Harvest Italia http://spiritofitalytours.com Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:23:42 +0000 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:23:42 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Spirit of Italy Tours returned last month from conducting our debut tour, Harvest Italia. Three years in the planning helped to ensure that my six guests enjoyed the most authentic experience living like Italians during the Fall harvest season.
 
With our incredible van driver [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/12/17/six-is-the-magic-number Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:23:42 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/12/17/six-is-the-magic-number Spirit of Italy Tours returned last month from conducting our debut tour, Harvest Italia. Three years in the planning helped to ensure that my six guests enjoyed the most authentic experience living like Italians during the Fall harvest season.
 
With our incredible van driver and experienced tour guide, Sergio Ceccherini of Scenic Wine Tours in Tuscany at the helm, we were easily able to access and explore many off-the-beaten track towns and villages in Tuscany. Even when visiting larger cities such as Siena and Florence, with his special license, Sergio was able to drive us into the heart of city off limits to cars. Can you imagine being dropped off at the Duomo of Siena or Piazza Della Republica in Florence? It was amazing and convenient!


The centerpiece of the tour was designed to give guests the chance to pick olives by hand at Casa Falcioni, a 10- acre property in the charming and central Tuscan town of Cavriglia that boasts an olive grove with nearly 600 olive trees. We had gorgeous weather and being out in the fresh air with friends collecting olives is an experience that is fun and relaxing. We managed to pick nearly 900 pounds of olives and the very next day were able to see them pressed into olive oil at a pressing facility located in the heart of the Chianti region. The colors of the countryside this year are beautiful beyond description. Tanya Falcioni brought a loaf of bread and just as soon as the oil was available, she poured it into a bowl where we each could dip our bread to sample it. Freshly pressed olive oil has a very earthy flavor, which many of us found just delicious.





Daniela Postfortunato, the proprietress of Agriturismo Valleverde, offered us the most outstanding hospitality! My guests and I each stayed in rustically elegant and very spacious apartments with kitchens, private baths and sitting rooms that overlooked an expansive meadow, hillside and vineyards. She, like Tanya, fed us some of the best homemade meals complete with their locally grown produce, and wine from their vineyards.
 
Several guests wrote to say that Harvest Italia was one of  the best travel experiences they had ever had.
 
More details on the 2012 trip and dates for Harvest Italia 2013, to come shortly.

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We so excited to foster this opportunity for our guests to experience an incredible week living like Italians!

ANDIAMO! [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/10/24/harvest-italia-tour-just-days-away Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:00:05 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/10/24/harvest-italia-tour-just-days-away
We so excited to foster this opportunity for our guests to experience an incredible week living like Italians!

ANDIAMO!

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-       Enjoy the journey -- Make a plan for the day but be prepared for the wonderful and unexpected visual/aural/nasal ‘detours’ that will spontaneously take [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/04/25/our-top-five-travel-tips-for-visitors-to-italy-featured-in-sf-examiner Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:26:09 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/04/25/our-top-five-travel-tips-for-visitors-to-italy-featured-in-sf-examiner
-       Enjoy the journey -- Make a plan for the day but be prepared for the wonderful and unexpected visual/aural/nasal ‘detours’ that will spontaneously take your trip in another, worthwhile direction. 

-       Get out of town -– Be sure to make time during your trip to leave the bigger cities to discover the charm of the smaller towns and villages so that you can meander without an itinerary, see the gorgeous countryside and more easily meet the locals.

-       Mangia! -- Seriously, in addition to the history, art and culture, eating in Italy is one of the most “spiritual” experiences you can have. Make sure to eat in a local trattoria at least once during your visit and order a pasta dish and sample local wines. Also, Italian coffee and chocolate is to die for!

-       Chill -- Savor the slower pace and the chimes of the church bells in the countryside that are sometimes the only sound that breaks the silence. Buy some fresh bread and cheese and head to the local piazza with your journal, and write about your experience and enjoy the scenery.

