TOUR AT A GLANCE -Tuscany Vespa Culinary
Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights
Departures 2010: Oct 9 & private departures
Departing from: Florence at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Day 1
Tour finishes: Montevarchi train station, 3 p.m., Day 6 (Thursday)
Trip price: €2,150 per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement: €200.
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Lunch: Massi & Jami in their garden
Hit the open road on your own scooter on this culinary tour of Tuscany’s Chianti wine region. You spend one night in Florence and then five full days of touring on our 125 cc Vespa™ scooters. Each day features an in depth (and delicious!) look at Tuscan food and wine traditions, with winery visits, tastings, and cooking lessons. Traveling by scooter is fun and easy. Our new scooters have an electric start and automatic transmission. Your local guide will lead you along quiet back roads amongst olive groves and vineyards to storybook castles and hilltop villages. This is a great holiday which combines the freedom and exhilaration of touring by scooter with the delicious food, wine, and romantic landscapes of Tuscany.
Touring by scooter is a wonderful way of exploring all that Tuscany has to offer. You become a part of the environment rather than being sealed off from it. You can stop when and wherever you want, and parking is never a problem. Come and feel the thrill of cruising down the open road, under the Tuscan sun!
NOTE: You must arrive at the start of the tour already a safe, competent rider. We are not a motorbike school.
(Luggage is transferred by van. 1 night Florence, 4 nights Gaiole in Chianti or Borgo Fontebussi. Trip ends at Montevarchi train station.)
Day 1 – Saturday: Independent arrival in Florence and check-in at your pre-booked hotel, the Hotel Royal, an elegant 18th century villa that has been transformed into a lovely hotel with garden and pool. You will meet your guide and the rest of the group this evening at 7:00 p.m. in the hotel lobby and walk to a local enoteca (wine bar) for an introduction to four of the key ingredients to life in Tuscany: olive oil, pecorino cheese, Tuscan bread, and Chianti wine. This informal but informative tasting will then lead into dinner. Should you wish to arrive in Florence early, please let us know as we would be happy to extend your reservation in Florence for you. Hotel, aperitvo and dinner included.
Day 2 – Sunday: Pick-up in Florence at your hotel at 9 a.m. A private van transfer takes us to the village of Gaiole in Chianti where we pick up our scooters. Before hitting the open road we will have an orientation and safety talk. We start out in a parking lot and then try a very quiet stretch of road so you can get used to driving your scooter. We then ride along a scenic ridge road that offers wonderful views over the romantic Tuscan landscape. We stop for a very special lunch with our friend Massimiliano Biagi. “Massi” is the farm manager at the famous Barone Ricasoli vineyards. He is responsible for the 2,500 acre estate of the Castello di Brolio, of which 500 acres is planted in vines which regularly make wines of exceptional quality, scoring consistent 90 plus points from Wine Spectator. Massi’s other passion is cooking. He loves to share his passion and he will invite us into his garden for a special “picnic” that he has prepared. After lunch we can visit the cellars and enjoy a tasting, although you will have to spit! A short walk takes us up to the historic Castello di Brolio to visit the park and gardens of this magnificent castle. This part of Chianti was fought over by the Sienese and the Florentines for centuries, and Brolio castle was in the thick of it for 300 years. We then wind our way through Tuscan villages and hamlets to arrive at our home for the next four nights, the Borgo Fontebussi. Time for a dip in the pool before dinner, a short walk away in the village of Montegonzi. Hotel, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Day 3 – Monday: This morning we cross the Arno river and ride toward the imposing Pratomagno mountains on our way to “Il Borro,” a Tuscan village which has been bought in its entirety by the Florentine fashion house of Ferragamo and completely restored. We visit their winery and then have lunch at the excellent “Osteria del Borro.” You then have some time to walk around the village before riding back to Fontebussi. We then transfer by van to a nearby restaurant where we learn how to make fresh pasta and gnocchi with two local chefs. After preparing dinner, sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor. And you can enjoy the wine because you are returned to the hotel by van. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 – Tuesday: Today we ride to Siena, one of Italy’s most beautiful and historic cities. We have a guided visit to help us understand the furor and passion that surrounds the famous bareback Palio horserace, which is run around the city’s 12th century Piazza del Campo twice a year. Then you have free time to have lunch and explore the town’s exquisite historic center and admire its Gothic architecture. Of course, you might get side-tracked by the shops and cafés along the Banchi di Sopra, Siena’s main pedestrian shopping street. Our return ride passes through the exquisite countryside near Monteaperti and Castelnuovo Berardenga. Dinner tonight is in the hamlet of Montegonzi, a short distance from our hotel. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included.
Day 5 – Wednesday: We know you have come to Tuscany not only for its romantically beautiful landscapes and fascinating history but also for its excellent cuisine, so today you will learn some secrets of Tuscan cooking. After a morning ride up into Chianti’s highest peaks, we return to Gaiole for a cooking lesson at the home of our friend Betti, who lives in a beautifully restored medieval tower-house. Afterwards, we head for the Badia Coltibuono (Abbey of the good harvest) for a guided visit of this historic site. The Badia was first established in the 11th century by Cistercian monks who soon started producing wine. Indeed, the Badia Coltibuono is still one of the area’s best producers of Chianti Classico and its olive oil is famous throughout the world. We dine tonight al fresco on the terrace of our hotel. Hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 6 – Thursday: A short ride takes us to the hilltop town of Radda in Chianti where you have free time to enjoy this medieval village with its antique shops and cafés. Then we ride to Rampini ceramics, arguably the best producer of hand painted ceramics in Italy. The head designer will explain how majolica ceramics are made, a process that remains essentially unchanged since the Renaissance. One last beautiful ride on our scooters takes us to Gaiole where we will have lunch. We will be picked up at at 2 p.m. for a transfer to the Montevarchi train station for 3 p.m. trains to Florence and Rome. Breakfast included. Transfer to train station included.
