Exploring Italy's golden mean by car: Round trip from Tuscany via Umbria to the Marche and the sea

Experience Italy like never before on this 8-day round trip: enjoy three regions full of culinary highlights, breathtaking landscapes and authentic hospitality. From an idyllic country house in Tuscany to an elegant boutique hotel in Umbria and luxury by the sea in the Marche region - this trip combines indulgence, culture and relaxation at the highest level. Immerse yourself in the world of Tuscan wine, let yourself be pampered in a Michelin restaurant, discover the secrets of saffron and taste exquisite wines in the heart of the Marche region. Each stop promises unforgettable experiences for all the senses.

1.) Stage of your round trip in central Italy: A charming country house in the countryside near Florence

Nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, lies the Locanda Casanuova - a retreat that promises peace and authenticity. Centrally located, you can easily reach the art-historical treasures of Florence (25 km), Arezzo (40 km) and Siena (60 km) from here via the nearby A1 highway. The lively small town of Figline Valdarno, just 6 km away, attracts visitors with charming cafés, a weekly market and medieval sights. If you are looking for a shopping experience, the Fashion Valley Outlet is just 12 km away. Just a few kilometers away is the Chianti wine route with picturesque villages such as Greve, Gaiole and Castellina, which are not only a delight for wine lovers.

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Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, the Locanda Casanuova is the perfect place for your Tuscan vacation in the countryside.

Holidays in Tuscany at the Locanda Casanuova estate with excellent cuisine, the best wine and olive oil

A beautiful garden with a romantic water lily pond enchants Tuscany vacationers with its flair. A good book, a glass of wine, put your feet up and relaxation is guaranteed.

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The Locanda Casanuova country house at the gates of Chianti

is like an enchanted, romantic Garden of Eden
The rooms at the Locanda are stylishly and individually designed. Terracotta floors, antique wooden furniture and lovingly selected decorations give each room a special atmosphere. Televisions and telephones are deliberately omitted, instead you can enjoy picturesque views of the Tuscan countryside.

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Each room is individually furnished in the accommodation near Florence - creativity paired with Tuscan country house style.

The Locanda's farm-to-table restaurant offers a Tuscan gourmet holiday

The Locanda Casanuova also impresses with its sustainable philosophy: home-grown vegetables, homemade jams, honey and olive oil reflect its regional ties.

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Seasonal and home-grown - look forward to the food at the Locanda!

The in-house restaurant conjures up a delicious 4-course menu from fresh, local ingredients every day, which is announced on the slate board - a highlight that you can enjoy under the shady canopy of wild vines on the terrace. You will of course enjoy the delicious 4-course gourmet menu from our own farm.

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A vacation for wine lovers in Tuscany

On the hills of Valdarno, overlooking Chianti, organic wines and extra virgin olive oil have been produced since the 1980s. These products are intended to reflect the authentic character of the area from which they originate.

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The tour of the estate includes a tasting of the estate's own delicacies!

Even in the days of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, this area was prized for the high quality of its wines. The winery focuses on the indigenous Sangiovese grape variety to discover its full potential. Inspired by the ancient inland sea that Valdarno was millions of years ago, Vermentino was also introduced from the coast to create an exceptional white wine. You will taste the wines and oil of the Locanda during a guided tour of the winery and estate.

A private culinary-cultural city tour in Florence

This culinary-cultural tour is all about the early and late Renaissance: you will learn more about the influences that inspired Michelangelo to create the most famous statue in the world. The tour then continues to San Lorenzo, or the Medici Quarter, as it is also known.

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Discover Florence in private on a food tour! 
On the guided tour, you will learn more about the Medici Chapel, the San Lorenzo Church and the San Lorenzo Market, which still takes place around the San Lorenzo Church today. Our destination is Florence's indoor market, the Mercato Centrale, a true El Dorado for connoisseurs.

On two floors, regional cheese and sausage products, fresh meat and fish, fruit and vegetables are on offer. On the tour through the market hall, you will learn more about the history of the market and, of course, about the Tuscan gourmet scene. Of course, there will also be plenty of hands-on experience, as at several other culinary stops.

A visit to Arezzo with a tasting at a truffle institution

You will taste a wide variety of truffle products from the Fumanti brothers' own production. The two restaurateurs have turned their father Giuseppe's passion into a great business model and decided in 2014 to make the noble tuber accessible to a wider audience. The small truffle boutique is located in the heart of Arezzo and invites you to discover the city afterwards.

Arezzo is a real gem that combines history, art and authentic Italian flair. Situated on a gentle hill, the town offers a magnificent view of the surrounding Tuscan countryside. Although it is often overshadowed by more famous neighbors such as Florence or Siena, Arezzo impresses with its rich cultural and architectural diversity.

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Arezzo is a beautiful unknown in Tuscany and well worth a visit.