-       Do something -- Think about going on an experiential tour where you engage in an activity that allows you to have a deeper, more intimate experience with the local culture—think olive picking, grape picking, truffle hunting, cooking schools, etc.       


You can read the full article here: http://www.examiner.com/article/five-tips-for-traveling-to-italy-from-tour-expert-vicky-gray-clark#ixzz1t5NCsAKC

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/04/25/our-top-five-travel-tips-for-visitors-to-italy-featured-in-sf-examiner#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/04/21/the-value-of-travel-agents Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:56:06 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/04/21/the-value-of-travel-agents http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/travel/are-travel-agents-back.html?pagewanted=4&src=un&feedurl=http://json8.nytimes.com/pages/travel/index.jsonp



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Casa Falcioni is located atop a rolling hillside on a 10-acre property that [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/02/02/come-meander-in-a-tuscan-olive-grove Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:13:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/02/02/come-meander-in-a-tuscan-olive-grove
Casa Falcioni is located atop a rolling hillside on a 10-acre property that boasts nearly 600 olive trees. The property is surrounded by cypress and chestnut trees and affords spectacular views of the Valdarno. Olive picking in the countryside in Tuscany is a really soothing activity that allows you to be outdoors and quietly get lost in thought, chat with friends or listen as the church chimes break the silence. Tour guests will learn how to pick olives and about the traditional olive oil making process, as well as enjoy a guided tour by the Casa Falcioni proprietors to a local olive pressing facility to see self-picked olives turned into olive oil.

According to Afar Magazine (voted one of the top travel magazines in the U.S.) “…Today’s travelers want to get beyond the superficial, the mass-produced, the mass-consumed, and the mass-experienced. They look for the authentic in people, places, and products. They long for meaningful connections with the places they go and the people they meet.”



Harvest Italia is presented as a once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity for guests to experience the olive harvest and a chance to enjoy the Tuscan countryside in the Fall when the climate is moderate, as well as an opportunity to get to know the locals without hordes of tourists, savor extraordinary Italian cuisine made with the freshest ingredients, meander through outdoor markets and historic sites, or simply relax in il dolce far niente (carefree idleness).

Please check the itinerary on this site and contact me to register for the tour.

Andiamo!

Vicky

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"I wasn't sure what to expect, but the experience far exceeded any [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/01/14/the-best-taste-of-the-real-tuscany Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:47:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/01/14/the-best-taste-of-the-real-tuscany
"I wasn't sure what to expect, but the experience far exceeded any possible expectation.

It was such a joy to experience an olive harvest using the traditional techniques--spreading the nets, picking and raking by hand. One friend after we returned said, "Don't they just shake the trees?" No they definitely do not!

Working in an olive grove on the side of a gently sloping hill with a beautiful view over the valley below--it was magical! I wondered if it would be tiring, but it was actually very relaxing.




Tanya and Silvano Falcioni’s farm is marvelously situated in rural Tuscany, with an unspoiled view and a beautifully up-dated old farm house. They were a delight and made us feel so welcome, showed us what to do, and graciously answered all our questions in excellent English.

We spent over a week in Tuscany, and our olive-harvesting visit with the Falcioni’s was the highlight of our trip--even for one of our travelling companions who hadn't been so sure about this olive adventure to begin with.

We saw a lot of beautiful sights in Tuscany, but the olive harvest gave us our best taste of the "real" Tuscany.

(Sent from Steve from Florida)



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We know how much fun it is to be with friends and family olive picking [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/01/04/olive-picking-in-tuscany-all-the-rave Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:50:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2012/01/04/olive-picking-in-tuscany-all-the-rave
We know how much fun it is to be with friends and family olive picking in the outdoors which is why it is a part of the Harvest Italia itinerary. So, we were very excited to get this testimonial from some travelers who couldn’t book the tour because of date conflicts. We sent them on their own to go olive picking at Casa Falcioni and they came back with these rave reviews!

