Join us for an Awethentic Retreat through Italy!
About Us
September 17 - 29, 2022
Your adventure begins in the heart of Tuscany at La Pineta organic winery and farm for 8 nights and completes with 4 relaxing days at Terme de Sorano, spa and natural warm spring water pools. In between explore the heart of Tuscany, all the locations they talk about in the travel books and some off the main route unique places we have found on our own awethentic Italy travels. We only take small groups to make this an awethentic personalized experience for you. Read on for details about this once in a lifetime trip and testimonials from past participants.
So many reasons to travel with Awethentic Italy...
-
Italy is our passion, it is where our families are from, we are experienced Italy travelers and world travelers. Scott has been traveling in Italy regularly since 2012 and Heather’s first visit was in 1999.
-
We have a passion for traveling off the beaten path and finding the Awethentic Gems of Italy.
-
Each day is filled with magical moments and awesome memories.
-
A perfect combination of touristy “must-see” cities and small Tuscan towns off the beaten path. We love to travel off the beaten path and find the Gems while keeping you safe and “feeling carried” on the journey.
-
Relaxation days and Thermal baths.
-
Local friends and tour guides help round out the trip.
-
Extraordinary food and wine. Much of the food is locally grown and all of the food is so simple and delicious.
-
Incredible views from historic buildings and parks.
-
The vision of Awethentic Italy is to give you a truly authentic experience of Italy.
Like us on Facebook and be a part of our most recent retreat!
Welcome to Italy!
We will arrange to pick you up in Florence (Firenze) at 3:30PM (or other designated time) at the Train Station to welcome you to Italy. If you arrive in the early part of the day you can explore Florence and meet us at the station at the designated time. When everyone is settled into the beautiful farmhouse known as Agriturismo La Pineta the retreat leaders will do an overview of the days ahead, answer questions and then we will have dinner with amazing fresh local ingredients!
San Miniato
In the morning we will tour the organic farm, vineyards and beautiful landscape of La Pineta with stunning views of Tuscany. In the early afternoon, we will visit San Miniato which sits high in the hills with beauty and calls you to visit its historic and enchanting city center. This will give you the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and be in nature while admiring the beautiful panoramic views between Pisa and Florence and the Palazzo dei Vicari dell’Imperatore and also includes an ancient tower, the oldest of the original fortifications left standing in the city of San Miniato.
In the afternoon we will have time to explore the surrounding area.
Afterward, we will return to La Pineta for an amazing meal.
Square of Miracles – Pisa
After breakfast, we will visit Pisa and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This is certainly a Tourist destination but a must see! You will have the opportunity to climb the Tower and overlook the Square of Miracles, visit the Baptistery, Camposanto, and Sinopie Museum. The Square is simple and beautiful. There is free entry into the Cathedral. There is also a wall that surrounds the city of Pisa that you can walk and explore. If there is time in the afternoon we will visit the beautiful west coast beach of Italy in Baratti.
Pistoia and the Amazing Market
We will visit Pistoia to visit a market that transforms Pistoia’s main square, Piazza del Duomo, and its neighboring streets, into a “lively sea of blue awnings and jostling shoppers.” Save extra space in your luggage because you can get GREAT deals here on your favorite European styles.
Relaxation at Italy's amazing Terme (thermal) and Day Spa's.
We will visit (depending on availability) some of Italy's amazing Thermal and Day Spa's for relaxation for those who wish to treat themselves and deeply relax the body.
Florence Walking Tour Day
We will travel to Florence and enjoy a city walking tour with a local professional tour guide and friend. You can ask questions and she will share her unique knowledge of Florence. You will visit places like The Pointe Vecchio (old bridge), Duomo, Florence’s Cathedral.
You will then visit the following (some today and some on the next day of visiting Florence) Magnificent Uffizi Gallery, one of the world’s top art museums. The Uffizi Gallery houses some of the most important works of the Renaissance including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Giotto, Botticelli and Michelangelo as well as a large collection of Greek and Roman sculptures. You will also visit The Accademia Gallery which houses Michelangelo’s David, easily the most famous sculpture in the world. Once inside, you’ll also see Michelangelo’s unfinished and powerful Prisoners, along with works by Perugino, Giambologna, Botticelli and Alessandro Allori.
Florence Exploration Day
A day to explore your sense of adventure from what you learned about Florence in your earlier day in Florence.
You will explore the City on your own for an impromptu day of surrender to the City’s calling. Who knows where you will end up, but your adventure could include the extraordinary indoor markets of Florence such as il Mercato Centrale di San Lorenzo. http://www.mercatocentrale.it/en/ or il Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio http://www.mercatosantambrogio.it/ Sant’Ambrogio. There are amazing foods to explore in the markets. In addition you will finish you museum visits.
We will finish the day with a climb to the top of the cathedral’s dome to enjoy an extraordinary view of Florence. Lot’s of steps!
Lucca
We will visit Lucca which is one of Tuscany’s most charming towns and one of our favorite Cities! There are striking Gothic churches to explore, we will ride bikes and explore the 15th-century walls that surround the city, and many narrow cobblestone streets and piazzas to wander. The City is made of 3 sections: Roman, Medieval, Renaissance.
