Tuscany, Italy: A Culinary Journey

Tuscany: A Culinary Journey

Trip Duration: 9 Days/8 Nights

 

Starr has partnered with Premier World Discovery, a professional tour operator handling escorted tour arrangements. With 25 years experience, PWD's goal is to provide travelers with an unforgettable experience featuring sightseeing, history, culture, and fun!

 

 

Trip Inclusions:

• Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 4 Dinners

• Tour Director upon arrival in Florence

• Round Trip airfare from EWR/PHL airport

• Transfers between airport & hotels

• Baggage handling and related gratuities

 

 

Trip Highlights:

 

Tuscany

Tuscany is found in central Italy, and is beloved around the world for its magnificent landscapes, medieval hilltop towns, exquisite food and wine. As well as its outstanding natural beauty and internationally renowned cuisine, the region is also the home of Renaissance art and the ancient Etruscan civilization.

 

Tuscan Estate Dinner

Travel to a lovely Tuscan Estate for a traditional Tuscan dinner and wines from the estate.

 

Pasta Making Cooking Class

Enjoy an Organic cooking & pasta making class and lunch. Enjoy a welcome drink while the chef discusses the class, recipe and food to be made. The restaurant staff will assist you with putting on your aprons and the cooking fun begins! At the end of the cooking class you will get to eat and enjoy what you have prepared for lunch.

 

Olive Oil Tasting

Visit a local Olive Oil producing farm to learn how olive oil is produced. Sample some organic extra virgin olive oil, along with vinegar.

 

Wine Tasting

Learn about and sample the wines from a traditional Tuscan estate.

 

Siena

Located in the heart of Tuscany, Siena is known for its architectural gems, bustling squares, and UNESCO World Heritage historic center. Throughout the centuries it became a prosperous town that now counts agriculture and tourism as its main sources of income. You can browse the Siena Civic Museum, Duomo Cathedral, and National Gallery. Then, sip Tuscan wines in the piazza and climb Torre del Mangia for incredible views and photo opportunities.

 

Siena Walking Tour

A local guide awaits you for a walking tour in the Old Town. The highlight is the Piazza del Campo, the seashell-shaped square on which the famous horse-race, the Palio, takes place each year. Enjoy lunch on your own.

 

Dinner at Tuscan Farmhouse & Winery

Visit a local Tuscan Farmhouse and enjoy dinner featuring typical Tuscan dishes paired with local wine.

 

Volterra

Volterra is another handsome medieval Tuscan hill-town where the glory days are a distant memory. In Volterra’s case, very distant: the “city” known as Velathri reached its peak when the (pre-Roman) Etruscans were calling the shots in Tuscany. In the 1st century BC, Volterra’s walls enclosed an area almost twice as large as today’s atmospheric little town. Most of the surviving architecture dates to the medieval period, especially around Piazza dei Priori and the warren of narrow, shadowy streets that surround it.

 

San Gimignano

San Gimignano is the epitome of a Tuscan hill town. About 25 miles from both Florence and Siena, it's the region's glamour girl: Visually striking and perfectly preserved. It is beloved because of its skyline of medieval towers. Though a unique sight today, pointy skylines were the norm in Tuscany in the Middle Ages, when feuding noble families ran the hill towns (think Montagues and Capulets). Each family had its own private army that would periodically battle things out from the protection of its respective family towers. While some were built as a refuge against attackers, others were empty, chimney-like structures built only to boost noble egos.

 

Gelato Tasting

In San Gimignano, enjoy a delicious gelato ice cream in one of the oldest gelateria in Italy that produces unique flavors of gelato which are famous world-wide.

 

Lunch at a local Farmhouse

Visit a local Tuscan Farmhouse and enjoy dinner featuring typical Tuscan dishes paired with local wine

 

Lake Trasimeno Boat Excursion

Journey to Lake Trasimeno located in the Umbria Region of Tuscany. The heart shaped Lake Trasimeno is surrounded by rolling hills, olive groves, woods of oak and cypress trees, vineyards and sunflower fields that frame castle-topped medieval towns and villages. Enjoy a boat cruise to the Island Maggiore.

 

Island Maggiore with Lunch & Wine

Isola Maggiore is the second largest island (59 acres) on Lake Trasimeno, in Umbria, central Italy. It is the only inhabited island on the lake, with a current population of 35. The Guglielmi Castle was built in the 1880s on the site of the monastery, but has since fallen into disrepair. The castle was in the process of being turned into a luxury resort, but in 2010 the company declared bankruptcy. Today the town is dependent on fishing, agriculture, tourism and traditional Irish lace making which was introduced in the 1900s. Some of the olive trees on the island are hundreds of years old. Visitors can explore the old town and hill; paths cross the island through the olive groves.

 

Florence

Florence, the home of the Renaissance and birthplace of our modern world, has the best Renaissance art in Europe. In a single day, you can look Michelangelo's David in the eyes, fall under the seductive sway of Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and climb the modern world's first dome, which still dominates the skyline. Of course, Florentine art goes beyond paintings and statues — enjoy the food, fashion, and street markets. Sure, Florence is touristy. But where else can you stroll the same pedestrian streets walked by Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Botticelli.

 

Florence City Tour

Today enjoy a Florence City Tour featuring a visit to the Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo’s original Statue of David, an incredible sight. View the Cathedral to see Giotto’s Bell Tower and Baptistry with its impressive ‘Gates of Paradise’. Buildings that demonstrate the traditions of Florentine art and architecture from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Also see the open-air museum of Piazza Della Signoria & Santa Croce, which houses the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo.