~~
"We were so thrilled that Jim found you through Spirit of Italy Tours. We did not know what to expect from our olive picking experience and I was losing sleep thinking I might have to climb a ladder! When we pulled into your lane and you greeted us with your wide smile and welcoming embrace we knew we were in for a real treat. Then you presented us with the iconic green farmers' smocks and we were in heaven!...it all felt so REAL. Our brief instruction on the ins and outs of using the olive rakes and the nets more than put us at ease and knowing it's best not to climb the ladder at all was a relief. We reveled in the thrill of being a small part of your 2011 olive harvest. Then came the lunch...what an unexpected and delightful time we spent with you and Silvano, all the while eating at your gorgeous table- fabulous sausages, cheeses, olives and breads. We could not have asked for a more "Tuscan" experience and the most exciting part of all is that we feel we have made life-long friends in the Falcionis and we WILL be back for another harvest." (Guests from South Carolina)

~~
If you are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime Tuscan experience, contact me now to book a reservation on Harvest Italia 2012!





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Buon natale e felice anno nuovo ~

Vicky Gray-Clark
Founder
Spirit of Italy Tours [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/12/21/seasons-greetings-amici Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:40:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/12/21/seasons-greetings-amici
Buon natale e felice anno nuovo ~

Vicky Gray-Clark
Founder
Spirit of Italy Tours

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/12/21/seasons-greetings-amici#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
Why not give the gift of travel this holiday season!

Take a look around the site for details. [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/12/06/give-the-gift-of-travel-harvest-italia-2012-october-30-november-6-2012 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:48:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/12/06/give-the-gift-of-travel-harvest-italia-2012-october-30-november-6-2012
Why not give the gift of travel this holiday season!

Take a look around the site for details.

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/12/06/give-the-gift-of-travel-harvest-italia-2012-october-30-november-6-2012#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Spirit of Italy Tours recently returned from a visit to discover the Piemonte region of Italy, located in the north-western part of the country. I was invited as guest of the Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT) who prepared an itinerary for me and 11 other people – travel [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/11/23/in-and-around-torino Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:30:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/11/23/in-and-around-torino Spirit of Italy Tours recently returned from a visit to discover the Piemonte region of Italy, located in the north-western part of the country. I was invited as guest of the Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT) who prepared an itinerary for me and 11 other people – travel and food journalists, bloggers and travel professionals – that was just fantastico! I was a guest of ENIT in November 2010 to attend their Rome Symposium for travel professionals, and true-to-form, they remain the most generous and gracious hosts ensuring that the trip was top notch and that we were taken care of royally from start to finish.

Here is a link to photos from the trip to the Piemonte:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=vickyambientpr&target=ALBUM&id=5678355908328181137&authkey=Gv1sRgCPeex-zExYKL7QE&feat=email

We were on the go from early morning to late at night in Torino and surrounding areas as we explored historical sites, caffes, restaurants, museums, wineries and a number of hotel properties ranging from 5-star luxury hotel/spa properties to charming agriturismos. In short, the areas of the Piemonte region that we visited were stunning. The Piemonte tourist board is well organized and makes available information and specials on things like passes that provide discounts on everything from sightseeing to shops, to restaurants and caffes, etc. Here are helpful links: www.torinopiemonte.com and www.regione.piemonte.it/turismo. Spirit of Italy Tours is also happy to help you plan your trip to the region.

If you would like more detail on the places we visited in Piemonte, please read below.

Much of the trip was spent touring Torino, an incredibly charming city and capital of the region. I had been to Torino many years ago and it was nice to see that the city seems to have a more cosmopolitan vibe but still offers so much in the way of cultural heritage. Everywhere we toured in Piemonte the people were exceptionally friendly, hospitable and eager to show us around.

