After one last sumptuous breakfast –don't forget the cappuccino e cornetto – depart on independent flights home. It’s just under a half-hour drive to the Florence airport from our villa for those of us leaving today. Conley & Silvers will provide your transfer to the airport, and we will make any departure time work today. For those lucky folks adding on some time in Florence or beyond, we can help you arrange transfers or extra nights in the hotel. Whichever option is yours, we hope you take home many Conley & Silvers Soirée memories to treasure.

Ciao for now soirée friends! And as the Italian say, arriverderci – see you again!

(B)

It would be a shame to waste Il Salviatino’s gorgeous pool, brand-new spa and magnificent grounds so we highly recommend spending your last day lounging, having a massage and touring the garden of our magnificent villa.

For those still feeling frisky, join Tim on a final hike into the nearby village of Fiesole. The mystical beauty of Fiesole encompasses centuries of history with amazingly well-preserved Etruscan and Roman ruins, along with Renaissance villas and splendid gardens.

Gather this evening in your finest threads (surely we’ve all made some recent purchases to show off!) for an elegant reception and farewell dinner with dramatic views of Florence. Raise a glass to the sunset over Brunelleschi’s dome and an Italian farewell – for now – to the best of friends, and the best of times in Tuscany.

Il Salviatino (B, R, D)

This morning, we say good-bye to our friends at Gargonza, and make our way 40 minutes west to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Siena, primed for our visit with a lecture from Tim. This glorious medieval center is one of the loveliest in Italy, never mind Tuscany, and a long-time historical and artistic rival to Florence. Its soft red brick and easy-going air are in marked contrast to the stone and grandeur of Florence: we’ll be interested to hear your views – and preferences – when it comes to these two great cities.

It’s a joy simply to wander Siena’s streets, with Roman, medieval, and Renaissance interest at every turn, along with great shopping, but we’ll make a special point of visiting the Duomo, famed for its majestic façade and art-filled interior, and the immense Campo, Siena’s main square, the setting for its world-famous Palio, or horse-race.

Arrive this evening at our final destination and home for the next two nights, the five-Star Il Salviatino, a 14th- century beautifully restored villa folded into Tuscany’s pastoral rolling hills, with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and the city of Florence. This is the perfect place to take a final vacation from your vacation before heading home.

Il Salviatino (B, D)

About a half hour from Gargonza, we will pay a visit to Salvadori family, who run a superb agriturismo adored, among others, by the author Frances Mayes. In fact, Frances Mayes features the family’s father, Lapo, in Under the Tuscan Sun and stayed with them while her house was being renovated. The family has its own flock of sheep, from which they make their own cheese. Here on their farm, you will learn how the delicious Tuscan pecorino and other traditional cheeses are born. And you will even get to make your own cheese! Enjoy a delicious traditional Tuscan lunch made with their farm fresh ingredients and prepared by Lapo and his family: Paola (mom), Lapo (dad), Laura (daughter) and Ilaria (daughter).

This afternoon will make our way to Cortona and en route make a stop at the Celle Hermitage founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1211 and pass the Villa Bramasole, protagonist of Under the Tuscan Sun. Once in Cortona, our guide will lead us though the town’s many picturesque narrow alleyways and point out the town’s cultural and architectural gems. We will also visit the Diocesan Museum (highlights include works by Fra Angelico & Luca Signorelli) and the MAEC museum (known for its Etruscan collection).

GARGONZA (B, L, D)

Every trip needs a down day, but a down day doesn’t mean a day of doing nothing – though it can do: Gargonza is the perfect place for what the Italians call la dolce far niente the “sweet doing of nothing”. So sleep in, read in front of the fire, take a lazy stroll, have a glass of wine with lunch and a long siesta: the day is yours. And ­ – or – join us for one or more of our organized activities: a guided walk with Tim in the morning around the woods nearby, learning about truffles, chestnuts and more; take one of Gargonza’s bikes for a spin on the quiet country lanes roundabout; sit back for a cooking demonstration and wine tasting; or join Dana and Tim to play the classic Italian game of bocci.

GARGONZA (B, L, D)

Today’s great treat is exploring the hilltop town of Arezzo, rich in Roman and Etruscan ruins, its center as lovely as it appears in Roberto Benigni's classic film Life is Beautiful. It's here in the Piazza Grande where the monthly Antiques Fair takes place, a must-see event established in 1968. If you love antiquing, join Dana on her hunt for hidden treasures during our lunch break – don’t worry, we will figure out a way to get it all home!