 

Learn about Truffles

Learn about truffles followed by delicious tastings of oil and truffle butter bruschetta, salami, pecorino cheese.

 

Academy Gallery

The Academy Gallery is the second most visited museum in Florence, and the main attraction, David by Michelangelo, is considered one of the most important works of art ever created. You may be wondering, what else is there to see at the Academy? How about a $16 million dollar violin? Trinity by Alesso Baldovinetti, depicts the holy trinity between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Assumption of the Virgin by Perugino, which is a panel painting featured in the center with a rounded top and showing the Virgin Mary ascending into heaven; Resurrection by Raffaellino del Garbo, depicting Jesus leaving the tomb; and Deposition by Filippino Lippi, a brilliant work showing Christ being removed from the cross after his death.

 

Statue of David

The Statue of David embodies the city of Florence, symbolizing independence and strength in the perfect image of youthful beauty. Michelangelo's David took on new meaning shortly after its creation as both a symbol of the Renaissance and a representation of the city itself.

 

Piazza Dela Signoria

See the open-air museum of Piazza Della Signoria, which houses the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo. The Piazza della Signoria has been the center of political life in Florence since the 14th century with the prominent Palazzo Vecchio overlooking the square. It was the scene of great triumphs, such as the return of the Medici in 1530 as well as the Bonfire of the Vanities instigated by Savonarola, who was then himself burned at the stake here in 1498 after he was denounced by the Inquisition as a heretic. A marble circle inscription on the piazza shows the location where he was burned.

 

Santa Croce

Santa Croce is a museum complex that brings together the Basilica, the chapels, the monastery, the bell tower and the part dedicated exclusively to exhibitions, such as the former refectory. Thanks to its artistic and cultural vocation, it still bears the signs of the past of the most important figures of late Medieval and Renaissance Florentine history. The entire space is a museum where the pictorial masterpieces by Giotto, Cimabue and Donatello stand out together with the tombs of saints, scientists, high political and literary figures.

 

In addition to the religious building, you can also walk in the ancient monastery, sometimes used to host public and private events, sometimes with a lot of criticism from the Florentines, who would like to maintain the sacred and cultural character of these spaces. On one of the walls overlooking the monastery, you can see some metal bars with years written on them. They are the memory of the various floods that have hit the city; each bar marks the level at which the water of the Arno river rose during these tragic floods.

 

 

Need to Know:

 

Proof of Citizenship Requirement: Passport

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the period of your stay.

 

Deposit/Final Payment Policy: Deposit is $625 per person. Final payment is due by 3/28/2025.
Cancellation Policy: If cancellation occurs from booking date to 3/28/25, a $25.00* per person penalty will be assessed. If cancellation occurs between 3/29/25 and 6/25/25, a $625.00* per person penalty will be assessed. If cancellation occurs between 6/26/25 and 9/23/25, the passenger is in full penalty and no refund will be granted.
*In addition to the cancellation polices listed above, if additional payments have been made to Starr for the purpose of securing your airline reservation, these monies are non-refundable once received. Any name changes after final payment is made will be assessed a per person change fee. The amount of the fee will be determined by the airline.

 

Accessibility:

• This is a trip for those who are physically fit and can transport their own luggage and walk long distances. This trip is NOT recommended for those who require a walker, wheelchair or walking assistance of any kind.

• There are no skycaps in Europe and hotels do not always offer luggage handling. DO NOT BRING A large/heavy suitcase.

• Not all sightseeing stops/sites accommodate wheelchairs and some locations and sightseeing activities require extensive standing, sitting or walking, sometimes on unpaved or cobblestone streets.

• Premier World Discovey/Starr is not responsible for any missed activities due to a participant's inability to participate with the group.

• The Americans with Disabilities Act is only applicable within the United States and facilities for disabled individuals are limited outside its borders. Most transportation services, including the touring motorcoaches and cruise ships, are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. Motorized scooters are not suitable on international tours.

 

Flight Schedule:

Departure: September 23, 2025

TBA

Return: October 1, 2025

TBA

**Only 1 piece of checked baggage is allowed on this trip.**

 

Travel Insurance:

Travel Insurance provides protection for your travel investment and it should always be considered. We recommend The National Tour Association's (NTA) Travel Protection Plan administered by Aon Affinity. You can purchase the enhanced plan within 14 days of deposit to cover preexisting conditions or 'cancel for any reason' coverage.

For more information: https://www.starrtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/NTA-Plan-Flyer-Starr-Tours.pdf

For frequently asked questions: https://www.starrtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NTA-Plan-Flyer-FAQ_2023.pdf

To purchase: Call 800-388-1470 or log onto: nta.aontravelprotect.com

Starr's Tour Operator location # for AON is 306035.

 

Gratuities:

Gratuities to individuals noted below are not included in the price of your tour package. Customary recognized guidelines are as follows: *Motorcoach Driver – $4-$6 per tour guest, per day

*Tour Director – $4-$6 per tour guest, per day

Accommodations:

 

Tuscany, Days 2-6:

Hotel Borgo Di Coretefreda, Boccioleto Resort, Villa Sabolini, Hotel Garden Sienna or similar

 

Florence, Days 7-8:

Hotel Villa Neroli or similar

 

Note: Hotels are subject to change and are assigned approximately 30 days prior to departure.

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