A Taste of Tuscany & Cinque Terre: Food, Wine & the Italian Riviera

Your journey begins today in Rome, where you will meet your fellow travelers and IVS host at a designated meeting point in the city center.

The exact meeting location will be provided prior to departure and will be conveniently located in central Rome, allowing guests the flexibility to arrive in Rome that morning or spend a few days exploring the Eternal City independently before joining the tour.

Once everyone has gathered, we'll leave the bustle of Rome behind and travel north together into the beautiful landscapes of the Tuscan Maremma, one of Italy's most authentic and wonderfully undiscovered regions.

Our destination is La Parrina, a historic agricultural estate surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, orchards and Mediterranean countryside near the coast of southern Tuscany.

Rather than simply checking into a hotel, tonight you'll begin experiencing the Italy this journey is really about: the land, the people who cultivate it, and the food and wine produced here.

After settling into the estate, there will be time to relax and explore your surroundings before we come together for our welcome dinner, featuring the flavors and wines of the Maremma.

Tonight we sleep in the Tuscan countryside at La Parrina Estate.

Wake this morning surrounded by the vineyards, olive groves and rolling countryside of the Tuscan Maremma.

After breakfast at the estate, we'll spend the morning discovering La Parrina from the inside. This is not simply a winery or a country hotel, but a historic working agricultural estate where wine, olive oil, cheeses, fruits, vegetables and other products are grown and produced directly on the property.

Together with our hosts, we'll explore the estate and learn about the agricultural traditions that have shaped this corner of southern Tuscany for generations. Depending on the season, we'll visit the vineyards, olive groves, gardens and production areas, meeting some of the people whose work brings La Parrina to life.

By lunchtime, you'll have a much better understanding of where the food on the table actually comes from.

We'll sit down for a relaxed farm-to-table lunch featuring products from the estate and surrounding Maremma, accompanied by a tasting of La Parrina's wines.

The afternoon is deliberately unhurried. There will be time to relax at the estate, walk through the countryside, enjoy the gardens or simply slow down and take in your surroundings.

Later in the afternoon, we'll come together in the kitchen for a hands-on cooking experience inspired by the traditional dishes of Tuscany and the Maremma. Using seasonal ingredients, we'll prepare several local recipes while learning some of the techniques and stories behind them.

And then comes the best part: dinner.

We'll sit down together to enjoy what we've prepared, accompanied by local wine and another wonderful evening in the Tuscan countryside.

Overnight at La Parrina Estate.

After breakfast at La Parrina, we'll set out toward the sea for a completely different side of Tuscany.

Today's journey takes us to the Monte Argentario peninsula, a spectacular stretch of the southern Tuscan coast where rugged Mediterranean landscapes, secluded coves and historic fishing villages meet some of the clearest waters in the region.

We'll begin around Orbetello, an unusual lagoon town connected to Monte Argentario by narrow strips of land surrounded by protected wetlands and water. From here, we'll continue toward the peninsula and the beautiful harbor town of Porto Ercole.

Once a small fishing village and later an important Spanish stronghold, Porto Ercole remains one of the most atmospheric towns along this coastline. We'll have time to wander around the harbor, explore its narrow streets and enjoy the distinctly Mediterranean character of the town.

From here, we'll continue along the Argentario coast, stopping at some of our favorite panoramic viewpoints overlooking the sea, islands and hidden coves below.

Lunch today is part of the experience.

We'll sit down at a carefully selected local restaurant for a leisurely Tuscan seafood lunch, where the menu follows what is fresh and available from the coast. This is the Maremma at its best: simple ingredients, local traditions and food that reflects exactly where we are.

The afternoon is deliberately flexible.

Depending on the season and weather, there may be time for a walk along the waterfront, a stop in Porto Santo Stefano, a swim in the Mediterranean, or simply an espresso or gelato overlooking the harbor.

There is no need to rush today.

We'll return to La Parrina through the landscapes of the Maremma in the late afternoon, with time to relax before an evening at leisure.

Dinner tonight is not included, leaving you free to dine at the estate or follow your host's recommendation for a favorite local restaurant.

Overnight at La Parrina Estate.

After breakfast, we'll journey deeper into the southern Maremma, where some of Tuscany's most extraordinary villages rise dramatically from cliffs of volcanic tufa.

Our first destination is Pitigliano, one of the most striking hill towns in Italy. Approaching the village is an experience in itself, with ancient stone houses appearing almost to grow directly from the golden tufa cliff beneath them.

