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Tuscany Vespa Culinary Tours

Italian Food & Vespa Tour in Tuscany!

TOUR AT A GLANCE - 
Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights
Departures 2009: Sept 12; as well as private departures, contact us for details.
Departing from: Florence at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Day 1
Tour finishes: Montevarchi train station, 4 p.m., Day 6 (Thursday)
Trip price: €2,150 per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement: €200.
Click on the Currency Converter to see the price in your local currency.

Hit the open road on your own Vespa scooter on this culinary tour of Tuscany's Chianti wine region. You spend one night in Florence and then five full days of touring on our 125 cc Vespa scooters. Each day features an in depth (and delicious!) look at Tuscan food and wine traditions, with winery visits, tastings, and cooking lessons. Traveling by Vespa is fun and easy. The scooters have an electric start and automatic transmission. Your local guide will lead you along quiet back roads amongst olive groves and vineyards to storybook castles and hilltop villages. This is a great holiday which combines the freedom and exhilaration of touring by Vespa with the delicious food, wine, and romantic landscapes of Tuscany.  

More info? Contact us at info@madaboutitaly.com 

 

 

 

 

 

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Note: Everyone who drives a scooters needs to have an international drivers license, which is easy to get (we can help organise this!).

The Hotels - The Hotels: In Florence you spend one night at the Hotel Royal, an elegant 18th century villa that has been transformed into a lovely hotel with garden and pool (somedepartures stay at the charming Orto de' Medici, a superior 3-star hotel located on the former gardens of the powerful Medici family). A 4-night stay then follows in the countryside, at the Borgo Fontebussi, an 18th century manor house that has been lovingly restored and turned into a beautiful four star boutique hotel. A new 25-meter swimming pool has been added to the grounds to create a wonderfully relaxing environment. Borgo Fontebussi is the perfect base for us to explore Tuscany by Vespa. 


The Vespas - Seven new, bright red 125 cc Vespa scooters are used for the tour. They are lightweight, comfortable, and easy to ride, with an electric start and automatic transmission. The brakes are on the handlebars, like on a bicycle. You are provided with helmets. The 125 cc Vespa is powerful enough for two people to happily cruise through the Tuscan countryside. Top speed is 80 kph but the tour is at a slower, more comfortable and safe speed, usually not exceeding 50 kph (30 mph). Of course, couples can ride together on one Vespa (and save €100 for one person!). There are also two smaller 100cc Sym "Mio" scooters. Depending on availability, you will receive either the 125cc Vespa or the 100cc Mio. 

Touring by Vespa is a wonderful way of exploring all that Tuscany has to offer. You become a part of the environment rather than being sealed off from it. You can stop when and wherever you want, and parking is never a problem. Come and feel the thrill of cruising down the open road, under the Tuscan sun!

NOTE: You must arrive at the start of the tour already a safe, competent rider, as the tour service provider is not a motorbike school.

(Luggage is transferred by van. 1 night Florence, 4 nights Gaiole in Chianti or Borgo Fontebussi. Trip ends at Montevarchi train station.) 


Day 1 - Saturday:  Independent arrival in Florence and check-in at your pre-booked hotel, the Hotel Royal, an elegant 18th century villa that has been transformed into a lovely hotel with garden and pool (some departures stay at the charming Orto de' Medici, a superior 3-star hotel located on the former gardens of the powerful Medici family). Both hotels are conveniently located in the center of historic Florence. You will meet your guide and the rest of the group this evening at 6:00 p.m. in the hotel lobby and walk to a local enoteca (wine bar) for an introduction to four of the key ingredients to life in Tuscany: olive oil, pecorino cheese, Tuscan bread, and Chianti wine. This informal but informative degustazione will then lead into dinner.  Should you wish to arrive in Florence early, please let us know as we would be happy to extend your reservation in Florence for you. Hotel, aperitvo/degustazione and dinner included. 


