Pic Nic

Cortona, a land of many colors and flavors, where traditions and history get together with the many pleasures of the taste.

For a special occasion, a romantic surprise, or for just a different day out to discover enchanting landscapes of authentic Tuscan out of touristy routes, we will cater a fantastic first class picnic in a very peaceful setting. It will be a special experience you will never forget.

The picnic is a 4 courses pampering menù with fresh organic and seasonal ingredients locally produced, accompanied by Italian prosecco and red wine wines from the local region.

Information

• For Picnic reservations we need a minimum of two days notice.
• Picnic are available from a minimum of 4 people to a maximum of 18 people participating, from March to October and depend on weather conditions.
• The Etruscan tour or other tour could be matched and booked together with the picnic.
• In case of bad weather conditions, our Chef Anna will host us for a pampering lunch, matched with a selection of local fine wines.
• Contact us to have more details and tailor made proposals according your dates and convenient hours.

Pienza and Pecorino Cheese

Sightseeing tour of Montepulciano and Pienza, to discover the history and traditions of Valdichiana and Val d'Orcia, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sights, imbedded in the Middle Ages and fascinating Renaissance.

Upon arrival at Pienza, we will stop for a cheese tasting of the authentic and most famous Tuscan pecorino, locally produced. This will be occasion to learn more about Italian pecorino cheese making, which is of an extraordinary quality in Pienza.

We will depart for the visit of Montepulciano, heart of one the most famous Italian wine regions: the Vino Nobile.

After a walk in the city center we will drive to one of the nicest cellars producing Nobile di Montepulciano DOC for a full visit of the wine cellar and wine tasting accompanied by snacks with typical cold cuts, cheese and Tuscan unsalted bread.

After the wine tour we will drive back home.

Information

• Full day guided tour from 9.30am to approximately 5pm.
• All the tastings described in the program are included.
• Available from a minimum of two persons.
• Trasportation from/to Hotel/Agriturismo along the tour included up to 4 persons.
• Quotations for groups and a customized proposal available on request.

Montepulciano and Cortona

Wine tour of Montepulciano and Cortona, to discover most famous wines of Valdichiana.

We will depart for the visit of Montepulciano, heart of one the most famous italian wines: the Vino Nobile.

After the walk in the city center we will reach a family estate of Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG for a full guided visit of the wine cellar and wine tasting.

After the tour we will drive back to Cortona, city where art and history unite with the many pleasures of the table.

We will enjoy the “Gusto” of Anna's pampering gourmet picnic in one of the “must see” places in Cortona, the amazing complex of Le Celle, founded by Saint Francis in 1211.

After lunch, we go on a walking tour of Cortona.

Information

• Full day guided tour from 9.30am to approximately 5pm.
• The tour includes accompanying guide, and all the tastings described in the program.
• Winter/Autumn and in case of bad weather conditions il picnic will be replaced by lunch hosted by our Chef Anna.
• Available from minimum 2 persons.
• Trasportation from / to Hotel/Agriturismo along the tour included up to 4 persons.
• Quotations for groups e customized proposal available on request.

Cortona Backroads Tour and Pecorino Cheese making

Take a tour of Cortona exploring the territory with the many hidden treasures inside and outside the ancient Etruscan walls. Discover little alleys, enchanting corners and landscapes, history and local traditions: from S. Francis Convent of Le Celle to Bramasole , celebrated house of Under the Tuscan Sun author, to the Etruscan Princes archeological diggings.

After the tour you will enjoy a fun pecorino and ricotta cheese making lesson in a family run farm. The hands-on cheese making will be followed by lunch, tasting cheese and the delicious farm products: olive oil, wine and vinsanto.

Information

• Full day guided tour from 9 am to approximately 5pm.
• Available on request and depending on availability from a minimum of two persons.
• The day tour includes Cortona area’s sightseeing, cheese making class and lunch with drinks, snacks to hold you over during the cheese class, cheese making recipe book and apron as a memory of your day.
• Transportation along the tour included up to 4 persons participating.
• Quotations for groups e customized proposal available on request.

Etruscan Hike

Cortona, a land of many colors and flavors, an extraordinary journey to discover enchanting corners of authentic Tuscany.

A walk outside the walls of Cortona will take you through the woods to the extraordinary complex of Le Celle (The Cells) the Sanctuary of St. Francis, founded in the13th century. In a quiet place surrounded by an enchanting beauty of nature you will discover a unique hidden landscape.

After the walk in the wonder of the place, you will be pampered with a 4-course gourmet lunch picnic, relaxing in the shade of olive trees in a peaceful setting along with a chilled glass of Italian Prosecco.

