New for 2011: Walking in Tuscany
 

Put a spring in your step in Chianti and beyond

A new departure for May 2011, Martin Randall Travel’s Walking in Tuscany combines Sienese art and Renaissance architecture with walking in the Tuscan countryside and tastings of Italy’s finest red wines.
Based in Pienza for the first four nights, the tour is led by an Italian Renaissance specialist and includes walks and visits to hill-top towns Montalcino, Montepulciano, the serene Romanesque monastery at Sant’Antimo and the 17th century gardens at San Quirico d’Orcia. All-inclusive dinners are booked at first-rate restaurants, providing opportunities to taste the distinctive pici pasta, pecorino cheese and local honey.
The final three nights are based in the Chianti league’s most important town, Radda in Chianti. From here there are walks through vineyards and olive groves to Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti and Volpaia, a picturesque hamlet dedicated to wine production. Wine tastings of Brunello di Montalcino take place at the Caffè established in 1888 by the inventor of Brunello, Biondi Santi. The Chianti Classico wine tastings are at a former monastery, steeped in the history of Tuscan wine production. The Italian press regards their 2008 Chianti Classico as a leading wine of 2011.

The price of the tour is £2,280 per person. This includes return air travel on British Airways economy class flights from Heathrow to Pisa; private coach for
excursions and transfers; 7 nights’ accommodation in relais hotels (former historic buildings) in the town centres, breakfasts, five dinners and one lunch with
wine, water and coffee, two wine tastings, all excursions and visits included on the itinerary, all gratuities for drivers and staff, all taxes and the services of a lecturer and Italian speaking tour manager.