New in 2017!

October 8, 2021 | By Peg Kern

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Happy New Year! OK, it’s already January 9, but we’re just getting into the swing of things and are super excited about some new things in 2017. We’ll be talking new cooking vacations in Tuscany, new destinations, and new initiatives this week, but what better way to start than with a new itinerary in one of our favorite destinations, Tuscany?

We’ve worked for years in the town of Figline Valdarno just outside of Florence and are happy to announce a new itinerary that features the best of Tuscany with 4 nights in this charming and authentic town and 2 nights back in Florence itself. It harkens back to one of our first and most successful itineraries – and even uses the same accommodation, at the lovely Hotel Villa Casagrande.

One of the things I like most about this itinerary is that it gives you a slice of Italian life, taking place in a small and un-touristy Tuscan town, while at the same time giving you the chance to stay at one of our most unique accommodations. The hotel is a fascinating mix of old and new. The old medieval walls form part of the villa, and you can tour the villa’s historic rooms – you even do three cooking classes in the historical kitchen! But the lobby and rooms have been renovated to combine the comforts of modernity in a way that is aesthetically interesting.

To top it off? It includes an excursion to Siena and San Gimignano on the fifth day before you transfer to Florence for the last two nights. And while in Florence you get to tour one of my favorite neighborhoods and learn about Tuscan bread, pizza, and schiacciata from one of our favorite bakers!

If you’d like more time in Florence, it is easy to add on extra nights. Or, if you need a shorter trip and want to skip Florence altogether, that’s possible too!