Torino is serious about chocolate! The city is one of the chocolate capitals of the world and the place where chocolate first made its way from a beverage to a solid form. (People of Torino, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!) They invented the perfect sweet called gianduiotti – a small chocolate bar with hazelnut filling of which I am now very acquainted with. We visited several chocolate shops and cafes which are located all over the city and had a formal chocolate tasting at Streglio, a purveyor of fine chocolates since the 1920s. The small shop is located in the baroque area of the historical city center in the beautiful Piazza Carignano where we strolled and saw the palace of the same name. At Streglio we were offered a tray of 12 varieties of some of the most delicious chocolate I’ve ever tasted. Later in the trip, we also visited the historic Caffé Al Bicerin, located at the Piazza della Consolata, to unwind over the traditional “Merenda Reale” an amazing hot beverage comprised of three layers – chocolate on the bottom, coffee in the middle and cream on the top



Several days were spent touring in the Langhe Roero area of Piemonte which is located about 50 minutes east and south from Torino. There are numerous towns and villages that produce some very well known wine varieties including Barolo, Barbaresco and Moscato; palaces and castles throughout, as well as incredible art. The landscape is lush and hilly with rows of vineyards and views of the mountains in the distance. With the fall foliage and leaves visible in stunning colors, it was a beautiful time to be there.

In the Langhe Roero, we did quite a bit of food and wine exploration. We were privileged to receive a guided tour through one of the most historical wine cellars in the area, Fontanafredda. The expansive property and estate is enormous and dates back to the early 1800’s. The Villa Contessa Rosa, given to the Countess Rosa Mirafiori by Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of united Italy has been renovated into a hotel and restaurant. The Fontanafredda is still considered one of Italy’s oldest and premier wine producers using state-of-the-art technology today in its production. We also toured the new Wine Museum (opened in September of 2010) situated in the quaint town of Barolo in what was once the medieval Falletti Castle. At the Albergo Agenzia, a hotel located in what was once one of the palaces of the Savoy ruling family of Italy, we saw some gorgeous suites. On the same property, we also toured the Wine Bank, a sort of super storage facility for prestigious wines from all over the country located in the historical cellars of the Agenzia di Pollenzo which is also a museum aimed at acquainting visitors with Italy’s wine heritage. There were several other wine tastings arranged for the group. One of them took place at the Fondazione Cesare Pavese, in the town of Santo Stefano Belbo, birthplace of the famous Italian writer, Cesare Pavese. Upon arriving, our group was greeted personally by the town’s Mayor, Luigi Icardi, who gave us a warm welcome and gifts to take home of their famous Moscato wine.



In addition to wines, the Piemonte is renowned for its white and black truffles and hazelnuts. A definite highlight of the trip was joining Renato Agnello – a 73-year old truffle hunter (who has been hunting truffles since he was a young boy) and his truffle hunting dog, Gigi, to learn about truffle hunting. We joined them in the woods behind a vineyard in the hills of the Langhe outside the town of Barbaresco for what we were told would be a “staged” truffle hunt. (i.e., the truffle was pre-planted). Gigi found the planted truffle soon after we arrived, as expected, which was a lot of fun. Then, moments later, on this beautiful fall afternoon Gigi quickly sprinted to another spot and unearthed a truffle that was not staged which took us all by surprise! It was really exciting and Renato was beaming as he showed us his latest find. {Friend Arlene Santos from Destinations and Adventures captured the experience on video. --http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwcMwV9kkWI.}

Following the truffle hunt, that evening at Il Vigneto, a charming trattoria and agriturismo, we were served traditional pasta with shaved truffles that was outstanding. The truffle is a kind of fungi that grows underground and has a very intense, musty smell that can be quite overpowering which is why it is often served only as a garnish. We were also fortunate that during our stay the 81st International Alba White Truffle Festival was taking place in conjunction with the weekly street market. The market in Alba, as it is in other cities and towns throughout Italy, takes place in the streets and piazzas of the town where local vendors set up stalls selling everything from fresh produce to clothing items. At the truffle festival we grazed on samples of truffles, wine, cheese and chocolate in a festive atmosphere.

