Perfect Pairings: Florence & Rural Tuscany
Bespoke private experiences and sublime boutique retreats showcase Italy's beauty on this indulgent tour. Revel in the glorious beauty and culinary delights of Florence with your personal Michelin-starred chef cooking session. Immerse yourself in the idyllic Tuscan countryside with exclusive vintage wine tastings and truffle hunting.
Journey highlights
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Delve into local markets of Florence with Michelin starred chef Marco Stabile and create dishes like you’ve never cooked before
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Pair stunning boutique retreats and first-class luxuries, facilities and decadent restaurants to enjoy at your leisure
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Get up close with master producers - from pecorino cheese to wine makers and olive oil producers
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Be blown away by the exclusive pairings this itinerary offers with bespoke culinary experiences curated just for you
- Culinary itinerary:A gastronomic delight, our Culinary Journeys take you on a cultural voyage, sampling everything from traditional bites to fine dining delicacies
Our tailor made journeys include:
- Your dedicated Travel Consultant who will take care of arrangements
- Private international airport transfers in destination
- Your own private, English-speaking local guides
- Unique experiences, hand-picked by our Journeys team
- Entrance to must-see local sites
- Dedicated 24/7 team providing in-country support and guidance
- Complimentary access to My Scott Dunn – industry-leading travel app providing pre-departure information and in-journey support
When to visit
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Florence is an exciting place to visit at any time of the year, and most attractions are open all year round. The best time to visit Florence is in May, early June, late September and October. Days during those months are usually warm, and quite long. July and August are hot and humid with many tourists. Since most Italians leave their hot cities in the summer, many restaurants are closed in Florence.
Winter can get cold, particularly January but it is quiet. Temperatures are more favourable in the spring and autumn months.
The Mediterranean climate makes Tuscany a year round destination. It is important to remember that the main tourism season stretches from mid-April to the end of September with July and August being peak months. The best time to visit Tuscany is in the quieter part of the season, from April to June and from September to October when weather is usually good, prices lower and there are "fewer" tourists. Many have also discovered the advantages of visiting during the "low season" (late autumn and early spring) as the reduced number of tourists is visible.
Itinerary
Florence, Italy
Stylish and utterly charming, you will start your exceptional trip at the Hotel Lungarno in Florence, boasting iconic views onto the Arno and the Ponte Vecchio, featuring Florence’s finest contemporary art collection with over 400 works of art including Cocteau and Picasso. Settle in and enjoy the most stylish riverside restaurant in the whole of Florence, Hotel Lungarno's fine dining Michelin-starred restaurant, Borgo San Jacopo, serving delectable Italian cuisine and wines to match. For a little after-dinner indulgence, head to the Picteau Cocktail Bar for its irresistible list of vintage cocktails.
The following morning you will start with your first magical experience on a private cookery class with Michelin starred chef Marco Stabile. First Marco will take you to the market where you will meet his highly regarded suppliers and buy your ingredients to take back to Marco’s famous restaurant Ora d’Aria. The restaurant is in a prime location just a few steps from the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi. Here you will embark on an exclusive and private cooking class with Marco where you will learn the secrets of how to cook like a Michelin starred chef and create a delicious four course meal which you will all enjoy together for lunch. Head back you your hotel feeling content and replete.
After a stunning couple of days in Florence it is time to wind your way into the Tuscan countryside. En route to Chiusdino you will meet the experienced olive oil producing Lombardi family and the sleek site they run to produce award winning olive oils. You will learn all about the intricate process of olive oil production and enjoy a tour of the olive groves and the facinating production process. Cap off the visit with a tasting of all the different olive oils produced by the estate.
Tuscany, Italy
Roll into the glorious Borgo Santo Pietro, a stunning 13th century villa estate which has been painstakingly and lovingly restored into a beautiful and luxurious boutique hotel. Surrounded by 13 acres of gardens this hotel really offers seclusion and relaxation in the most enchanting setting. On those sun-drenched days cool off in the large infinity pool.
You will be drawn to the grounds outside so what better place to start than with a tour of Borgo Santo Pietro’s culinary gardens. The head chef will share all their love and passion for everything they grow for the hotel's consumption and how they incorporate it all into their mouth-watering delicacies. Followed by a sumptuous gourmet picnic in the grounds, enjoy some time at your leisure basking in the Tuscan sun.
The following day you will be privileged to visit a pecorino cheese producer in Pienza where you will discover the traditional methods of cheese production still used in this charming town. With the delicious taste of Pecorino firmly in your mind head on to a local family-owned winery for a private vertical tasting session of six Brunello di Montalcino vintages, including an exclusive tasting of Brunello Riserva with a member of the family. This is a most enjoyable afternoon taking in the knowledge and artisan flare of this family estate, you will also be lucky enough to try more exquisite wines. Delicious!
In the morning, discover the exclusive world of truffle hunting, and the secrets behind Tuscany's most elusive ingredient. You will be shown the tricks of the trade, so be sure to find as much as possible before relaxing for lunch in a local osteria - your very own truffles will be on the menu! After all this indulgence round off your trip with an immersive cycling tour with a private guide, meandering along the glorious Tuscan country roads. Choose between mountain or road bikes and cycle many of the paths followed by the Giro d’Italia that pass through the area.
Accommodation: Borgo Santo Pietro ( 3 nights )
Call us on 212 372 7009 to start planning your holiday.