The Setting
Nestled in the Chianti hills, overlooking valleys rich in history, is the 15th century manor house - Castellare de’ Sernigi. Once owned by wealthy merchants and patrons of the arts - the Sernigi family, It's enviable location in the heart of Tuscany in the thousand-year-old hamlet of Palazzuolo, a stone's throw from Siena, San Gimignano and Florence, make Castellare de’ Sernigi an idyllic base.
Lovingly restored, the finely appointed and fully air-conditioned 7 bedroom villa each with Tuscan views and en suite bathroom is furnished with antiques, two large upstairs sitting rooms with picturesque views, spacious dining and living room, well-equipped kitchen and cellar. Surrounding the villa, in the lush gardens are furnished seating areas, a large stone terrance with arbour covered al fresco dining area, and swimming pool with surrounding stone deck.
Tour Inclusions
7 nights accommodation - Villa Castellare de' Sernigi
3 night accommodation - Florence
Travel by mini coach as per itinerary
Sightseeing as per itinerary with entry fees
Culinary art sessions including fresh pasta making
25 meals including a help-yourself breakfast daily at the villa, welcome lunch and traditional dinners prepared by local cook with limited wine*
Hosted from Florence (day 1 - 11) including transfers to/from Florence
Services of professional guides at selected locations
Pre-departure lunch and meet and greet
*additional wine can be purchased
Itinerary
Day 1: Florence - Villa Castellare de’ Sernigi.
Day 2: Bargino - Antinori winery tour.
Day 3: Siena.
Day 4: Castellare de’ Sernigi, day at leisure. Culinary art session and lunch.
Day 5: Pienza & Montalcino
Day 6: Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. Shopping at the open market and hands-on culinary art session
Day 7: San Gimignano & Volterra
Day 8: Florence
Day 9: Florence - Lucca & Pisa
Day 10: Florence
Day 11: Farewell and transfer to Santa Maria Novella Station
Download the 2025 Tuscan Experience brochure for a more detailed itinerary.
11 days not enough? Why not continue your Italian experience with our Simply Sicily tour.
Don't just take our word for it...
"While it may seem like a once in a lifetime opportunity, we have been lucky enough to take part in "The Tuscan Experience" twice. We first went in 2008 & returned in 2012 with friends who had seen our photos and heard our stories and were keen to experience it first hand. The Tuscan Experience, hosted by the very warm, friendly & knowledgeable Renato Di Stefano, is a truly amazing and memorable experience.
It is hard to choose a highlight as everyday brought a new highlight. Day excursions exploring nearby towns such as Siena, San Gimignano, Lucca and Pienza, trips into Florence for a private tour of the Uffizi Art Gallery & to do some shopping, a private tour of a local winery followed by a home cooked lunch & wine tasting, a visit to a cheese factory, a tour of the Carrara Marble Quarry where Michelangelo sourced his block of marble to sculpt the statue of David and an overnight stay on the unique Cinque Terre. These are just a few of the many excursions and highlights we were fortunate enough to experience.
Equally enjoyable were the days we spent closer to home just lazing around the pool and the beautiful villa we were lucky enough to call home for two weeks, cooking pasta from scratch and picking up some cooking tips on authentic Italian dishes from Renato who is a wonderful and passionate cook, walking through the picturesque countryside to the nearby towns of Tavarnelle and Barberino for a morning coffee and accompanying a local guide and his dog on a search for truffles.
"The Tuscan Experience" is a truly amazing and unique experience and I would have no hesitation recommending this tour to anyone wanting to experience the real Tuscany. "
- Annette & John Burkett
