A trip to Italy’s Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and Cortona, one of Italy’s oldest towns, will leave you mesmerized, no matter how many times you visit. Soak up the romance, nostalgia, traditions, energy and flavors of Florence and the surrounding Tuscan region in Cortona with a chance to be at peace with the open road with your car rental, a sightseeing tour, two cooking classes, as well as a visit to a wine cellar. You’ve also got three awe-inspiring opportunities to taste the Italian countryside, from biking along the verdant green hills where you’ll catch gorgeous vistas of the vineyards and villas, to a sweet-as-can-be tiramisu tasting and demonstration, to a chance to explore the quintessential flavors of Italy – pizza and gelato!
Discover the charm and elegance of the boutique Hotel Brunelleschi Florence, decorated to exude an intimate and romantic atmosphere. The presence of the city itself can be seen inside the boutique hotel rooms with paintings detailing the main monuments, as well as the glass bathroom doors coated with a special design taken from the Pazzi Chapel, designed by Brunelleschi. Cortona’s Hotel Il Falconiere (Relais & Chateaux) invites you to relax in a delightful combination of country elegance and the pleasures of inspiring food and interesting excursions to discover the Tuscan countryside. The frescoed walls, original antique furniture, four-poster beds and hand-loomed fabrics make this charming residence and chateau the perfect place for a traditional holiday, and ideal for those who love the countryside.
The cuisine of Cortona comes to life with your two included cooking classes, which celebrate traditional Tuscan cuisine, and are taught by either Silvia Baracchi, chef-owner of Relais Il Falconiere, or by one of the restaurant chefs. From delicious bread and pasta, to stress-free main courses, impressive starters and tempting desserts, you will learn to the secrets to cooking authentic Tuscan cuisine in focused, spirited classes in the residential-style kitchen. After your cooking classes, you will be served the food you’ve prepared for lunch or dinner in the charming dining room. You’ll love wine tasting at the Baracchi Wine Cellar, which has a marvelous view of the Valdichiana under the charming Tuscan sun. The cellar boasts an excellent collection of wine, grappa and extra virgin olive oil, all of which are tributes to the land and history of Cortona.
Choose one of three amazing options for exploring Cortona further. One of the best ways to enjoy Tuscany’s warmer months is via a fabulous day tour biking through the Chianti countryside near Florence. Enjoy a wonderful lunch at a famous Tuscan restaurant and savor a wine tasting at a stunning Renaissance villa. All the while, your great guide will share fascinating stories that will bring the past to life on this eco-friendly tour. You don’t have to be a biking expert, either, however you must feel comfortable riding a bike both in the historical center of Florence and on rolling country hills. After a few hours of working up an appetite on your bike, it’s time to enjoy lunch. If you choose the tantalizing tiramisu tasting, you’ll get to participate in the creation of three fantastic variations of this delicious and classic dessert, which can be made with coffee, coconut or chocolate creams, and mocha, espresso or American coffees. Each version produces exceptional flavors that you’ll want to taste again and again. Sip a cup of tea, coffee or cappuccino as you sample the fresh flavors of this incomparable dessert at the end of class; and don’t forget to take a copy of the recipe to bring home! Florence is the perfect place to indulge in fresh pizza and gelato – so delizioso! Let the professional pizza chef, called a pizzaiolo, guide you as you make a tender and flexible yeast dough that stretches until it’s almost paper-thin, and then impart the trick for a flavorful light tomato sauce. And after pizza it’s time for gelato! Learn about the basic raw ingredients, how to select the best products available according to specific principles, the development and application of natural colors, the heating and freezing techniques, and then comes the best part – tasting the flavors!
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