EMOTIONS TUSCANY

w w w. m o n t e c a t i n i p r o m o z i o n e . c o m

ADULTGROUPS

A MAGIC UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

EMOTIONSTUSCANY PROMOZIONE ALBERGATORI MONTECATINI TERME THE TOUR OPERATOR OF THE HOTEL ASSOCIATION FEDERALBERGHI

03 MONTECATINI TERME

ART, HISTORY, CULTURE, SPORT AND FUN.EMOTIONS TO BE EXPERIENCED IN TUSCANYKnowledge, experiences, emotions: heart and mind are fulfilled when a trip makes it all happen.

Prices of all packages are valid from April 1 through Oct. 31, except for the month of September, festivities and bank holidaysFor these specific periods and low season, packages will be quoted on request.

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ART CULTURE

SPORT NATURE

MUSIC AATMOSPHERES

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WHO WE ARE?

“Promozione Albergatori di Montecatini” (PAM) is an efficient and capable organization that carries out promotional marketing activities for its associated companies and for Montecatini itself in most domestic and international markets. Montecatini boasts an experience of over 20 years of spa, convention, sports, individual or group tourism that is the basis of its activi-ty. Every year, PAM attracts and distributes approximately 200,000 tourists in favour of the associated hotels.PAM is in a position to supply most tourist incoming services and, through its Agency “Tettuc-cio Tour”, can organize visits to the main art cities in Italy, excursions to historical and artistic centres in the area, for example Vinci, San Gimignano, San Miniato, or visits to ancient vil-las, farms and historical residences, where it is possible to participate in tasting events and typical lunches/dinners. are, therefore, able to offer the following services:

1. Classical tours of Tuscany, special trips with customized itineraries with “all inclusive” formulas or tour packages, winegastronomical tours, cultural tours, trekking or bicycle events, golf, etc. ;

2. Organization of seminars, congresses, meetings, conventions, exhibitions and sports events, including the hotel booking to the complete accomplishment of an event in all its aspects;

3. Hotel accommodation in 2, 3, 4, 5 star hotels in Montecatini Terme, for single guests or groups;

4. Reservation of guided tours and restaurants in the art cities;

5. Bus rental for groups of 13 to 53 persons for transfers to and from airports and for tours;

6. Booking of wine and oil tasting in farms all over Tuscany.

7. Organization of cooking courses;

8. Booking of hostesses and multilingual guides; and many other opportunities.


EASILY AND QUICKLY FROM ALL OVER EUROPEBY PLANE1. Pisa: (International Airport Galieo Galilei) www.pisa-airport.com

2. Firenze: (International Airport Amerigo Vespucci) www.aeroporto.firenze.it

BY TRAIN www.trenitalia.it

1. Firenze Lucca Viareggio line: railway station of Montecatini Terme/ Montecatini Terme Centro.

2. Da Milan / Rome: Milan / Rome / Florence and then Firenze - Montecatini Terme.

USING THE MOTORWAYwww.autostrade.it

1. From Milan: “Autostrada del Sole” (A1) motorway, direction Florence, then exit at “Firenze Mare” (A11) motorway, direction Pisa, Montecatini Terme exit.

2. From Rome: “Autostrada del Sole” (A1) motorway, direction Florence and then exit at the “Firenze Mare” (A11) motorway direction Pisa, Montecatini Terme exit.

3. From Genoa: “Genova-Livorno” (A12) motorway, exit at the “Firenze Mare” (A11) motorway, direction Florence, Montecatini Terme exit.

MONTECATINI TERME

DESTINATION Km COACH TRAVELLING TIME

PistoiaPisaSienaPratoSan Gimignano

15541103066

30’1h2h30’1h30’

DESTINATION Km COACH TRAVELLING TIME

ArezzoFirenzeMassa CarraraPiombino-Elba

1254680155

2h1h30’1h30’2h30’


ADULT GROUPS RATES

on request40,00 - 45,0035,00 - 37,00 25,00 - 34,0020,00 - 25,0016,00 - 19,00

HOTEL BB HB FB

on requeston requeston requeston requeston requeston request

on request50,00 - 60,0038,00 - 45,0035,00 - 40,0025,00 - 30,0022,00 - 25,00

Easter time, Spring long weekends, august and September , Christmas Holidays - Rates on request

super

comfort

super

comfort

standard

“A JOURNEY IS ALWAYS A DISCOVERY, BUT BEFORE BEING THE DISCOVERY OF NEW PLACES IT IS WHAT THE NEW PLACES MAKE TO YOUR MIND AND YOUR HEART. TRAVELING IS ALWAYS IN SOME FORM, EXPLORING YOURSELF.” Stephen Littleword

LIVE THE EMOTIONS OF A TRIP THROUGH THE FOOD AND WINE TUSCAN TRADITIONS.New itineraries combining breathtaking settings with food and wine tastings , exclusive dinners in unusual venues with food and wine in-depth learnings .Indicated for those who want to experience the trea-sures of tuscan life : food, sceneries, traditions and everyday habits.

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LOSING YOURSELF IN THE PLEASURES OF THE PALATE, CULINARY EMOTIONS IN TUSCANYThe goal of this itinerary is to create a journey of the senses within the Tuscan culinary tradi-tion. Participants will live a new and exciting experience every day, which will allow them to discover both the artistic and cultural richness and enter a unique culinary world.

1st DAY. You will arrive in Montecatini Terme and settle down in the rooms. Every night participants will find a culinary delight in their rooms to satisfy the palate. Partici-pants will meet the guide and visit Montecatini, the splendid thermal city, known as “Europe’s thermal springs”. The tour will end by tasting the “cialda”, a typical pastry; it is an antique recipe whose origin withholds many legends. You can eat it plain or with ice cream. Participants will then head back to the hotel for dinner.

2nd DAY. Breakfast at the hotel. Participants will meet the guide and leave for Florence, the city of the Renaissance, followed by a guided walking tour in which visitors will learn the artistic peculiarities of this unique city from Piazza della Signoria to Ponte Vecchio, etc. Participants will be accompanied to discover the culinary richness of Florence and Tuscany. They will visit the covered Florentine Central Market, which dates back to the period in which Florence was Italy’s capital (XIX century). In order to accomplish the market’s structure, Giu-seppe Mengoni (1870-1874), architect of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II of Milan, was hired. It is composed of two levels; on the lower level, you can buy cheese, meat, fish, and typical local products, while on the top floor there is a large variety of fruit, vegetables, plants, and flowers. It is situated in the heart of the city and it is open from Monday to Saturday. It is tradi-tion for Florentines to shop in the covered market. Here, participants will be able to live a very particular culinary experience: taste the famous Florentine Lapredotto, the city’s main typical dish. Lampredotto is one of the four stomachs of bovines and it is cooked for a long time in water and tomatoes, onions, parsley, and celery. Once it is cooked, it can be eaten like a nor-mal boiled dish. The afternoon will remain free for shopping and possibly a museum. Participants will then head back to the Hotel. For this evening, the Hotel will propose a menu that recalls the antique cu-isine of poor Tuscans, passed on to us from our grandfathers. Clients will have the possibility to taste fett’unta, pappa al pomodoro, and panzanella. Overnight stay at the Hotel.

3rd DAY. Breakfast at the Hotel. Participants will meet with the guide and leave for Pistoia, a very prestigious artistic city, but famous in Europe especially for the production of plant and tree nurseries that export ornamental plants all over the world. But Pistoia is also an interesting area from a culinary point of view. In the center of the city there is the antique confectionery and chocolate shop called “Corsini”. It has produced its own confetti and chocolate for almost a century. With artisan care, the Corsini family has passed on traditions and recipes and, still today, the Pistoian Confetti - the Originals - are still made with the same ingredients. Partici-pants will observe the production and taste. After the stop at Corsini, participants mustn’t miss the tour of the splendid Piazza della Sala.

THE PRICE INCLUDES:5 half boards, 1 overnight stay with small breakfast and 1 overnight stay in the Hotel of chosen category;

Guide available as in itinerary;

Half day guided tours of Flo-rence, Pistoia, Lucca, Siena and Pisa with certified local guides;

Tasting of the cialda of Monte-catini;

Tasting of Lampredotto;

Tasting of Pistoia’s confetti;

Lunch in a restaurant at Piazza della Sala in Pistoia;

Visit of the laboratory and ta-sting of the chocolate;

Cooking course and lunch in La Piaggia Farmstay (agrituri-smo);

Consumption in a historical Cafè in Lucca;

Entrance to the Museum of Le-onardo da Vinci;

Bread baking course and snack in the bakery;

Tasting of “Brigidino”;

Tasting of typical pastries in Pasticceria Nannini;

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It is a square that is situated in the beating heart of the city and where there are still antique shops. It is a pedestrian area which allows the visitor to dive in the past. Here you can find typical salami and cheeses, first vegetables and fruits and the Tuscan truffle. We advise par-ticipants to enter the shops for the joy of vision and smell; here lie the smells of the antique culinary tradition. Lunch will take place in the small square where participants will be offered a tasting of various Tuscan wines. In the afternoon, participants will find that Tuscany is also the land of artisan chocolate; many great chocolate makers were born in Pistoia, in fact Pistoia holds two of the most famous ma-estros which are able to create products with chocolate that will enchant the consumer under every aspect. There will then be a tour of maestro Catinari’s artisan laboratory. Participants will learn how chocolate is made and several decorative modes. Of course, at the end, participants will taste the chocolate, which will be a true sensory experience. Back to the Hotel for dinner: Pasta Party. For this evening, participants will have a pasta-based dinner with recipes from the Tuscan tradition.

