Special Experiences in Tuscany

We say Tuscany and you think… breathtaking rolling hills, Renaissance art, mouthwatering cuisine, and world-renowned wines. Your clients are sure to have an amazing experience. As the world continues to slowly reopen from our travel pause, it’s time to help create these once-in-a-lifetime experiences for your clients. 

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That means you have limited time to brush up on popular areas, like Italy’s Tuscany region. For an informative and interesting presentation of the new regulations, restrictions, and possibilities for Italy travel in 2021, join Andrea Grisdale, CEO of IC Bellagio on June 3, 2021 at 11:00 am (EST) for Italy 2021: What to Expect.

Let us help you get started by brushing up on Italy. The following tips come directly from The Travel Institute’s Italy Destination Specialist course. This course and dozens more are available in our bookstore and included as a free benefit to all those travel professionals having Premium Access. If brushing up on destinations is a goal of yours, we encourage you to subscribe to the Premium Access Lounge today! 

Travelers come to Italy, and especially to Tuscany, for several reasons. Many come in search of fine art experiences; others to explore the beautiful countryside. Gourmets and wine lovers descend on this area to enjoy the wonderful food and drink. Walkers enjoy the mountain paths; cyclists, the rolling hills; and summer visitors, the sea and islands. Special experiences are particularly attractive for repeat visitors.

Cooking Classes
Up and down the peninsula, schools teach travelers how to cook the Italian way. For those with limited time, classes generally are about three hours long and include the preparation of a multi-course meal students get to enjoy at the end of the lesson. Longer classes include visits to local markets to learn how produce is selected. Serious cooks can take professional-level courses for extended periods. The experience of hands-on work—enriched by housing in a villa and guided tours of the countryside—is a sure winner. And there are cooking schools that can last several weeks for those wanting a more immersive experience.

Bicycle Touring

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Cyclists can explore Tuscany’s back roads on a bicycle tour. Participants pedal their way on itineraries featuring cycling through the beautiful countryside, stopping overnight in four-star hotels, shopping for regional specialties—such as ceramics and leather goods—enjoying the region’s cuisine and exploring the art-filled city centers. Suggested equipment includes wet-weather gear, sunscreen, sunhat, and a bike helmet. Tour operator trucks carry bags from hotel to hotel and provide emergency help when knees and bikes give out.

Truffle Hunting
Truffle hunting is an ancient tradition in Tuscany. The tube mushrooms grow singly or in clusters, each kind with a unique perfume. Truffles are difficult to find because they grow under the earth among the roots of trees. They are found mainly by dogs and, to a lesser extent, by pigs. Dogs don’t eat the truffles whereas pigs do. A good tartufalo (truffle hunter) knows where to hunt. The hunt starts early in the morning. The morning’s clear air helps the dog sniff out the truffle.

Wine Tasting
Southeastern Tuscany is the source of some of Italy’s finest red wines: Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The Chianti Classico Wine Region is between Florence and Siena. Only Chianti from here may boast the black rooster seal on the bottle.

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Chianti wine was historically associated with a bottle enclosed in a straw basket called a fiasco. The bottles were once mouth-blown, and their bottoms were irregular and wouldn’t stand up straight on the table. Tradition holds that Leonardo da Vinci came up with the reed support. In the 1960s, the fiasco bottles became popular for their ornamental value.

Tuscany, surprising to many, also makes some notable white wines. One of the most popular is the Vernaccia di San Gimignano. It is crisp and perfect on a hot summer’s day.

The Barone Ricasoli Winery and Brolio Castle is a good place to start a tour. The winery is Italy’s oldest and the largest in the Chianti Classico area. The formula for Chianti Classico was invented there. Visitors can taste wine, tour the small castle museum and have lunch at a good osteria. Another great place to visit is the Verrazano Castle, which offers a tour of the vineyard and cellars followed by a gourmet food and wine experience. It’s an absolute must for anyone in the Chianti region, according to Don Capparella CTC, the CEO and Founder of Quality Travel Solutions.

Spas
Italy has been known for its hot springs with therapeutic thermal waters since Etruscan days. The largest and best-known spa in Tuscany, Montecatini Terme, is located between Lucca and Florence. Verdi, Rossini, and Puccini spent time composing there. The town’s Liberty-style architecture is an adaptation of Art Nouveau. A funicular (hillside railway) that was built in 1897 takes visitors to see the old town of Montecatini Alto, a fortified medieval town with great views of the countryside.

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Terme Tettuccio is a legendary thermal resort in Montecatini Terme. Tettuccio refers to a small roof built in antiquity found over the spring that feeds the spa. As in old movies, Terme Tettuccio is where one goes to take the waters. The spa is noted for its lavish architecture. Most days, an orchestra plays in the morning and a piano player in the afternoons to soothe those taking a cure.

Terme Tettuccio does not do massages, baths, or other treatments. No-nonsense Terme is about drinking the water. It purports to offer relief for arthritis, rheumatism, and digestive ailments. The experience starts with drinking water from four springs, each with a different chemical composition.

We hope you enjoyed your trip to Tuscany! More importantly, we hope this gave you some ideas to discuss with your clients as they continue to build new memories and discover new places. As a travel professional, you once again are the primary source of inspiration and knowledge to your clients! 

Remember: Join Andrea’s webinar on Italy 2021: What to Expect on June 3rd. Reserve your spot today! 

P. S. As the world continues to open up, you must keep in mind the varying reopening dates, operating hours, and availability of attractions and accommodations. Be sure to consult sources like Italy’s tourism website, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Covid-19 guidelines for Italy, and the U.S. State Department before booking your clients.