TUSCANY COOKING - GOLF

DAY 1 – TUSCANY – MONTECATINI:

Upon arrival in Tuscany, we will be met by our English – speaking tour manager and transferred to the spa resort of Montecatini. Montecatini is situated in northern Tuscany, close to Florence, the center of Italian culture. Check – in at our hotel in Montecatini. Afternoon is at leisure prior to our”Welcome Dinner”and orientation meeting with wine this evening.

DAY 2 – AGRICULTURAL FARM:

After breakfast at the hotel, our cooking school participants will journey to an agricultural farm for our first two wonderfully informative cooking lesson with lunch included. Our golfers will spend the day at the beautiful golf resort of Punta Ala for an 18 – hole round. Dinner with wine this evening at the hotel.

DAY 3 – MONTECATINI – PISA – LUCCA:

Breakfast at our hotel. Then, our golfers will depart for the nearby golf club in Montecatini for 18 holes this morning. Meanwhile, the remainder of our group will enjoy cooking lesson including lunch. We will then all board our motorcoach for an afternoon drive to see one of the most recognizable sights in the world – the Leaning Tower of Pisa!Next, we will have a brief stop in Lucca, the most graceful of Tuscany’s provincial capitals. This picturesque city is set inside a ring of Renaissance walls fronted by gardens and huge bastions. Return to our hotel early in the evening for dinner and overnight.

DAY 4 – MONTECATINI:

Breakfast at our hotel. Our culinary specialists will be captivated by today’s cooking demonstration with lunch. Our golf enthusiasts will travel to nearby Tirrenia for a round at the beautiful Golf Club Cosmopolitan. Both groups will rendezvous at our hotel this evening for dinner. Overnight at our hotel.

DAY 5 – MONTECATINI – FLORENCE:

A day off from classes today!After breakfast, we depart by motorcoach for Florence, approximately a 45 minute drive. Enjoy a guided morning tour that includes sights such as Giotto’s Bell Tower, Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, Brunelleschi’s Dome and the Accademia (site of Michelangelo’s David). The tour ends in Signoria Square with its sculptures and sidewalk cafes. Lunch on our own. Afternoon at leisure to explore this grand city of the Renaissance. In the early evening, we will all gather at a wonderful restaurant for dinner which will be preceeded by a cooking demonstration. Return to our hotel in Montecatini for overnight.

DAY 6 – MONTECATINI:

Following breakfast, our cooks will enjoy the morning at leisure for optional spa visits in Montecatini Terme or shopping and browsing on our own. Meanwhile, our golfers will drive to Viareggio for today’s outing at the golf club there. In the afternoon, our cooks are off to cooking achool for, sadly, our last lesson. Then, top off the day, both cooks and golfers will join together for a celebratory pizza party marking the end of the cooking course. Return to our hotel in Montecatini for overnight.

DAY 7 – SAN GIMIGNANO – SIENA:

Breakfast, followed by a drive that takes us south through Italian wine country to San Gimignano, perhaps the best preserved medieval villane in Italy. Admire the many towers, once the skyscrapers of the 13th and 14th centuries. Stroll through the tiny streets leading to the top of the villane and perhaps stop in one of many cafes for a cappuccino. Then, we are off for a short drive to Siena. Our escort will lead us to the Piazza del Campo and will introduce us to this ancient Tuscan capital, a fascinating art town. Take our time to explore the museums and churches of Siena and reserve at least 1 hour to have a look in the glamorous shops of the Via dei Bianchi di Sopra. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with wine tasting. Overnight.