We'll explore the historic center on foot, discovering its narrow lanes, panoramic terraces and centuries of layered history. The surrounding landscape was inhabited by the Etruscans long before the town we see today emerged, and evidence of that ancient civilization remains throughout this fascinating corner of Tuscany.

Pitigliano is also known as “Little Jerusalem” for the Jewish community that flourished here for centuries, leaving behind a synagogue, historic Jewish quarter and culinary traditions that remain part of the town's identity today.

From Pitigliano, we'll continue through the dramatic landscapes of the Vie Cave, the mysterious ancient pathways carved deep into the volcanic rock by the Etruscans, before reaching nearby Sorano.

Sorano feels almost suspended in another era. Built into and above the tufa landscape, its stone houses, passageways and fortifications create one of the most atmospheric villages in the Maremma.

We'll enjoy lunch in the area, with an opportunity to taste some of the rustic dishes and ingredients characteristic of inland southern Tuscany.

And then, we're finished sightseeing for the day.

The afternoon is dedicated entirely to Saturnia.

We'll make our way through the countryside to the famous thermal waters, which emerge naturally from the earth at approximately 37°C and have been appreciated since ancient times.

Here you'll have plenty of time to change, slow down and simply enjoy the warm mineral-rich waters.

At the spectacular Cascate del Mulino, the thermal stream cascades over naturally formed limestone terraces, creating a series of warm pools surrounded by the Tuscan countryside.

There are no monuments to visit and no schedule to keep.

Just bring your swimsuit, find your pool and relax.

After our thermal afternoon, we'll return leisurely through the Maremma countryside to La Parrina for our final evening at the estate.

Dinner this evening is at leisure.

Overnight at La Parrina Estate.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to La Parrina and the landscapes of the Maremma as our journey continues north toward the Italian Riviera.

Before leaving Tuscany behind, however, there is one remarkable wine region still to discover.

We'll travel along the Etruscan Coast toward Bolgheri, where vineyards stretch between the Tuscan hills and the Mediterranean Sea. Although wine has been produced here for generations, Bolgheri became internationally renowned for a new generation of extraordinary wines that challenged traditional Italian winemaking conventions and ultimately became known around the world as the Super Tuscans.

Even the arrival is memorable.

We'll follow the celebrated Viale dei Cipressi, the long avenue of ancient cypress trees immortalized by the Italian poet Giosuè Carducci, toward the tiny medieval village of Bolgheri.

But today isn't about collecting wine tastings.

We'll visit one carefully selected wine estate, allowing us the time to properly experience the place and the people behind the wines. We'll walk through the vineyards and cellar, learn why Bolgheri's proximity to the sea creates such distinctive growing conditions, and discover the story of how this small corner of coastal Tuscany became one of Italy's most prestigious wine regions.

Our experience culminates around the table, with a tasting of the estate's wines accompanied by a leisurely Tuscan lunch.

After lunch, we'll continue north toward Liguria and the Italian Riviera.

This afternoon is intentionally unhurried. There are no cities to race through and no monuments to check off a list. Instead, settle back and enjoy the journey as the scenery begins to change around us.

The rolling vineyards and agricultural landscapes of Tuscany gradually give way to the mountains of Liguria, where villages cling to steep hillsides and the landscape falls dramatically toward the Mediterranean.

By late afternoon, we'll reach the Italian Riviera and settle into our hotel for the next chapter of our journey.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. Take a stroll along the waterfront, find a café for an aperitivo, watch the boats returning to the harbor, or simply relax and enjoy being beside the sea.

Tomorrow, we'll venture into the colorful villages and spectacular coastline of the Cinque Terre.

Dinner this evening is at leisure.  Overnight on the Italian Riviera.

Today we leave the roads behind and experience the Italian Riviera as it was meant to be seen: from the sea.

After breakfast, we'll set out along the beautiful Gulf of Tigullio, beginning with elegant Santa Margherita Ligure, where palm-lined promenades, colorful buildings and fishing boats frame one of Liguria's loveliest harbors.

From here, we'll make our way toward Portofino, the tiny fishing village that became one of the most celebrated destinations on the Mediterranean.

Despite its glamorous reputation, Portofino is still wonderfully small. We'll have time to explore its famous Piazzetta, wander through the narrow lanes rising above the harbor and, for those who wish, walk toward the Church of San Giorgio for spectacular views across the coastline.

There is no need to hurry. Enjoy an espresso beside the harbor, browse the boutiques, photograph the pastel-colored houses reflected in the water, or simply find a beautiful spot and watch life unfold around the bay.

We'll enjoy a leisurely Ligurian lunch, discovering the flavors of a region where the mountains meet the Mediterranean — fresh seafood, local olive oil, focaccia, pesto and seasonal specialties.

