WINE & ART - THE MAGIC WORLD OF OIL PAINTING IN TUSCANY
1 DAY – Montalcino
We will pick you up in the airport of Rome or Florence and then drive to Montalcino.
Take a moment to unpack, then I will take you for a short walk around Montalcino followed by a glass of world-famous Brunello di Montalcino. Welcome to Tuscany!
Montalcino has been known since Etruscan times. This small medieval town, situated on a hill at 600 m, will be the setting and our home for the trip. A magnificent fortress from the 13th century sits atop the town, at the highest point along the south wall of the fort. Climb to the top for sweeping views over the medieval part of town and the beautiful Val D’Orcia hills. Even after all these years, the view still inspires in me feelings of freedom and inner strength and happiness.
From there we go to see some of the other attractions of the town. Montalcino is most famous for its Brunello wine, which is known for its richness and capacity for long aging. It’s not rare to find bottles from 1978 or 1982, and you won’t believe how fresh but also powerful they taste, full of cherry and berry flavors, mixed with notes of honey and sometimes flowers that you find in an old vintage. Aside from the many wine shops, Montalcino also has 12 beautiful churches, which seems extraordinary since there are only 5,000 residents! The town is a real gem, sitting high above the Orcia Valley, which is why artists from all over the world come here to paint the beauty of the Tuscany countryside.
We will stop for an aperitivo (a pre-dinner drink) just in front of the clock tower. You may notice that the clock has only hand (an old medieval joke…).
P.S. The program of the first day can vary based on your time of arrival.
Take a moment to unpack, then I will take you for a short walk around Montalcino followed by a glass of world-famous Brunello di Montalcino. Welcome to Tuscany!
Montalcino has been known since Etruscan times. This small medieval town, situated on a hill at 600 m, will be the setting and our home for the trip. A magnificent fortress from the 13th century sits atop the town, at the highest point along the south wall of the fort. Climb to the top for sweeping views over the medieval part of town and the beautiful Val D’Orcia hills. Even after all these years, the view still inspires in me feelings of freedom and inner strength and happiness.
From there we go to see some of the other attractions of the town. Montalcino is most famous for its Brunello wine, which is known for its richness and capacity for long aging. It’s not rare to find bottles from 1978 or 1982, and you won’t believe how fresh but also powerful they taste, full of cherry and berry flavors, mixed with notes of honey and sometimes flowers that you find in an old vintage. Aside from the many wine shops, Montalcino also has 12 beautiful churches, which seems extraordinary since there are only 5,000 residents! The town is a real gem, sitting high above the Orcia Valley, which is why artists from all over the world come here to paint the beauty of the Tuscany countryside.
We will stop for an aperitivo (a pre-dinner drink) just in front of the clock tower. You may notice that the clock has only hand (an old medieval joke…).
P.S. The program of the first day can vary based on your time of arrival.