SPECIAL TOURS AND ACTIVITIES FOR VISITORS TO TUSCANY ON THE OCCASION OF THE CONCERT OF ANDREA BOCELLI AT TEATRO DEL SILENZIO - July 2014 On Sunday 20 th July 2014 Maestro Andrea Bocelli is performing at Teatro del Silenzio in Lajatico, Tuscany, for the 10 th edition of his yearly concert. The tour operator Arianna & Friends arranged several activities and tours for guests visiting Tuscany on the occasion of the concert in Lajatico. It is a great chance to experience Tuscany through the eyes of locals. EXPERIENCE TUSCANY WITH OTHER FANS OF ANDREA BOCELLI! Our activities and tours are your occasion to learn about arts, culinary traditions and typically Italian lifestyle together with other guests visiting Tuscany for the concert of Andrea! Here is the outline of what we offer: 1. UNUSUAL GUIDED VISIT TO PISA, WITH APERITIF 2. VISIT TO A SMALL PASTA FACTORY, A MEDIEVAL CASTLE & AN OLIVE OIL FARM, WITH BUFFET LUNCH 3. TRUFFLE HUNTING AND TASTING EXPERIENCE, WITH LUNCH 4. VISIT TO A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE AND A TO WINERY, WITH LIGHT LUNCH 5. VISIT TO A GRAPPA FACTORY & A CHEESE FACTORY, WITH LIGHT LUNCH 6. COOKING CLASS AT A LOCAL FARM, WITH DINNER OR LUNCH 7. VISIT TO A HISTORICAL VILLA & WINERY, WITH LIGHT LUNCH 8. PIZZA CLASS AT THE PIZZAIOLO S, WITH DINNER HOW DO I BOOK THIS? Please, read all details about our offers in the following pages and follow the instructions on page 8 to send us your booking form. Your request will be processed in a few days. Your Tuscan friends: Arianna, Consuelo, Veronica, Luca and Massimo 1
1. UNUSUAL GUIDED VISIT TO PISA, WITH APERITIF Our licensed English speaking guide will be at your disposal for 3 hours for an unusual visit to the town Pisa. Instead of just admiring Piazza dei Miracoli with the Leaning Tower, you will see some other interesting and important attractions in Pisa. The meeting point is at the square of the Central train station and from there you will walk through the town centre up to the Leaning tower. The first attraction is a huge fresco by Keith Haring on one side of a Pisan palace in one of the most important squares in town. You then stroll down the Corso Italia, a large commercial street, and end up onto the bridge Ponte di Mezzo right in front of the very romantic picture of the Pisan Lungarni: tens of historical palaces in rows along the Arno river banks reflected into the river water. From there you will walk under the arcades of the typical Borgo Stretto street, where you will have a stop at the best cafeteria in town for a cappuccino or a fresh aperitif offered by us. Then, you will experience the magnificence of Piazza dei Cavalieri, one of the largest and most beautiful squares of Italy and a must-see in Pisa for its cultural and historical role. In a few steps from here, you will reach the world-renowned Piazza dei Miracoli, where the guide will inform you on the wonders of the square : the Dome, the Baptistery, the Holy Cemetery and the Leaning Tower. This tour does not include the tickets to climb the Leaning Tower, which can be booked as an extra. When: Saturday 19 th July starting at 10 am // Monday 21 st July starting at 3 pm 50 per person without transportation 90 per person with minibus transportation Price includes: Professional guide, Aperitif. Tickets to the Leaning Tower are extra and they must be pre-ordered in advance at the moment of reservation. Cost: 18 each to handle to the guide on the day of the tour. Duration: 3 hours with the guide + 1 hour free time. transfer time excluded 2
2. VISIT TO A SMALL PASTA FACTORY, A MEDIEVAL CASTLE & AN OLIVE OIL FARM, WITH BUFFET LUNCH Whether the pasta workshop of the family Martelli is the smallest in the world or not is difficult to say. It is definitely the most original! Our exciting tour to Lari, the Hamlet of Wonders, starts with a visit to an artisanal pasta factory where spaghetti and penne are made in the "old way". Our guide introduces you to the history of the family-run company and explains how a small artisanal production is able to reach the markets of all the world. The visit continues with an extremely interesting walk through the working rooms, from the giant bags of flour to the yellow packages, ready for shipping. Why are castles often on hilltops? Why are they built that way? What were they used for through the centuries? Why