Arrive in Rome and are met by your tour manager and touring coach driver. We head north and move into our home in the spa town of Montecatini Terme. Here we are “off the beaten path” of Venice-Florence-Rome and in the heart of magical Tuscany. This provides us a “hub and spoke” sort of vacation where we’ll have the luxury of settling in and need not unpack and repack frequently. Most of day trip destinations are less than an hour away.

Enjoy a Tuscan welcome dinner prepared for our group. (D)

Picture, a hot springs spa in Montecatini Terme

This morning, we travel through the chestnut and oak trees of the Montalbano hills, and estates, vineyards and olive groves, on your way to the village birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. Here, we will learn all about the quintessential Renaissance man and his many interests: painting, sculpture, anatomy, inventions and music. Later, visit a bakery in a local village to discover Italian bread making, then enjoy fresh bread, local cheeses, cold cuts and with a glass of wine. We return to our home base, where we can discover the local cuisine in Montecatini. 

Note: if there is a day you would like to have a free for La Dolce Vita or a private excursion, you can do that any of days 3-8. (B, L)

We visit Tuscany’s Chianti Valley between Florence and Siena that has been famous for excellent wines for eight centuries and visit bucolic Greve where we will have a delightful lunch. In the afternoon, we visit a Tuscan estate renowned for its Chianti and “Supertuscan” wines. (B, L)

Greve in Chianti Arcades

You have a free morning to wander through Montecatini. Join Larry and bring your camera and meet locals in this spa town. This afternoon we head to a rustic farmhouse in the Tuscan countryside. We start by picking ingredients from the garden and learn about the principles of Italian cuisine. Then you are welcome to help prepare and cook the meal so you can learn by doing. We look forward to enjoying the wonderful dinner we prepare together. (B, D)

You can ascend to Montecatini Alto (the image at the top of the tour's webpage) during your free time by riding the funicular (above) from Montecatini Terme

Visit another off-the-beaten path town, Lucca, a wonderful walled medieval town rich history and culture. Immerse yourself in the cultural collections at the Palazzo Mansi Museum. Then a local guide will show us the Old Town’s cobblestones and cafés. Then we have Cafe Crawl snack brunch with main course restaurant. Then, see the gardens of Palazzo Pfanner with its lovely views has become a film site such 1996’s The Portrait of a Lady. (B, L)

 Palazzo Pfanner gardens in Lucca is pictured

We travel among vineyards and cypress trees to tiny Bolgheri, population 131. The gate of its red-brick castle welcomes us to the Old Town and its wineries. Later we stop for a wonderful view of the Etruscan coast and have lunch. (B, L)

Cypress trees line the way to Bolgheri

Today is yours to do as you please. You can ride up the funicular to Montecatini Alto, schedule a spa day for yourself or to join an optional excursion to Florence. Dinner is included tonight. (B, D)

Florence Cathedral

Free morning. Drive to Rome via the almost impregnable Orvieto in Umbria. Built on a flat-topped butte of high cliffs from the 1290s, its site was an important refuge after the fall of the Roman Empire. Continue on to Rome. Free evening in the eternal city. (B, L)

Photo: Orvieto

In our sightseeing of ancient Rome, we see the Colosseum, Roman Forum and the Pantheon. We are working on a few more features and a surprise or two before our included farewell dinner tonight. (B, D)

The Pantheon in Rome

We say arrivederci to our Italian home, and board the airport transfer for American Airlines non-stop to Chicago. Motor coach to Central Illinois with memories of a unique visit to Italy Off the Beaten Path. (B)

Included meals are noted each day in parenthesis with the initials of Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Photo: Tuscan countryside