The heart of the town is the Piazza Grande, a sloping square surrounded by a mixture of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Twice a year, the Giostra del Saracino takes place here, a historical jousting tournament that takes visitors back in time. Arezzo is equally famous for its monthly antiques market, which attracts collectors and art lovers from all over the world and always takes place on the 1st weekend of the month.

2. STAGE OF THE CENTRAL ITALY TRIP - HOLIDAY IN UMBRIA AT THE BOUTIQUE HOTEL: Gourmet cuisine, SAFRAN & OLIVE OIL

Città della Pieve, picturesquely situated on the border between Umbria and Tuscany, is perched high on a hill at an altitude of 508 meters. From here, you can enjoy a magnificent view of Lake Trasimeno and the idyllic Val di Chiana.

Nestled in unspoiled nature and rich in historical and cultural highlights, Città della Pieve is the perfect starting point to experience the fascinating beauty of Umbria. The Boutique Hotel Vannucci is ideally located for exploring both the charming Val di Chiana and the world-famous Val d'Orcia. Thanks to its proximity to Perugia and Chiusi, it is a gateway to the cultural and scenic treasures of Umbria and Tuscany alike.

Umbria vacation in a gorgeous boutique hotel with gourmet restaurant in Città della Pieve - one of the most beautiful hill towns in Italy.

The Hotel Vannucci, a charming boutique hotel in the historic Villa Mirafiori, combines warm service with contemporary comfort. The villa, built in 1887 by King Victor Emmanuel II, offers the perfect retreat to relax and enjoy. Centrally located in the historic heart of Città della Pieve, the hotel boasts spectacular views of the picturesque Umbrian and Tuscan countryside. The enclosed garden with its inviting pool invites you to linger and unwind.

The Boutique Hotel Vannucci is a real insider tip for gourmets, lovers of detail and romantics.

A boutique hotel in Umbria with history and nobility!

The Hotel Vannucci was founded by Vittoria Spinola, daughter of King Victor Emmanuel II and Rosa Vercellana. After various family and business developments, Vittoria arrived in Città della Pieve in 1887 and initiated the "Giardini Vannucci" project. She built two villas and greenhouses, which later became the Hotel Vannucci.

A hotel with pool in Umbria - the boutique hotel Vannucci invites you to relax and enjoy.

Located in the historic center of Città della Pieve, the Hotel Vannucci offers a magnificent view of the picturesque Umbrian and Tuscan countryside. The surrounding area is ideal for a variety of activities such as hiking, cycling and exploring the surrounding towns and villages. The hotel's own gourmet restaurant with a sensational wine cellar and a bar make the hotel a very special place for connoisseurs.

Breakfast with a view.

The Hotel Vannucci offers 30 individually designed rooms, spread over two floors and lovingly decorated. Each room has modern amenities such as air conditioning, heating, TV, minibar and safe. The bathrooms are equipped with a shower, bathtub and hairdryer. Some rooms are wheelchair accessible and have barrier-free bathrooms.

Noble rooms, tastefully furnished invite you to dream on your trip to Umbria.

A Michelin restaurant for gourmet delights: The Ristorante Zafferano right in your hotel

The "Il Ristorante Zafferano" proudly bears the name of the prestigious flower grown in Città della Pieve. Here you can taste typical traditional dishes of the region, while the attentive staff will help you choose and advise you on the local culinary tradition. The excellent wine list, which includes both Umbrian and national wines, accompanies your dishes and offers a complete sensory journey that has not stopped at the Michelinguide - it is not without reason that the restaurant is listed here as a gourmet tip.

You can enjoy a stunning 4-course menu including a bottle of wine and water in our gourmet package.

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It will be a feast for the palate in the Michelin tip restaurant Zafferano of your hotel.

On warm summer evenings, you can relax with a delicious aperitif in the outdoor area or by the pool. Don't miss out on dinner in the dreamy pergola: a journey through the authentic flavors of this rich and generous land. During the colder months, the Zafferano restaurant moves to the beautiful historic property and presents itself in a modern but classic style after a complete renovation.

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Whether in the garden or in the enchanting pergola - the ambience could not be more enchanting. the ambience couldn't be more magical at the gourmet restaurant Zafferan
 

A pasta cooking class for an unforgettable culinary journey in Italy (optional booking)

Would you like to add even more culinary focus to your stay in Umbria? Book an optional cooking course with the chef of Ristorante Zafferano. You will learn how to prepare different types of pasta with the corresponding sauces and then enjoy the fruits of your labor as a tasty lunch including wine and water.

Book an optional delicious pasta cooking class led by the chef of the Zafferano restaurant.

Discover the precious gold of Umbria: Visit to a saffron producer with delicious "Zafferitivo"

Saffron cultivation in Città della Pieve dates back to the Middle Ages, as the region's favorable climatic conditions and nutrient-rich soil provided ideal conditions for growing Crocus sativus, the saffron flower. The flowers are painstakingly harvested by hand from mid-October to mid-November, and the red stigma threads are carefully extracted and dried to produce the coveted saffron.