are their dungeons so gloomy? If you want to know the answers to these questions and you want them while admiring the enchanting view from a perfectly preserved century-old castle, the castle of the vicars in Lari is the right place to go! You can personally experience how the prisoners could feel when they were locked in the "inferno" dungeon. At the end of the tour in Lari, you will be transferred across spectacular typically Tuscan countryside until you reach an olive oil farm. The property is in a very panoramic place, half-way between Pisa and Volterra. Here you will have a guided walk through an enchanting olive grove and you will be educated on the olive oil culture by the farmer himself. You will learn a lot of details about how to farm olive trees and how to get a really good extra-virgin olive oil. The tour ends with a delicious buffet made from local produce including cold cuts, bruschetta with olive oil from the farm, wine of the property, pickles and vegetables from the farm and a lot of other delicacies. When: Saturday 19 th July starting at 10 am // Tuesday 22 nd July starting at 10 am 75 per person without transportation 115 per person with minibus transportation Price includes: Professional guide, visit to the pasta factory, to the castle, tickets to the castle, visit to the olive farm, olive oil tasting & lunch Duration: 5 hours, transfer time excluded 3
3. TRUFFLE HUNTING AND TASTING EXPERIENCE, WITH LUNCH Tuscany is lucky enough to have not only wonderful scenery above ground but also a real golden treasure in its soil: the truffle. Whether it is in search of the world renowned and prestigious white truffle of November, or the less expensive but still intensely flavored Summer black truffle, a walk in the peaceful woods of the best truffle areas is the perfect occasion to experience the life of a truffle hunter. We organize a half-day truffle hunting tour joined with a truffle tasting in one of the most famous local truffle shops of Tuscany. We meet the truffle hunter and we let his dog out before leaving for a 1.5 hour walk in the hope of striking gold. While scanning the undergrowth, you are given a lot of interesting information about how and in which conditions truffles grow. When finally some action starts, you will see how the hunter and his dog work together to detect truffles. Following the walk in the woods is a lunch with delicious truffle-based products. At the end of the experience you can buy truffle delicacies as your original and unforgettable souvenir of Tuscany! When: Tuesday 22 nd July starting at 10 am // Wednesday 23 rd July starting at 10 am 60 per person without transportation 100 per person with minibus transportation Price includes: Truffle hunting experience with a professional hunter, truffle based tasting-lunch Group: Minimum 6, maximum 18 people Duration: 4 hours, transfer time excluded 4
4. VISIT TO A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE AND WINE TOUR, WITH LIGHT LUNCH Tuscany is famous worldwide for its excellent production of wine resulting into unique IGT, DOC and DOCG bottles. Our original Valdera tour starts with the visit to a very authentic medieval village called Peccioli, a destination out of the typical touristy routes just 8 kms from Lajatico. The place is a typical example of Italian small village with charming squares, scenic country landscapes and unexpected art treasures. The visit includes a climb up a panoramic hilltop garden and a guided visit to a charming Etruscan museum, recently opened in the mazy basements of a historical palace in town. It is an opportunity to learn a lot about the usages and the history of this original Pre-Roman population through several recent finds belonging to a rural sacred temple. The walking excursion in Peccioli includes a stop for an aperitive at one of the bars in town. After visiting the village and its fascinating attractions, you follow the guide to a renowned vineyard, just 10 minutes from Peccioli. Here we visit an extraordinarily panoramic, beautiful and very modern winery, whose premises are mostly all underground. The facility has a wonderful view over its vineyards and is the starting point of a nice walk among the vine rows together with the winemaker. The visit to the premises continues with a detailed explanation of the fermentation area, where the grapes boil