HUNTIN’, SAILIN’ & FISHIN’

Leap into the past and discover how Florentines lived in the Middle Ages on an entertaining, family-friendly tour of the city. Young visitors will travel back to the 14th century and take a peek at the customs and traditions of an ancient household.

The echoes of medieval domestic life still resonate inside the noble Gothic residence of Palazzo Davanzati. As you wander through the rooms of this extraordinarily well-preserved tower-house, imagine its inhabitants as they carried out their daily affairs: cooks preparing medieval meals using ingredients purchased at the nearby Mercato Vecchio; housemaids busy with sewing or drawing water from the internal well; aristocratic owners reposing in their chambers while frescoed figures from a contemporary soap opera act out scenes from their compelling dramas on the walls around them.

The palazzo, built by the Davizzi family around the mid-14th century, was purchased in 1578 by a wealthy merchant, Bernardo Davanzati, and remained in the family’s possession until 1838. Since 1910 it has hosted the Museum of the typical Florentine home, reconstructing the setting and atmosphere of a medieval residence. Spread over four floors are reception rooms, a dining room, a study, a bedroom, a kitchen and even a toilet – a real rarity for houses of those times! Rooms have tiled floors and wooden ceilings and display furniture and utensils from the 14th to the 19th centuries along with a precious collection of ceramics and lacework. The main chambers are decorated with frescoes depicting curtains, coats of arms, geometrical motifs, parrots and a genealogical tree of the Davanzati family. The most fascinating paintings can be found inside a bedroom named “Camera della Castellana”. The upper part of the walls feature a fresco cycle representing scenes from the Châtelaine de Vergi, a 13th century French tale of courtly love, vengeance and death which became fashionable in Florence. Two couples meet, chat and embrace among citrus trees but only one of the protagonists will survive. Who will it be?

Highlights also include the kitchen and its utensils. Pots, pans, cauldrons, crockery, a corkscrew, a dough kneader and weaving tools allow visitors to take a glimpse into the busy daily bustle of yesteryear’s cooks and domestic staff. Young time-travellers will learn all about life in Florence in the Middle Ages, discover what nobles ate, see where they slept and uncover their habits and secrets.

After browsing the palazzo, hit the streets of the old town on a quest for its most striking monuments. You will explore Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, the heart of the city’s religious and political life. Your guide will bring history to life for children and enrich their visit with intriguing stories and anecdotes about Florentine celebrities. Power-mad lords, headstrong artists and a host of other fascinating characters will make their appearance in the colourful canvas that unfolds before your eyes. You will spot the city’s symbols and the coats of arms of ancient noble families, discover how almost six hundred years ago a Renaissance genius created what is still the world’s largest masonry dome and see where Florence’s ambitious rulers once forged its destiny.

After some free time for lunch it’s time to delve into Florentine craft traditions on a hands-on workshop. Under the guidance of an expert artisan, adults and children will learn how to create marbled paper and bind their very own notebook.

The age-old technique of paper-making originated in China as far back as the 2nd century BC and made its way to the West through the Silk Route in the Middle Ages. The Arabs are credited with having introduced the art to Spain from where it spread first to Sicily and later to mainland Italy around the 13th century.

The beginnings of paper marbling are still somewhat of a mystery. Some believe it was first invented in Japan where the tradition of Suminagashi meaning “floating ink” began in the 1100s. Whatever the true story, paper marbling was known in Europe in the 1600s and Florentine bookbinders became particularly sought-after for their artistry. Little has changed since then and today Florence is proud to be one of the very few places where artisans still produce hand-marbled paper.

The workshop will be held at a historical paper shop located in the vibrant Oltrarno district. Repository of the city’s age-old traditions and manufacturing heritage, this neighbourhood is home to family-run botteghe where all sorts of masterly hand-crafted wonders are still produced by using techniques passed down through generations, including musical instruments, leather goods, jewellery, pottery and mosaics.

Founded in 1856 as a bookbinder, the shop you will visit began practising the art of paper marbling in the early 20th century. After six generations the owners are still highly regarded and number among the greatest masters in the field. On display you will see an array of lovingly crafted paper and leather-covered items such as albums, journals, boxes, phone cases and stationery.

