Quality Package Casale Il Gabbiano

Saturday

Arrival with private transfer
Arrival at Rome or Florence International Airport and meeting with your personal tour leader.
(On request private transfer also from other airports or location).
Private Transfer in GT coach to CASALE IL GABBIANO .
Accommodation in villa, welcome drink and time for relax.
Welcome dinner in Villa.

Sunday

Full day at leisure.

Breakfast in Villa with leisure time at your disposal. Bus or minibus with driver at your disposal. During this first day we suggest you the visit of the beautiful town of Cortona. Its Etruscan origins along with the medieval characteristics gives this town an additional suggestive aspect. There you can visit the Fortezza del Girifalco (XII century), Palazzo Casali, with its medieval style with renascence face, Piazza della Repubblica with the Palazzo Comunale and the Torre with the watch tower and Piazza del Duomo.

Light lunch and dinner in villa.

Monday – SIENA AND SAN GIMIGNANO

Breakfast in villa.

Siena is, probably after Firenze, the richest Tuscan city for monuments and history. During this day tour you will have the possibility to visit many historical place that have contributed to it well known name not only for the “Palio” but also for its art which is as old as the antique Athens of Europe. The meeting with the tour guide/leader and departure for Siena will take place in the morning. Whilst walking towards the city, you will visit the la Basilica di San Domenico, the Palazzo del Magnifico and the Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana.

Lunch will be held at a typical restaurant in the historical centre where you can enjoy traditional dishes and a wine tasting . In the afternoon the tour will continue with the visit of Pinacoteca Nazionale followed by Piazza del Campo, famous for its shell form, it beautiful architecture and last but not least it famous Palio arena. Along the walls that act as boundaries for the square, dislocated are the main palaces that were used in the medieval era, such as the Duomo, the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia, which is high 102 meters, the second tallest tower in Italy.

On the way back, visit of San Gimignano, city of the beautiful towers rich in history, art and culture. Surrounded by the splendid Tuscan countryside, it is situated on a hill (334m above sea level) dominating the Elsa Valley. The town increased in wealth and developed greatly during the Middle Ages thanks to the "Via Francigena" the trading and pilgrim routes that crossed it. Such prosperity lead to the flourishing of works of art to adorn the churches and monasteries. The construction of the towers dates back to the 11th and 13th century. The architecture of the city was influenced by Pisa, Siena and Florence.

Dinner in Villa.

Tuesday - COOKING CLASS IN VILLA:

Breakfast and light lunch in villa.

Leisure time at your disposal.

Afternoon - Cooking class in villa during which you will prepare, with the help of the chef, your own dinner enjoying the flavour of typical dishes.

Wednesday - FULL DAY AT LEISURE:

Breakfast in villa.

You can relax and enjoy your villa or choose one of the suggested wine trails or daily excursions in Tuscany or Umbria.

Check list of wine trails
List of daily excursions

These excursions should be booked as extra’s at the time of booking.

Dinner in Villa.

Thursday - MONTEPULCIANO AND PIENZA

Breakfast in villa.

This delightful down-hill walk is the perfect introduction to the artistic treasures of the charming birthplace of great Renaissance thinker and poet, Angelo Poliziano. Meet your expert authorized local guide and begin the visit at the austerely elegant Santa Maria dei Servi. Then make your way through the city gates and to the sober Duomo where you will enjoy the magnificent Gothic altar retablo and majolica works of the della Robbia brothers. Proceed to the stately Piazza Grande where the most impressive palazzi of the town can be admired. It is the ideal and monumental centre of Montepulciano. It is one of the most beautiful squares of the minor towns which keep in silence recollections of past magnificence and high civilization.