4th DAY. Participants will have breakfast at the Hotel and leave for “La Piaggia” farmstay that has the peculiarity of being an agricultural enterprise that produces wine, oil and has a splen-did rose garden with more than 200 types of roses, even very antique ones. The tour begins with the olive grove, the vineyards and the classic Tuscan garden; here parti-cipants will learn to recognize herbs and seasonal vegetables. With the owner Signora Teresa, participants will also pick vegetables and herbs which will be useful for the cooking course. According to the season, participants will learn how to make Zuppa di verdure frantoiana, or the classic Tuscan Pumarola, or Panzanella. At the end of the course, participants will taste what has been prepared with the addition of other typical products from the Tuscan cuisine. In the afternoon, visitors will leave for Lucca for the guided tour of the city, famous for its splendid walls that withhold one of Tuscany’s greatest artistic cities, still intact. But Lucca is also famous for giving birth to the composer Giacomo Puccini, also a fan of the cuisine. He loved meeting his friends to talk about music and culture in the historical Café of Simo on Via Fillungo, heart of the city. Our participants will have the privilege of relaxing at the tables of a historical Cafè in the town and then will head back to the hotel for dinner. In this evening, the chef will propose the classic Tuscan mixed grill containing chicken, grilled pork chop, sausages, and grilled vegetables. Overnight stay at the Hotel.

5th DAY. Breakfast at the Hotel. Participants will leave for Vinci, the birthplace of the great Leonardo; tour of the Museum where all the inventions’ prototypes of the great Tuscan genius are held. Afterwards, participants will have the pleasure of living a unique culinary experience because they will visit a bakery where real Tuscan bread is made; its peculiarity is that it is made without salt. Participants will see how bread is made, get their hands dirty by actively participating, and they will learn to make “schiacciata” and cattuccini (a cookie with almonds which you eat with vin santo, a classic Tuscan dessert wine). At the end of the course, participants will taste the bread and schiacciata with cold cuts and cheese, and then cantuccini with some great vin santo. Next to Vinci there is Lamporecchio, famous for the production of “brigidino” (a kind of a hard waffle), which is produced only in this area. The ingredients are: sugar, flour, eggs, and liquid essence of anise. These ingredients mixed together make this pastry a true delicacy with a very refined taste. In Tuscany, brigidini are sold especially during festivals and fairs. Participants will visit the artisan

Snack with wine tasting at Ca-stello di Brolio;

Breakfast in a historical Café in Montecatini;

Visit to Lari Pasta factory;

Aperitif and dinner in a restaurant in Montecatini;

1 gratuity every 25 payers.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLU-DE:Entrance in museums (except the ones in the program);

Transportation;

Taxation on stay;

Anything that is not mentioned under “the price includes”.

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laboratory where a tasting of brigidini is followed. Back to the hotel. In this evening, the chef proposes a fish based dinner with recipes from the Tuscan coast.

6th DAY. Breakfast at the hotel. Visitors will leave for Siena, famous for the Palio. There will be a tour of the city immersed in the splendid countryside. Visitors will have the ple-asure to wander through the small streets filled with antique shops and historical restaurants. But Siena is also famous for the production of “Pan Forte” and “Ricciarelli”, traditional pastries of Siena which have crossed the borders of the city and entered the homes of Italians. It is tradition to eat these pastries especially during Christmas holidays. Of course, we want to offer the possibility to the participants to taste them, but for it to be a true sensory experience, we will go to the historic pastry shop of the Nannini family, one amongst the greatest producers of these unique sweets. In the afternoon we will leave for Chianti, area known in the whole world for the production of the homonymous wine, “Chianti”. This time we do not want to simply take the visitor to an agricultural enterprise to taste some good wine, but we want the visitor to live a one of a kind experience by visiting the Tuscan castle, Castello di Brolio. The first rocks of the Brolio castle date back to the Dark Ages. Since it is located on the border between the province territories of Siena and Florence, Brolio will soon become a theatre of all the contrasts of time, representing the Florentine bulwark against the formidable Siena. The castle is surrounded by 240 acres of vineyards, part of the enterprise and the biggest for Chianti Classico. Here, one of the most prestigious wines is produced. At the end of the visit of the castle and the wine cellars, the best ending will be with a snack and wine tasting. Back to the hotel. Possibly free for dinner. Overnight stay in the hotel.

7th DAY. This morning no breakfast at the hotel. Participants will meet the guide and walk to one of the historic Cafés in Montecatini, where they will have the opportunity to taste the classic Italian breakfast composed of cappuccino and pastries. After breakfast the participants will leave for Pisa, the enchanting city of the Leaning Tower; visitors will remain speechless once they take the first steps into Piazza dei Miracoli (the Field of Miracles). It is a very unique piazza which withholds the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, the Baptistery, and the Monumental Cemetery. Visitors are free to eat where they want for lunch. In the afternoon, participants will visit the antique Lari Pasta factory, an artisan pasta factory where it will be interesting to see the various ways to make pasta. Back to the hotel. For this evening, no dinner in the hotel. Instead, to complete the culinary experience, there will be an aperitif, a custom which made its way back amongst Italians recently, that is part of our tradition. There will be an aperitif and a dinner in a restaurant that dates back to the beginning of the 1900s in Montecatini. Here participants will be able to taste various traditional appetizers accompanied by great aperitifs. Overnight stay at the hotel.

8th DAY. Breakfast at the Hotel then back home.

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HOTEL PRICE PER PERSON SINGLE SUPPL.

4 star super4 star comfort3 star superFamily Hotel

€ 645,00€ 615,00€ 580,00€ 520,00

€ 91,00€ 84,00€ 77,00€ 70,00

(Minimum of 25 participants)

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“TRAVEL WITH HEART AND SOUL, BRING AN EMPTY CASE AND ONLY COME BACK WHEN THE CASE IS FULL”

TUSCANY, CRADLE OF RENAISSANCE. A JOURNEY TO DISCOVER THE FASCINATING ATMOSPHERE OF THE ART CITIES AND THE SMALL TIMELESS VILLAGES.

Exclusive tours discovering villas, gardens, old medieval hamlets.

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TOWNS OF ARTIN TUSCANY1st DAY. Late afternoon arrival at the Hotel. Rooms arrangement and welcomecocktail. Dinner and overnight stay.

2nd DAY. Breakfast served in Hotel. Leaving for Florence. Guided visit of Florence. You visit the Cathedral, the Baptistry, Piazza della Signoria, etc. Afternoon free for shopping. Return to the Hotel for dinner.

3rd DAY. Breakfast served in Hotel. Free morning. Lunch served in Hotel. In the afternoon departure for Pistoia, the garden town, and guided visit of the Dom, the Cathedral, Robbiano Frieze and St. Andrew’s Church. Stay in a local oil-mill for a snack with oil tasting. Return to the Hotel for dinner.

4th DAY. Breakfast served in Hotel. Leaving for Pisa. Guided visit of the city with the leaning tower. Stays at Piazza dei Miracoli, at the Cathedral, at the Baptistry, etc. In the afternoon, leaving for Lucca. Guided visit of the town. You visit San Michele in Foro, the Cathedral, the walls, the Roman Amphitheatre, etc. Return to the Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

5th DAY. Breakfast served in Hotel. Leaving for Siena. You visit Piazza del Campo, the Ca-thedral and the most renowned places of the town of the Palio. In the afternoon leaving for the Chianti hills. Stay at a local farm for a nice snack together with a wine tasting. Return to the Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

6th DAY. Breakfast served in Hotel. Leaving for Volterra. Guided visit of the town, bound by a double ring of walls, that one Etruscan and that one of the XIIIth century. The visit of Volterra consists of a stay at the Arch Door, evidence of the Etruscan period, at the Priors Palace, at the Praetorian Palace, at the Cathedral and at the Octagonal Baptistry, etc. In the afternoon, leaving for San Gimignano. Guided visit of the town famous for its numerous mediaeval towers. Return to the Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

7th DAY. Breakfast served in Hotel and leaving for the place of origin.