Scooterbella® in the news: our tours have been featured in the travel section of The Guardian (UK), Jan 20th, 2007. Another article was published by The Observer on April 23rd, 2006. Our Tuscany by Vespa trip was also featured in a 3-page full-color article in the London Telegraph, and in London’s The Times.
Note: Everyone who drives one of our scooters needs to have an international car drivers license (unless you have a European Union drivers license ). This is very easy to get! Please click here for more information.
The Hotels – The Hotels: In Florence you spend one night at the Hotel Royal, an elegant 18th century villa that has been transformed into a lovely hotel with garden and pool (some departures stay at the charming Orto de’ Medici, a superior 3-star hotel located on the former gardens of the powerful Medici family). We then move to the countryside for our 4-night stay at the Borgo Fontebussi, an 18th century manor house that has been beautifully restored and turned into a four-star boutique hotel. A new 25-meter swimming pool has been added to the grounds to create a wonderfully relaxing environment and the perfect base for us to explore Tuscany by scooter.
The Scooters – We have seven new, bright red 125 cc Vespa™ scooters. They are lightweight, comfortable, and easy to ride, with an electric start and automatic transmission. The brakes are on the handlebars, like on a bicycle. We provide you with helmets. The 125 cc Vespa™ scooter is powerful enough for two people to happily cruise through the Tuscan countryside. Top speed is 80 kph but we will be touring at a slower, more comfortable and safe speed. Indeed, we usually do not exceed 50 kph (30 mph). Of course, couples can ride together on one scooter (and save €100 for one person!). We also have two smaller 100cc Sym “Mio” scooters. Depending on availability, you will receive either the 125cc Vespa™ scooter or the 100cc Mio.
IMPORTANT!! : QUALIFICATIONS
You must be over 18 years of age, have a valid driver’s license and an INTERNATIONAL driver’s license to drive a scooter. Of course anyone can be a passenger. Previous experience on a scooter or motorbike is advantageous and highly advised. If you have not ridden one before then you should do so before you do this trip. Rent a scooter locally, and learn how to ride it before coming on the trip. U.K. residents can try Vroom by the Sea, a scooter rental in Brighton.
WE ARE NOT HERE TO TEACH YOU HOW TO DRIVE A SCOOTER. YOU MUST ARRIVE AT THE START OF THE TRIP ALREADY A COMPETENT RIDER. Over the years we have been amazed to find people who arrive to drive on public roads but have never ridden a scooter before and are clearly uncoordinated, un-athletic, and will clearly never be able to drive a scooter safely. Please do not be one of these people. Our scooters are easy to ride, but a good sense of balance and coordination is required. The Vespa™ scooters have a 125cc engine and an all-steel frame. They are lighter and easier to drive than a larger motorbike but they are also heavier than a moped and other smaller 50cc scooters (they weigh 110 kg, or about 235 lbs).
You will be driving a motor vehicle on public roads. You are responsible for your safety but also for the safety of other motorists, bikers and pedestrians. You must be able to control the scooter and drive it competently. If we feel your driving skills put you and others at risk we reserve the right to take the Vespa away from you. If you crash one of the scooters — defined as losing control of the scooter and driving off the road — we will not let you ride anymore.In the event that you cannot ride as a passenger on one of the scooters, then we will help to arrange an alternative mode of transport, either taxi, or rental car, but at your expense.
Finally, age may be a factor. We have found that most people who are over 50 and who have never ridden a scooter or motorbike have problems driving them. If you have not used the “motorbike” part of your brain before the age of 50, then it may be too late to learn. We don’t know why this is, but such are the mysteries of Life, Zen, and the Art of Scooter maintenance. So if in doubt, please take the time to try a scooter at home. Find a big vacant parking lot, put on a helmet, read our accompanying document about motorcycle safety, and give it a whirl. If you are happy with your abilities and you feel safe, then you are ready to ride one of our scooters.
The bottom line is that we just want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday!
See all of our tours by DESTINATION & ACTIVITY
See all of our tours by date: TOUR CALENDAR 2010
Useful Links -
The City of Florence: everything you need to know about the city
The Accademia: home of Michelangelo’s David and other world-famous works
The Uffizi Gallery: one of the greatest collections in the world. We recommend you make reservations ahead of time.
The Duomo: one of the wonders of the Renaissance, Florence’s cathedral.
Siena Tourist Authority: details on the city’s history and events.
Chianti Classico wine consortium: a site devoted to this world-renown wine and its group of producers
Chianti History: concise article on the history of this famous region
UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy: come see the marvels that await you in Italy!
Vespa™ scooters on Wikipedia: very complete, interesting site with lots of trivia!
Vroom by the Sea: hone your two-wheeling skills in the U.K. and get yourself some cool new gear at this scooter rental company in Brighton.
Vroom with a View: check out Peter Moore’s lively account of his solo trip from Milan to Rome on a vintage Vespa™ scooter. Cool website with lots of pictures & info.
Scoot NZ: a really great website with useful info about scooters and related links.