Day 2 - Sunday:  Pick-up in Florence at your hotel at 9 a.m. A private van transfer takes everyone to the village of Gaiole in Chianti to pick up their Vespas. Before hitting the open road you will have an orientation and safety talk. Before the tour begins, you will start out in a parking lot and a very quiet stretch of road to start on so you can get used to driving your Vespa. Indeed, today is designed to get you very well acquainted with your Vespa. The tour will follow two scenic ridge roads that offer wonderful views over the romantic Tuscan landscape. Everyone will then stop for a very special lunch with Massimiliano Biagi. “Massi” is the farm manager at the famous Barone Ricasoli vineyards. He is responsible for the 2,500 acre estate of the Castello di Brolio, of which 500 acres is planted in vines which regularly make wines of exceptional quality, scoring consistent 90 plus points from Wine Spectator. Massi’s other passion is cooking. He loves to share his passion and everyone will be invited into his garden for a special “picnic” that he has prepared. After lunch, you can visit the cellars and enjoy a tasting... although you will have to spit!  A short ride and walk leads up to the historic Castellodi Brolio to visit the park and gardens of this magnificent castle. This part of Chianti was fought over by the Sienese and the Florentines for centuries, and Brolio castle was in the thick of it for 300 years. The tour will then continue to wind its way through Tuscan villages and hamlets to arrive at  the Borgo Fontebussi, 'home' for the next four nights. Time for a dip in the pool before dinner, a short walk away in the village of Montegonzi. Hotel, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. 


Day 3 - Monday:  This morning the tour crosses the Arno river and rides toward the imposing Pratomagno mountains. A cappuccino stop will take place in the picturesque medieval town of Loro Ciuffenna, once an important stop on the Roman "Cassia" road and now a colorful village that has retained its traditional character.  Afterwards, the tour continues on to "Il Borro," a Tuscan village which has been bought in its entirety by the Florentine fashion house of Ferragamo and completely restored. Lunch will be held at the excellent "Osteria del Borro," then have some time to walk around the village shops.  We then ride back to Fontebussi, park the Vespas, and transfer by van to a private home for a cooking course with Marie Zarro. Marie has been a professional cook in Chianti since 1986, working at the Ristorante Pietraffitta (near Castellina in Chianti) for more than a dozen years before taking over Ristorante Vescovino for three years in Panzano in Chianti. Marie has now been catering in Chianti for the past four years, her clientele reads like a "Who's Who" book. Besides being an excellent cook, Marie is a lovely person and has spent many years in Australia, so her English is pretty good too –  which is often a help! After preparing dinner, sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor. And you can enjoy the wine because you are returned to the hotel by van. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included. 


Day 4 - Tuesday:  Today sees the tour continue to ride to Siena, one of Italy's most beautiful and historic cities. Here, there'll be a guided visit with Rita, a native of Siena and our favorite city guide. Only a native of this Gothic city can explain the furor and passion that surround the famous bareback Palio horserace, which is run around the city's 12th century Piazza del Campo twice a year. You will have free time to explore Siena's exquisite historic center and admire its Gothic architecture. Of course, you might get side-tracked by the shops and cafés along the Banchi di Sopra, Siena's main pedestrian shopping street. Rendez-vous for lunch in Siena. Our return ride is passes through the exquisite countryside near Monteaperti and Castelnuovo Berardenga. Dinner tonight is at the Fattoria "La Forra," a short distance from the hotel. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included. 


