Italy is unmistakably one of the most beautiful and bountiful countries on the planet. Its diverse blend of people, terrain and cuisine offer an unlimited number of possibilities to the eager traveler. Unfortunately when it comes to maximizing vacation time, veering off the tourist’s path can be daunting and often more expensive than necessary. Most play it safe and only book visits to the larger cities such as Roma, Milano, Firenze and Venezia and then rush to the internet and friends for advice on popular attractions and good restaurants. After a decade of drilling down to what I feel is “the best of the best”, I am finally ready to share with you an experience like no other... deep into the outlying villages of the region… deep into small town Tuscany.

It is quite simple, Tuscany is my Mecca. There is no other single destination that is as captivating to me, it beckons me on a daily basis. Even though my family is from Puglia in the south, Tuscany spoke to me so much I decided to buy my second home in Lucca: a bustling but little medieval, walled city. Ideally situated, I can get just about anywhere by plane, train, auto or bus in a matter of hours. We will be in this area for three days.

Whether you follow me on social media and have seen my pictures or just want to see this great region, I can say without hesitation, this is a trip of a lifetime! Space is extremely limited. Join me for a journey into some of the most spectacular experiences Italy has to offer. Ten days of la dolce vita.

Upon arrival at (PSA) Pisa International Galileo Airport you will be transferred by private coach to our first host villa - a short 30-minute ride to quaint accommodations for the first few nights. Camporomano is a secluded, medieval property filled with thousands of olive trees and bursting with color in May. It's located at the top of a lush green mountain near the northern Tuscan coast. It is rustic, but with modern amenities, and ideally situated for our upcoming adventures.

Upon our arrival, enjoy a typical Tuscan afternoon aperitivo, antipasti and a warm welcome orientation from our friendly host, Niccolo. Take your time to unpack, unwind and enjoy the almost surreal atmosphere. You've come a long way, but its time now to RELAX... after all you're in Tuscany!

Dinner tonight is a very casual and traditional tuscan meal, served on the property in our host's dining room. Here we will break bread together for the first time and toast to the beginning of a fabulous journey. Be sure to get some rest, tomorrow the real fun begins!

This morning we can sleep in a bit as we start to get adjusted to our new time zone. Today we are spending the morning and afternoon at "home" at Camporomano. Here we can kick back and learn about pasta making and olive oil production the old fashioned way. After a relaxing breakfast, we will enjoy a tour of the frantoio to understand the process of olive oil production, passionately explained by Niccolo.

Next it's off to the kitchen where we will be getting our hands a little dusty with flour in a pasta lesson led by a true expert in the field, Niccolo's mom and her lovely assistant Rita, both sweet and talented cooks.

Pay attention, our work will be carefully supervised and become our first course for today's lunch! All of our efforts will be magically turned into steaming pots of pasta with tender ragu and tasty tordelli, accompanied by bruschette, local salume, olives and fresh tomatoes just picked from the garden. Buon appetito - lunch is served!

After a short siesta and change of clothes, we are heading to the beach... Viareggio to be exact for strolling and shopping along the stylish belle epoque promenade. You may wish to enjoy another epic Tuscan sunset, this one at the sea with your toes in the sand, or simply meander and shop on your way to our nearby dinner meeting spot.

Tonight's meal is filled with courses of very fresh fish and seafood; after all we are by the sea. This beachside setting is befitting of its reviews, serving only the highest quality menu options. Then it's back to Camporomano to pack and prepare for another fun day tomorrow.

After breakfast, we board our touring vans and depart for the marina in the town I call the “gateway to the five cities”, Portovenere. Here we will walk the quaint town filled with small shops and boutiques, tasting samples of fresh basil pesto along the way. Ending at the overlooking castle and church here we’ll find a hidden cove of the sea, with it’s rugged ledge of stone and crashing waves. After a stroll back to the port we will board the ferry to take us to our next destinations for the day. 

We will be cruising the jagged coastline with time to take in our surroundings of the Mediterranean, more aptly named here, The Ligurian Sea. While you can reach the five cities by train, or on foot and all but one by car, there simply isn't a better vantage point from which to first witness these ancient colorful towns than from the sea.

Docking at a few select villages, we will roam the narrow streets and absorb the aromas and of course the sounds of the sea crashing into the coves in front of you. Mingle with the locals, fishermen and shop owners, maybe have a drink, but we need to meet a friends soon and hike some stairs to his location. Once here at “The Deck of Gianni Franzi” Alessio will fill us with tasty bites of regional fare, along with a fun cocktail demonstration using local liquors, fruits and his own recipes.

Eventually we will make our way back to Portovenere and then to end our day in style... with a true Ligurian feast prepared by yours truly and host Alessandro at his quiet location in the hills of Vezzano. Here we will sip wine, taste the treasures of the sea and dance to the beat of a local jazz band.

After yesterday's experience among a palate of colors, the color of the day today will be WHITE.

We will first find ourselves in a working quarry, then deep inside a cave surrounded by the world renowned marble of Carrara - hard hats required! Welcome to Fantiscritti, one of the three main mining towns that make up the prestigious quarries of Carrara. Our personal tour guides will provide some of the fascinating history on the processes of extracting this precious stone. Coming out from the center of the earth, when most would begin their descent, we will promptly start to climb ... UP UP UP ... toward the sun and to the very peak of the mountains in our chartered rugged 4 x 4 Jeeps. Here we will enjoy the spectacular vistas that reach far to the sea. 

When we've had our fill of photos, it's time for lunch! DOWN DOWN DOWN we go, into the postcard village of Colonnata - famous throughout Italy for its delicious lardo. Here at The Lard Rock Cafe, owner Algerio will feed us well with plates of local marinated vegetables and cured meats. After lunch, and fully recharged with local wine, we hope for a visit to one of the most important sculpture "laboratori" in Italy, and possibly the world. Meet artists whose craft is seemingly as old as the material they shape.