The square is boarded by important buildings: the Cathedral with its unfinished facade; on the left the unfinished Bell Tower dating back to the second half of the XV century. And The Town Hall with its beautiful mid tower dates back to the XVI Century and recalls, at large, Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. It is a simple building with Guelph merlons and solid corbels. Then saunter along the main street; located along the top of a narrow ridge, Montepulciano snakes down the slope with virtually a single street – short side streets usually terminating in vertiginous drops. As such, all of the great families located their residences along this thoroughfare which today forms a veritable parade of fine noble architecture. Monteplciano has many buildings and churches of architectonic interest: Palazzo Cappelli with frescoes by F. Zuccari at the entrance, the large threefold arcade of Loggia del Mercato, attributed to Scalza, Palazzo Cervini desined by Antonio da Sangallo the Old; Palazzo Cagnoni attributed to Vignola; the Seminary Palace close to which there is the Church of Jesus Christ designed by Andrea Pozzo in the XVII century. Palazzo Avignonesi which is attributed to Vignola and dates back to the XVI century. Close to the building you can admire the Baroque Church of St.Bernard, wanted by the Jesuit Father Andrea Pozzo. In front of Palazzo Avignonesi there is the late-Renaissance Palazzo Tarugi. This building is also attributed to Vignola.

Other Renaissance palaces board Via Roma: Palazzo Cocconi-Del Pecora, designed by Antonio da Sangallo, Palazzo Buccelli which presents at its basis frontages of Etruscan cinerary urns and tablets with Etruscan and Latin inscriptions. Palazzo Del Monte (today Contucci), Palazzo Nobili (today Tarugi) attributed to Antonio da Sangallo the Old, Palazzo Benincasa with the bust of Gian Gastone dei Medici in the portal. During the walk in the town you will have the opportunity to visit to a mosaic school/workshop and to a copper-ware manufacture. After having visited the town, you get to Madonna di San Biagio by Antonio di Francesco Giamberti, known as Antonio da Sangallo the Old. It was consacrated by Pope Clement VII in 1529. It rises in open country and was built on the remains of the ancient parish church of St. Blaise where, according to the tradition, the painting of Our Lady was seen moving her eyes. It presents a Greek-cross plan surmounted by a dome and with four equal wings. In the south wing there is a semicircular sacristy, whereas on both sides of the northern wing there are two bell towers, one of which is the beautiful well with its curved line is like the well in Piazza Grande. In the afternoon the visit continues towards Pienza, where you will have the opportunity to taste and buy the delicious Pecorino cheese, very well know in Pienza. If interested you can stop in a factory in the area where Pecorino cheese is made.

Dinner in villa.

Friday - FLORENCE

Breakfast in Villa.

The Italian city known as the capital of renascence, and also as the cradle of the Italian language This tour will allow you to visit the main monuments which have contributed to the history of Florence and its worldwide renown artistic quality. Departure and meeting with the tour guide/leader will be in the morning. The first stop will be before arriving to the main city centre in Piazzale Michelangelo and to visit Chiese di S.Spirito and Carmine, famous for its breathtaking views of Florence. Once you have arrived in the centre you will continue the tour on foot towards Palazzo Pitti and Ponte Vecchio, one of the symbols of Florence which crosses the river of Arno which even in the tightest of spaces has numerous shops. Lunch on your own.

The second part of the day will be dedicated to visiting Palazzo della Signoria and the Basilica di Santa Croce, one of the most important constructions of Italian gothic style not to mention the resting place of many famous artists. The tour concludes at the unforgettable “Accademia delle Belle Arti” where not only can you appreciate the many famous pieces of art you can also admire "David", which is without discussion the most famous artistic piece of Michelangelo. Concluding this memorable experience there will be time for shopping.

Farewell dinner.

Saturday – DEPARTURE WITH PRIVATE TRANSFER:

Breakfast and private transfer to Rome or Florence International Airport.

(On request private transfer also to other airports or final destination).

Price List Per Person

PRICE INCLUDES:

• Private transfer from airport to the villa by GT coach
• Private transfer from villa to airport by GT coach
• Bus or minibus at your disposal for your entire stay with private driver
• Tour leader at your disposal for your entire stay
• 7 breakfasts in villa
• 1 welcome drink and 1 welcome dinner
• 6 in house chef for lunch and dinner in villa as started in the program
• 1 cooking lesson with dinner
• 1 farewell dinner
• 3 lunches in restaurant during excursions as stated in your program
• Wine tasting in wineries as stated in the program
• Accommodation in villa in double or twin bedrooms, respecting the typology of the villa
• Linen and towel change twice a week
• 4 hours of cleaning twice a week
• All taxes, VAT and fees

PRICE NOT INCLUDES:

All the extras, drinks and what is not stated above or is described as free.

Extra cleaning or extra linen, if required, should be paid directly to the owner at the villa as well as heating if necessary.

* Ask for personalized services.

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