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Toscana Americana Escorted Travel
Be our guest!
Tuscany & Umbria; Italian Riviera & Cinque Terre; Capri, Positano & Amalfi Coast;
Venice; Rome; Dingle, Ireland; St Lucia; America Southwest & national parks!
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Tuscan Cooking, Food & Wine

For lovers of all things Italian

Angela Lucani & Patrick Mahoney
Cortona, Italy
May, June, July & August dates also!
November 6-13 & 20-27, 2010
Also by special appointment!

Cortona "Island in the Sky"
Cortona "Island in the Sky"
Treasures of Tuscany & Umbria
Escorted travel in central Italy

"Girasole" symbol of Tuscany
"Girasole" symbol of Tuscany
Join us for a wonderful week of
discovery in Tuscany and Umbria!

The regions of Tuscany and Umbria are large, filled with many sites worthy of visits and we have selected some of the most notable to include in the Treasures of Tuscany itinerary.

Read about our destinations


On the first Saturday, arrival day, we meet in Florence at a designated meeting point and escort you to Cortona. We will travel by train rolling through the mountains and rolling hills south to the agriculturally rich Val di Chiana and to your home-away from-home for the week...Cortona

The medieval hilltown of Cortona, featured in both the book and movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" serves as our base as we explore and engage the history & art, people & culture, foods & wines, and natural environment of Tuscany and Umbria. We will enjoy our first two full days, Sunday and Monday getting to know the hilltown of Cortona - meeting locals and local artisans; exploring the various parts of the village; savoring the local cuisine and wine; visiting its churches and museums with impressive art and artifacts; as well as witnessing 4000 years of man's habitation of this area...from Etruscan tombs and sites to Roman, Medieval and Renaissance art and architecture! We will also have guided visits to IL Melone Etruscan tomb site as well as the Etruscan Museum.

Cortona
Cortona
Local Cortona Vineyards
Local Cortona Vineyards
Florence
Florence
On Tuesday we head for the birthplace of the Renaissance: Florence! This is a city filled with history, art & architecture...a nearly traffic-free city center and open air museum. Our walking tour includes visits to a variety of sites such as the Antica Farmacia Santa Maria Novella (founded 1221), Pontevecchio & the Arno river, Basilica of Santa Croce (with funeral monuments to Dante Alighieri by Ricci (1829); to Michelangelo, by Vasari (1579); to Alfieri, by Canova (1803); to Machiavelli, by I. Spinazzi (1787), Piazza Signoria, the Piazza del Duomo, and the outdoor San Lorenzo Market. This is a full day in the city, and though museum visits are not included, we are able to alter our walk to allow you to omit some sites and to include, at additional cost, a visit to a preferred museum such as the Bargello, the Museum of the Duomo, or one of the museums at the Pitti Palace. An Uffizi Gallery visit may be arranged, but only with advance payment and reservation.
Already visited Florence? Choose an alternate destination from the options below...


"David"at Piazza Signoria
"David"at Piazza Signoria
 
Daily wine tasting
Daily wine tasting
Wednesday is a wine tour dedicated to exploring part of Tuscany's more famous wines. The days visits include Montepulciano, world renown for its Vino Nobile, Montalcino, known for its prestigious Brunello, Pienza, known for its pecorino cheeses, and Lucignano, where you will learn about the Chianti style of wine. Each stop will be an opportunity to learn about each of these wines and, naturally, taste them! Along the way a selection of simple local foods will be pared with the wines. Lunch in Lucignano is included!

Thursday we are off to the Umbria hilltown of Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis of Assisi. We will take an engaging top-down walk through the upper village of Assisi with visits to the medieval castle Rocca Maggiore and the
Cathedral of San Rufino. In the town center we can see the Temple of Minerva and visit the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi.
Already visited Assisi? Choose an alternate destination from the options below...


Assisi, Umbria
Assisi, Umbria
 
Siena, Tuscany
Siena, Tuscany
Friday is a trip to Siena! Siena's Piazza del Campo is surely one of the most beautiful of the Tuscan hilltowns. But Siena is more than its piazza! We will also visit the Palazzo Pubblico & Torre del Mangia, Siena's Duomo (Cathedral), the Baptistry & Crypt, and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo with the fantastic overview of Siena from the end wall of the unfinished expansion of the cathedral. Guests may visit other sites/museums at additional cost.
Already visited Siena? Choose an alternate destination from the options below...

On Saturday, departure day, we assist you with return travel to Florence. 

This tour, like all of our tours and programs, is designed to offer visitors an eventful week at a relaxed and reasonable pace. We understand that flexibility is important and offer our guests choice within the framework of the week's itinerary.
 This tour is designed for all levels of travel experience and is especially suited to those who prefer escorted travel, those who need assistance, and those making a first-time visit to Tuscany, Italy and Europe. We live here, we know the territory and look forward to sharing it with you and allowing you to create an experience to remember and enrich your life.