Time now for a visit to the charming and artsy village of Pietrasanta, where the piazza booms with modern and vintage works of art on rotating display. Ready for some gelato, or maybe some shopping or just sit and enjoy a cocktail? To round out the day, after a decent little ascent into a hilltop village, we will find ourselves sitting comfortably upon the breezy terrace of an amazing trattoria. Here we will be served more tasty local fare, course after course, as we watch the sun drop over the sea.

After breakfast, we bid farewells to our gracious hosts at Camporomano and head to the medieval walled city of Lucca. We will first get oriented with Lucca on foot as our friend Paola takes us on a guided walking tour, past beautiful churches, through narrow streets and of course a few grand piazze.

Next, as our stomachs start to growl, it’s time for lunch at a very iconic ristorante, often simply referred to as "Buca". Buca di Sant'Antonio is highly regarded and with good reason. Opened first in 1782, they’ve been preparing classic Lucchese fare for generations and you'll taste it with every bite, I promise.

After lunch there’s some free time to enjoy a casual walk or bicycle ride atop the sycamore-lined city walls, or shop around town with its many boutiques and shops. Discover wonderful handmade jewelry and leather, chocolates, pastries, ceramics, wines and shoes...lots of shoes!

Our bags already ahead of us, we are settling into our new digs for the next three nights; a vintage hotel villa tucked perfectly in the middle of the countryside only a few kilometers from centro storico, called Villa Principessa. Time now for a shower, perhaps a short siesta, but we don’t want to get too comfortable, its almost dinner time.

Before we eat we need to first make a stop to admire one of the architectural masterpieces of the area - the Maddalena's Bridge, or known to locals as the Devil's Bridge. It's unique construction and history is quite special, and a few pics are a must.

Dinner tonight is at the one and only Locanda di Sesto and it’s one you won’t soon forget. Meet Chef Aurelio and family who’s run this venerable establishment for generations. They produce not only exceptional wines and olive oil, but delicious Lucchese cuisine you’ll enjoy more with eat bite. 

This morning we step back in time to experience a full immersion into the Renaissance period of the Medici era and lifestyle. After another nice Tuscan breakfast, we depart for nearby Villa Reale di Marlia - the neo-classical style home of Napoleon's sister, Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi. The property boasts a grand estate and several annexes situated on 16 hectares of land. Getting lost on the grounds and in its amenities is a unique experience.

Nevertheless, Villa Grabau sits very close and is also worthy of a short visit, if we have time. The magnificent limonaia in the park has been fabulously restored - it’s where the lemon trees in their oversized terra cotta pots are stored for the cooler winters. If time allows we will take a quick ride to the top of the mountain where we can see all of the Lucca basin from this beautiful vantage point.

It's about that time again... lunchtime that is! Heading back into Lucca once more, this time for lunch at our dear friend Nilo's property, Trattoria Buralli. He's been serving up some of the most delicious and typical cuisine in town for decades and his charming personality adds extra warmth to every meal. You’ll have a chance to walk it off with a couple of hours to tie up any loose shopping ends, or head back to the villa to relax by the pool.

Tonight can best be described as sensazionale! Bring your bathing suit if you so choose. This evening I open the doors of my humble abode, Villa la Civetta, for an evening full of fun, photos and feasting. I will fill the grill with local pork and chicken as we sing and dance our way into the evening. As always with me, be ready for a few 'surprises' to help make the evening unique!

Today we awake in our new surroundings, a seemingly remote property filled with vivid spring colors and a pleasant view of the grand city of Florence below. We also have a special local guide to lead us through the day, our new companion, Gino Rossi. He’s part philosopher part wine expert, and he's an appreciated addition to our crew.

After breakfast, we will wind our way through the hills of Chianti to a quaint vineyard tucked neatly among rows of vines. Gino will lead us into the world of wine, teaching us about the earth, the grapes and the process - introducing us to the life of the vineyard. No lesson is complete without a tasting, and no tasting is complete without a rich selection of locally aged cheeses and meats. And pasta! 

Next, we head to the world renowned town of San Gimignano, a World Cultural and Natural Heritage of UNESCO city, famous for its beautiful medieval towers. A walk through the timeless streets, some shopping (and gelato at Dondoli - voted the best in the world) will prepare us for the last drive of the day.

Last but not least, we arrive in Siena at the perfect time to enjoy the last rays of sun hitting the deep orange-brown walls. Ever wonder where the Crayola crayon color "Burnt Siena" comes from? It is here! Enjoy free time as you wander toward Piazza del Campo, where we will people watch and sip an Aperol Spritz while reveling in the day's experiences. There is something special about this time of day, here in the famous place, where the horses run the famous Palio every July and August.

Today is our last day together, bittersweet for sure, but at least we get to dive into fantastic Firenze together before we go our separate ways. We will first stop at Piazelle Michelangelo for a spectacular view of Firenze and all it's terra cotta tops. We will meet our trusted guide Viola, as she leads us to Mercato Centrale di San Lorenzo in the heart of the city. Here we will get lost in the sounds and scents of one of Italy's most vibrant markets.

Hundreds of vendors pedaling leather and jewelry outside, and freshest food of every kind inside. For the brave we will taste lampredotto, a tripe-style sandwich that's a bit messy, but oh so good!

Viola has some history lessons to share with us as weave our way through historical monuments, churches, massive arches and much more. We will snack, taste wines and relish in the delights of the Florentine cuisine at its best. We will frolic in the memories of our times together, with Tuscany, and our next adventures someday. You'll likely want to wander more as you start to wind down the journey, taking in all the vibrancy of this special place. Thank you for being a part of this special experience.