There’s far more. Art lovers can rejoice, for the town boasts one of Italy's finest masterpieces, a fresco cycle by Piero della Francesca, along with works by Cimabue and others. We will see it all this afternoon with our exceptional local guide and long-time C&S colleague, Serena.

It’s only a half hour drive back to our haven, Gargonza.

GARGONZA (B, D)

You'd be hard pressed to describe a more perfect day trip than ours today—it's an easy drive to our stops in Montepulciano, Pienza and the Val d’Orcia. The road and scenery between Montepulciano and Pienza is some of the most beautiful in Europe – so much so that the countryside is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our first stop will be in Montepulciano, a magical medieval walled city, originally founded by the Etruscans, with car-free winding streets, glorious panoramic views, great shopping, and lively cafés where you can sample the famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. We will have our trusty sommelier with us who will help navigate the wine list and teach us the expressions of this prized dark red vintage during our gastronomic lunch.

Just a short drive away though the magnificent countryside, arrive in Pienza (a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right) to admire this ‘ideal’ city designed for a Pope. Pienza is a perfect example of sophisticated Renaissance urban planning, organized according to the era’s ideals of rationality and humanism, and with fabulous views, boutique shopping and tiny streets that (literally) smell of its famous Pecorino cheese. After a brief orientation, explore the small city center on your own and dip into the traditional artisan shops and spectacular views.

Gargonza awaits. We will be back “home” in time for dinner.

GARGONZA (B, L, D)

Today we’ll leave our beloved Florence behind to begin our adventures in the Tuscan countryside – rolling hills, charming villages, sky-high Cypress trees, vineyards and olive groves aplenty! En route to Chianti, we will make a stop to visit the American Cemetery in Florence, where 4,399 American soldiers are buried from the United States’ involvement in freeing Italy during the Second World War.

After a scenic drive, passing medieval hamlets and cypress trees swaying in the wind, we’ll arrive at the Antinori estate, one of the finest wine producers in Tuscany, where we’ll explore the beauty of their jaw-dropping winery and sample peerless examples of their viticulture. Highly rated by Robert Parker and the wine community at large, the Antinori family is known for playing a seminal role in creating some of the first – and best – of Italy’s new-wave “Super Tuscan” wines. Antinori has been making wine for over twenty-six generations, since 1385. They believe that tradition and innovation can go hand in hand: our guide will walk us through centuries-old vineyards set against the backdrop of the sleek ultra-modern winery.

After a luxurious lunch under the Tuscan sun, we’ll learn everything there is to know about extra virgin olive oil. It’ll take your appreciation for the real extra virgin product to a new level.

Today’s final destination is Castello di Gargonza, a superbly restored 13th-century medieval hamlet, where we will be making our home for the next five nights. The fortified village is surrounded by more than 1500 acres of forest, olive groves and vineyards and overlooks the Val di Chiana, a wide green valley punctuated by gently rolling hills. Gargonza's suites are located in different houses inside the village, and have maintained their authentic structures and character, thanks to the careful restoration of the Guicciardini family. The comforts are modern while the atmospheres have remained those of the past. Enjoy a tour of the grounds followed by aperitivo in the private lemon garden with our charismatic host, Neri Guicciardini, who will regale us with stories of his aristocratic family's past and the history of the village and its restoration.

The menu here will always be traditional Tuscan cuisine, complete with pasta made fresh daily. With your old-fashioned key in hand, settle into your comfortable rooms, each with working fireplaces, and immediately feel your shoulders relax and be transported into the past. Never fear, all rooms have a full range of modern amenities, including mini bar and Wi-Fi if you need to come back to the 21st century.

GARGONZA (B, L, R, D)

This morning, we zig-zag our way down from Villa Cora, stopping by gems such as the Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte, considered the finest Romanesque church in Tuscany, and taking in the marvelous views of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo. Following the green paths and crossing the River Arno, we continue onto the charming neighborhood of Santa Croce, with its sublime Basilica adorned with frescoes by Giotto and the final resting place for the likes of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo.

With a free afternoon in Florence, the possibilities are endless. Perhaps you’ll join Dana on a ladies’ raid of her favorite shoe shops. Or visit more of the city’s museums (don't miss Palazzo Vecchio) or exhibitions (we love Palazzo Strozzi). We can point you to all the best places. Make sure to leave a little time to pack back at Villa Cora and gussy up, as we have fabulous dinner plans.