inside several casks just after the harvest. Following is the visit to other storage areas where the rest of the aging process takes place, up to the most fascinating room in the whole complex: a large and artistically decorated barriccaia full of wooden barrels. The visit is followed by a unique wine tasting with light lunch/smack in a very charming tasting room (in very hot days, lunch is served in the barriccaia). When: Saturday 19 th starting at 3 pm // Tuesday 22 nd starting at 10 am 70 per person without transportation 110 per person with minibus transportation Price includes: Professional guide, visit to Peccioli, aperitif in town, visit to the wine cellars and wine tasting with lunch Duration: 5 hours, transfer time excluded 5
5. VISIT TO A GRAPPA FACTORY & A CHEESE FACTORY, WITH LIGHT LUNCH We arrange a one-day grappa and cheese tour for you in the area of Valdera, between Pisa and Volterra, often called the "New Chianti" area, with a visit to the grappa traditional factory and a visit to a small but renowned local cheese factory. In both locations a guided tasting of produce is included. While visiting the region you may want to investigate about this important aspect of the local farming production. Similarly, a wise and advanced cheese production has got deeply rooted traditions in our beautiful region. The tour starts with the visit to a small little hamlet where an organic and biodynamic cheese farm is located. This is a small family-run business, where two ladies manage the production of cheese according to the most traditional methods. You will visit fascinating aging cellars and you will have the pleasure to taste many kinds of cheese combined with other exquisite local products in a charming and rustic d tasting room. The tour ends at a grapperia, a special place where grappas and other liquors are produced. This is a very old company, that has been making grappas for over 100 years. The family running this place have always used Italian raw materials to make their grappas and liquors and the methods are a mixture of tradition and modernity. You will visit the original old cellars and the new modern rooms and you will learn about this precious art of distilling. Eventually you will have the pleasure to taste several types of their high quality grappas and liquors. When: Wednesday 23 rd starting at 10 am 80 per person without transportation 120 per person with minibus transportation Price includes: Professional guide, visit to the wine cellar and wine tasting, visit to the cheese factory and lunch Duration: 5 hours, transfer time excluded 6
6. COOKING CLASS AT A LOCAL FARM, WITH DINNER One of the most interesting and fascinating experiences in Tuscany is taking part in a cooking class. Tuscan cuisine is based on simple but tasty recipes belonging to rooted traditions and coming from wise farming. We give you the opportunity to discover all the secrets of Tuscan food in interesting and informative cooking classes organized for you on a traditional Tuscan farm. Our farm is a wonderful estate in the area of the Pisan hills, between Pisa and Volterra, near the spa town Casciana Terme and near Peccioli. Our cook will prepare with you exactly the meals that the Tuscans eat at home, using the same fresh and genuine ingredients with the help of very useful tricks. You will learn how the home-made food in Italy, prepared with simple items, can be so delicious and tasteful. During all the experience, there will be a friendly and helpful assistant speaking English who will also inform you about history, traditions and curiosities about our Tuscan culture. The preparation of your dinner includes starters, two main courses (primo and secondo according to the Italian tradition) and a dessert. During the following meal, local red or white wines will be served as well. When: Friday 18 th July starting at 4 pm //Saturday 19 th July starting at 10 am // Monday 21 st July starting at 4 pm // Tuesday 22 nd July starting at 4 pm 85 per person without transportation 125 per person with minibus transportation Price includes: Local chef and English speaking guide, food, printed material, aprons and hats, lunch or dinner with wines Duration: 5 hours, including dinner, transfer time excluded 7
