SOAK UP THE SIGHTS AND WONDERFUL FOOD OF TUSCANY

02-27-2008

 

 

FLORENCE, ITALY – Staying at a villa and exploring medieval towns tucked into the Tuscan hills are among the special treats of a tempting vacation program from AHI Travel.

So is sampling the cuisine of a region famous for fine wines, high-grade olive oil and handcrafted cheeses. Basic-but-ambrosial dishes, such as soups thick with white beans and bruschetta—grilled bread with virgin olive oil—are standard fare in a region where dining is a major pastime. Meals featuring local specialties and culinary demonstrations delight visiting “foodies.”

Food for the soul comes with a visit to Florence, the “Birthplace of the Renaissance,” filled with an array of some of the world’s most celebrated art and architecture. Masterpieces range from Michelangelo’s famous marble statue of David poised with his slingshot to such famous sights as the superb sculptures on Ponte Vecchio, the city’s oldest bridge.

            Make this your year to soak up the sights and wonderful cuisine of Tuscany by taking advantage of “Chianti in a Tuscan Villa,” a value-loaded 8-day, 7-night package newly added to the popular and highly praised series of Alumni Campus Abroad travel programs. They are offered by AHI Travel, a travel company that has been providing deluxe tours for alumni groups, associations and special-interest organizations for more than 46 years.

These programs immerse visitors in the culture of a region, giving them the opportunity to get to know its people. Accommodations typically are provided in a single hotel (in this case a deluxe villa)—so it is feasible to go ahead and unpack.

For those interested in learning as they travel, these all-inclusive vacations offer an engaging mix of excursions and education programs, with the line between the two often enjoyably thin. It is a chance to travel with like-minded companions while enjoying a memorable vacation.

Headquarters for this program is the village of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, where the Villa Borgo di Cortefreda overlooks the Tuscan countryside. A stroll into the village reveals superb views of the sun-warmed Elsa Valley, where low, rolling hills are patched with olive groves and poppy fields.

One of the local highlights is a visit to Barberino Val d’Elsa and the elegant Castello di Monsanto winery. Surrounded by 178 vineyard-clad acres, you’ll enjoy a tasting of the region’s full-bodied varieties that have evolved from the familiar table wine in round, straw-bound bottles.

Highlights also include an excursion to Siena, which sits spectacularly atop three converging hills. Showcasing masterpieces by Michelangelo and Donatello, Siena has changed little over the centuries. One of its premier sights is a cathedral begun in the 12^th century and considered to be one of Italy’s greatest.

Another excursion takes you to a town dubbed “Medieval Manhattan.” Admire the remarkable skyline of the 14^th-century fortified town of San Gimignano, where patrician families built scores of tower houses as symbols of their wealth and power.

Visit Lucca, “The City of 100 Churches,” where Old Town’s narrow streets are lined with chestnut and holly trees. It was here in 56 BC that Caesar, Pompeii and Crassus forged the First Triumvirate alliance to rule the Roman Empire. 

On a visit to Florence you’ll understand why, back in 1818, the English poet Shelley described it as “the most beautiful city I have yet seen.” You’ll appreciate why, since then, millions of travelers have reached the same conclusion.

Educational focus includes presentations on “A Tuscan Timeline” and “Renaissance Art.” You’ll learn about modern Tuscany at “Meet the People,” an open panel exchange with friendly local residents. “Contemporary Italy” discusses Italy’s role in the European Union and the country’s political, economic and social status.

Included in this all-inclusive package is round-trip scheduled jet service between North America and Florence, Italy, round-trip motorcoach transfers between the Florence airport and villa, and seven nights’ accommodations at the deluxe Vila Borgo di’Cortefreda (based on double occupancy). Also included are baggage handling at the villa and domestic and foreign governmental airport/departure taxes and fees. An extensive meal program includes seven breakfasts, four lunches and seven dinners (in addition to in-flight dining service).

Also included is a Welcome Reception and Dinner at the villa, as well as a Farewell Reception and Dinner (including a “Graduation Ceremony”). Also included are all excursions and seminars, services of a Campus Director throughout the tour and a deluxe travel wallet, plus $250,000 flight insurance.

Sixteen departure dates are available from April 13 through October 26. Cost, depending on season, begins at $3,359 per person for departure from New York, Newark, Boston and Washington, D.C.  Costs, depending on season, for departures from other U.S. gateways begin at $3,389 from Atlanta and Chicago; $3,459 from Denver; $3,479 from Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston; $3,519 from Los Angeles and San Francisco; and $3,579 from Portland, OR, or Seattle.

            For more information contact AHI Travel, 6400 Shafer Ct., Rosemont, IL 60018, 800-323-7373—or check the Web site at www.ahitravel.com.

 

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