 
Patrick with guests in Florence
Patrick with guests in Florence
Orvieto's majestic Duomo
Orvieto's majestic Duomo
Alternate Tuesday or Thursday or Friday day-trips include:

Option One:
 Orvieto
 - In Umbria, situated high above the surrounding valley, its structures cling to the tufa rock sheer cliffs. A quiet, nearly traffic-free town featuring sites such as the Piazza del Duomo & the Duomo(Circa 1290), Torre del Moro,  Pozzo di San Patrizio, and the curious network of Etruscan caves and tunnels underneath the city.


Option Two:
Shopping day with visit to outdoor Camucia market followed by a visit to Val di Chiana Outlet Village.


Option Three: Day trip to Lake Trasimeno including visit to Passignano sul Trasimeno and cruise to Isola Maggiore.

 
Port at Isola Maggiore, Umbria
Port at Isola Maggiore, Umbria
Picture Yourself...
among the sights and sounds of beautiful and romantic Tuscany & Umbria: olive groves, vineyards, centuries-old buildings, winding streets, texture and vibrant sunlight.
Feel Yourself...
in the warm ambiance of Cortona, overlooking Lake Trasimeno and the Val di Chiana, originally fortified by the Umbrians, claimed by the Etruscans, touched by the Renaissance, almost unchanged for centuries, one of Tuscany's jewels.
Experience...
the joy of traveling and exploring in historic and inspiring settings and the camaraderie of a small group of fellow travellers.
Enjoy...
great Italian food, delightful wines, new friends, breath-taking vistas, history and the hospitality of the people of Cortona and Tuscany.

Cortona city center, Tuscany
Cortona city center, Tuscany
 
All-inclusive* plans include:
 
Escorted group travel
from Florence to Cortona and return**
Seven nights three-star accommodations

in historic Cortona***
Italian breakfast and dinner daily****
Daily wine tasting opportunities
Day trips to Florence, Assisi & Siena
Full-day wine tour to Pienza, Montalcino
Montepulciano & Lucignano

Entrance to selected museums and sites*****
All programed transfers
A farewell wine tasting dinner

*Air travel is the responsibility of each participant. Florence (FLR) is the suggested arrival and departure airport in Italy.
**Escorted Group Travel departs Florence's Amerigo Vespucci airport by shuttle at 11:30am and then departs Florence's Santa Maria Novella Station by train at 1:09pm only. Plan to arrive Saturday morning in Florence or at least one day earlier. Departure from Cortona is at 8:00am on departure Saturday. We suggest to not plan departing flights until after 12:00 noon.
***Four- and five-star hotels, vacation villas,
apartments and B&B's quoted separately
****Italian breakfast and evening dinners included only. Lunches are not included.
*****Entrance fees to museums and sites as described in the Itinerary above only.

$2949.00 per person double occupancy
+$600.00 per person single occupancy
Minimum four persons

Email us to request dates!

Food & Wine of Tuscany & Umbria
Food & Wine of Tuscany & Umbria
Val di Chiana
Val di Chiana
Meet your hosts in Tuscany...

Angela Lucani was born and raised in Cortona and never tires of living within the walls of this vibrant Tuscan hilltown! She trained as an elementary school teacher and taught in various locals within Cortona from its mountain villages to the growing post-war part of Cortona known as Camucia. Angela has always been passionate about Tuscan cooking, which she began to learn at an early age aiding her mother in the kitchen. She maintains respect for local cooking traditions and recipes and shares that with Italians and foreign visitors through cooking classes conducted both in Italy and in America.
She has extensive knowledge of Cortona's various areas, from the mountains to the fertile Val di Chiana, and continues to learn about its long and colorful history. She is also passionate about travel and enjoys learning about and experiencing customs, traditions and characteristics of other countries, cultures & people. Her travels destinations have included the United States, England, Egypt, South America, France, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Greece. She enjoys serving as a bridge between visitors to Tuscany and the local culture.


Real Cortona native Angela Lucani
Real Cortona native Angela Lucani
Angela harvests fresh cammomile
Angela harvests fresh cammomile
 
Patrick Mahoney (Miami University BA'80, MA'82) lives  in Cortona where he continues a thirty-year  career in the field of Arts & Entertainment producing events, workshops and tours and providing opportunities to share the Italy experience with travelers, artists and people who share his interests for foods, wine, art, culture. Patrick's passion is to conceive and realize various ways in which the human spirit can express and demonstrate its capacity to create. His ability to fearlessly think, conceive, and work "out of the box" has earned him the attention of artists & musicians, colleges & universities, public & private organizations, and business and industry.  Patrick brings integrity and a unique vision to Toscana Americana and he is committed to realizing the opportunity for participants to create in an atmosphere of peace, joy, respect and mutual support. As a "slow traveler" and a supporter of  "slow food" Mr. Mahoney rides trains, walks, lingers over lunch, dinner or a cup of espresso, stops to smell the roses and savors the sensory feast wherever he is!