Autumn and Winter season

The above program will be replaced accordingly to weather conditions and in the period between October - March, by a guided tour of Cortona center and of the main Etruscan archeological sites. Our Chef Anna will host us for lunch at the end on the tour with a nice gourmet lunch break.

Information

• Guided Hiking Tour medium difficulty, from 9.30am to approximately 2 pm.
• Available from 2 to 18 people from March to October, weather conditions permitting.
• Comfortable clothing and trekking shoes are required
• Trasportation included from to your Villa/Agriturismo and along the tour up to 4 people.
• Groups’ quotations and customized proposals available on request.

Olive Oil Tour

Olive oil is the precious legacy left to us by our Etruscan ancestors, among the greatest admirers of olive oil in the past.

From the eight century BC olive growing is an activity widely practiced in central Italy, in coastal areas as well as in the hilly area of the center, like in our in Val di Chiana and around Chiusi.

Olive oil represented, for this great and advanced civilizations of the past, an enormous fortune as food and for the valuable economic aspect, being in fact a fundamental part of the trades together wine.

Our day tour starts here, with the Etruscan origins of Cortona and the Val di Chiana history.

The Itinerary

• Walk through the Etruscan archaeological sites in Cortona and Castiglion Fiorentino areas.
• Visit an olive grove and mill; learn the different techniques for olive oil pressing, both modern and traditional. Olive oil tasting and bruschetta.
• Lunch with a local family that produces olive oil, tasting olive oil in the traditional local recipes, 4 course menu paired with local red and white wines.

Let’s harvest the olives! (Available on request from mid-October to mid-December)

Halfway through the month of October begins the olive harvest. All the work in this region is still done by hand, in the same way as it has been done for centuries.

The day tour includes a short visit of the Etruscan archeological area, olive picking with the family, followed by lunch and visit to the olive mill to see the olive oil pressing process.

Information

• he tour includes a guided tour and meals and tastings described in the program, from 9.am to 5 pm approximately.
• Available from minimum 2 people.
• Transportation from and to your hotel / Agriturismo and during the tour is included up to 4 people.
• Group quotations and customized proposals available on request.

Wine Tours

Among local culture, history, art, we organize tours and many tastings in the most beautiful cellars, selected from the DOC and DOCG prestigious wine scene of Tuscany and Umbria , visiting Cortona, Chianti, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Montefalco.

Information

• The guided full day tour from 9am to 5pm approximately.
• Available from minimum 2 people.
• Transportation included from/to Hotel/Agriturismo and during the tour up to 4 people.
• Groups’ quotations and customized proposals available on request.

Crete Senesi and Truffle hunt

An unforgettable day in the Crete Senesi enchanting area of green hills and woods among picturesque villages few miles South of Siena.

Your English speaking guide will meet you in the morning and will escort you for the day to S. Giovanni d’Asso ,among Italy's most valuable habitat and prolific truffle-growing areas, in the various periods of the year as estblished by the different calendars for the three types of truffles: the Summer Truffle, the Marzuolo but in particular the clays of this medieval village are renowned for the quality of the Truffle Bianco of the Crete Senesi.

In S. Giovanni D’Asso you will meet a professional truffle searcher and his dog that will involve you in a very exciting search of truffle in different seasons, walking in beautiful Tuscan landscape and learning about the precious and intact ecosystem.

After the hunt in the wood you will be back in town for a lunch with a truffle tasting menu at the local Osteria: several appetizers with truffle, an homemade pasta plate (Tagliolini) with truffle, dessert and wine.

After lunch we will take a short walk in the village before heading back home.

Information

• Day trip (9.30-4:30) includes: guide-driver in English language, truffle hunting, lunch with a truffle menu and wine.
• The tour is available on request and upon availability starting from a minimum of 2 participants.
• Truffles calendar: January 1 to April 30 is the period of the " Tartufo Marzuolo" or " Bianchetto ", the “March” or spring white truffle.
• 1 June to 30 September is the period of the " Tartufo Nero Scorzone ", a black Summer truffle.
• 10 September to 31 December is the period of the “Tartufo Bianco delle Crete Senesi” , the famous white truffle of the “Crete Senesi” region.
• Comfortable clothing apparel, trekking shoes or boots are recommended.
• No shorts in case of bad weather.
• Minimum age of participants: 6.
• Menus may be changed as per customers’ needs or product availability. Gluten free menus or menus for vegans and vegetarians on request.Menus may be changed as per customer’s needs or products availability. Gluten free menus or menus for vegan and vegetarians on requests.