Participants will enjoy an introduction to the art of marbling followed by a technical demonstration, then have fun experimenting with their own marbled paper. As you will have the chance to discover, part of the appeal of paper marbling is that each piece is unique. By floating colour on an aqueous surface and then carefully transferring the marble-like pattern on to absorbent paper, you will produce a unique work of art and feel the excitement of mastering a technique that dates back centuries. A personalised notebook bound with your own paper creations will be the cherished souvenir of a memorable afternoon as a craftsperson.

After the experience spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Nose your way through the woods on an exciting truffle hunt. Adventure-seeking foodies will embark on a quest for these exquisite gifts of nature and delight in a mouth-watering Tuscan meal.

Truffles are one of the world’s most expensive, sought-after delicacies and the Italian white variety – growing from October through December – is the most valuable of all, with a market price of up to € 6,000 per kilo. The mild climate and terroir rich in mineral salts typical of the countryside surrounding San Miniato contribute to the growth and flavour of delicious truffles – as well as top-class olive oil and wine.

You begin your day with a 70-minute ride from Florence to Forcoli. Here you will visit a small truffle museum owned by a local family of truffle hunters who pride themselves on supplying the kitchens and tables of famed chefs and the most discerning of palates. The family’s passion for truffles has been handed down for four generations, since the early 1920s. Among their achievements is that of having found the biggest, priciest truffle in the world. In 2007 thanks to their cherished dog, Rocco, a giant white truffle weighing 1,497 kilos emerged from the soil. We can’t promise you’ll be quite so lucky but keep your fingers crossed and your nose to the ground.

You will hear an introduction to the family’s history, activities and values and understand the importance of working in harmony with the land. Indeed only uncontaminated nature rewards us with its most wonderful fruits. Tuscany, with its pure, unspoiled green hills, is very generous all year long, making this truffle experience a gratifying activity in all seasons. Several kinds of truffle – including the black truffle, the scorzone truffle, the whitish truffle and the rare white truffle – grow in different areas and different seasons and you will learn about the characteristics of each type.

Then, head for the woods and enjoy an exhilarating truffle hunt accompanied by an experienced truffle seeker. It is actually the dogs who will lead you on the trail, as they follow this unique and precious scent through the trees digging out aromatic treasures. With guidance from your truffle seeker, you will identify different plant species, get to know the ideal habitat for truffle growth, find out why truffles are considered an icon of the slow food movement and discover how dogs are trained to detect these woodland treats.

Later, sit down to a tasty truffle-based meal. Highlights might include truffle bruschetta, cold cuts with truffle, pecorino cheese served with truffle honey, potato flan with goat cheese and truffle, risotto with truffle fondue, tagliolini pasta with truffle butter, fried eggs with truffle… Buon appetito!

After lunch return to your hotel in Florence and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast and check out meet your private driver outside your accommodation in Florence and relax on the ride to your hotel on the Ligurian Riviera. En route, stop to enjoy a private tour of Pisa.

Pisa, with its 3,000 years of history, record-breaking academic and scientific achievements, culinary feats and artistic wonders is an obligatory stop on every trip to Tuscany. Your guide will be waiting for you in the city centre ready to lead you back down the centuries on an exciting discovery journey of this once powerful maritime republic, feared ruler of the Mediterranean Sea and Italian trade routes. You will retrace the history of Pisa, from its Etruscan origins, through its development and growth as a Roman port, to the city’s rise and expansion in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, when many of its striking, much praised monuments were built and the city’s commercial and military might reached an unprecedented pinnacle.

As you wander through the UNESCO-listed Field of Miracles, your guide will paint a vivid scene of life in Pisa in medieval times and explain to which gifted artists and enlightened patrons the city owes this celebrated complex. You will take a peek inside the 11th century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta to admire the precious mosaic of Saint John the Evangelist by Cimabue and Giovanni Pisano’s skilfully carved pulpit, a true masterpiece of Gothic sculpture. You will also explore the grandiose Baptistery of St. John, the largest in Italy, housing Bigarelli’s splendid baptismal font and Nicola Pisano’s proto-Renaissance pulpit.

But what draws thousands of enthusiasts to Pisa every year is the 12th century Leaning Tower, the town’s most cherished jewel, one of Italy’s most iconic monuments and an authentic miracle of statics known worldwide for its extraordinary tilt. Who’s up for a climb to the top of its 251 spiralling steps? From here, 55 metres above the ground, you’ll have earned a privileged 360-degree view over this remarkable city which has itself become a monument to human genius and creativity.