THE PRICE INCLUDES:5 half boards and 1 full board in the Hotel of the selected ca-tegory in Montecatini Terme. All rooms with bathroom. Buffet breakfast;

Half-day guided visit of Floren-ce, Pistoia, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, Volterra and San Gimignano, with qualified local guides;

1 snack with oil tasting;

1 snack with wine tasting.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:Meals during excursions;

Tips;

Entrance tickets to museums;

Transport;

Taxation on stay;

All that is not explicitly stated un-der the heading “Price includes”

HOTEL PRICE PER PERSON SINGLE SUPP.


€ 400,00€ 325,00€ 290,00€ 235,00

€ 78,00€ 72,00€ 66,00€ 60,00

(Minimum 25 participants)

ART CULTURE &


VILLAS AND GARDENSOF TUSCANY1st DAY. Afternoon arrival in Montecatini. Check-in at your hotel followed by welcoming coc-ktail and dinner.

2nd DAY. After breakfast you will meet your tour leader and depart for VILLA MEDICEA DI CASTELLO near Florence. Here you will visit the Villa’s gardens, a magnificent creation by Tri-bolo (1540). The terraced garden located on the sloping hillside represents a classical Italian garden. There you will find the fountains of Hercules and Antaeus, the man-madecave with stalactites and the superb and original sarcophagus-shaped fountain decorated with animals probably created by Ammannati. At the centre of the English-style woods one can find the bronze statue of January by the same artist. The excursion continues with a visit to VILLA MEDICEA DELLA PETRAIA. This magnificent Villa by Buontalenti is one of the most noteworthy Medici villas located on the outskirts of Florence. The visit includes the vast Italian gardens designed by Tribolo with the Fiorenza fountain and Giambologna’s famous bronze statue of Venus. Above the Villa one can find a large English-style park with a fish-pond created sometime between 1820 and 1850. Inside the 16th century Villa you will find important frescos by Volterrano and various rooms furnished in different style according to the eclectic style of the House of Savoy. In the late morning the excursion moves on to Florence where you will have the chance to try some typical Tuscan cuisine. After lunch you will be able to visit the GIARDINO DI BOBOLI, one of the most charming Italian gardens. Work began on these gardens in 1550 based on a design by Triboli, which was then continued by Ammannati and finished in the 17th century by Buontalenti. Be sure to visit the amphithea-tre with the Egyptian obelisk, the labyrinth, the secret gardens, the famous cypress-lined path and the remarkable number of allegorical statues, fountains and ponds pleasantly spread out among the green. In the late afternoon you will return back to your hotel. In the evening you will be able to experience a delicious dinner at the Fattoria Medicea in Monsummano Terme served by personnel in medieval costume.

3rd DAY. After breakfast you will meet your tour leader and depart for Lucca. Here you will be able to visit the magnificent BOTANIC GARDENS. These gardens created in 1820 for the University of Lucca are rich in rare plants and plants to be typically found in the agriculture tradition of the Lucca area. The excursion will move on with a visit of a splendid Villa located in the outskirts of Lucca: VILLA TORRIGIANI. The Villa is introduced to the visitor by a magnificent cypress-lined avenue which leads up to it. The gardens represent one of the most important testimonies of the Lucchese style, using a smart game of levels that leads the visitor to a delightful microcosm reserved to flowers, lawns and “water games”. The interior of the building is baroque. After the visit you can enjoy a “merenda” at one of the “Fattorie” in the area. In the afternoon the excursion moves on to the wonderful gardens of VILLA GARZONI in Collodi. These vast Italian gardens climb up in a series of terraces leading to grottoes (that of Neptune being the most noteworthy), to the large statues of Apollo, Daphne, the peasant with a turkey, Fame and to several “water games”. You can also find an open-air “green theatre” and the labyrinth. Departure for the hotel in the late afternoon followed by dinner.

THE PRICE INCLUDES:4 H/B and 1 B/B in a hotel in Montecatini Terme. All rooms have their own en-suite and buf-fet breakfast;

Full day escort service by an English-speaking tour leader during the excursions;

Entrance to the Villas and gar-dens listed in the program.

Lunch in Florence;

Dinner at the Fattoria Medicea in Monsummano;

Typical Tuscan “merenda” (snack) in a Fattoria near the Vil-le Lucchesi;

“Merenda” at Villa Castelleti;

Lunch at Baldi’s farmhouse andlesson on the “secrets” of nur-series;

Lesson on herbs.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:Tips;

Beverages at meals;

Transport during the excursions;

Taxation on stay;

Everything that has not been ex-pressly indicated in the previousparagraph.

ART CULTURE &



4 star super4 star comfort3 star super

€ 545,00€ 480,00€ 450,00

€ 65,00€ 60,00€ 55,00

4th DAY. After breakfast you will meet your tour leader and depart for Poggio a Caiano where you will visit the VILLA MEDICI and gardens. This Villa has been a royal residence for many centuries. Lorenzo il Magnifico commissioned Giuliano da Sangallo (1479) to build the Villa on a small medieval fortress. The focal point of the Villa is the “Salone” of honour with frescoes by Francabigio, Allori, Andrea del Sarto and Jacopo da Pontormo. Also worth a visit are the terra-ce, the glass house and the large park overlooking the river Ombrone. In the late morning the excursion will continue with the visit of the VILLA CASTELLETTI in Signa. It is situated among the hills west of Florence in the middle of a large park containing secular trees. The origin of the Villa dates back to the beginning of 15th century and was initially owned by the Strozzi family to be succeeded by the Lapi, the Uguccioni and the Cavalcanti families. The latter family extended the Villa transforming it into a model estate. Today one can only visit the rooms on the first floor and the magnificent park. Here you will be offered a taste of some typical Tuscan products after which you can enjoy a stroll in the park. In the afternoon you will be able to visit the gardens of the VILLA GAMBERAIA located in Settignano. This famous architectural complex which belonged to important Florentine dynasties has outstanding Italian gardens full of statues, fountains and “water games”. The main feature of the gardens is the large green avenue, the so called “bowling green”. This avenue runs into a multicoloured decorated Nymphaeum on the north side recessed into the hillside and surrounded by ancient cypress trees. The southern side of the Villa opens onto the water parterre” created at the beginning of this century. Departure for the hotel in the late afternoon followed by dinner.

5th DAY. After breakfast you will meet your tour leader and depart for Pistoia well known for its nurseries. You will be visiting some of the largest nurseries in all of Europe. Here you can admire the production, graftings and cultivation of plants and flowers. At the end of the visit you will be given a small plant. The excursion will continue with a visit to Baldi’s farmhouse Here you will be able to have lunch based on typical local dishes. After lunch you will be given a tour of the centre where you will be able to both see and experiment the various techniques to prune plants and fertilise the soil. Departure for the hotel in the late afternoon followed by dinner. After dinner you will be given a lesson on herbs by an expert in the field.

6th DAY. Breakfast at the hotel followed by departure.

(Minimum 15 participants-Maximum 30 participants)

ART CULTURE &

TUSCANY, INSPIRATIONAL LAND OF THE MOST FAMOUS ITALIAN MUSICIANS. Music is not only an art but a true lifestyle inspiring emotions and feelings.

MUSIC ATMOSPHERES

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PUCCINI: LIFE, MEMORIES AND MUSIC IN TUSCANY1st DAY. Arrival of all participants in Montecatini Terme. Accommodation at the chosen hotel. Welcome cocktail. Guided tour of Montecatini Terme, the thermal town designed by the Grand Duke Leopold in the second half of the 18th century. Montecatini has developed basing its eco-nomy on its water sources located in the spa’s within the unique and picturesque park. The recurrent architectural theme is based on the eclectic shapes of local grand hotels, coffee shops, and spa’s, whereas the recurrent decorative theme is based on elements belonging to “Liberty style”. This movement represented the Italian equivalent of Art Nouveau, an innovative artistic movement that at the end of the 19th century concerned architecture and applied arts. The town hall, the coffee shops and above all the spa’s were designed according to elements belonging to “Liberty style”. The most important building is the TETTUCCIO. The visit of Montecatini includes a stop at the town hall, a building which was decorated by the painter and ceramist Galileo Chini (a leading figure of the Liberty movement who also worked as stage designer of some works by Giacomo Puccini) and also includes a stop at the Tettuccio spa, a place which was dear to the composer who used to go there regularly while he was treated with thermal water, listening to the local orchestra and resting in the coffee house. Nowadays the spa still offers to its customers live music. Whatshould not be missed: the visit of the coffee house inside the Tettuccio spa which was frescoed by Giulio Bargellini and Mario Biseo, and the stop at the Gallery of Drinks to admire the unique and extraordinary pottery created by Basilio Cascella. Aperitif at the coffee house to taste the atmosphere of the past. Return to the hotel for dinner. Overnight stay.

