Friday          Sept 17  Morning departure for the beautiful fortress city of Lucca.  We’ll take a walking tour of the Old City, stopping to explore the Piazza and the exceptional façade of the Chiesa di San Michele in Foro, and the Pisan-style Duomo di San Martino.  Other options include the Casa di Puccini or the Palazzo Guinigi with its tree-topped tower!  After lunch at one of the many trattorias in Lucca, we’ll discover the Moorish influence in the Campo dei Miracoli in Pisa and, of course, take many photos of the Leaning Tower! Then it’s back to lovely Fiesole to relax and dine at leisure at our villa. (B, D)

Saturday       Sept 18  A morning departure for Chianti with a brief, but vital, stop in Arezzo to view some of the finest frescoes in all of Italy: the Legend of the Holy Cross (1453 -66) by Piero della Francesca.  We’ll head into the back roads of beautiful Chianti country to see some typical hilltowns and stop for lunch and a wine tasting before we arrive at our hotel:  Tenuta di Ricavo.  Ricavo is not just a villa, it’s a small village at the end of an old Roman road.  We’ll have dinner tonight at the hotel’s famous restaurant: La Pecora Nero.  Ricavo  – 4nts  (B, D) 

Sunday           Sept 19   Late morning we’re off to the walled city of Volterra. It’s situated on a high plateau with a stunning central piazza surrounded by medieval architecture.  After lunch in one of Volterra’s charming restaurants, we’ll visit the Museo Etrusco Guarnacci featuring one of the best collections of Etruscan artifacts in Italy as well as superb alabaster sculptures and vases. On our return to Ricavo, we’ll stop in San Gimignano in time to see the Romanesque Chiesa with its starry vault and peaceful elegance.  We’ll have dinner here & you’ll have time to explore and photograph this picturesque town. (B, D)

Monday         Sept 20   Today, we’re off to So. Arg. Querceto di Castellina  where the charming and delightful Laura, the Signora of the estate, will teach us to cook a full Italian meal.  After  we savor the rewards of our hard work while overlooking the beautiful vineyards , we can take a bit of a hike perhaps, or head to Ricavo via Castellina di Chianti  browsing and picking up some picnic food for a late snack dinner after we swim, hike, read or nap. (B, L,)   

Tuesday        Sept 21   A full day in Siena!  We’ll have a wonderful local guide for a morning tour on the history and art of this magical city. You’ll have lunch on your own followed by time to explore the backstreets, museums, and stores of your own chosing.  

We’ll return to Ricavo for dinner at La Pecora Nero on our last night in Chianti! (B, D)

Wednesday   Sept 22   We depart early this morning for the land of Peccorino and Vino Nobile.  On the way, we’ll stop at the Abby of Mont Oliveto-Maggiore to see the fresco cycle by Signorelli and Il Sodoma in the Great Cloister.   We’ll stop in the charming hilltown of Montisi for a relaxing lunch and then we’ll tour the gardens at La Foce, the estate that was owned by Iris Origo, the author of “War in the Val d’Orcia.” Our hotel for the next several days is the historic Relais Il Chiostro  in the hilltown of Pienza.   Pienza – 3 nts (B,L) 

Thursday       Sept 23    This morning, we’ll drink cappuccino in the garden patio.  After breakfast, we’ll leave by bus for The Abbey of St. Antimo, an example of Cistercian Romanesque architecture. An option is to hike part of the way to the Abbey arriving in time to tour a bit prior to the monks’ prayers/chants.  After lunch, we’ll have a wine & cheese tasting in lovely Montalcino.  We’ll be back in Pienza with plenty of time to roam and photograph the cobbled streets and find other interesting little restaurants. (B, L)   

Friday            Sept 24    We’ll drive through the World Heritage landscapes of the Val d’Orcia with its Cyprus-strewn hillsides and views of Mont Amato – stopping here and there - arriving in Montalpulciano for lunch.  As we leave town, we’ll stop to admire the Madonna di San Biagio, a true architectural masterpiece.  This evening we will have our formal Farewell Feast at the restaurant in our hotel, La Terrazza e La Corte del Chiostro under the supervision of chef Maurizio Abbate!  (B, D) 

Saturday       Sept 25  After Breakfast, we depart for Firenze and arriving in the section called Oltarno for lunch.  We’ll meet our guide and begin our tour of Firenze with the churches and artisans in this wonderful area of the city.  Our luggage will have been delivered to the hotel so that when we arrive, we can quickly check-in to our rooms at the beautiful Hotel Orto de’ Medici.  You’ll have the evening to explore on your own or you can do a casual walking tour with us.  Firenze – 2 nts (B, L) 

Sunday           Sept 26  Morning walking tour of Firenze with our guide stopping at the Church of San Lorenzo, the Medici Library & Chapels, & The Galleria dell’Accademia.  This afternoon, there will be an optional tour of the Uffizi Gallery. Tonight we’ll have our farewell dinner.  (B, D)

Monday           Sept 27 Alas…Farewell to Tuscany.  Until we meet again!  (B)