"Taste of Tuscany": our classic tour April 28 – May

There are many ways to enjoy Tuscany.
For 2015 we are offering perhaps the most authentic way,
staying in a private noble villa in the town of Lucca
"Taste of Tuscany": our classic tour
April 28 – May 4, 2015
Tuscany Tour Highlights
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beautiful accommodation in a historic villa for the entire tour
intimate groups of like-minded, cultured guests
day trips of general and Jewish interest
a breath-taking hike along the paths of the Cinque Terre
authentic Tuscan cuisine, prepared by renowned local chefs
unlimited Italian fine kosher wines
the world's best gelati and coffee
fashion, household and leather shopping in the markets and towns
cooking sessions with master chefs in our villa kitchen
relaxed cycling – a "must" around the walls of Lucca
Kashrut: a mashgiach tmidi will represent the Chief Rabbi of Florence, Rabbi
Levi; we use Glatt meat from Milan, regular milk, but chalav yisrael observers can
be accommodated.
Price from
$5,250
per person sharing
Options:
Superior room and single supplements available
This tour can be combined with our tour to Spain and Portugal 4-14 May
Pre or post -tour Rome: we can arrange a wonderful 2-day program
including hotel, all meals and 3 guided tours
We will be pleased to help you arrange flights and insurance.
"Taste of Tuscany" Itinerary
subject to change - due to any one of a hundred Italian variables
Tuesday April 28: Rome - Pitigliano - Lucca
Meeting point: Rome Airport Hilton Hotel:
Shacharit 07.30, kosher breakfast 08.00, depart 09.00
There are flights that arrive early from NY and TLV early morning, but
please see note below re arriving the day before
Pitigliano: "little Jerusalem"
This striking cliff-top village was until
the 1930’s home to a small thriving
Jewish community – we'll visit the
former ghetto with its synagogue
and museum. Then on to……
Lucca: a short concert before
dinner sounds good!! A peep at the
gorgeous town, then off to our
beautiful villa – arriving in time for
our Welcome Dinner!!
Wednesday April 29:
Viareggio – Forte dei Marmi –
Barga - Torrigiani
Viareggio
One of the busiest seaside
resorts, dating from the mid19th century: we’ll just pass
through en route to….
Forte dei Marmi
Tuscany’s most elegant
seaside resort and a great
weekly country textile market.
People-watch, shop with the
jet-set in the market or the
adjacent haute couture
boutiques, and then join us for
lunch in a piazza
Barga
In this medieval mountain top village where time has stood still for hundreds of
years you’ll climb the winding
narrow streets to the duomo
at the top of the village to
breathe the clean air and
enjoy the 360º panorama
Villa Torrigiani
Lucca is famous for its
aristocratic villas.
This is one of the most
interesting as we'll be able to
tour both inside the villa and
tour the gardens. We’ll also
get a glimpse of the life of the
once-wealthy aristocracy!!
When we return to our villa we’ll have time for a cooking session with the chefs,
for those who are interested, before dinner!!
Thursday April 30: Siena – Winery – San Gimignano
Siena
We’ll visit the famous Piazza del Campo, home of the Palio horse race, the
beautiful synagogue, and, if we are lucky, meet one of the community's leaders;
there is time to wander around this icinic bustling ancient city
Agriturismo & Kosher Winery
Visit an Agriturismo – a uniquely Italian
concept. This one has Europe’s ONLY fully
kosher winery, Terra di Seta. After a winetasting aperitif we’ll enjoy our lunch while looking out over the gorgeous view
San Gimignano – the “Manhattan” of Tuscany
Foto
Eugene
Weisberg
Thanks
Take your choice - to explore the famous city of towers , climb to the top for the
incredible views of the rolling Tuscan countryside, visit the stores, enjoy a coffee,
take lots of photos……..