After lunch, we'll continue by boat, weather and sea conditions permitting, toward one of the most extraordinary places on the Ligurian coast: San Fruttuoso.

Hidden within a secluded bay beneath the wooded slopes of the Portofino promontory, the medieval Abbey of San Fruttuoso can be reached only by sea or on foot. Arriving by boat is part of the magic.

You'll have time to discover the abbey and its tiny bay or, during warmer months, simply slip into the clear Mediterranean water for a swim.

From San Fruttuoso, we'll continue along the coast toward Camogli, one of our favorite towns on the Italian Riviera.

Camogli has a completely different character from Portofino. Tall, brightly painted houses rise above the waterfront, fishing boats line the harbor and small lanes lead toward bakeries, cafés and shops filled with the aromas and flavors of Liguria.

We'll have time to explore at leisure, perhaps stopping for a piece of freshly baked focaccia or a gelato before beginning our return journey along the Riviera.

By late afternoon, we'll return to Rapallo and the Grand Hotel Bristol.

The evening is yours to enjoy. Relax at the hotel, stroll along the waterfront, enjoy an aperitivo overlooking the Mediterranean or venture into town for dinner.

Overnight at the Grand Hotel Bristol in Rapallo.

Boat transportation is subject to seasonal schedules, weather and sea conditions. When necessary, the day's routing will be adapted while preserving the experiences and destinations wherever possible.

Today we'll discover one of Italy's most extraordinary coastal landscapes: the Cinque Terre, five centuries-old villages tucked between the mountains and the Mediterranean along the rugged Ligurian coastline.

But rather than attempting to rush through all five villages, we'll concentrate on three of our favorites, giving us time to explore, enjoy the scenery and experience the Cinque Terre at a more relaxed pace.

After breakfast, we'll make the short transfer from the hotel to Rapallo's railway station and travel south along the Ligurian coast toward Monterosso al Mare, the northernmost of the five villages.

Monterosso is the largest of the Cinque Terre villages and the only one with a long beach stretching beside the Mediterranean. We'll have time to explore its historic center, wander along the waterfront and begin discovering the distinctive character of this remarkable coastline.

From here, we'll continue to Vernazza, perhaps the most picturesque of the five villages. Pastel-colored houses cluster around its tiny natural harbor, while vineyards and terraced hillsides rise dramatically behind the village.

We'll slow down here and enjoy a leisurely Ligurian lunch, with local specialties that might include freshly prepared seafood, handmade pasta, focaccia, pesto and the crisp white wines produced from the steeply terraced vineyards surrounding the Cinque Terre.

Our journey then continues toward Manarola, traveling by boat whenever weather and seasonal schedules permit.

Seeing the Cinque Terre from the water is an entirely different experience. From the Mediterranean, you begin to understand just how extraordinary these villages are — tiny communities built into an almost impossibly steep landscape between mountain and sea.

We'll have time to explore Manarola's colorful lanes and waterfront and take in some of the iconic views across the village and coastline.

By late afternoon, we'll begin our journey back toward Rapallo, returning to the Grand Hotel Bristol with time to relax before the evening.

Dinner tonight is at leisure.

Overnight at the Grand Hotel Bristol in Rapallo.

Transportation within the Cinque Terre will combine regional trains and local boats according to seasonal schedules, weather and sea conditions. When boats are not operating, journeys between the villages will be made by train.

This morning, we leave the beautiful Italian Riviera behind and journey south into Tuscany for a day that brings together two of the region’s most celebrated cities before ending among the rolling hills of the Val d’Orcia.

Our first stop is Pisa, where we’ll visit the extraordinary Piazza dei Miracoli, home to the world-famous Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and Baptistery. There will be time to explore this remarkable monumental complex and, of course, capture a few photographs of one of Italy’s most recognizable landmarks.

From Pisa, we continue to Lucca, one of Tuscany’s loveliest and best-preserved historic cities. Still surrounded by its magnificent Renaissance walls, Lucca has an intimate character all its own, with elegant piazzas, medieval streets, churches, cafés and small shops tucked throughout its historic center.

We’ll have time to enjoy Lucca at a relaxed pace, with time for lunch and independent exploration. Walk a section of the tree-lined city walls, wander through Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, browse local shops or simply settle into a café and enjoy the atmosphere of this wonderfully livable Tuscan city.

In the afternoon, we leave Tuscany’s historic cities behind and travel deeper into the countryside. As we approach the Val d’Orcia, the landscape begins to change into the Tuscany of postcards: sweeping hills, cypress-lined roads, vineyards, olive groves and ancient hill towns rising above the countryside.

