|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Our Itineraries La Selvella www.selvella.com
Tuscan Country Cooking Walk
7 day tour
Monday - Day 2: Truffle hunting around Radicofani Distance: approx. 6km. Altitude: approx. 880 metres Degree of difficulty: easy Shade: good This morning we will meet Gianni, our truffle guide who, with the help of his faithful truffle hounds, will accompany us along woodland trails, home to wild boar and deer, pheasant and partridges, in the search of truffles. Then onto the charming medieval village of Radicofani with its imposing fortress, set in a unique panoramic position with views over the surrounding area as far as Siena, Lake Trasimeno and Lake Bolsena. Here the legendary Ghino di Tacco imprisoned the Abbot of Cluny, as related by Boccaccio in the Decameron. After lunch we can saunter through the narrow streets and visit the Romanesque church of San Pietro which houses works by the Della Robbia workshop, and La Posta built by the Grand-duke Ferdinando I of the Medici family as a hunting lodge, and which later became an inn giving lodging to such illustrious characters as Dickens and the Marquis de Sade. Lunch will be in a local restaurant. There will then be time to relax at La Selvella before donning your aprons for the first lesson of the week with Marina where you will help her prepare another memorable Tuscan meal. Tuesday - Day 3: Circular walk from Bagno Vignoni. Distance: approx. 10km Altitude: approx. 409 metres Degree of difficulty: moderate Shade: good for the first half - scarce after that We will drive to the medieval hamlet of Bagno Vignoni, a thermal spa with a Renaissance pool in the main square where hot water bubbles up from underground springs. Here Santa Caterina of Siena and Lorenzo the Magnificent of the Medici family came to enjoy the benefits of these waters. This walk will take you below the village close to the banks of the River Orcia and then you will climb up and walk along a dirt road with magnificent views of the Orcia valley. There will be a picnic lunch before arriving back at Bagno Vignoni where you can soak your weary body in the hot spa pool before returning to la Selvella for dinner. Before dinner we will be joined by a wine producer from Montalcino who will guide you through a wine tasting lesson, pointing out the do’s and don’ts and the why’s and wherefore’s of wine tasting. Wednesday - Day 4: walk from Montalcino to Sant’Antimo Distance: approx. 9km. Altitude: approx. 540 metres Degree of difficulty: easy Shade: variable This morning we take a scenic drive through the Val d’Orcia to Montalcino, the heart of the Brunello wine country, where we begin our walk through olive groves and vineyards to the romantic abbey of Sant’Antimo which is said to have been founded by Charlemagne in 781. From here we have lunch at a local farm which has an old olive mill and you can discover the secrets behind making the high quality, low acid extra virgin olive oil, so typical of this area. We will then be driven back to La Selvella for another fun cookery lesson. Thursday - Day 5: Pienza – Il Rigo Distance: approx. 6km. Altitude: approx. 490 metres Degree of difficulty: easy Shade: scarce We will be transferred to Pienza, birthplace in 1405 of Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini later to become Pope Pius II. Pope Pius commissioned Bernardo Rossellino to build the Duomo and the surrounding square and palaces, and in 1996 Pienza was recognised by UNESCO for its fine Renaissance architecture, and inscribed onto their world heritage list. We will have time to wander the narrow alleys which inspired Zeffirelli to film Romeo and Juliet here, before setting off on your walk, stopping off below the walls of the town to visit the Pieve of Corsignano an enchanting Romanesque parish church, where Aeneas Silvius was baptised. The walk will take us through the rolling wheat fields below Pienza to the medieval farmhouse Il Rigo for our lunch. We will then be transferred back to La Selvella for a lesson on making the traditional cantucci biscuits for dipping into Vin Santo wine. Friday - Day 6: Montichiello - Montepulciano Distance: approx. 10km. Altitude: approx. 665 metres Degree of difficulty: easy Shade: scarce Today we take a short drive to the medieval hamlet of Montichiello where we start our walk to the famous wine producing town of Montepulciano, birthplace of the great Classical scholar Angelo Ambrogini, better known as ‘Poliziano’. After lunch there is the chance of seeing a traditional coppersmith at work before visiting one of the oldest and most beautiful wineries in the country, for a private wine-tasting of one of Italy’s most famous wines ‘Il Nobile’. We then return by bus to La Selvella. Saturday - Day 7: Santa Maria in Belverde - Cetona Distance: approx. 4km. Altitude: approx. 600 metres Degree of difficulty: moderate Shade: good Today we walk through an area said to be one of the most important Bronze Age sites in central Italy and visit the medieval church of Santa Maria in Belverde. ;newWindow.focus()) Lunch will
be in the medieval village of Cetona. After lunch we will return to La Selvella by bus and you
will help Marina prepare another feast. Saturday - Day 8: Day of departure. After breakfast you will be driven to Chiusi station. We hope you have enjoyed your holiday and will come backsoon. Price: Euro 1.295,00 (one thousand two hundred and ninety five euro) per person. Single suppl. €100 This price includes: 7 nights half board accommodation at La Selvella: accommodation in a twin or double room with bathroom, breakfast and a 4 course dinner with wine 6 lunches (without wine) 4 cookery lessons 1 wine lesson a truffle guide a map of the area 1 wine tasting a visit to an olive mill admission to a hot water spa a trekking guide transport to and from Chiusi station transport to the start of the walks and at the end of the walks. This price is for a group of minimum 7 people. |
;newWindow.focus())
The wonders of Tuscan cuisine, freshly toasted bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil, full-bodied soups, delicate home-made pastas and mouth-watering sauces, porcini mushrooms, roast meats, pecorino cheese and delicious deserts all complimented by the many first class wines that this region has to offer.
Our gourmet week offers the chance of learning the secrets of authentic Tuscan country cooking with “hands on” cookery lessons, as well as exploring sun dappled woodlands with a licensed truffle hunter and his dogs in search of priceless truffles, walking the ancient byways once trodden by emperors and brigands, popes and paupers accompanied by vineyards, breathtaking scenery, and olive trees that hang heavy with fruit.
Every morning there will be a walk of no more than 10km to arrive for lunch at an old olive mill, farmhouse or local restaurant. You will visit one of the oldest and most beautiful wineries which produces the Nobile wine of Montepulciano. There will also be a lesson on tasting wine given by an experienced sommelier from Montalcino, home of the renown Brunello wine. You will visit the workshop of a traditional coppersmith, who will enthusiastically demonstrate his skills in the making of heavy copper cooking pots, skills which have been passed down to him through generations.
In the afternoon you will return to La Selvella where there will be time to relax before donning your aprons to make home-made pasta and sauces amidst much laughter and delight.
|
|||||||||||||
Address: Podere San Luca II - Loc. Trevinano - 01021 Acquapendente (VT) - Italy Partita IVA: 00843860529 Phone: (+39) 0763717120 Fax: (+39) 057855555 Internet: www.tuscantrekking.com |
| ©Tuscan Trekking Itineraries - Webmaster: TrasiNet && Goalnet s.r.l. |