Terme Pool and Spa’s in Southern Tuscany
We will depart LaPineta and head for Southern Tuscany where for the last four days will be spending time relaxing at Terme Di Sorano’s Residential Villa’s featuring a living room, kitchen, private bedroom with king size bed and private bathroom, terrace and garden. Your stay includes Breakfast, dinner, Terme di Sorano Pools, use of beds and umbrella, entrance to special walking area and wifi.
We chose this location due to its natural beauty and simplicity. The food was amazing and the pools were super relaxing. You can choose to relax, indulge in all types of spa treatments, soak in the healing waters or simply sunbathe.
If you are feeling more adventurous you can join us for day trips exploring the Etruscan Medieval towns which may include Sorano, Sovana, and Pitigliano. This is the perfect way to end your tour and we wanted to share this experience with you.
In addition, we will visit Terme Di Vulci and maybe more Pools (at an additional cost). There are amazing healing waters at these Terme Spa’s including Iron, Sulfur, Magnesium and Calcium Bicarbonate. The waters are generally the same temperature as the amniotic fluid at 37.5 degrees C.
The Etruscan towns are magical and filled with gems including hiking Etruscan routes and caves, incredible local food gathered within 60 kilometers of the area including the flour in the bread, art, and culture.
We will check out on the last day in the morning and return you to the Florence Train Station for your departure.
Couples: $4,995 (per person)
Single: $5,495 (per person)
Meals while in Italy!!
Of course the food in Italy is Awe-some!! We will be eating at extraordinary places:
-
Many meals will be at La Pineta farm house were most of the food comes from the local farms and is traditional of that area and delicious!
-
Other culinary delights may include:
-
Cooking class
-
Dinner in Lucca at Canuelia Trattoria where the food is incredible and there is a beautiful garden area to dine in.
-
Wine and food pairing. Magnifico!
-
Terme di Sorano.
-
Our favorite restaurant in all of Italy which is located in Sorano where the food, including local seafood, flour for the bread, wines, veggies, and potatoes, comes from within 70 km and is routinely purchased fresh in the morning. Osteria Cantina l’ottava Rima Restaurant. Our dear friends Nicola and Luisa own the restaurant and Nicola is the master chef and artist.
-
-
And more!!
General Daily Schedule
-
AM breakfast and morning check-in
-
AM Leaving for the destination, some mornings we will leave earlier or later
-
During the Days you will have time with Scott and Heather and our Italian friends and you will also have free time where you can explore, shopping or lunch, etc. will vary each day and usually will happen in the middle of the day. The amount of time will vary depending on what else we are doing. It is best to be open to the non-structure and the necessity to sometimes flow freely depending on what is happening. If we need to adapt as a group, we will.
-
PM Dinner. We will also use this time for a check-in.
Please note that the itinerary is subject to change at any time, without notification, depending on local conditions and guide decisions.
What’s Included
-
An exceptionally small and friendly group. We plan to keep the group small and intimate and a fraction of the size of most tour groups!
-
Scott and Heather will be with you for the entire retreat leading the way with local Italian tour guides, who will illuminate the fascinating history and culture of Italy.
-
All accommodations at beautiful locations in the countryside previously visited.
-
All group transportation to and from the airport at specified times, transportation between accommodations, and during scheduled day trips (once in Italy)
-
Two meals Daily including Breakfast are provided. Most meals will be with local ingredients and made by the chef at the main retreat center where we are staying. If you choose to have dinner at an alternate location during one of those evenings it is not included in the cost of the tour. This is a conscious choice not to provide Three meals because it is easy to overeat in Italy. Although we will be walking a lot, you will have an opportunity to rest, explore and eat on your own if you choose during the day. We will always provide breakfast and either lunch or dinner depending on the flow of the day. Meals do not include alcohol except when included in the wine tasting or pre-purchased by your guides.
-
Culture Package: Admittance into the following museums, galleries, Towers, and Duoma:
-
*Square of Miracles: Leaning Tower of Pisa (Climb) Baptistery, Camposanto, Sinopie Museum
-
*San Miniato Tower (Climb)
-
*Florence Accademia Gallery and Uffizi and Bell Tower (Climb)
-
*Florence Del Doma (Climb)
-
*Guides may or may not accompany you into these sites/attractions. Many attractions have guided audio tour that you can purchase for an additional fee if you choose.
Expenses Not Included:
-
Travel expenses to and from designated pick up location in country of retreat destination (such as flights, trains, taxi, etc).
-
Expenses of securing passport and any other travel documents.
-
All other items of a personal nature (such as meals, activities, personal purchases outside of the retreat).
-
Spa services and entry fees.
-
Tips and Gratuities: While in Italy tips are appreciated but it is not as automatic nor as generous as it is in the US. Restaurants: 5-10% is normal if not included as a service fee on the menu and typically it is included so tipping is not required.
-
Tipping for room service, other personal services and any services not mentioned in the itinerary.
-
Bathrooms: Often when you are away from your room you need to either pay to use a bathroom or purchase something at a cafe to use the bathroom.
-
There is no reimbursement/credit for missed meals or missed events.
Italy Retreat Friends