The "Podere della Quercia" farm run by Heidi Fränkle was founded in 2008 in the hills of Umbria in Città della Pieve. Heidi and Stefano's philosophy and lifestyle have made it possible to create a reality that combines love for nature and respect for the land with the need to produce a high-quality organic product. The organically certified company focuses on the production of olive oil and the cultivation of the precious saffron.

Heidi and Stefano will introduce you to the fascinating world of saffron.

The saffron tasting includes tasty crostini and piadine, saffron prosecco and a saffron-based dessert, as well as a tasting of the farm's own organic olive oil. A visit to the estate and the fields and olive groves will accompany you throughout the day. Don't worry, there is plenty to discover even when the saffron is not in bloom.

100 facets of saffron....savory, sweet and as a drink...your taste buds will dance.

Exciting truffle hunt and exquisite truffle lunch in Umbria (optionally bookable)

The Restaurant Seven is a place of scents: the smell of yeast at breakfast and the scent of truffles during the season. Truffles are not just ingredients here, but a shared experience that is shared with guests during a real truffle hunt in the forest. The Filosi family is behind it all: mom Paola is in the kitchen, dad Alessandro takes care of the farming and brothers Michele and Andrea can be found in the kitchen and service. Truffle hunting was actually a hobby, but quickly became a second mainstay for the family. First of all, they accompany truffle hunters and their dog into the forest to feast on a 3-course menu with the fresh tubers after a successful truffle hunt.

Join us on a truffle hunt in the border region of Tuscany and Umbria and experience a brilliant truffle lunch.

Stage 3 of your round trip in central Italy - Le Marche: A hotel by the sea on the Riviera del Conero

Experience unforgettable days on the idyllic bay of Portonovo, a charming coastal town not far from the port city of Ancona. The stylish 4-star Hotel Seebay offers you the ideal hideaway for an elegant beach vacation. Just 550 meters from the sea, you can stay in modern design rooms and enjoy the Italian way of life - whether by the elegant outdoor pool with a spacious sunbathing area or on the natural beach with crystal-clear water.

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Surrounded by green countryside, the 4* Hotel Seebay is just a 5-minute walk from Portonovo beach.

The crystal-clear, emerald-green sea, the varied coastline with its green cliffs, secluded bays and unspoiled beaches: The Conero combines all of this and offers a spectacular backdrop that harmoniously combines sea and mountains.

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The hotel's outdoor areas exude the same elegance as the rooms inside.

The 4-star comfort of the hotel is also reflected in the fresh and authentic flavors of its cuisine. The restaurant La Fonte presents the best that Portonovo Bay has to offer in a modern menu that reinterprets the dishes of local tradition with innovative touches. Our travel package includes a seasonally inspired 4-course menu in the hotel's own La Fonte gourmet restaurant.

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La Fonte's cuisine combines local ingredients with technique and innovation.

Holidays in the Marche region - relaxing with elegance: design rooms, elegant pool ambience and spa

A little surprise awaits you in your design room as a welcome gift: enjoy a bottle of local wine or home-made sweets as a couple. The comfortable rooms are equipped with modern luxury and have a guest bathroom, Wi-Fi, satellite TV (Sky), safe, minibar, air conditioning and a kettle.

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The Seebay Hotel is the crowning glory of your tour of central Italy.

The rooms are equipped with a private balcony. Enjoy the fresh sea breeze and relax to the sound of cicadas chirping in the south. Great attention is paid to the restful sleep of guests thanks to the high-quality beds. The rooms are furnished in a minimalist and elegant style and boast historic pieces of jewelry and parquet flooring.

Wine tasting on your Marche vacation: get to know the local wines of Monte Conero during a wine tasting

Marche is a famous region for rosé as well as white and red wines. Typical autochthonous grape varieties of the region produce the red wine grape Lacrima di Morro and the white grape Verdicchio. The wine tasting includes three glasses of wine and a delicious plate of local cheese and cold cut specialties.

Perfect surroundings: beach vacation in the Monte Conero Nature Park

The airport of Ancona is approx. 30 km from the hotel and can be reached in about 30 minutes by car. Flights are available from many German cities. The hotel also has parking facilities for those arriving by car.

The region not only offers miles of beaches, but also two picturesque lakes - Lago Grande (Great Lake) and Lago Profondo (Deep Lake) - for relaxing walks in the surroundings of your vacation home.

Portonovo is located in the heart of the Monte Conero nature reserve, the only and scenically impressive rock massif on the Adriatic Riviera. The surrounding area offers ideal conditions for windsurfing and canoeing. The beaches of the nature park have been awarded the Blue Flag, a seal of quality for high environmental and water quality.

Dreamy bathing bay at Monte Conero with turquoise-blue water