Friday May 1:
Hike on the Cinque Terre
Foto Eugene Weisberg thanks
For years one of the highlights of this trip – a 2-hour challenging hike overlooking
the sea. A bus and a train will bring us to Corniglia where we start, hiking to
Vernazza and then taking a train back. Lunch in the villa.
Lucca
Follow
your guide
on a bike
around the
top of the
wide walls
and to tour
the town,
stroll
among the
shops and
piazzas or
just
peoplewatch in
“our” café
where the “tab” is always open for our guests and the ice cream is kosher – be
back for Shabbat at 20.02 please!!
Shabbat May 2:
Pray, eat & sleep, right? We’ll also stroll in vicinity of villa
Before the end of Shabbat, for those who are up for it, we can walk into Lucca
town for Havdala @ 21.10, then….
Pisa
No trip would be complete without seeing the tower – at night the day-trippers
and souvenir vendors are gone; Jewish Pisa is also featured – surprise!!!!
Sunday May 3:
Florence
We’ll see the
Statue of David,
the cathedral
(duomo), Piazza
della
Repubblica,
Ponte Vecchio
and visit the
famous
synagogue
After lunch in a
beautiful hotel
nearby, there’s
time to follow
your personal
preferences in Florence. If you wish to visit the Uffizi Gallery you should prebook. Otherwise you can explore this gorgeous city in greater depth according to
your interests, visiting palaces, museums and galleries, the leather market and
stores, many of which are open on Sunday.
Back to Lucca and another cooking session with the chefs for whoever would like!
Monday May 4:
After breakfast, we’ll take you to Pisa airport or station for the journey home or
to our exciting trip to Spain and Portugal. For those booking the trips back-toback, we also cover the flight from Pisa to Malaga (via Rome) and the transfer to
Granada to meet the group!!!!
FAQ’s
Price from
$5250
per person sharing
(Especially DLX room and single supplements available)
Every day: full buffet breakfast, light lunch on the move, elegant served
dinner, 3 tefillot, Sefer Torah
Kashrut: a mashgiach tmidi will represent Rabbi Levi, the Chief Rabbi of
Florence; we use Glatt meat from Milan, regular approved milk and milk
products, but chalav yisrael observers can be accommodated.
not included in the price of your trip
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flights: You will be met at the Hilton Hotel in Rome Fiumicino airport
0900; on departure day, we will bring you to Pisa Galileo Galilei airport or
to Pisa/Lucca train stations.
"serious" cycling: your ride around the walls of Lucca is included, but for
serious bikers we can arrange professional cycle rentals with or without
professional guides.
spending money for shopping: Lucca's stores are gorgeous and not
overpriced as the town is not too touristy. The village markets of Tuscany
are a must. Free time will be given in Siena, Florence and San Gimignano
for you to choose whether to sight-see or spend!!
upgrades: deluxe rooms (DLX), and single occupancy are available at an
additional price (see booking form).
insurance: all clients should be aware that while all efforts are made to
avoid any problems before during or after your trip, Naomi carries no
insurance for your health or luggage. While using the services only of
registered suppliers, we recommend that you purchase fully
comprehensive travel insurance as Naomi cannot be held liable for
any mishaps during your stay.
tips: we recommend $200 per person per week for drivers, chefs, waiters
and chambermaids: we will collect and distribute for you.
important suggestion:
We strongly recommend that you come to Rome the day before the tour and
stay at the Hilton Hotel inside Rome’s Fiumicino airport. The hotel offers
free shuttle bus service to and from the city center where we can organize
tours for you and there are several kosher restaurants.
This will help you recover from the journey and avoid any risk of your
missing the start of the tour.
We cannot wait for late arrivals as it is unfair to other guests. The cost of
"catching up" to the group by taxi/plane is MUCH greater than the cost of a
night at the hotel!!
We will book this night for you and there will be a kosher breakfast available
before leaving on the tour
Looking forward to having you with us in Tuscany!!!!
Naomi and Eric
+972 52 3860551
[email protected]