2nd DAY. Breakfast at the Hotel and departure for Lucca, Puccini’s native town. Lucca is one of the most important art cities in Tuscany. The town still has its 5 km city walls which surround it and represent its immense artistic and architectural heritage. Visit of the old town center and its numerous churches in particular the Duomo, the church of Saint Michael in foro where Giacomo Puccini often played the organ, the Basilica of Saint John which symbolized an important part in the composer’s life: his baptism. The tour also offers a stop at the charming Via Fillungo, the main street in the old town center, along which it is possible to see old houses and towers. Tan-gent to Via Fillungo, in the area where the Roman amphitheater is located, the old Market square was open in 1830: an ensemble of medieval buildings which, together with the theater, close the square in a circle, creating a charming architectural frame. The visit also includes a stop at the monument dedicated to Giacomo Puccini and his birth house (the house is not currently availa-ble for guided tours because it is close for restoration). Lunch at a restaurant in town to taste the local specialties. In the afternoon, still on Puccini’s trails, the visit continues with the Conservatory and if possible with the Old Theater of the Lily. Afterwards stop at the coffee house of Simo to rest a little and taste the late 19th century atmosphere. In this coffee house, which still preserves most of the original furnishings, it is possible to say that between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century “a downright concert of friendship” took place. This coffee house welcomed a lot of poets, men of letters and artists, who were friends with the (grocer) patron of arts Alfredo Caselli, such as Giovanni Pascoli, Giuseppe Giacosa, Giacomo Puccini and Pietro Mascagni. Return to Montecatini to get ready for the Opera. Dinner at the Hotel. Departure for

THE PRICE INCLUDES:3 HB with buffet breakfast at the chosen Hotel and Welcome cocktail at the Hotel;

Half day guided tour with an au-thorized local guide of Monteca-tini Alto;

Full day guided tour with an au-thorized local guide of Lucca;

Full day escort service for theexcursion in Torre del Lago andCelle;

Entrance ticket for the Tettucciospa and an aperitif at the coffeehouse of the Tettuccio spa;

Lunch at a restaurant in Lucca(beverages included - ¼ liter ofwine and ½ liter of water);

Entrance ticket for Puccini’s house in Torre del Lago;

Excursion by boat in the riserve of Torre del Lago;

Lunch at a restaurant by the lake (beverages included - ¼ liter ofwine and ½ liter of water);

Visit of the Puccinis’ Villa in Celle;

Delivery of the opera tickets at the Hotel;

1 every 25 participants is free.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:Entrance tickets for other mu-seums;

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Torre del Lago where the guests will have the chance to watch an opera included in the Puccini Festival . Return to the Hotel for overnight stay.

3rd DAY. Breakfast at the Hotel. Departure for Torre del Lago. Visit of the house located on the banks of the Lake of Massaciuccoli where the composer lived for 30 years. This house inspired most of his most famous operas, and it was also a game preserve. It is a tower-like house, based on a traditional structure, whereas its garden, which was originally close to the lake, has an irregular structure with flower beds decorated with eccentric stones, palm trees and bushes.Puccini wanted the house to be equipped with the latest innovations, for example a modern heating system with radiators, and the telephone. He asked his friends, the painters Plinio No-vellini and Ferruccio Pagni, to decorate the house with their works, which can still be admired. Today the Lake of Massaciuccoli is a nature reserve and it protects one of the most important marsh areas in Europe, but at Puccini’s time it was a game reserve. Visit by boat of the marsh land where it is still possible to see the diver ducks, the cormorants, and the herons. Among the canebrakes the little bitterns and the reed warblers live undisturbed.The vast sedge land includes some rare plants such as the royal fern and the marsh hibiscus. Moreover, the narrow canals are populated by white water lilies and marsh grass, a downright floating island made up of a network of ditch reeds’ roots, through which very old plants, such as the peat moss and the carnivorous drosera, have reached us from the last glaciation. Arrival at the Lipu Museum on the opposite bank in Torre del Lago. Lunch at a restaurant totaste some local products. Afterwards visit of the house in Celle dei Puccini. In this family hou-se the composer spent many summer holidays with his brothers.After his father’s death, his mother had to sell the house, which later was bought by the Asso-ciation called “Lucchesi nel Mondo” (Lucca people in the world) and converted into a museum where numerous Puccini’s heirlooms, which were donated by the inheritors, are kept. All the rooms are perfectly preserved with the furnishings that once belonged to the family, portraits, letters, the piano on which he composed part of the Madama Butterfly, the phonograph given to Puccini by Thomas Edison, some papers and music notes. On the first floor, the living room recreates the environment of a typical living room owned by a family of musicians, the bedro-om contains the original furnishings of Puccini’s birth house in Lucca, the kitchen contains country style furnishings. The second floor is dedicated to the ancestors, to family memories and other documents. Return to Montecatini Terme and dinner at the Hotel. Departure for Tor-re del Lago where the guests will have the chance to watch an opera included in the Puccini Festival, or stay at the Hotel for some music by Puccini. Return to the Hotel and overnight stay.

4th DAY. Breakfast at the Hotel. Return to the place of origin. End of tour.

Tickets for the two operas (plea-se contact our staff for the price);

Escort service for the evening atthe theater;

Transport;

Taxation on stay;

What is not expressly indicated in “what is included”.

03 MONTECATINI TERMEHOTEL PRICE PER PERSON SINGLE SUPP.


€ 285,00€ 245,00€ 225,00€ 200,00

€ 39,00€ 36,00€ 33,00€ 30,00


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PUCCINI AND TUSCANY

Tuscany and Montecatini Terme may boast an important music tradition. A lot of composers were born in the area, and a lot of musicians stayed for long time in Montecatini Terme, where they studied and got inspired by healthy life and well being. Lucca, Montecatini Terme and Tu-scany offered to Puccini, when he was young, all their music tradition: the conservatory where he studied, the 100 churches of Lucca with their organs and their choirs, the Lucca palaces with their aristocracy who loved music deeply, Montecatini’s spas and hills during the “belle époque”, Torre del Lago and its sweet and quiet pace of life, the charming Viareggio. Giacomo Puccini is in fact an authentic son of Tuscany and he gave prestige and distinction to the Italian cultural tradition. Once he got famous, Puccini moved with his family to Torre del Lago, by the Massa-ciuccoli lake. There he composed the most part of his works (Boheme, Tosca, etc.). In Torre del Lago, the composer started a life based on links with simple things and his own territory. He also lived in Montecatini Terme and Montecatini Alto, having meetings at the spa with Arturo Tosca-nini, Enrico Caruso and other guests staying in town. During a long stay in Montecatini Terme, he composed the “Fanciulla del West” (Western girl). Our itinerary wants to make people know more about Puccini through the places where the composer lived his childhood and his adultho-od, that marked his life and were source of inspiration. Our tour ends with our suggestion to listen to some Puccini’s music either going to the 54th Puccini Festival that will take place from July 11 to September 5, 2008, or listening to a performance of chamber music in Montecatini Terme.

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THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO ELE-MENTS, TOGETHER WITH THE WONDERFUL TUSCAN SCENERY , MAKE A PERFECT AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

Ideal to those who love sports and breathtaking views.

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A VALLEY TO BE FULLY DISCOVERED!FROM LEONARDO DA VINCI TO PINOCCHIOValdinievole is an area where you can find an extraordinary mix of ingredients such as SPA’s, un-touched natural environment and old mediaeval villages.It is located right in the hearth of Tuscany among the Leonardo Da Vinci’s birthplace and Collodi the place where the novel of Pinocchio was born and where today it is possible to visit the park of the puppet famous all over the world.

For the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo Da Vinci Cycle on the beau-tiful lanes and roads in the land of Leonardo Da Vinci and PinocchioBike Experience in Tuscany: Cycling Routes of Taste and Well-being

Duration of the stay: 5 days / 4 nights

1° DAY. Arrival at the Hotel in Montecatini Terme and accommodation. Meeting with your bike guide and briefing on the program for the week. Quick walking tour of the spa town that dates back to the second half of the 18th century, whose water sources are now part of spa locations. The theme that we are trying to focus on is mainly based on parks and Liberty style: you will visit the town hall, decorated by the painter and potter Galileo Chini, who is also popular because he was the scenographer of the works by the renowned musician Giacomo Puccini, the Tettuccio Spa building, where you can find the wonderful and unique works of art by the potter Basilio Cascella, finally you will have the pleasure to sip a tasteful cocktail at the historical café to go back in time. For the dinner you will take the “funicular” (little old train, which was established in 1898 to connect the top of the hill with the thermal area), a nice way to reach Montecatini Alto, historical center of the town, a unique and enchanting small mediaeval hamlet with narrow alleys and picturesque corners to discover and to eat in a typical restaurant.Back to the hotel and overnight stay.

