Discover (or re-acquaint yourself with) Tuscany on this feast of the senses, with award-winning Chef Kevin Fonzo and the incredible wine fairy, Katie Barratt. Pampered at our estate, they both invite you to embark on a journey touching on culture, history, world-renowned food and wine.
Experience the region, the Art In Voyage way - a week making new friends, hanging out with locals and sharing home-made and family style meals.
As always on our villa-centric journeys, do as much, or as little as you would like, taking advantage of our well-balanced program, or using our courtesy vehicle to escape on your own. On this journey, we will uncover Florence, Siena, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, Orvieto, Cortona and Volterra.
One recurring theme on our villa-centric journeys is the authenticity of our dinning experiences. Be it at a local trattoria or at home with our chef and his local counterparts. Take part in the making of pasta, tiramisu or just enjoy watching our chef do his magic, prosecco on hand.
As for many of our journeys, we have taken some of the worries related to planning and budgeting out, so you may fully enjoy your experience. To that effect, all our tours and excursions as listed on the itinerary are included, as well as over 18 meals. All you have to do now is just show up and let yourself be pampered without worrying about breaking the bank once there.
Discovering Italy also means understanding the local culture and the country's history. Both are quite essential components of the food and wine traditions as well when you think about it. Yet, we also know that too much of it can be..well, too much of it. So we have created a balanced itinerary, inviting you to discover, without excess, Tuscany's traditions, culture and history through the eyes of our local historian-guides.
Let's admit it, this has to be one of the main reasons for journey-ing to Tuscany and tour incredible wine regions, not the least being Chianti, Montepulciano and Brunello. We will certainly make sure to introduce you to some of these fine producers by picking small and less known estates which we have established great relations with, all offering true Italian hospitality (and incredible wines) along the way
Our hosts pick you up at the airport, train station (or hotel) in Florence or Rome. If you are coming from Rome, we will include a stop at the beautiful town of Orvieto for lunch. You are then whisked away to your what will be your dream home for the next 7 nights. Tonight, Chef Fonzo has prepared a traditional and authentic family style welcome dinner, paired with local wines carefully selected by our Wine Fairy.
Sundays are always better enjoyed relaxing and discovering the property and its neighborhood. So today is at leisure, at the villa. Yet, later this morning, you will be able to enjoy your first cooking class with Chef Fonzo before lunch is served. This afternoon, enjoy a complimentary massage. Late afternoon, we depart for a wine tasting in the area, before coming home where dinner is served at the estate, paired with wines selected at the featured estate of the day.
You are invited to discover the incredible town (and UNESCO Wold Heritage Site) of San Gimignano where we hold a Michelin Star tasting lunch at Cum Quibus. Before departing for a wine tasting, guests will have time to discover more of the town. Dinner is served at the estate, paired with some of the wines discovered during the day.
This morning, we make our way to beautiful Florence where Paolo, our local historian, awaits for a 3-hour walking tour. Lunch and early afternoon at leisure (a private artisan tour may be organized for our guests interested in learning about leather and gold craft). On the way back, we stop at one of our favorite Chianti wineries for a tasting before heading back to the estate where dinner is prepared and served by Chef Fonzo.
This morning, we depart for Siena, where our guide awaits for a 2-hour guided tour of this ancient rival of Florence. After lunch (own account, with our recommendation), guests have some time to discover more of this incredible town. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, providing you some down time to enjoy the pool and the ground. Dinner is prepared and served by Chef Fonzo, with wines selected by Katie.
After a morning at leisure, we depart for our last cooking class of the week. You will enjoy a pasta making session along with other traditional Tuscan dishes. Lunch will be served as part of the class. We then depart for our last wine tasting of the week taking on one last DOC in the region. Tonight, as it is the tradition on our journeys, we hold our farewell dinner at one of our favorite Michelin-starred restaurant in a unique setting.
This morning is at leisure. For guests eager to continue touring some more, one of our vehicle will head to Cortona, while another one will take guests to Volterra. Looking to do something unique? Let us set you up for truffle hunting or a vintage car tour of the hilltop villages and wineries. Tonight, dinner is prepared by Chef Fonzo who teaches us about his "re-purposing" approach to sustainability, with wines selected by our lovely wine fairy.
Discover Italy beyond Tuscany. We would be happy to assist in creating your very own customized journey to Venice, Rome, Lake Como, Sicily or anywhere you may find yourself wanting to go to. Ask one of our curators about your options.
This superbly re-modeled villa maintains much of the antique charm of its 16th-century origins.
Located in the Greve in Chianti district of Tuscany, it enjoys its own expansive estate with a lovely dining terrace and private infinity swimming pool. The classical architecture features beautiful stone facades and a colombaia (turret) with 360-degree views of the countryside. It is tastefully decorated and features superb artwork with women-centered themes (hence the “Donne” of the villa’s name).
Nestled amid flowering gardens and surrounded by some of the region’s finest vineyards, the estate offers an exceptional venue for special occasions or serene escapes.
The main dining room with farmhouse table is perfect for night-time feasts with family and friends. Upstairs, the spa-style plunge pool gazes out on the landscape through a picture window.
All seven suites feature queen beds and en-suite or private bathrooms.
Rates displayed are per person, based on double occupancy.
The team at Art In Voyage planed and executed another wonderful trip, my wife and I had a wonderful time in Italy and look forward to booking our next trip with Mikael.
Wonderful trip with Art In Voyage. Billed as a food and wine tour through Tuscany but it was much more then that. The villa was fantastic and the view was out of a movie scene. Mikael and Kevin could not have more helpful and they and our group soon became like family. Beautiful country and a great trip.
All listed retreats (hotels, villas and barges) are, at times, subject to changes. If replaced, similar or higher standards will be upheld.
A refundable deposit of $750 per person is due at the time of your reservation. In case of a cancelation at more than 60 days prior to departure, your deposit will be returned minus a $250 per person administrative fee.
Your final balance is due 60 days prior to departure, at which point your journey becomes non-refundable.
NEW! Find a replacement at least 30 days prior to departure and your journey will be fully refunded, minus a $250 per person administrative fee.