The Piemonte region offers a range of accommodations for virtually any preference. As noted, we inspected quite a few hotel properties during our trip, several in what were once royal residences. While all of those we saw were special in their own right, the stand out properties included:

Torino
- Hotel NH Santo Stefano -- Stylish and trendy, the NH Santo Stefano is located in the fashionable Quadrilatero Romano. The 4-star hotel has ultra modern amenities and is considered one of the premier destinations in Torino for both business and leisure travel. The hotel has a striking yet minimalist design and reminded me of the W Hotel chain in the U.S. {We spent the night here and every aspect was fantastic.}

- Hotel Victoria -- Located in the heart of downtown Torino and convenient to everything, this small hotel features traditional furnishings and overlooks a lush garden. {We spent the night here and the accommodations were very comfortable.}

- Grand Hotel Sitea – This property is located in the heart of Turin, just off the very central via Roma and Piazza San Carlo. The rooms are elegantly furnished and the hotel prides itself on offering a more traditional style of hospitality. {Our group was treated to delicious aperitivos and appetizers in honor of our visit.}

Langhe Roero
- Il Vigneto di Roddi --This is a charming and intimate bed and breakfast located in the heart of the Langhe with a restaurant and six tastefully appointed suites all with spectacular views of the wine country. [We ate a delicious dinner here that included a traditional pasta served with truffle shavings.]

- Le Querce del Vareglio -- Located in one of the most truly pristine and private areas of the Roero countryside, the property is a 17th century farmstead that was recently converted into an agriturismo and offers spacious, comfortable and tasteful furnishings with exceptional views. [We had an incredibly delicious pasta lunch here.]


- Rocche Costamagna -- This is a charming historical residence in the quiet and beautiful town of La Morra. On the uppermost floor of the house, proprietor Alessandro Locatelli and family, offer 4 well appointed suites each with unique art works on the wall, patios and views of the countrywide scenery. [We were treated to an elegant lunch and wine tasting here.]

- Il Boscareto Resort & Spa -- This is another exclusive 5-star property with incredible views of the Langhe and is furnished in chic and minimalist style. [We were treated to an elegant dinner in one of the private dining rooms.]

- Albergo dell’ Agenzia -- The 4-star Albergo dell'Agenzia hotel is situated in the town of Pollenzo in what was once the estate of King Carlo Alberto of Savoy. The site is also home to the University of Gastronomic Sciences and the Wine Bank and sits on 5-beautiful acres in the countryside.

- Relais San Maurizio -- This 5-star hotel/spa and Michelin Star restaurant was once a 17th century monastery that has been converted into a breathtaking, elegant resort nestled in the hills and vineyards of the Langhe. The property reflects the architectural beauty of its past but has exquisite contemporary comforts and several beautiful indoor pools including a therapeutic salt pool. [We were treated to a wonderful lunch.]

This was a trip to remember. If you haven't seen this region of Italy before, it is seriously worth considering.

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/11/23/in-and-around-torino#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT) has invited us to join them next week to tour the Piemonte region of Italy. This region is located on the north-western border of Italy with France and Switzerland and known for great alpine skiing and for [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/10/23/spirit-of-italy-tours-to-explore-the-piemonte-region Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:25:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/10/23/spirit-of-italy-tours-to-explore-the-piemonte-region Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT) has invited us to join them next week to tour the Piemonte region of Italy. This region is located on the north-western border of Italy with France and Switzerland and known for great alpine skiing and for producing some of Italy’s finest cheeses, wines as well as the infamous white truffle.
Spirit of Italy Tours will be joining other travel and media professionals on a fabulous itinerary that includes sightseeing in Torino, and other provinces, visits to wineries, truffle hunting and chocolate tasting. Last year we joined ENIT to tour Rome and they were incredibly generous hosts!