After the tour and some free time for lunch rejoin your driver and reach your hotel on the Ligurian Riviera where you will be staying for 5 nights. Following check in spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast meet your skipper at the port, jump aboard your private boat and enjoy a memorable excursion along the Gulf of Paradise. Sit back, relax and watch the glorious spectacle of the Riviera as it unfolds before your eyes. You will bathe in crystal-clear waters, explore two quaint coastal towns and soak up fabulous views of the Ligurian landscape.

Weigh your anchor and reach your first port of call, Camogli, stopping en route for a refreshing dip in Punta Chiappa. In olden times a thriving harbour, boasting a fleet of almost seven hundred ships at the peak of its glory, today Camogli is a charming fishing village and a popular summer resort. The town’s history is inextricably linked to the sea. According to a local belief, its etymology derives from the shortened words Casa delle mogli, meaning house of the wives, which is thought to be a reference to the women who guarded the town while their husbands – fishermen, sailors or captains – were away at sea. Rows of houses painted in shades of red, pink, apricot and amber once helped sea workers find their way back to the port and today provide a delightful pastime for visitors who enjoy spotting the illusions that decorate their facades. Lifelike inhabitants peer out of the windows, a graceful cat perches perilously on the window sill… and are those real shutters casting shadows on the wall?

After a leisurely stroll through town, set sail for the secluded – though much sought-after – bay of San Fruttuoso. This inlet, tucked away between the sea and woodland slopes, can only be accessed by boat or by descending a steep trail from the mountain above. As far back as the 700s this isolated corner was chosen as the ideal location for a church. According to legend Saint Fructuosus himself, martyred in the 3rd century, indicated this spot as his final resting place. He is said to have appeared in a dream to 8th century Archbishop of Tarragon Prospero who had fled from Spain and the Moors in search of a site on which to preserve the ashes of the saint. The church was rebuilt by the Benedictine monks in the 11th century and from the 13th century to 1983 the noble Genoese Doria dynasty patronized the abbey, renovating its design and transferring the family’s burial ground here. Also located in this cove are a handful of restaurants, a 16th century watchtower and an underwater bronze statue of Christ of the Abyss, protector of all those who venture out to sea.

After some free time for lunch rejoin your skipper and reach Portofino. Formerly a community of fishermen, today Portofino is a fashionable summer hideout, a great favourite of the Italian and international jet set since the late 1800s. Nestled at the foot of a cliff and dominated by a 16th century castle, the half-moon shaped town clusters around a tiny cove rimmed with colour-splashed buildings hosting upscale boutiques, enticing restaurants and luxury hotels. Portofino might owe its name to the words Portus Delphini, Latin for harbour of the dolphins, which supposedly refer to the schools of dolphins that once populated the Tigullian Gulf.

After a pleasant walk through town hop back on board your boat and cruise back to the port.

Hook into the depths of the Ligurian Riviera on this full-day sea spree. If you’re hankering for crystal clear waters, gorgeous views, “reel” excitement and the scent and spray of the salty open sea, this adventure is just what you need. Both newcomers to the world of fishing and seasoned anglers will have the thrilling opportunity of spinning their rods along one of Italy’s most enchanting stretches of coastline, while learning about its extraordinary rich marine biodiversity.

Meet your private driver at your accommodation and relax on the ride to Levanto. Here the crew, consisting of your friendly skipper and his inseparable puppy – a skilled seadog indeed! – will welcome you on board the stable, spacious 10-metre-long vessel, featuring a large cockpit, a covered cabin crew and a Cummins 370 hp engine which can cruise at a speed of 16 knots. Fully equipped for fishing, the boat is also furnished with a barbeque for roasting your catch. The skipper has a lifetime of experience sailing and fishing in these waters and is delighted to share his knowledge with young beginners and expert fishermen alike. As a child himself he used to spend most of his free time on his father’s boat, diving, trolling and learning about the species that inhabit the Ligurian Sea. At the age of 13, he received his first boat as a gift and has, ever since, been sailing along the Riviera sharing his passion for fishing first with friends and later with customers.