View Cortona videos by Patrick
View Cortona videos by Patrick
Producing Director Patrick Mahoney
Producing Director Patrick Mahoney
Read about our destinations
in Tuscany and Umbria

Treasures of Tuscany
& Umbria
Escorted small-group visits to Tuscany

 
Itinerary


 Note: Itinerary subject to change
 

Saturday – Arrival in Cortona
-Escorted Group travel by train from Florence to Cortona
-Arrival and Check-in in Cortona
-Evening welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate reception
-Evening dinner in Cortona
 

Sunday - Cortona
-Morning visit to Le Celle, monastery founded by St. Francis in 1211 followed by an opportunity to view the villa "Bramasole" of the book and film "Under the Tuscan Sun". We then take a top-down walking tour of upper Cortona with visits to the Fortezza di Girifalco, Basilica of Santa Margherita (patron saint of Cortona), Porta Montanina & Etruscan walls, monasteries of Santa Chiara & S.S. Trinitá, churches of San Niccoló and San Francesco (with items of St. Francis)
-Independent lunch  in Cortona (not included)
-Afternoon visit to Cortona’s Cathedral (main church) and the Diocesan Museum (featuring an Annunciation by Beato Angelico (1400-1455) as well as 14th and 15th-century Italian paintings), followed by a short walk to view the oval church of San Benedetto and the medieval street Via Jannelli.
-Free time
-Evening wine followed by dinner in Cortona
 

Monday - Cortona
-Morning guided visit to the Etruscan tombs and Cortona’s Etruscan museum (MAEC).
-Independent lunch  in Cortona (not included)
-Free afternoon
-Optional viewing of firing raku by local ceramic artist
-Evening wine followed by dinner in Cortona
"Le Celle" founded by  St Francis
"Le Celle" founded by St Francis
Cortona's Etruscan Museum
Cortona's Etruscan Museum
Renaissance Florence
Renaissance Florence
Tuesday - Florence
-Day trip to Florence (Optional Uffizi Gallery visit with advance reservation & cost extra)
-Depart Cortona at 8:00am
-Walking visit in Florence’s city center including sights such as: Antica Farmacia Santa Maria Novella (founded 1221), Pontevecchio & the Arno river, Basilica of Santa Croce (with funeral monuments to Dante Alighieri by Ricci (1829); to Michelangelo, by Vasari (1579); to Alfieri, by Canova (1803); to Machiavelli, by I. Spinazzi (1787), Piazza Signoria, the Piazza del Duomo,  the outdoor San Lorenzo Market.
-Independent lunch (not included)
-Depart Florence at 4:09pm
-Evening wine followed by dinner in Cortona
 

Wednesday – Full-day Wine Tour
-Visits to Montepulciano (home of Vino Nobile), Lucignano & Montalcino (home of Brunello), & Pienza (home of Percorino cheese).
-Light lunch included.
-Evening wine followed by dinner in Cortona

Thursday – Assisi –World Heritage Site
-Top-down walk of Assisi with visit to the medieval castle Rocca Maggiore, Cathedral of San Rufino, Temple of Minerva and the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi.
-Independent lunch (not included)
-Evening wine followed by dinner in Cortona
 

Friday -
Siena
-Walking tour with visits to Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico & Torre del Mangia, Siena's Duomo (Cathedral), the Baptistry & Crypt, and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.
-Independent lunch (not included)
 
-Evening wine tasting dinner in Cortona

Saturday – Cortona
-Morning Check-out
-7:40am departure from Cortona and return to Florence

NOTE: With advance notice we can happily substitute day trip destinations on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday to include other, different locations. We can also plan day visits to Orvieto; Lake Trasimeno including Passignano sul Trasimeno, Isola Maggiore & Castiglion del Lago; or an Outlet shopping day

Alternate Tuesday or Thursady or Friday day-trips include:
Option One: Orvieto - In Umbria, situated high above the surrounding valley, its structures cling to the tufa rock sheer cliffs. A quiet, nearly traffic-free town featuring sites such as the Piazza del Duomo & the Duomo(Circa 1290), Torre del Moro,  Pozzo di San Patrizio,  and the curious network of Etruscan caves and tunnels underneath the city.

Option Two: Shopping day with visit to outdoor Camucia market followed by a visit to Val di Chiana Outlet Mall.

Option Three: Day trip to Lake Trasimeno including visit to Passignano sul Trasimeno and cruise to Isola Maggiore.

 
Note: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary. All times are approximate

Asissi's upper village
Asissi's upper village
Siena's impressive Duomo
Siena's impressive Duomo
Request a custom itinerary to any of our tour destinations!

 

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