Villa Laura
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This trip is offered exclusively to club members. To become a club member, click here. |
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Fred & Nancy Cline invite club members "Under the Tuscan Sun" atVilla Laura |
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Tuscany. Images immediately spring to mind: rolling hills gold with wheat waving in the breeze, winding roads lined with Cypress trees, hillside villas with red-tiled roofs, vineyards aflame in autumn colors. This romantic region, steeped in history, is the birthplace of the Renaissance that swept through European art, philosophy, and culture. Evidence of those cultural movements appears around every corner– from the stunning architecture, to frescoes painted on walls and arches, and the statues and reliefs carved into buildings and fountains. Today, Italy is home to the Slow Food movement, a mission to connect artisanal producers, farmers, chefs, restaurateurs and epicureans with enthusiastic and educated consumers. Nowhere are these principals more at home than in Tuscany, where wineries, cheesemakers, and farmers of all kinds take particular pride in their creations. We invite you to spend a week in the extraordinary Villa Laura exploring the magical region of Tuscany and its many charms. Che Bella Italia! Click here to learn more about Cortona and the surrounding areas of Tuscany. |
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Viaggio |
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| FRIDAY Buon Viaggio! Bags in hand, e-tickets “in the cloud,” and pet arrangements made, you depart for Rome Fiumicino Airport. |
SUNDAY Cortona. After a night of heavenly sleep, open your eyes to the Tuscan morning. Enjoy breakfast at the Villa before tying on your walking shoes and heading to Cortona. Your city tour begins at Le Celle, the monastery that was once the home of St Francis of Assisi, and continues to Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca. See ancient Etruscan artifacts dug from the local hillsides, and learn about Tuscan life in the 2nd century BCE. Appetite primed, you head to La Loggietta for lunch overlooking Cortona’s main square. Sip wine and taste the local flavors as the tower bells ring and the town bustles. After lunch, head back to the Villa for an afternoon of relaxation, or explore Cortona on your own. Wander and shop through the cobblestone streets, duck into the ancient alleyways, and take in the sweeping views. Cortona really is the iconic Tuscan town of your imagination. End your evening with dinner at the Villa. |
MONDAY Assisi. Enjoy breakfast at the Villa before departing for Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis of Assisi and the spiritual capital of Umbria. Tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Basilica di San Francesco, and get up close and personal with Italian art history. The basilica includes frescoes by Giotto, Lorenzetti, and Cimabue; stained glass windows from 13th-century British, German, and Flemish craftsmen; and relics from St Francis’ life. Following the basilica tour, explore Assisi on your own time. Wander the streets, eat lunch in a local trattoria, and discover local leather goods and ceramic shops. Meet your fellow travelers and guide at 3pm at the rally point and head to Saio Winery for an afternoon tour and tasting. Raise a glass and enjoy the peaceful grounds and vineyard views. Head back to the Villa for wood-fired pizza made by the Villa's chef, or get your hands in the flour and make your own if you’re feeling inspired. |
| SATURDAY Benvenuti! You’ll meet your host and fellow travelers at the Rome airport and head North to the enchanting Villa Laura. Raise a glass of Prosecco as we transport your bags and you settle in. Rest, relax, and explore the grounds of the Villa. As evening falls, meet your tour guide for the week in the gardens and hear about the history of the Villa, the town of Cortona, and the surrounding area. Dinner will follow on the terrace – prepared by the Villa’s chef and highlighting the region’s seasonal, local cuisine. |
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| TUESDAY Montepulciano. After breakfast and a leisurely morning at the Villa, head to the iconic Avignonesi Winery at 11.30. Tour the vineyards and grounds, the heart of which is a restored 19th-century farm estate. Learn about the unique terroir and character of their vineyards, and their meticulous farming practices. The tour culminates with a multi-course lunch at the winery restaurant. After lunch, stretch your legs by exploring the streets of Montepulciano, the medieval and Renaissance town founded by Lars Porsena, the Etruscan King. Climb the narrow stone streets and enjoy the views the incline affords. Meet at the rally point to return to the Villa at 5 pm. The evening is free for you to spend as you wish. |