You begin your day with a cruise around the promontory of Punta Mesco and along the rugged, scenic portion of coastline known as Cinque Terre. The views offered from this privileged perspective are simply stunning. As you will learn, this stretch of sea belongs to a protected marine area and, therefore, strict rules define which type of fish can be caught and where. The king of the depths here is bluefin tuna but the limpid waters of the Ligurian Sea also offer an ideal environment for snappers, amberjacks, bluefish, bream, mackerel, cuttlefish, squid, barracuda, mahi mahi, sharks and swordfish. Different tried and tested fishing techniques will be used depending on the season, the type of prey you prefer to hunt, your interests and level of expertise. Respect for the ecosystem is at the core of this activity which is both sustainable and compatible with the resources offered by the sea. Under the guidance of your skipper you will sharpen your skills, discover both habits and habitats of several types of marine creatures and enjoy a revealing and educational fishing experience. Your sporting efforts and patience will be rewarded with a delicious dish of freshly caught fish.

But it gets even better. You may not know that the Ligurian Sea is also part of the Pelagos Sanctuary, another vast protected marine area, stretching between France, Sardinia, Tuscany and Liguria, which hosts one of the highest concentrations of cetaceans and marine wildlife in the Mediterranean. A unique interplay of currents, winds and upwellings, together with the jagged shape of the seafloor with its profound canyons and underwater mountains, produces a particular abundance of nutrients, attracting eight different species of whales and dolphins. Enjoy spotting these beautiful creatures on a heart-pounding boat ride before returning to Levanto. Here your private driver will be waiting ready to drive you back to your accommodation.

Discover one of Italy’s most spectacular destinations on this full-day excursion to the Cinque Terre. This rugged, scenic portion of coastline on the Ligurian Riviera, stretching for eighteen kilometres to the west of the city of La Spezia, comprises five enchanting seaside villages. Along the sharply rising cliffs lie Riomaggiore, a jumble of narrow alleys flanked by pastel-hued tower-houses; Manarola, a splash of colour clinging to a rocky headland; Corniglia, perched precariously on the edge of a 100-metre-high promontory; Vernazza, with its tiny port dominated by the ruins of a medieval castle; Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the five fabulous jewels, graced by a sandy bay and famed for its lemon orchards and anchovies. Breathtaking views, crystal blue waters, gastronomic delicacies and a unique historic and artistic heritage have all contributed to the worldwide popularity of the Cinque Terre since the 1970s when they became a much sought-after vacation hub.

The earliest core of these towns dates back to the 11th century when the tribes that had settled on the hills further inland were prompted to move towards the shore as a consequence of their growing numbers and because Saracen incursions were no longer a threat. It is at this point in history that the heroic populations of the Cinque Terre began erecting dry stone walls, planting vineyards and transforming the rough, unpromising, steep slopes into bountiful cultivated terraces, thus forging the stunning scenery we can still admire today. Thanks to their gargantuan efforts this splendid corner of Liguria earned its World Heritage status in 1997 as an expression of “the harmonious interaction between people and nature to produce a landscape of exceptional scenic quality that illustrates a traditional way of life that has existed for a thousand years and continues to play an important socio-economic role in the life of the community”.

While exploring these fishing and farming villages, visitors may gain a feel for the difficulties and challenges of living in this still unspoiled, once remote pocket of land. Can you imagine how life must have been here before the late 1800s when the railway was first built? Dramatically strung between sea and rock, the Cinque Terre are today linked by trains, ferries and panoramic coastal and hillside hiking trails and are mostly inaccessible to vehicles. These circumstances have helped to preserve their distinctive atmosphere and timeless, magical appeal.

Your chauffeur will pick you up at your accommodation and drive you to the train station in Levanto. Here your private guide will be waiting ready to lead you on an unforgettable tour of three of the Cinque Terre’s villages. Depending on weather, sea conditions and the number of visitors present, you may travel either by train or public ferry boat – or both. You will gain an overview of the region’s fascinating history, from its beginnings in the Middle Ages up to the present day, when the pressing need to protect this precious but geologically fragile heritage site from the onslaughts of extreme or inclement weather are felt with particular urgency. Your guide will be ready to show and tell you all you could wish to know about the fabulous five – from the unparalleled seascapes to culinary delicacies, from local legends to documented facts – ensuring a truly enlightening, enjoyable visit.

After the tour your chauffeur will drive you back to your hotel on the Ligurian Riviera.

After breakfast and check out, which will take place before 10:00 or 11:00 AM, meet your private driver outside your hotel and head for the airport, train station or your next travel destination.