iron. If you buy a power converter, make sure its power rating meets or exceeds the power rating of the single device you will use with it. This information is usually found on the body of the device near the power cord.

It is also worth mentioning that Italian power sockets come in two different sizes. There are normal power sockets, and Schuko Grounded sockets for larger appliances. An adaptor plug will work in either socket, but if you are using a product purchased elsewhere in Europe, you may need a larger plug adaptor to make use of the larger plug sockets.

A corkscrew may be helpful if you plan on buying wine and picnicking! Save the 20 Euro you would have to spend on a junky opener in the small hill-town local grocery store (which may or may not even exist!) and pack a good metal corkscrew in your carry on for when you find yourself with a beautiful view, a nice bottle of wine, and nobody to open it for you. Most wines in Italy are not equipped with screw-tops, like they are in the United States. So embrace the old world and pop some corks!

For women visiting Italy in the summer, you will need to bring some kind of cover-up or shawl in case you plan on visiting any churches. Most churches won’t allow women in with very short shorts, or their shoulders exposed. Some churches may provide you with some kind of cover-up, but having your own balled up in your bag is much more hygienic and you can pick one that matches your outfit!

Be sure to bring some photocopies of your passport. Italy is a very safe country, but there is a lot of poverty and a lot of pick-pocketing going on, especially during the summer months near bus or train stations. Please be aware of your surroundings at all times, and be sure to leave your passport in a secure place while you are out sightseeing. A copy of your passport should be sufficient in most situations where an Italian authority may ask for official identification. So make a copy, stick it in your wallet, and leave your passport at the hotel!

Be sure to check up on the different weather conditions where you will be traveling. With its temperate Mediterranean climate, variations are frequent and despite being reputed as “sunny Italy” there do tend to be heavy downpours at certain times of year. Packing an umbrella however is not essential, as you will soon notice that they are for sale on every street corner if drops start falling!

On that note, please read on to the Seasons and Weather in Italy. We’ve already done a lot of the research for you!

In May of 2014, my husband and I experienced the trip of a lifetime to Italy. L&B Italian Tours arranged the entire trip and we just showed up.

It was fantastic! We experienced fabulous food, scenery straight out of a storybook, and wine. Oh, the wine!

One of the best parts of the trip was our tour guide – Silvia. She showed us Florence, Greve, the beaches at Viareggio and various vineyards in the Tuscan and Chianti regions that we would never have found on our own.

The trip was first-class in every way and we can’t wait to return!

Our L&B tour guide Silvia provided us a wonderfully unique walking tour of Florence. Her vast knowledge of the city and her fun, personable nature made our day an incredible experience.

Silvia knows the places to go, whether it is visiting the major sights, enjoying local foods, or shopping for quality Italian clothing, leather goods, or perfume. Our boat trip on the Arno River floating under the Ponte Vecchio at sunset created a magical addition to our already awesome day!Since we had been to Florence previously, we wanted to explore the city from the perspective of a local.

Silvia tailored the tour specific to our requests and provided us an outstanding experience that made the day uniquely different from any of our previous trips. Absolutely fantastic way to explore Florence!

We wanted to let you know that our L&B tour guide Silvia was fantastic and that everything you provided for us was timely and awesome!It could not have been any better.

Our customized itineraries took into account every aspect of Italy that we were hoping to see and experience and the cooking classes you recommended were top notch. We loved the wine tastings and excursions as well. Thank you for everything!!

We loved your tours - Wonderful - meraviglioso / Fantastic - fantastico

 My family and I had an amazing time while in Italy. We visited Venice, Florence, Rome - Thank you L&B Italian Tours!

Your tours, tour guides, and customer service were excellent.  I will highly recommend you to all my family and friends.

We will be ready to go back in 2 years and I look forward to using your services again.