Our destination is Bagno Vignoni, a tiny medieval village famous for the thermal waters that have flowed here since Roman times.

Here, we’ll check into the beautiful ADLER Spa Resort THERMAE, our home for the next two nights.

After several days of exploring, this evening is deliberately yours to slow down. Slip into the warm thermal pools, enjoy the spa, take in the surrounding Val d’Orcia countryside or simply relax with a glass of Tuscan wine.

Tonight, there is nowhere else we need to be.  Dinner is at leisure this evening.  

We are in the heart of Tuscany.

Today we set out to experience the landscapes, flavors and wines that have made southern Tuscany one of the most celebrated corners of Italy.

Our journey begins in Pienza, a beautiful Renaissance hill town overlooking the rolling landscapes of the Val d'Orcia. Designed as an ideal Renaissance city and today part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pienza is small enough to explore slowly, wandering its stone streets, panoramic terraces and artisan shops.

Pienza is also famous throughout Italy for its Pecorino di Pienza, the local sheep's-milk cheese produced in the surrounding countryside. There will be time to explore the town, browse its specialty food shops and perhaps taste some of the cheeses and other products for which this part of Tuscany is known.

From Pienza, we'll travel through the spectacular countryside toward Montalcino, passing vineyards, olive groves, cypress-lined roads and some of the most photographed landscapes in Tuscany.

Montalcino is synonymous with one of Italy's great wines: Brunello di Montalcino.

Rather than rushing between several commercial tastings, today we'll visit a carefully selected wine estate for a more personal introduction to Brunello. We'll explore the vineyards and cellars, learn about the Sangiovese grape and the traditions behind Brunello production, and sit down for a guided tasting of the estate's wines.

I would make the winery lunch part of the experience here. A long Tuscan lunch paired with the estate's wines gives the day a completely different feeling from another tasting stop and makes the wine experience the centerpiece of Day 9.

After lunch, we'll have time to explore Montalcino, with its medieval streets, wine shops and imposing fortress overlooking the surrounding countryside.

Then, instead of filling every remaining hour with another stop, we'll return to ADLER Spa Resort THERMAE in the afternoon.

The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the thermal pools, spa and peaceful surroundings of the Val d'Orcia.

After days spent discovering Tuscany and the Italian Riviera, today is about something simpler: beautiful places, exceptional wine, good food and enough time to enjoy them.

Overnight at ADLER Spa Resort THERMAE, Bagno Vignoni.

After breakfast, we say goodbye to the beautiful Val d'Orcia and begin our journey south toward Rome. But before leaving Tuscany behind, there is one final hill town, one final wine experience and one final meal to share together.

Our destination this morning is Montepulciano, one of southern Tuscany's most impressive hill towns, perched high above a landscape of vineyards, olive groves and rolling countryside.

We'll have time to explore the historic center, wandering along its medieval streets and Renaissance palaces toward magnificent Piazza Grande. Along the way, you'll find artisan workshops, small specialty shops, cafés and wonderful viewpoints across the Tuscan countryside.

Montepulciano is also the home of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, one of Tuscany's historic great wines.

Before lunch, we'll descend beneath the streets of the old town for a visit to the remarkable Cantina De' Ricci, whose centuries-old cellars lie beneath Palazzo Ricci in the heart of Montepulciano.

Often described as a “cathedral of wine,” the monumental underground cellar is one of Montepulciano's most atmospheric spaces. Here we'll learn about the history and traditions of winemaking in the area before enjoying a tasting of the estate's wines, including the celebrated Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

From the cellar, we'll come together for our farewell lunch.

This isn't a meal we want to rush. Over a leisurely Tuscan lunch accompanied by local wine, we'll raise a final glass to the places we've discovered, the people we've met and the experiences we've shared during our journey together.

After lunch, we'll leave the Tuscan hills behind and continue south toward Rome, where our journey comes full circle.

We expect to arrive in central Rome in the late afternoon or early evening. The tour will conclude at a designated central Rome location, conveniently positioned for guests continuing to their independently arranged Rome accommodation or onward travel.

Additional nights in Rome, private hotel transfers and airport transfers can also be arranged upon request.

After ten days together — from the wild landscapes and flavors of the Maremma to the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre, and from the great cities of Tuscany to the vineyards, thermal waters and hill towns of the Val d'Orcia — it is time to say goodbye.

But as we like to say in Italy, this is not goodbye.

Arrivederci — until we meet again.

Meals included: Breakfast, Wine Tasting & Farewell Lunch

Tour concludes: Rome, late afternoon/early evening