UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN

Get a true taste of Tuscany on this full day treasure trail around Cortona. Your chauffeur will pick you up at your accommodation in Siena and drive you to a wine estate, well-known for its fine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and much praised Syrah. Once the property of local counts, since 1990 the estate has been run by a prestigious Tuscan family with a long history of wine-making. Indeed, their association with wine began over six centuries ago, in 1385, when one of the ancestors became a member of the Winemakers’ Guild of the city of Florence. After twenty-six generations the owners still maintain their reputation, both locally and abroad, as leading and forward-thinking producers, capable of balancing innovative decisions with a steadfast respect for tradition and the territory. On a tour of the cellar, accompanied by a member of staff, you will discover what sets Vino Nobile di Montepulciano apart from other Tuscan wines. The different stages in the wine-growing process will be explained, as well as the distinctive characteristics of the terroir and climate that make wines produced here so special. You will also learn about the strict regulations that define Vino Nobile, including which grape varieties and blends are allowed, together with the legal requirements for ageing in oak barrels. But every estate has its own precious formulas which you will have the chance to appreciate during a delicious light lunch paired with a selection of wines.

Next, it’s time for you to explore a delightful hilltop town that has provided a marvellous backdrop for a world-acclaimed movie. Audrey Wells’ novel-inspired Under the Tuscan Sun takes place in Cortona. Historic architecture, exquisite craftsmanship, gastronomic delights and a virtually unchanged medieval atmosphere explain why this Tuscan town is stepping into the limelight.

Your private guide will be waiting at the meeting point ready to lead you on a carefully planned trail through Cortona and treat you to tales of its founding, vicissitudes and triumphs throughout the ages. The town’s origins date way back in time. Cortona was one of the wealthiest and most powerful settlements of the Etruscan era as attested by the ancient foundations of its massive stone walls. But it was during the Middle Ages and Renaissance that the town blossomed becoming a thriving cultural and artistic hub. The original layout of Cortona lives on, together with its pretty squares, olde-worlde palazzi and imposing fortress which proclaim the importance of the town between the 13th and 16th centuries. Your guide will certainly point out Cortona’s major landmarks, including Piazza della Repubblica, once the site of the ancient Roman forum and still today the core of the town’s social and political life, and Piazza del Duomo overlooked by the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

Make sure not to miss a visit to Le Celle, a hermitage located at the foothills of Mount Egidio, just five kilometres from Cortona. Founded in 1211 by St. Francis and his followers, drawn here by the silence and exceptional beauty of the spot, this secluded convent is still inhabited by seven Capuchin friars who continue the preachings of Italy’s beloved patron saint. Here visitors can take a peek inside St. Francis’ small cell, only large enough for a bed, a chair and a writing desk, the bare essentials for solitary contemplation. Soak up the peaceful atmosphere, recharge your spirit and enjoy magnificent views of this mystical corner of Tuscany before a comfortable ride back to your accommodation in Siena.