2° DAY. Breakfast at the Hotel, meeting with the guide and Transfer with train to Pescia, the town famous for its nurseries of flowers, olive and lemon trees. Our first step is Montecarlo, an amazing medieval village very well-preserved. This village is very famous for its wine and oil. We admire the landscape from the top of the hill and we visit Teatro dei Rassicurati which is one of the smallest theaters in Italy.Second step is at Witches Oak a very old tree (around 600 years old) famous because is the place where Pinocchio was hung by murderers into Pinocchio book. On the branches of this tree usually danced witches during sabba night in old time.Our third step is in San Gennaro Village just in front of the Church of San Gennaro, a Ro-manesque church very suggestive and famous for a sculpture made by Leonardo da Vinci; probably the only statue made by Leonardo himself. Once we reach San Gennaro we stop in a nice tavern to have a brunch with typical products (cold cuts, cheese and local wine).

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THE PRICE INCLUDES:Accommodation in hotel 3 stars with bed and breakfast treatment for the 1st night and half board for the 3nigths;

Bike Guide during the bike ex-cursions;

DAY 1Briefing with a bike guide and then a tour of Montecatini and Terme;

Italian aperitif at the historical Café of Terme Tettuccio;

Funicular Round Trip Ticket for Montecatini Alto;

Dinner in a typical restaurant;

DAY 2Round trip Ticket Train Monte-catini – Pescia;

Visit of Montecarlo di Lucca (visit of Teatro Rassicurati), San Gennaro (visit of the Pieve di S. Gennaro) and Tour of Via della Fiaba. Entrance ticket for Pinocchio’s Park and Villa Gar-zoni;

Brunch in a typical Osteria;

DAY 3Excursion in small typical bo-ats with the possibility to see the local fauna (birdwatching);

Brunch in Padule;


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Let’s continue, leaving the village eastwards, taking a dirt road that leads back to the Valle towards the Collodi residential area, the home town of the author of the story of Pinocchio. Visit of the Pinocchio’s park and the Villa Garzoni , one of the most famous Garden in Italy (included the wonderful butterfly house). From the village center it starts the “Via dellaFiaba”, this flagging path leads us back to the start. The participants will come back to Montecatini by train. Dinner and overnight stay in Hotel.

Full itinerary: 29 kmDifficulty: medium (difficulty (some of the roads have to be crossed by foot if you are not trained)

3° DAY. Breakfast at the Hotel, meeting with the guide and with your bike, riding to the marshy area of “Padule di Fucecchio”. You continue through uncongested roads and a small stretch of white road which lead straight to the marsh land. The Marsh Land of Fucecchio is the widest marsh land in Italy and one of the latest marshlands in Europe, perfect habitat for numerous and various local fauna. With its 1800 hectares, the land covers an area that goes from Pistoia to Florence. A real natural jewel: a large area rich of local flora and fauna of great interest, from the royal fern to various types of water lilies, from the herons (among which the wonderful squacco herons) that nest in colonies, to cranes and black storks for a total number of more than 200 types of birds, don’t forget that this is the Leonardo Da Vinci’s landscape that he painted in his paintings . At the arrival in the Marshland we leave for a moment the bike and we take a traditional boat (barchino) for a tour of the channel of Padule. These boats where used unti a century ago in order to carry goods from the Arno river to Valdinievole. After this boat tour we stop for a brunch of typical food and keep visiting Padule di Fucecchio by bike to reach Grotta Giusti Spa in Monsummano Terme www.grottagiustispa.com/it/spa-toscana/1-0.html to have a ste-am bath in the cave. Divided into three distinct areas called Heaven, Purgatory and Hell, the cave offers visitors a chance to experience a unique environment with temperatures ranging from 28° to 34° C, and natural steam with healing and therapeutic properties. The interiors of the cave are decorated with stalactite and stalagmite formations, and feature several underground labyrinths with spacious caverns where you can relax in total peace and quiet. After the cave, bath in the thermal pool (the biggest thermal pool in Tuscany). Back to the Hotel by bike. Dinner and overnight stay in Hotel.

Wellness treatment in Grotta Giusti sp;

Trattamenti termali alla Grotta Giusti;

DAY 4Visit of Vinci;

Entrance in Leonardo’s Mu-seum included the special Exhibition ““Leonardo a Vinci. All’origine del genio”;

Light lunch in a typical farmhouse;

Thermal treatments at the Ter-me di Montecatini.

THE PRICE DOES NOTINCLUDE: City tax that in this moment is €.1,00 per night per person;

The rental of the bike but if you want we can rent it for you , the rate per day per bike is €. 30.,00 included the delivery and the collection of the bike (we need to know in advance the weight and height of eve-ry participant) . On request we can book also E-Bike, obviously the rate will be hi-gher.


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Fully itinerary: 22 kmDifficulty: mediium (some of the roads have to be crossed by foot if you are not trained)

4° DAY. Breakfast at the hotel, meeting with the guide and departure by bike to the village of Vinci, the home town of the great Leonardo, you ride through olive groves and vineyards. In 2019 there will be the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo Da Vinci and in this occasion the participants could have the opportunity to visit the unique exhibition “Leonardo a Vinci. All’ origine del genio” . You can visit the museum, where it is possible to admire the prototypes of the main inven-tions by Leonardo and this particular exhibition. Then tour of the village. Once finished, back on your bike towards the house where Leonardo was born in Anchiano. After visiting the house, lunch with oil and wine tasting at a local farm holiday. Then a bit of relax before heading towards Montecatini Terme, passing through the hill of San Baronto, Lamporecchio and Monsummano. Before reaching Monsummano, it is possible to visit the unique village of Montevettolini, located in a picture postcard landscape, Arrival in Montecatini. Time to relax and enjoy a bath in the thermal pool of the Terme Redi in Montecatini followed by a relaxing body massage. Dinner and overnight stayd

Fully itinerary: tot. 50 km long, mt. 600 ascentDifficulty: medium difficulty (some of the roads have to be crossed by foot if you are not trained)Duration: from 5 to 6 hours.

5° DAY. Breakfast in Hotel and back home.


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N. PARTECIPANTI PARTECIPANTS QUOTES

€ 650,00€ 590,00€ 565,00

Minimum of 6 partecipantsMinimum of 10 partecipantsMinimum of 15 partecipants

LEONARDO 2019 Celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci (1519 - 2019)

The Exhibition

LEONARDO IN VINCI. AT THE ORIGINS OF THE GENIUS 15 April – 15 October 2019 Vinci, Museo Leonardiano

In Vinci, the Leonardo site par excellence, the exhibition Leonardo in Vinci. At the Origins of the Genius is centered on Leonardo’s biographical connection to his hometown and on the suggestions that his homeland offered toward his itinerary as an artist, technician, and scientist. In this perspective, some documents from the Archivio di Stato di Firenze (Floren-ce State Archives) are presented, fundamental for the reconstruction of the earliest events in the life of the Master, along with the first drawing known to have been executed by Leonardo, the Landscape, dated 5 August 1473, conserved at the Gabinetto dei Disegni e delle Stam-pe of the Gallerie degli Uffizi in Florence. Of great suggestiveness within the biographical section is the display of Leonardo’s great-grandfather’s notary register. On the last page of this book, Leonardo’s grandfather Antonio da Vinci recorded, after the notation of his own sons’ birth, the event of the birth of Leonardo, his first grandson, along with the land registry references of the da Vinci family pertinent to the artist’s infancy and early childhood. In the section dedicated to the youthful drawing of the 1473 Landscape, identified as a representation of the Valdinievole and of a part of the Valdarno Inferiore, we see a record of the suggestions offered to the young Leonardo by his homeland. The image, in fact, constitutes a veritable “palimpsest” of all of Leonardo’s future work, in that it is already possible to glimpse therein his profound interest in nature, his fa-scination for water and its swirling movements, his researches in the fields of geology and cartography. In this context, the drawing can be read from several points of view, from the historical-artistic to the historical-geographic, highlighting the thematic elements present in relation to Leonardo’s successive scientific, technical, and engineering inquiries. The itinerary includes multimedia presentations and reconstructions of projects by Leonardo relating to the territory around Vinci and the Valdarno Inferiore. Set up in the Castello dei Conti Guidi, one of the Museo Leonardiano’s three sites, the exhibition is thus integrated with the portion of the Museum’s collection of machines and models relating to studies on water, hydraulic engineering, and cartographic representation of the Valdarno Inferiore.


