In Italy with Cosimo

This is the beginning of our journey where you will be welcomed by Cosimo in your first four-star hotel.

After check-in you will be introduced to your personal Florence guide for a walking tour of the historic center. Although it is famous for its large squares, it is in the narrow alleys that you can enter the true depth of the city.

Nothing in Florence is random. Everything has a why and it is through the stories and anecdotes you share with your guide that will reveal the mysteries and secrets of the city.

The day ends with a welcome dinner at one of Florence’s renowned restaurants where you will be introduced to traditional Tuscan cuisine and taste Chianti wines.

The day begins at the Uffizi, famous for being the first gallery founded in the world. Here our personal tour guide will lead us through the fascinating development of the Renaissance.

Afterwards there is free time for eating, shopping and sightseeing before we return together to visit Palazzo Vecchio. Much more than Florence’s city hall, this was the heart of the Medici’s strong control over the city, and its walls hold many secrets that will be shared with you.

The tour culminates with an optional climb to the tower for breathtaking views of the city.

A visit to Florence would not be complete without a visit to the Academy of Fine Arts. Replicas of Michelangelo’s David can be found all over the city, but here you will see the original and learn more about its fascinating background.

We will be happy to provide suggestions for some free time in the afternoon, but later in the day we will gather for a traditional pasta class that will conclude with dinner. Savor the fruits of your labors paired with local wines.

Today we set out in comfortable mini vans to reach Florence’s historic competitor, Siena. Famous today for the Palio di Siena, a horse race held in the main square, Siena’s history is deep and complex. Upon arrival we will be met by a local guide who will take you through the city and unveil some of its mysteries. After a shared lunch, we will check into the hotel and gather in the early evening for one of Italy’s great institutions: the aperitivo.

We will be happy to provide suggestions for some free time in the afternoon, but later in the day we will gather for a traditional pasta class that will conclude with dinner. Savor the fruits of your labors paired with local wines.

In the 13th century, how did powerful families gain superiority and demonstrate their wealth? They built a tower. There are more towers left in the medieval village of San Gimignano than any other village in Italy, and this produces a fascinating landscape.

After learning about the tumultuous history of San Gimignano, we will travel through the rolling hills of Chianti to arrive in Panzano.
Dario Cecchini is an eighth-generation butcher whose family clients included Leonardo Da Vinci and Dante Alighieri. Still running a butcher shop, Dario has expanded his operations to include restaurants in Panzano featured in Chef’s Table. A table has been reserved for you!

We will be happy to provide suggestions for some free time in the afternoon, but later in the day we will gather for a traditional pasta class that will conclude with dinner. Savor the fruits of your labors paired with local wines.

We leave Siena bound for Rome, traveling through the vineyards and olive groves of the Val D’Orcia. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, it has been a source of inspiration for many Renaissance painters.

The first stop will be a historic winery in Montalcino, owned by a local family from which you will learn all about Brunello di Montalcino, including how to appreciate it by drinking different vintages.

After wine tasting, we will venture a few more kilometers to Pienza, a papal village famous for its pecorino cheese. Here we will enjoy a gourmet lunch in a former 15th-century convent with breathtaking views of the Val D’Orcia.

Next we will travel to Montepulciano, a typical medieval Tuscan village that boasts green landscapes marked by rolling hills and castle walls. Situated on a limestone hill 2000 meters above sea level, it is world famous for its “Vino Nobile.” There we will visit a historic winery called “The Underground City” located on the lower floor of a local wine shop.

We will arrive in Rome in the early evening where you will be checked in to your accommodation.

We begin the day with a guided walking tour of the historic center of the Eternal City, rich in art, architecture, culture and…. fountains (Rome has more fountains than any other city in the world).

After getting your bearings, you will be free to explore the wonders of Rome at your leisure. Cosimo will be able to provide suggestions for sightseeing, shopping and grazing.

We will meet again in the evening for appetizers and pizza.

A visit to Rome would not be complete without visiting the world’s smallest state: the Vatican. The Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums are two of the most iconic places in Rome. Rich in history, culture and religious power, there is no other place in the Eternal City where so many artistic treasures are concentrated. The majestic views will be complemented by our personal guide’s wealth of knowledge.

After some free time at noon we will explore another hidden gem of Rome, the Coppedè District. Designed and built in the 1920s, this Gaudi-style suburb will welcome you with bizarre and surreal buildings containing sculptures and architectural decorations with Masonic and esoteric symbolic meanings. Its mysterious and magical dimension is unlike any other part of Rome.

Our trip ends with a farewell dinner at a nearby local restaurant, located in the cloister of Caprera Square.