This evening, we’ll clink glasses with Florentine nobility, as we are invited to a private dinner at the Gondi family’s palazzo. The elegant Palazzo Gondi was constructed by the inimitable Giuliano da Sangallo in 1498 and is still ornamented with Renaissance-era furniture and grand portraits of this powerful family. It is one of the very few palaces in Florence still owned by the family who commissioned it over 500 years ago. After a tour of the palazzo, our hosts will guide us onto the magnificent terrace for a bubbly aperitivo before a delectable dinner. The views onto the Duomo, so close you can almost touch it, will take your breath away.

VILLA CORA (B, R, D)

Today we have the honor of exploring the heart of the city with Monsignor Timothy Verdon, a Canon of the Cathedral, priest in the Duomo and the director of its magnificent museum. We would be hard-pressed to find anyone with a more impressive CV for the job in hand. He will guide us through Florence’s imposing and awe-inspiring Duomo: the great Santa Maria del Fiore.

Designed by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1298, the Duomo is the third largest church in the world. Monsignor Verdon will grant us special access to the upper galleries of the nearby Baptistery and the Sacristy of the Duomo, known for its 15th-century marquetry. Thanks to Monsignor Verdon’s formidable expertise, we’ll learn everything there is to know about this extraordinary church. We will also have the chance to get a close look at the newly reopened Grande Museo del Duomo with his unique “director’s tour”, along with insights into its remarkable collection of great medieval and Renaissance statues and reliefs by Donatello, Michelangelo, Ghiberti, and many others. The most adventurous might want to climb the 463 steps to the top of the cathedral dome for incredible views of the city.

The afternoon is at leisure – stroll around and discover the nooks and crannies of this beautiful city. If you’d like to visit the treasures in the Uffizi or the Galleria dell’Accademia (home to the David), let us know and we can secure timed tickets for you in advance. Consider a lunch of Florentine street food—Tim can show you his favorite stop for Florence’s famous grilled panini wrapped up to go.

VILLA CORA (B)

It’s a relaxed morning start, bowing briefly to jetlag for our first day. Set off mid-morning from our hillside base at Villa Cora, and meander down the Florentine hills with Tim Jepson and Elaine Ruffolo as our trusty guides. Stroll via the Medici's Boboli Gardens to admire its pagan statues, manicured borders and a collection of Roman antiquities. Created in the 16th century, the Boboli gardens were expanded to their modern-day size of 11 acres in a century later. Stop in at the fourth-century church of Santa Felicita at the Barbadori Chapel to view Pontormo’s Deposition, considered one of the greatest works of the late Renaissance.

Mosey on over to see Brunelleschi’s masterpiece, Santo Spirito, arguably one of the most important Renaissance buildings in Florence. Inside, we’ll admire works by Filippo Lippi, Michelangelo and of course Brunelleschi’s sublime architecture.

Take a break with lunch together at one of Dana’s favorite tiny trattorias, where the menu is short but the handmade pasta is perfetto.

This afternoon, we continue our “urban hike” and wander through a little-known neighborhood just south of the Arno River to discover the true character of Florence in the artisanal district of the Oltrarno. Though it preserves some signs of its ancient history, today this Florentine neighborhood is full of antique shops and artisan studios as well as several important monuments. As we weave in and out of shops, we’ll be meeting artisans and observing their skill in producing the crafts that make Florence famous, among them hand-marbled papermakers, bookbinders, silversmiths, shoemakers and contemporary leather designers.

What could be better than ending at Dana's favorite gelato shop right on the Arno – you’ve earned it! The city is yours to explore this evening at your own pace.

VILLA CORA (Breakfast, Lunch)

Arrive at the Florence airport this morning and be transferred to our luxurious home for the next four nights: the exquisite Villa Cora, a love letter in art and architecture. An aristocratic residence built at the end of the 19th century, the villa is located in a centuries-old park that overlooks the Boboli Gardens, on the hills just outside the historical center of Florence. This sophisticated boutique hotel is the perfect place from which to base our strolls around the lesser-known quarters of Florence.

Gather for a welcome reception on the rooftop terrace, which boasts incredible views over Florence. With a glass of sparkling wine in hand, our tour director Dana and cultural expert Tim Jepson will give us an introduction to our program and a brief overview of our trip, providing a handy framework for the adventures ahead.

Florence is immediately charming – enjoy the evening at leisure and sleep away any remnants of jetlag.

VILLA CORA (Reception)

Depart on overnight flights to Italy. We can’t wait to see you!