NORDIC WALKING, AN EXPERIENCE WORTH LIVING THROUGH TUSCAN HILLS AND VILLAGES1° DAY. Participants’ arrival. Accommodation in the rooms. Inside each room, participants will find the itinerary for the Nordic Walking outings which will occur during their stay, along with the Nordic walking stick. Each night participants will find a surprise in their rooms, which will be useful to face the walk for the next day. The meeting with the guide and starting point of the walk through the big city park to the Tettuccio spa, historical setting in Montecatini and maximum expression of Italian Art Nouveau, will be in front of the Hotel. In the park, the Nordic walking instructor will give the beginners the first bacics of the discipline. Do not miss the visit of the antique Café inside the Tettuccio spa, completely frescoed by Giulio Bargellini and Mario Biseo, and the stop at the Galleria delle Bibite to observe the splendid ceramic creations by Basilio Cascella. An aperitif in the historic Café will give you a taste of the atmosphere of the past. Participants will be led back to the Hotel for dinner and rest.

2°DAY. Breakfast in the Hotel. Participants will meet the guide and, by bus, visit the humid reserve of Padule di Fucecchio. It is one of the last swampy areas left in Europe; ideal habitat for various samples of the wet-land fauna. Participants will visit the wetland, observing the environment, the flora, and the fauna of the humid area. The trail begins on a little bridge on Via delle Colmate in Monsummano Terme and it branches out through canals of various dimensions inside the reserve, ending in front of the small town’s church. During the walk, you will be able to observe the flying fauna, the flora of the humid areas and its typical cottages. Afterwards, participants will be led by bus to a factory in the vicinity where they will be able to taste a rich Tuscan snack, along with a good Chianti wine. The afternoon will be dedicated to relaxing in the Thermal pools of Montecatini Terme. Dinner and rest back at the Hotel.

Difficulty: noneHeight difference: noneLength: 4,8 km (2.98 mi) – alternation of covered and open areas

3° DAY. Breakfast in the Hotel. Participants will meet the guide and walk to the volta of Montecatini Alto, the old part of Mon-

THE PRICE INCLUDES:4 half boards in the Hotel of the chosen category;

Nordic Walking guide during the stay;

Rented Nordic Walking sticksfor the whole stay;

Guided tours for half a day in Lucca and Pistoia;

Aperitif in the historic Café of Terme Tettuccio;

Snacks in a factory near the reserve of Padule del Fucec-chio;

Bathing in the thermal pool of Montecatini Terme;

Lunch in a typical restaurant of Montecatini Alto;

One way back ticket for the cable railway;

Brunch with wine tasting in a wine industry near Vinci.

THE PRICE DOES NOTINCLUDE: Possible museum entrances;

Transportation;

Taxation for the stay;

Anything that is not included under “the price includes”

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tecatini, which is a medieval village perched on the hill that overlooks the thermal city. The walk will take place on an old paved road through olives and forests in order to arrive to the old village. Thanks to the circumna-vigation of the hilltop village of Mon-tecatini Alto, participants will be able to enjoy the view of the thermal city and nearby areas of the provinces of Lucca and Pistoia. Montecatini Alto was a castel of Roman origins at 299 meters (981 ft.) of altitude and was the seat of the municipality until 1905. This antique castle gave life to the Montecatini we know today. In the heart of this village lies the splendid small square that offers its visitors a view of the past. In the square, participants will be able to relax in a restaurant, enjoying a typical Tuscan lunch. You will head back to the city on the cable railway, a small train with old wooden benches dating back to 1898 which connects the antique village to the modern thermal city.

Afterwards, departure towards Lucca, birth location of the great Giacomo Puccini. Participants will visit one of the most beautiful artistic cities in Tuscany. Lucca preserves 4

km (2.49 mi) of intact city walls that sur-round the city and enclose an immense artistic and architectural patrimony. An urban Nordic walk excursion will take place to visit the center. Participants will walk through the striking Via Fil-lungo, the center’s main axis, accom-panied alongside by antique houses and towers. Tangent to Via Fillungo, in the area of the roman amphitheatre, the Piazza del Mercato was opened in 1830: it is a series of medieval con-structions that overlap the theatre clo-

sing the piazza in a ring and creating a striking architectural frame. The visit ends on Lucca’s city walls, a splendid pedestrian area, immersed in the green secular plants. Dinner and rest back at the Hotel.

Difficulty: none, but necessary to be used to walking uphillHeight difference: total uphill 180m (590) - downhill 10m (32.8 ft)Length: about 2,5 km (1.55 mi) – alternation of covered and open areas

4° DAY. Breakfast in Hotel. Participants will meet the guide and go to Vinci by bus, land of the great Leonardo. The walk will start in Montefiore di San Baronto, an area located in the Massifs of Montalba-no. It is a chain that branches from the Apennine close to Serravalle, separating the Pistoian-Florentine plain from the plain of Valdinievole. Montalbano’s peaks rarely exceed 600 meters (1968.5 ft) of altitude and they usually take on the appearance of a rounded slope.

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT:Good walking shoes;

Sportive clothing (possibly tight) appropriate for climactic situations;

Bag with water bottle;

Specific Nordic Walking sticks.

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The countryside contains forests, vineyards, olive groves, and arable land. The hills also contain Villas, Etruscan ruins, parishes and chur-ches; the testimonial of History is also legible in the architectural lan-dscapes, like the nearby Padule di Fucecchio and the Barco Reale, first man-made “natural reserve”. During the excursion, participants will also see the rock of Pietrama-rina, or Devil’s Rock, sacred to the Etruscans. A few meters away participants will find the excavations, still active, of the Etruscan fortress of Pietramarina. At the end of the excursion participants will be able to relax in a wine agency where they will be able to enjoy brunch with wine tasting.

In the afternoon participants will leave for Pistoia, the garden city, known all over the world for its plant and tree nurseries and art. From Piazza San Francesco an urban Nordic walk will take place, visiting the beautiful Romanic church, then going to the Basilica di Sant’Andrea that encloses the Pisan pulpit, one of the most beautiful in Italy. There will be a walk to the the Ceppo Hospital which exhibits the ornament of fratelli della

Robbia, unique in its genre. The itinerary continues to Piazza del Duomo, walking by the Tower of Catilina. In the piazza you will find Pistoia’s Cathedral, Baptistery, Town Hall, and Court House. The beauty of the buildings is such that the piazza is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. From there, participants will be guided to Piaz-za della Sala, which is situated in the beating heart of the city and where the old shops from the past still live. It is a pedestrian area that

allows the visitor to dive in the past. The walk will continue to the elegant Via degli Orafi, reaching the Basilica della Madonna, famous for Vasari’s dome. Finally, participants will visit the Basilica di San Giovanni Fuorcivitas which withholds the famous robbiana ceramic and the tour will end with the church of San Domenico. Dinner and rest back at the Hotel.

Difficulty: none, but necessary to be used to walking uphillHeight difference: total uphill 280 m (918.6 ft) - downhill 260 m (853 ft)Length: 9,5 km (5.9 mi) – alternation of covered and open areas

5° DAY. Breakfast in the Hotel then back home .

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HOTEL PRICE PER PERSON SINGLE SUPPL.

4 stars super4 stars comfort3 stars superFamily Hotel

€ 395,00€ 340,00€ 320,00€ 285,00

€ 52,00€ 48,00€ 44,00€ 40,00

(Minimum 15- Maximum 20 participants)

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MONTECATINI: BIKING & SPA TREATMENTS1st DAY. Arrival at the hotel and registration. Welcome cocktail and briefing on the programm of the week. Dinner in the hotel and overnight stay.

2nd DAY. Biking with Leonardo da Vinci. Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with a local guide and departure to Vinci, the birthplace of the great Leonardo da Vinci, by bike. Visit to the old town and to the museum, where you could admire the prototypes of Leonardo’s most important inventions. Afterwards you will cycle to Anchiano to the house, where the great artist was born. Lunch in a local farm, where you can taste the typical products of this area. After the break you will cycle to San Baronto and then to Montevettolini. Finally you will return to Montecatini. It’s a route which goes across grapevines, olive trees and old villages. Dinner in the hotel and overnight stay. Travelling time: 5/6 hours

3rd DAY. Volterra and San Gimignano. Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with the local guide and departure to Gambassi by bus, where today’s cycle trip begins.Cycling along the road leading to Volterra, you could enjoy the beauty of the landscape thanks to the quitness of the place and the small number of cars travelling along it. By cycling along the “old road of the salt”, you will reach Prato d’Era (travelling time: about 1 hour) and from here you will cycle along the uphill road leading to Volterra, a city surrounded by a double sets of walls, one of Etruscan origin and one dating back to the III century. In Volterra you will visit the Porta dell’Arco, an important vestige of the Etruscan age, the Palazzo dei Priori, the Palazzo Pretorio, the Cathedral and the octagonal Baptistery. Free lunch. After the break departure to San Gimignano by bike (travelling time: about 1.30/2 hours). You will visit this old village, which is famous for its numerous medieval towers. Return to Montecatini by bus; those who are not still tired can return to Montecatini by bike. Dinner in the hotel and overnight stay. Levels: 700 m uphill, 900 m downhill. Travelling time: approximately 5 hours

4th DAY. Spa treatments and relaxation.Breakfast in the hotel. You will spend the day relaxing and recovering your strength thanks to a good regenerative back massage in the Well-being Centre Excelsior in Montecatini Terme. Those who want can enjoy other spa treatments at pleasure. There’s also the possibility to visit the old village of Montecatini Alto. You can get there by bus or, in certain periods of the year, by the local cable railway, too. Dinner in the hotel. Overnight stay.