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/10/23/spirit-of-italy-tours-to-explore-the-piemonte-region#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
The warm summer weather is finally here in San Jose after a long, rainy and cold Winter and Spring. The Fall season is just around the corner and so is my Harvest Italia tour. I thought it would be a helpful to post an updated press release that gives a snap shot of what promises to be an incredible [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/06/16/fall-is-just-around-the-corner-book-your-harvest-italia-tour-today Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:14:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/06/16/fall-is-just-around-the-corner-book-your-harvest-italia-tour-today
The warm summer weather is finally here in San Jose after a long, rainy and cold Winter and Spring. The Fall season is just around the corner and so is my Harvest Italia tour. I thought it would be a helpful to post an updated press release that gives a snap shot of what promises to be an incredible journey.

As always, please contact me at vicky@spiritofitalytours.com with questions or to register for the tour.

Andiamo!

Vicky

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Spirit of Italy Tours Announces “Harvest Italia 2011”

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey to Experience the Splendors of Tuscany in Autumn

Centerpiece of 7-Night Boutique Tour is Hand Picking Olives That Are Pressed into Your Own Bottle of Olive Oil
________________________________________________________________________________

San Jose, CA – June 2011 – Autumn in Italy is a feast for the eyes, and of course, the palette. Breath-taking fall colors can be seen from vineyards and olive groves, to the mountains and the weather is mild and sunny. “Harvest Italia”, offered by Sprit of Italy Tours, is a seven night tour to Tuscany, Italy, November 1 – 8, 2011, is designed to coincide with the annual olive harvest – la raccolta – which occurs each year during this time period. The family-friendly tour is centered in the Valdarno (Valley of the Arno River) region of Tuscany, an area rich with historical art and architecture and landscapes that appear to be straight out of a painted Renaissance masterpiece.

Let’s pick olives together
The cornerstone of Harvest Italia will be picking olives by hand at Casa Falcioni, a 10-acre property in the charming and central Tuscan town of Cavriglia that boasts an olive grove with nearly 600 olive trees belonging to the frantoio, leccino and moraiolo varieties. Situated atop a rolling hillside, Casa Falcioni is surrounded by cypress and chestnut trees and affords spectacular views of the Valdarno. Tour guests will learn how to pick olives and the traditional olive oil making process, as well as enjoy a guided tour by the Casa Falcioni proprietors to a local olive pressing facility to see self-picked olives turned into olive oil.

Harvest Italia is geared to individuals, couples, or families as a way to not only experience the olive harvest but also to explore the bellissima Italian countryside in a low-key, slower paced way. The tour affords guests the security and time-saving options of a planned schedule of events, but also allows people to explore at their own pace, as desired. Tour size will be small, limited to no more than 10 adults (plus children).

“Picking olives is a wonderful and relaxing way to enjoy quality time with family and friends in a natural setting. It is easy, safe and a fun activity even for young children,” says Vicky Gray-Clark, Spirit of Italy Tours founder and operator. “Olive oil is a staple in the Italian diet and is growing more popular in the U.S. The start-to-finish process of collecting olives followed by seeing them pressed into oil is fascinating. Each Harvest Italia guest will be able to take home a bottle of olive oil made from their hand-picked olives which makes the experience even more rewarding.”

Gray-Clark adds that there is no better way to experience the ambience of Tuscany and enjoy a relaxing holiday than to stay in an agriturismo, a converted Italian-style farmhouse. Harvest Italia has selected the lovely Agriturismo Valleverde as home base for the seven night duration of the trip. Agriturismo Valleverde lies deep in the hills of the Chianti, just outside the charming town of San Giovanni Valdarno and conveniently located to Florence, Siena and Arezzo; offering an ideal point of departure for many day trips to explore nearby hill towns and cultural centers, shop or to enjoy great country walks. The property features a characteristic farm house and adjoining apartments that overlook an expansive courtyard and meadow. Each apartment unit offers private, tastefully appointed two and three bedrooms all which have been restored and furnished in updated Tuscan country-style furnishings. Designed with practicality in mind, the apartments feature a combined dining room/living room, kitchen, private bathroom and terrace with garden views.