WEDNESDAY Siena. Learn some local phrases with a short Italian lesson following breakfast at the Villa. Take your new-found language skills to the medieval (and Gothic) town of Siena to experience the large, weekly market. Explore the stalls that crowd the streets around La Fortezza, and find everything from fruits and vegetables to clothing, bags, shoes, and house wares. Meet your fellow travelers and guide for lunch overlooking the central piazza, then head to the Cathedral for a tour of the Gothic structure that dates back to the 12th century. Marvel at the towering façade, extensive mosaics, and inlaid marble floor. Shop and explore the town on your own before heading back to the Villa. As the sun sinks low over the Tuscan hills, enjoy a wine-pairing dinner at the Villa with a local sommelier. |
THURSDAY Choices, choices, choices. Luckily, you can’t make a bad one! After breakfast at the Villa, choose your adventure for the day from the options below: Option 1 – Pienza. Stop just outside the town walls for a tour and tasting at a local artisan cheesemaker. Then head into the small, Renaissance gem that is Pienza’s main Piazza. Learn a bit of local history as you take in the Palazzo and cathedral, then explore the town on your own. Duck into local shops, eat lunch with a view of the hills, or pack a picnic and dine alfresco. Meet at the rally point to return to the Villa at 3pm. Enjoy the afternoon in the Villa gardens and pool before heading to Cortona for a wine-pairing dinner at Taverna Pane e Vino. Taste the delights of Tuscany as the sun sets. Option 2 – Anghiari. Discover unique Tuscan textiles on a tour of the Busatti factory. Dating back to 1842, Busatti offers unique fabrics as well as linens for kitchen, bath and baby. Enjoy lunch in Anghiari at Castello di Sorchi, a stone villa-turned-restaurant. After lunch, make a stop in Sansepolcro on the trail of Piero della Francesca’s artwork. Visit the Museo Civico to see Francesca’s famous painting, “The Resurrection.” Explore the artwork and the city streets before you return to the Villa for a relaxing evening and casual dinner. (Please note, each tour requires a minimum of 5 guests. Please communicate your preferred tour to Teresa Hernando at least 2 months prior to the departure date. If either of the options does not meet the minimum reservation, it is subject to cancellation) |
| FRIDAY Il Falconiere. Spend the morning and early afternoon as you please. Eat breakfast at the Villa. Soak in the sunshine by the pool. Schedule a massage. Walk into Cortona and buy those last few mementos. Pack and relax. At 3.30pm, head to the exquisite Relais Il Falconiere for an unforgettable group cooking class and multi-course dinner. Return to the Villa following dinner for your final evening. |
SATURDAY Arrivederci! Enjoy your last breakfast at the Villa before departing for the Rome airport. |
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| NOTES • Breakfast is offered daily at 8:30. • All scheduled tours, museum visits, transportation, meals, and wines served with dinner are included in the cost of registration. • Additional or unscheduled meals, excursions and taxis are extra. |
ABOUT VILLA LAURA The Villa accommodates 18 guests in nine rooms, each with its own en suite bathroom. Other amenities include air-conditioning, swimming pool, hot tub, pond, wood-burning pizza oven and Wi-Fi. Originally built in 1504, Villa Laura is two buildings— the main villa and adjacent farmhouse. Both are completely restored and decorated in tasteful blending of traditional style with modern comfort. The recently remodeled kitchens and bathrooms are custom built by local craftsmen using marble and original stone where possible. All of the beautiful old terra cotta floors have been lifted, cleaned, and re-laid. Traditional Tuscan Busatti fabrics can be seen throughout, along with porcelain-painted antique wall lights and Baccarat crystal chandeliers. Beds are primarily four-posters made in nearby Spello by an artisan ironworker. All bedding is top-of-the-line luxury. The walled city of Cortona and its shops and restaurants are five minutes away by car or 15 minutes on foot. |
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| 2013 DATES October 19th - 26th October 18th - 25th
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PRICING Deluxe suites - $3950 per person based on double occupancy Standard rooms - $3650 per person based on double occupancy Single supplement - $500 Deluxe suites are larger. Most suites and rooms feature both a bath tub and shower. Prices are per person for wine club members. Not a member? Join today and then book your trip! |
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BOOK YOUR TRIP TODAY! Contact Teresa at 707.931.7544 or thernando@jacuzziwines.com |
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