5th DAY. The Chianti area. Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with the local guide and departure to Castellina by bus. Today you will visit the area, where one of the most famous types of wine in the world is produced. From the village of Castellina the cycle trip proceeds towards Radda in Chianti, where you can admire another wonderful scenery: oak trees, wineyards and beautiful country houses made of stone. Afterwards you will reach Panzano, where you have a lunch break. After the break departure to Greve in Chianti, the most important village of this region. You will stop in the cha-

THE PRICE INCLUDES:7 half-boards with buffet bre-akfast in the hotel of the cho-sen category. All rooms have a bathroom;

A local guide during all the cycle trips;

An entrance ticket to the mu-seum of Leonardo da Vinci;

A meal in a local farm in Vinci;

A massage in the spa Excelsiorin Montecatini Terme;

An entrance ticket to the ther-mal swimming pool of the spa Grotta Giusti in Monsummano Terme;

An entrance ticket to the Mona-stery of San Vivaldo;

A meal with a wine tasting inthe restaurant of the Monasteryof San Vivaldo.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

Entrance ticket to other mu-seums (except for that of Leo-nardo da Vinci);

Meals during the excursions (except for those in Vinci and San Vivaldo);

Transport during the excursions (*);

Taxation on stay;

Bicycles; (*)

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Everything not expressly speci-fied in the previous paragraph.

(*) The transport is not included in this offer, because the groups which go on cycle trips usual-ly have their own bus equip-ped with a trailer carrying the bicycles. If you do not have any, we can see to hiring both

racteristic square Giovanni da Verrazzano, where you can rest or eat an ice-cream. Return to Montecatini by bus; those who are not still tired can reach Piazza della Signoria in Florence by bike. Dinner in the hotel and overnight stay. Travelling time: 3 hours / 4 hours reaching Piazza della Signoria.

6th DAY. Montecatini, spa treatments and visit to the “Padule” (marsh) of Fucecchio. Breakfast in the hotel. Departure to Monsummano Terme by bike. Here you can relax in the spa swimming pool with underwater hydromassages of the “Terme” Grotta Giusti or enjoy other spa treatments at pleasure. Free lunch. In the afternoon meeting with the local guide and visit to the reserve of the Padule (marsh) of Fucecchio, which is located 2 Km from the Terme Grotta Giusti. The Padule of Fucecchio represents one of the last marshy areas in Europe, the ideal habitat for the typical marsh fauna. Visit to the reserve by bike.Return to Montecatini. Dinner in the hotel and overnight stay.

7th DAY. San Miniato, Montaione and the Monastery of San Vivaldo. Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with the local guide and departure to San Miniato by bike. San Miniato is a medieval town dominating the plain, where the river Arno flows. The cycle trip be-gins from the wonderful square of the Seminary and proceeds towards Montaione, by cutting across cultivated lands, woods and wineyards. After a short visit to the village, you will reach the monastery of San Vivaldo dating back to the XIV-XVI century, to which a church and 18 chapels belong. Because of the particular structure of the land, which reminds us that of Je-rusalem, this place is called “the Jerusalem of Tuscany”. The name is also due to the fact that the Franciscan Tommaso wanted to recreate the sanctuaries, which in Jerusalem characterize the places, where Jesus Christ spent the last days of his life, where he resurrected from the dead and ascended to the sky. It represents an unique place, where faith, art and landscape unite one another. The chapels have a great artistic value, because they have been enriched with precious terracotte made by some artists who were followers of the famous family Della Robbia. Typical Tuscan lunch with wine tasting in the monastery.Afterwards you will reach Montaione by bike and then you will cycle downhill towards Castel-fiorentino. Return to Montecatini by bus. Dinner in Hotel. Overnight stay.Travelling time: 3/3.30

8th DAY. Breakfast in the hotel. Home-coming.



€ 585,00€ 490,00€ 455,00€ 390,00

€ 91,00€ 84,00€ 77,00€ 70,00


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MONTECATINI:TREKKING & SPA TREATMENTS1st DAY. Arrival at the hotel and registration. Welcome cocktail and briefing on the programm of the week. Dinner in the hotel and overnight stay.

2nd DAY. Hiking with Leonardo da Vinci. Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with a local guide and departure to Vinci, the birthplace of the great Leonardo da Vinci, by bus. Visit to the old village and to the museum, where you can admire the prototypes of Leonardo’s most important inventions. By walking along a green path leading to Anchiano, you will reach the house, where Leonardo da Vinci was born. Leaving the small village of Anchiano and walking through the Dark Valley, also called the Valley of the wa-ter-mills, you can admire 4 water-mills dating back to the III century, which were essential for the economy of this area from the medieval times up to 60-70 years ago. By walking for about an hour and a half along another path, you will reach the Fonte del Romito, a spring which is famous for its organoleptic properties and for the quality of its water. Break for a packed lunch, provided by the hotel. After the break you will start off again, until you reach the ridge of the Montalbano hills, at an altitude of 500 m on the sea level. It is a protected area serving as a real green lung among the provinces of Florence, Prato and Pistoia. It presents sandstone hills, covered in large part by olive trees and grapevines; the remaining land is mostly a wooded area consisting of holm-oaks, durmast oaks, turkey oaks, oak trees, chestnut trees, maritime and umbrella pines and cypress trees. Afterwards you will return to Leonardo’s birthplace. Return to Montecatini by bus for dinner. Overnight stay. Levels: 450 m uphill, 280 m downhill.

3rd DAY. The Apennines of Pistoia, the Forest of Teso and Mount Gennaio.Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with the local guide and departure to Casetta Puledrari by bus. It is a small village of the Apennines of Pistoia, the most important mountain chain in Tuscany. Today’s hike, which begins from Casetta Puledrari, allows you to enjoy the beauty of the place and to have a complete view of the landscape. By following path n° 3, you will cross the fa-mous Forest of Teso, where you can admire different types of trees (such as firs and beeches) and, if you are lucky enough, some examples of the local fauna (deers, wild pigs and roe de-ers). After walking for an hour and a half, you will reach the ridge of Mount Gennaio. From here it will take you 40 minutes to get to the peak of the mountain. The view you can enjoy from this point will make you forget the effort made: there is a lovely view of all the Apennines of Pistoia from here. Break for a packed lunch, which is provided by the hotel. Return to the hotel by bus. Dinner in the hotel and overnight stay. Levels: 600 m uphill, 500 m downhill (these levels have to be checked). Travelling time: 5 hours.

4th DAY. Spa treatments and relaxation. Breakfast in the hotel. You will spend the day relaxing and recovering your strenght thanks to a good regenerative back massage in the Well-being Centre Excelsior in Montecatini Terme. Those who want can enjoy other spa treatments at pleasure. Free lunch. There is also the pos-sibility to visit the old village of Montecatini Alto. You can get there by bus or, in certain periods of the year, by the local cable railway, too. Those who want, can reach Montecatini Alto on foot. Dinner in the hotel. Overnight stay.

THE PRICE INCLUDES:4 half-boards and 3 fullboardswith buffet breakfast in the hotel of the chosen category. All ro-oms have a bathroom;

A local guide during all thehikes;

An entrance ticket to the mu-seum of Leonardo da Vinci;

A massage at the spa Excelsiorin Montecatini Terme;

An entrance ticket to the ther-mal swimming pool of the spa Grotta Giusti in Monsummano Terme;

Alight meal with wine tasting in the old cellars of the Villa von Artimino.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:Entrance tickets to other mu-seums (except for that in Vinci);

Transport during the excur-sions;(*)

Taxation on stay;

Everything not espressly indica-ted in the previous paragraph.

(*) The transport is not included in this offer, because the groupswhich do some hiking usually have their own bus. If you do not have any, we can see to pro-viding the bus both for the ex-cursions and for your transport from the airport to Montecatini and back.

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5th DAY. The Apuan Alps.Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with the local guide and departure by bus. Today you will visit the Apuan Alps, a mountain chain which belongs to the Northern Appennines, although it presents a geological structure (limestone characterized by a fine crystallization), which is typical of the Alps. The Apuan Alps are wellknown because an excellent marble, used in the past by Michelangelo for its famous work “Il David” as well as by other important sculpturs, is extracted from these mountains. The walk begins in Levigliani with the visit to the famous Grotto “Antro del Corchia”. After visiting the Grotto (approximately 2 hours), you will climb to the famous refuge del Freo, by walking along the well-known path Le Voltoline (travelling time: approximately 75 minutes). Break for a packed lunch provided by the hotel. The refuge is at an altitude of 1.100 m on the sea level, at the basis of one of the most impressive massifs of the Apuan Alps called Pania della Croce (1.850 m). By walking along another path, you will reach Passo Croce. Return to Montecatini by bus. Dinner in the hotel. Overnight stay.

