A Day in the Life , Pettino
WESTERN EUROPE
Lucca Chianti , Tuscany
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U . S . Fly overnight to Florence , Italy .
DAY 2 • Lucca , Italy Transfer to Lucca , check into our hotel and meet those who traveled on our optional History and Culinary Delights of Bologna & Parma , Italy pre-trip extension .
Hotel San Luca Palace or similar
DAY 3 • Lucca Set off on a walking tour to explore Lucca , a UNESCO World Heritage Site . As we explore , we ’ ll find quiet , tree-lined squares and ancient churches with ornate facades of green , gray , and white marble . Our stroll also takes us by the Duomo di San Martino , or St . Martin ’ s Cathedral , which was originally built in 1063 . After a free afternoon to explore on your own , we ’ ll gather for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant .
Meals : B , D | Hotel San Luca Palace or similar
DAY 4 • Lucca • Carrara Marble Quarries • Conversation about marble production • Home-Hosted Lunch
Depart for Carrara and visit the ancient marble quarries . Afterward , meet a former quarry worker to discuss the impacts of marble quarrying in the area . Later this afternoon , enjoy a Home-Hosted Lunch with a local family in Marina di Carrara before returning to Lucca .
Meals : B , L | Hotel San Luca Palace or similar
DAY 5 • Lucca • Florence • Chianti region Board a bus to Florence , birthplace of the Renaissance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site . In the company of a local guide , set off on a walking tour of the historic city center . Highlights include the Ponte Vecchio , the Church of San Miniato , the Oltrarno neighborhood , and the Piazza Santo Spirito . After some free time to explore the city on your own , depart for the Chianti countryside .
Meals : B , D | Villa Il Leccio or similar
DAY 6 • A Day in the Life in the Chianti Valley Enjoy A Day in the Life in the Chianti Valley , first stopping at a local goat farm to learn about sustainable agricultural methods and then enjoying lunch with our hosts . Later , join your Trip Experience Leader on an optional hike through the Chianti Valley .
Meals : B , L , D | Villa Il Leccio or similar
DAY 7 • Chianti countryside • Olive oil mill • Cooking class & farmhouse lunch
Drive through the Chianti countryside , traveling through Tuscany ’ s rolling , vineyard-carpeted hills . Stop at an olive oil mill and enjoy a tasting of this staple of Tuscan cooking . Then , continue to a nearby town for a cooking lesson and lunch at an agriturismo farmhouse .
Meals : B , L , D | Villa Il Leccio or similar
DAY 8 • Pienza • Siena Transfer to Pienza , beginning with a short ride into Siena . Discover Siena ’ s Old Town , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and stroll from Piazza del Campo to Porta Romana . Departing Siena , a scenic drive brings us through the hills of Tuscany before arriving in Pienza .
Meals : B , D | Piccolo Hotel La Valle or similar
DAY 9 • Etruscan Museum • Montepulciano Visit the Etruscan Museum for a talk on the history of the Etruscans in the Chianciano community . After , we ’ ll explore the medieval hilltop town of Montepulciano .
Meals : B , L | Piccolo Hotel La Valle or similar
DAY 10 • Pienza • Optional Pitigliano & Sovana tour
Today is yours to make your own discoveries in Pienza . Or , join our full-day optional tour to discover the rich Jewish heritage of Pitigliano and the ancient Etruscan necropolis of Sovana .
Meals : B | Piccolo Hotel La Valle or similar
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT
On Day 6 , spend A Day in the Life of the Chianti Valley , a region rich in gastronomic heritage .
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