Academic Traveler

Florence: A Culinary Adventure

October 2-9, 2011

Florence: A Culinary Adventure is an educational travel program dedicated to the cuisine of Tuscany. Participants will attend olive oil and wine tastings, guided tours of wineries, and visit pasta and gelato laboratories. Travelers will also have free time in Florence to take in the Renaissance art and architecture of the city. To enhance your experience, participants can take advantage of pre-departure lectures on the art, architecture, and cuisine of Florence, followed by a tasting hosted by chef and artist Cory Lewis, your leader on this incredible exploration of the culinary traditions of Italy.

Travelers will:

• Pre-departure and on-site culinary instruction
  
• Olive oil tasting at Villa Monteoriolo
  
• Wine tastings and tours at Buondonno, Boscarelli and Setriolo wineries
  
• Rose syrup presentation and tasting with Isabella Devetta
  
• Cooking classes at Terre di Baccio
  
• Tour of the Tuscan hill town of Montepulciano
  
• Instruction on artisan pasta production at Pasta Fabbri
  
• Visit to Pienza the "ideal town" and lunch at Trattoria Fiorella
  
• Tour of Mercato Centrale and sample epicurean delights at Conti
  
• Lunchtime cooking class at Centro Italian Firenze
  
• A gelato making demonstration and tasting with artisan gelato maker Procopio
  
• Free day in Florence with time to visit museums, shops, and Renaissance architectural sites
  
• A farewell dinner at Gastone, a fine restaurant in the heart of Florence
  

Accommodations are provided at the following locations:

Terre di Baccio
Terre di Baccio is a beautifully renovated estate in the countryside within walking distance of the charming town of Greve in Chianti. This country residence is situated in the hills of Tuscany on 50 acres which are home to vineyards, olive groves and even a saffron garden. The interiors are decorated in a unique combination of traditional Tuscan design and Guatemalan décor. A complimentary breakfast is served each morning.

Hotel degli Orafi
The Hotel Degli Orafi is well known worldwide as the setting for the film A Room with a View. This magnificent 4-star luxury hotel is located in an ancient Florentine building dating back to the 13th century. You will find it in the center of the city next to the River Arno and just a few steps away from the famous Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery. Formerly an Augustinian convent, this building has the remains of an ancient medieval tower.

Today the tower is partly restored and you can enjoy the original frescoes of the XII century in the modern library.

From our roof terrace bar you can admire the view over the Arno River, the Palazzo Vecchio (the ancient residence of the Medici family), the Vasarian Corridor and the Brunelleschi’s Dome.

A daily breakfast buffet is served in the hotel ballroom overlooking the River Arno. Hotel staff can assist in making arrangements for excursions, museum visits, theatre tickets or other activities to customize your stay in Florence.

Included in the program cost:

• Pre-departure educational material
  
• Pre-departure lectures and tastings
  
• All accommodations and most meals
  
• Group transfers to and from accommodations and airports in Florence
  
• Culinary tours and tastings
  
• Cooking classes

Excluded from the program cost:

• Transportation to and from the airport
• Round-trip airfare to Florence
  
• Passport fees
• Travel insurance
• Individual activities and tours on free day in Florence
• Tips