6th DAY. Monsummano Alto. Breakfast in the hotel.Departure to Monsummano Terme by bus. Here you can relax in the spa swimming pool with underwater hydromassages of the “Terme” Grotta Giusti or enjoy other treatments at pleasure. Free lunch. In the afternoon meeting with the local guide and departure to the quarries of the spa Grotta Giusti on foot. Afterwards you will walk to the small village of Monsummano Alto, where you can admire the Rocca, a pentagonal fort which, together with a part of the walls and a gate, represents the last remains of an ancient Castle made to be built in the XI century by the Lambardi family. The medieval Church, too, which is located at the top of the hill, is to be seen. Return to the hotel for dinner. Stay overnight.

7th DAY. The Villa of Artimino. Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning you can enjoy other spa treatments or make some shop-ping in the centre of Montecatini Terme. Free lunch. In the afternoon departure to Artimino by bus (travelling time: 1 hour). Once an old post of Etruscan origin, Artimino is today a medieval village, which has been rebuilt around Villa La Ferdinanda ( known as the Villa of the 100 chim-neys). The Villa, which was made to be built by Ferdinando dei Medici, todayhosts an Etruscan museum. After visiting the romanic parish church of San Leonardo, you will walk for about 2 hours across vineyards and olive groves, reaching finally the walls of the “Bar-co Reale”, an old hunting reserve of the Medici family, where you could see somewild pigs or porcupines. Returning to the Villa, you will visit to the old cellars, where you will make a guided tasting of different types of local wine. Return to Montecatini by bus. Dinner in the hotel. Overnight stay. Levels: 150 m uphill, 150 m downhill.

8th DAY. Breakfast in the hotel. Home-coming.



€ 560,00€ 470,00€ 425,00€ 360,00

€ 91,00€ 84,00€ 77,00€ 70,00


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WALKING TOURS OF RESERVES AND PARKS IN TUSCANY1st DAY. Arrival in Montecatini. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.

2nd DAY. Breakfast at the hotel. Boxed lunch provided by the hotel. Departure for the Riser-va Orientata di Campolino. This is a natural reserve founded by the Forestry State Body in 1971. It is situated on the right side of the Sestaione stream at a height of 1500/1850 meters above sea level, close to the Abetone, a well known ski resort in Tuscany. Its particularly irregular morphology has allowed the formation of marshes and small lakes of particular beauty and scientific interest. In addition the reserve has the aim of preserving a forest of red firtrees, which is one of the southern most in Europe. The excursion begins by meeting up with a forest keeper and the visit to the botanic garden in the high valley of Sestaione, where one can find all sort of appennine flowers and plants. The excursion pro-ceeds visiting the natural reserve, the Greppo lake, and will end in Pian di Novello. Dinner in a typical local restaurant, where one can taste the special dishes of the Pistoia mountains. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Place of meeting: Botanic garden of SestaioneInterest: nature and landscapeDuration of excursion: 5 hoursPaths followed: 100/104 GEA and MPTDifference in level covered: 500 metersLevel of difficulty: medium.

3rd DAY. Breakfast at the hotel. Boxed lunch provided by the hotel. Departure for the hills of Montalbano. This area is protected by the Tuscan Region ant it is an authentic green zone situated between Florence, Prato and Pistoia, Montalbano is characterised by sandstone hills and by cultivations of olive trees, vineyards and woods. The wood is composed of holm oaks, Turkey oaks, oaks, chestnuts, maritime pines and cypress trees. After meeting with your guide the route winds its way through the beautiful hills reaching places of natural and artistic interest such as the Villa di Artimino, the Church of San Giusto, the forest of Pietra-marina, the Sasso del Diavolo, (Devil’s stone) and the Villa of Spicchio. Typical tuscan snack will be available at the Villa. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Place of meeting: in front of the Villa di ArtiminoInterest: landscape and artDuration of excursion: 8 hoursPath followed: n. 1, n 00, n. 22Difference of level covered: 300 metersLevel of difficulty: difficult

4th DAY. Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon departure for the Reserve of the Padule di Fucecchio. This is one of the last marshy areas in Europe., and it is an ideal habitat for specific kinds of plants and animals. Meeting wiht an environmental guide

THE PRICE INCLUDES:3 F/B (of which 2 boxed lunch)and 2 H/B in a Hotel in Monte-catini;

Guide during the excursions;

Typical dinner in a restaurant inthe Pistoia mountains;

Tuscan snack at Villa di Spicchio;

Drink in a typical cafè in Monte-catini Alto.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:Beverages at meals;

Transport during the excursions;

Taxation on stay;

Everything that has not beenexpressly indicated in the pre-vious paragraph.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:Trekking shoes;

Rain coat;

Rucksack.

PERIOD ADVISED:March, April, May, June, Sep-tember and Ocotber;

For the month of September, long weekends and national ho-lidays we will provide offers on request.

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at the Centro di Ricerca e Documentazione del Padule di Fucecchio. (Padule di Fucecchio Rese-arch and Documentation Centre). Visit to the Centre (photografic exhibition, aquarium, handcraf-ts, marsh reeds) and slide show of the marsh’s flora and fauna. Transfer by coach and guided tour of the Padule focusing on the flora, fauna and environmental aspects of this area. Return to the hotel for dinner. After dinner departure for Montecatini Alto, a medievaltown situated on the hill overlooking Montecatini Terme. Stop in the town square for a drink in a typical cafè. Return to the Hotel and overnight stay.

Place of meeting: at the Centro di Ricerca e Documentazione del Padule di FucecchioInterest: history and environmentDuration of the excursion: 2-3 hours ca.Difference of level covered: 0Level of difficulty: easy

5th DAY. Breakfast at the hotel. Boxed lunch provided by the hotel. Departure for the Natural Park of Orecchiella. This is a park that extends for 53 Km2, from 1200 meters up to 2000 meters on the ridge of the Tosco- Emiliano Appennine mountains. This forms a protected area of precious natural value. The Park of Orecchiella is characterised by wide-spread flourishing forest and by an exceptional and rare variety of vegetation and animals. Eagles and wolves are just some of the animals living in the park. The excursion begins by meeting with the guide and visiting the visitor’s centre which is provided with a large exhibition area illustrating by means of images and exhibits the characteristics of the park. After this the ring route begins which allows one to visit the Natural Reserve of Pania di Corfino.

Place of meeting: Visistor’s CentreInterest: nature and landscapeDuration of the excurion: 5 and a half hoursPath followed: airone 1Difference of level covered: 400 metersLevel of difficulty: medium

6th DAY. Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the country of origin.



€ 420,00€ 355,00€ 325,00€ 275,00

€ 65,00€ 60,00€ 55,00€ 50,00


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GUIDESFLORENCE - SIENA - SAN GIMIGNANO - ELBA ISLANDHalf Day € 170,00 till 30 people + € 2,50 for further people.

Full Day€ 340,00 till 30 people+ € 5,00 for further people

PISA - LUCCA - AREZZO - PRATO - VOLTERRA - CARRARAPISTOIA - MONTECATINI TERMEHalf Day€ 160,00 till 30 people + € 2,50 for further people.

Full Day€ 320,00 till 30 people + € 5,00 for further people.

TOUR ESCORTSHalf Day € 120,00 till 50 people.

Full Day€ 200,00 till 50 people.

Only transfer from/to the Florence or Pisa airport€ 120,00 till 50 people.

w w w. m o n t e c a t i n i p r o m o z i o n e . c o m

BTS, Sport Tourism Exhibition, is the only workshop specialized in sport andactive tourism in Italy. The wonderful scenery of the Tettuccio Spa Park of Montecatini Terme will host our fair on October. BTS will create the perfect opportunity to meet up to 800 repre-sentatives of the most qualified Italian tourist supply, such as local tourist bo-ards, incoming travel agencies, fitness and spa centres, sport centres, hotels, farm holiday centres, and many more, all selected with a special care. Golf & thermal wellbeing, together with trekking and cycling, will be the main themes of BTS. The discovery of the town and of the surrounding Val di Nievole, with all its numerous sport facilities, is the theme of one of the educational tours that will be organized.

www.borsaturismosportivo.com

PROMOZIONE ALBERGATORIMONTECATINI

Via Palestro 2, a51016 Montecatini Terme (Pistoia) ItaliaTel.: +39-0572 75365Fax: +39-0572 771546

[email protected]

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EMOTIONS TUSCANY