7. VISIT TO A HISTORICAL VILLA & WINERY, WITH LIGHT LUNCH A half-day tour to one of the most famous and historical wineries of Tuscany, just 30 kms from Lajatico. You get to a spectacular historical villa that is the main premises of a large wine estate located between Pisa and Florence. With the guidance of the local staff you see the hall of the villa and learn about its history and dynasties of owners. The tour continues in the historical cellar of the property, where the operator explains their methods of wine making. The tour ends in a comfortable tasting room where the best wines of the estate are served together with some local specialities. When: Sunday 20 th July starting at 11 am 55 per person without transportation 95 per person with minibus transportation Price includes: Professional guide, visit to the wine cellar and wine tasting, visit to the cheese factory and lunch Duration: 2 hours, transfer time excluded 8
8. PIZZA MAKING CLASS AT THE PIZZAIOLO S, WITH DINNER You meet our English speaking assistant and get to Aldo's (the chef) house, a wonderful stone country cottage on top of a very panoramic hill. Here you start working with him preparing the dough only using a selected organic wheat flour. Then you start preparing the dessert, usually an apple pie or the cantuccini biscuits, typical Tuscan almond cookies. While waiting for the dough grow because of the yeasts, you also bake and taste some delicious cecìna, a thin chickpea pie typical of Pisa and the coastal area of Tuscany usually served with focaccia. You also prepare and taste some quick bruschettas, served with Aldo's home made pickles. Before starting baking the pizzas, you will also prepare all the ingredients that will be on top of them: organic basil and extra virgin olive oil, Tuscan sausage, organic vegetables from Aldo's plot etc Finally, you bake several pizzas, served as soon as they get ready, for a great pizza dinner together with Aldo's wines in an amazing terrace just outside of his house. When: Monday 21 st July starting at 4 pm // Wednesday 23 rd July starting at 4 pm 90 per person without transportation 130 per person with minibus transportation Price includes: Local pizza maker and English speaking guide, food, printed material, aprons and hats, lunch or dinner with wines Group: Minimum 6, maximum 10 people Duration: 4 hours, dinner included, transfer time excluded Meeting point: t o be advised according to bookings 9
FOR ENQUIRIES AND BOOKINGS, PLEASE, FILL IN THE FOLLOWING TWO PAGES AND SEND THEM TO US FOLLOWING OUR INSTRUCTIONS BELOW Name Telephone number BOOKING FORM TRAVELER DETAILS Surname Email address Tour or activity 1. UNUSUAL GUIDED VISIT TO PISA, WITH APERITIF 2. VISIT TO A SMALL PASTA FACTORY, A MEDIEVAL CASTLE & AN OLIVE OIL FARM, WITH BUFFET LUNCH 3. TRUFFLE HUNTING AND TASTING EXPERIENCE, WITH LUNCH 4. VISIT TO A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE & TO A PANORAMIC WINERY, WITH LIGHT LUNCH/SNACK 5. VISIT TO A GRAPPA FACTORY AND A CHEESE FARM, WITH LIGHT LUNCH 6. COOKING CLASS AT A LOCAL FARM, WITH LUNCH/DINNER 7. VISIT TO A HISTORICAL VILLA & WINERY, WITH LIGHT LUNCH 8. PIZZA MAKING CLASS AT THE PIZZAIOLO S, WITH DINNER BOOKING DETAILS On 19 th July at 10 am On 21 st July at 3 pm On 19 th July at 10 am On 22 nd July at 10 am On 22 nd July at 10 am On 23 rd July at 10 am On 19 th July at 3 pm On 22 nd July at 10 am Extra transfer service On 23 rd July at 10 am On 18 th July at 4 pm On 19 th July at 10 am On 21 st July at 4 pm On 22 nd July at 4 pm On 20 th July at 11 am On 21 st July at 4 pm On 23 rd July at 4 pm Number of people in your party TOTAL AMOUNT FOR THE SERVICES + TRANSACTION FEES (1% of total amount) TOTAL AMOUNT 10
Credit card payment AUTHORIZATION OF CHARGE TO CREDIT CARD The credit card holder Name(s) Surname thorizes the withdrawal of 100% of the above mentioned total amount (including transaction fees) from the following credit card as a full payment for booking the package. Credit card type Credit card number (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) Expiry date month year Holder s Signature HOW DO I SEND MY BOOKING FORM AND AUTHORIZATION OF CHARGE TO YOU? You can send us this page in either of the following ways: 1. Per email, attached as a PDF or JPEG file, to our main address info@ariannandfriends.com. 2. Per fax to +39 0587 672088. THANK YOU FOR SENDING US YOUR BOOKING REQUEST! WE WILL QUICKLY PROCESS YOUR REQUEST AND CONTACT YOU BACK. 11