Day 5 - Wednesday:  You might have come to Tuscany not only for its romantically beautiful landscapes and fascinating history but also for its excellent cuisine, so today you will learn some secrets of Tuscan cooking. A one-hour ride takes everyone to Starda Castle, a small, picturesque hamlet of medieval origin. Built around 1000 by the noble family of Conti Guidi it is now home to Gabriela and her husband Giovanni, their dog Grieg and cat Tris, all of whom are wonderful and gracious hosts. Gabriela's son Alessandro will invite everyone into the restaurant's kitchen, where he will teach you how to cook Tuscan style. You better pay attention, because you will be eating what you are cooking for lunch!  Afterwards, the tour heads for the Badia Coltibuono (Abbey of the good harvest) for a guided visit of this beautiful and historic site. The Badia was first established in the 11th century by Cistercian monks who soon started producing wine. Indeed, the Badia Coltibuono is still one of the area’s best producers of Chianti Classico and its olive oil is famous throughout the world. Dinner tonight will be al fresco on the terrace of our hotel. Hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner included. 


Day 6 - Thursday: Today's departure is at 10:15, to allow you time to pack your bags and enjoy a relaxing morning swim.  A thirty minute ride takes everyone to the hilltop town of Radda in Chianti where you will have free time to enjoy the view from the medieval walls and check out its antique shops and cafés. Then it is on to Rampini ceramics, arguably the best producer of hand painted ceramics in all of Italy. The head designer will explain how majolica ceramics are made, a process that remains essentially unchanged since the Renaissance age. Of course you may also peruse the lovely showroom attached to their workshops (they ship worldwide!). One last beautiful ride on the trusty Vespas will take everyone to the village of Gaiole in Chianti where lunch will be provided at Trattoria Sfizio. Chef Fernanda serves up homemade dishes using the freshest ingredients. You will be picked up at the restaurant at 15:00 and transferred by van to the Montevarchi train station, via Borgo Fontebussi to pick up your luggage, for the 16:14 p.m. train to Florence and Rome. Travel time to Florence is 40 minutes, and 2 hours 50 minutes to Rome. If you need to leave the trip earlier, then please let us know and we can arrange a transfer for you at your expense. Breakfast included. Transfer to train station included.


IMPORTANT!! : QUALIFICATIONS 

You must be over 18 years of age, have a valid driver's license and an INTERNATIONAL driver's license to drive a Vespa. Of course anyone can be a passenger. To drive a Vespa, previous experience on a scooter or motorbike is advantageous and highly advised. If you have not ridden or scooter or motorbike before then you should do so before you do this trip.  Rent a scooter locally, and learn how to ride it before coming on the trip. U.K. residents can try Vroom by the Sea, a scooter rental in Brighton.  

THE TOUR OPERATOR IN ITALY WILL NOT TEACH YOU HOW TO DRIVE A SCOOTER. YOU MUST ARRIVE AT THE START OF THE TRIP ALREADY A COMPETENT RIDER. In the past, some people have arrived to drive a scooter on public roads who have never ridden a scooter before and who are uncoordinated, un-athletic, and who can't drive a scooter safely. Please do not be one of these people. It would be funny if they were not endangering themselves and the lives of others. The Vespas are easy to ride, but a good sense of balance and coordination is required. The Vespas have a 125cc engine and an all-steel frame. They are lighter and easier to drive than a larger motorbike but they are also heavier than a moped and other smaller 50cc scooters (the Vespa weighs 110 kg, or about 235 lbs).

You will be driving a motor vehicle on public roads. You are responsible for your safety but also for the safety of other motorists, bikers and pedestrians. You must be able to control the Vespa and drive it competently. If the tour operator feels that your driving skills put you and others at risk they reserve the right to take the Vespa away from you. In the event that you cannot ride as a passenger on one of the Vespas, then an alternative mode of transport, either taxi, or rental car, can be arranged, but at your expense. 

Finally, age may be a factor. From experience, the tour operators have found that most people who are over 50 and who have never ridden a scooter or motorbike have problems riding the Vespa. If you have not used the “motorbike” part of your brain before the age of 50, then it may be too late to learn. We don't know why this is, but such are the mysteries of Life, Zen, and the Art of Vespa maintenance. So if in doubt, please take the time to try a scooter at home.

The bottom line is that we just want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday!

FOR BOOKINGS/MORE INFO:

Contact Us at info@madaboutitaly.com, or fill in the short form below

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