Essential Europe Travel

Saturday

Afternoon arrival to Chiusi station a major stop on all the Rome-Florence lines.

Private van transfer to the villa in time for the welcome pool side aperitivo – the first wine tasting with crostini - and bike fitting session.

Let's enjoy the welcome dinner. Our featured wine tonight is Chianti Classico.

Sunday

Ride Total Distance km 45

After breakfast transfer to Cortona: one's of Italy's oldest towns. The first set of city walls were built by the Etruscans in the 4th century BC. It became famous by Frances Mayes in her bestselling Under the Tuscan sun – now also a movie!! Your ride today will pass through the Val di Chiana, once a swampy lowland. The ride will be flat except for the final climb to reach Montepulciano. In town we first have a outstanding lunch at the Poliziano's terrace. Then free to visit town and we meet at Cantine del redi for visit of cellars & wine tasting vino Nobile and rosso.

Transfer back to the villa for the first cooking lesson: Mixed Crostini, cooked tomatos, Zuppa di fagioli: beans soupe, Tasca ripiena & Zucchini pudding. Dessert will be homemade biscotti to dip in the vin santo.

Monday

Ride Total Distance km 40

Our ride start from the villa: first stop is Monte Oliveto Magiore Abbey. Then ride downhill to Buonconvento and reach Montalcino. The hilltown is very famous for Brunello wine made with the Sangiovese Grosso grape and aged a minimum of four years. After lunch at Re di Macchia you enjoy brunello wine tasting & visit cellar. If we have time a short visit to Romanesque abbey of Sant'Antimo that dates back to the time of Charlemagne. Here the monks still perform the mass in Gregorian chant.

Back to the villa for pici - the handrolled pasta of this region- lesson.

Let's learn the classic aglione sauce (tomato and spring garlic) or with wild boar meat sauce. Followed by Stinco di Chianina beaf cooked in the owen, seasonal vegetables: rifatti spinach or Zucchini fried and crostata. Tonight's wines is Morellino di Scansano.

Tuesday

Ride Total Distance km 40

Our morning begins with a transfer to Pienza. It is a pristine Renaissance jewel created in 1458. Pope Pius II chose the famous Florentine architect Rossellino to transform his home village of Corsignano into one of the few examples left of 15th century architecture. There are a great number of food stores that specialize in artisanal foods.

The main product is the pecorino the delicious pungent cheese made using only sheep milk. We ride to San Quirico d'Orcia where worth a visit the horti e leonini garden, and end up in Trequanda. There we will visit the farm Verdi pascoli and see how pecorino cheese is made. Lunch at the farm will include a tasting of the cheeses at different aging and olive oil tasting

Return by van to villa to freshen up, tonight dinner at il Conte Matto

Wednesday

Ride Total Distance km 35

After breakfast departure by bike from the villa. Pass through Asciano and Le crete area, with strange rock formations and and lone farmhouse flanked by twin cypress tree. Arrive in Siena and let's enjoy the light lunch at Osteria Le Logge just behind Piazza del campo, the shell shape square where the Palio horserace is run.

Back by van for 16.30 for you cooking session: today challenging Ravioli! For appetizer carpaccio with mushrooms and crostini caldi with sasusage and cheese. Then ravioli with tomato sauce and basil. Another dish of cucina Toscana: wild boar stew. Vegetable could be peperonata or fagiolini. Dessert Panna Cotta with chocolate dressing.

Thursday

Ride Total Distance km 42

Our ride today starts in the ancient Roman spa of Bagno Vignoni. Legend has it that Saint Catherine and Pope Pius II both bathed in the thermal waters here. You can take off your shoes and dip your toes in the rivulets that come warm from the earth: let's ride through the rolling hills of the Val d'Orcia

Lunch will be a picnic along the way: prosciutto crudo toscano, finocchiona (salami with fennel), bresaola with lemon, panzanella (typical bread tuscan salad), rucola salad with pamisan and mushrooms, mozzarella di bufala!

When we arrive to San Casciano dei Bagni : there will be time to relax at the spa swimming pool and under its waterfall which is fed with natural spring water at 42°C.

Our farewell dinner will be at "da Daniela." Wine tonight is local IGT Val d‘Orcia our favorite Capitoni winery

Friday