Leisurely paced
Leisurely paced, the Harvest Italia itinerary encourages guests to foster an intimate connection with the Tuscany landscape with time to savor the food and wine, and explore the sights, language, culture and indescribable beauty of the region during harvest season. In addition to olive picking, the carefully selected activities include visits to outdoor markets (mercati) that feature a variety of items from farm fresh local produce to cappuccino to Italian leather goods; a journey to the famous Fiera Antiquaria di Arezzo – considered one of Italy’s finest open-air antique markets; and a venture deep into the cellars of a local winery known for producing outstanding Chianti. The itinerary also includes visits to Firenze, Siena and Cortona, an authentic Italian cooking demonstration featuring seasonal fare, and basic cooking techniques. Shoppers too will be pleased to know that in the immediate vicinity there are several luxury brand factory outlets, as well as discount leather warehouses where exceptional Italian handmade goods are available at reduced prices.

Pricing and Itinerary
The Harvest Italia complete itinerary and background information is available at www.spiritofitalytours.com. Pricing information is available by emailing Vicky Gray-Clark, vicky@spiritofitalytours.com. A You Tube video montage showing many of the locales that are part of the Harvest Italia 2011 tour is available for viewing at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HjqJ7amPCU. Spirit of Italy Tours is also on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_128889530799&notif_t=group_activity.

About Spirit of Italy Tours
Sprit of Italy Tours is a boutique travel company located in San Jose, Calif., offering small groups of travelers intimate journeys to Tuscany. The company’s Harvest Italia 2011 tour is scheduled for November 1 – 8, 2011. For additional information on Spirit of Italy Tours, please visit, www.spiritofitalytours.com. Company founder, and tour operator, Vicky Gray-Clark, has traveled throughout Italy and is affectionately known as an Italophile – one who loves all things Italian.

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]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/06/16/fall-is-just-around-the-corner-book-your-harvest-italia-tour-today#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/06/13/great-air-fares-to-italy-for-spirit-of-italy-tours-guests Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:59:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/06/13/great-air-fares-to-italy-for-spirit-of-italy-tours-guests
]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/06/13/great-air-fares-to-italy-for-spirit-of-italy-tours-guests#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/03/22/italian-olive-oils-voted-best-in-the-world Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:59:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/03/22/italian-olive-oils-voted-best-in-the-world
http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/olive-oil/international-competition-names-italian-olive-oil-best-world

On the Harvest Italia tour this November, we’ll be picking olives at Casa Falcioni in Tuscany. Their olive oil was voted 3rd best in the region in 2010! You’ll also get the chance to see your olives pressed into delicious olive oil and get to take home a bottle. Sound good? Sign up today!

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/03/22/italian-olive-oils-voted-best-in-the-world#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/01/24/extra-virgin-sizzles-with-passion-for-tuscan-cuisine Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:22:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/01/24/extra-virgin-sizzles-with-passion-for-tuscan-cuisine http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/19/debi-mazar-and-hubby-are-extra-virgin/

If you yearn to spend time in fresh air while picking olives and gazing on gorgeous Tuscan landscapes than come with us on the Harvest Italia tour. As you may have read in a previous blog post, a few months ago our friends Tanya and Silvano Falcioni's olive oil was awarded third best in the region of Arrezzo, Italy. Quite an honor. We'll be spending time on their olive grove property during the harvest this coming November on the tour. You'll get to take home a bottle of olive oil from self picked olives from their olive groves which will come in handy, no dobut, as you experiment whipping up new recipes.

A presto,

Vicky

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2011/01/24/extra-virgin-sizzles-with-passion-for-tuscan-cuisine#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
May your new year be filled with much prosperity and great travels.

Tanti [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/12/24/seasons-greetings-from-spirit-of-italy-tours-harvest-italia-debut-tour-promo Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:06:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/12/24/seasons-greetings-from-spirit-of-italy-tours-harvest-italia-debut-tour-promo
May your new year be filled with much prosperity and great travels.

Tanti auguri,

Vicky
Founder, Spirit of Italy Tours



]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/12/24/seasons-greetings-from-spirit-of-italy-tours-harvest-italia-debut-tour-promo#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
The oil was selected by three [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/12/19/casa-falcioni-olive-oil-deemed-3rd-best-in-the-region Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:39:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/12/19/casa-falcioni-olive-oil-deemed-3rd-best-in-the-region
The oil was selected by three panelists from the Official Extra Virgin Olive Oil Tasters who blind tasted more than 22 olive oils from the area of Arrezzo at a local festival. The oils are judged on the balance in fruitiness and spiciness after making sure there are absolutely no defects found in the olive oil.This means the olive oil is perfect in all aspects of freshness, acidity and quality.

The centerpiece of the Harvest Italia 2011 tour (Nov. 1 – 8, 2011) will be picking olives at Casa Falcioni, one of the most breathtakingly beautiful Tuscan countryside properties that is home to a grove of 600 olive trees. Guests will have the chance to take their self-picked olives to the local olive press and see them turned into oil. Following, the Falcioni's will bottle it for you as a gift for you to take home. I have had the pleasure of tasting the Falcioni's olive oil for the past four years and it is always so delicious.

Sign up now for Harvest Italia 2011!

Vicky

P.S. The photo of the olive oil stained glass is was taken at the Villa Torlonia in Rome which now is home to stained glass museum...

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/12/19/casa-falcioni-olive-oil-deemed-3rd-best-in-the-region#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/11/12/ciao-roma Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:06:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/11/12/ciao-roma
Regardless, the trip was OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!! It was one of those rare moments in life when you think that something is too good to be true but it's actually better than true?! ENIT were the MOST gracious and generous hosts and truly gave us red carpet treatment from start to finish. This included greetings from the Mayor of Rome each day, a ground staff that catered to our every need, police escorts to many of the most prominent and stunning sites of antiquity and private guided tours to sites, some not open to the public, or opened off hours specifically for our group of 50.

The highlights are almost too many to mention. We were whisked like rock stars from one incredible spot to the next but in typical Italian style nothing felt rushed even though we were on the go from 9:00 a.m. to midnight each day.

Link to some of my pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/vickyambientpr/RomaNovember2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCKC-p9TAkdjuWA#

One of the gems of the trip was the weather. The entire week was SUNNY and in the 70's VERY uncharacteristic for this time of year when it’s often rainy and cold. On the first night we were taken to the Spazio Cremonini al Trevi, a mixed-use building. On the rooftop we had a welcoming cocktail reception with views of the Trevi Fountain with dinner following two floors below at Harry’s Bar. Just magical. Later in the evening, in that same building we were taken to the Trevi Cinema, a small and private screening room where the Mayor of Rome greeted us and showed us an Homage to Rome short film by Franco Zefferelli. This was followed by a near midnight tour of recent arachaelogical ruins of ancient Roman houses they recently excavated in the lowest levels of the Cremonini adjacent to the screening room! What’s so amazing is that so much of present day Rome is literally built over centuries of antiquity.

On day two we saw an area of the Forum ruins which are beyond description, just so vast and impressive with views in every direction of important buildings, temples and monuments. For lunch we were taken to a modern complex --Parco della Musica --where the Rome International Film Festival was taking place. What stood out was the long red carpet and a 20-long foot wall of fresh orchids –breathtaking! http://www.romacinemafest.it/ecm/web/fcr/en/home/-/EOC/Red-Carpet-2010.0000.FCR-1068

Later that night toured we toured Villa Torlonia that was last inhabited by Mussolini, and only recently restored as a museum by the Roman government. The vast property is surrounded by lush gardens and the stairs of the grounds leading to the main entry were lit by candles. After a private tour and before an elaborate dinner on an enclosed outdoor terrace, we were again welcomed by the Mayor of Rome and other important dignitaries from the Rome travel commission and treated to a private 45-minute concert with two tenors from the Rome opera in what was once the official music room of Villa Torlonia. It was wonderous and beautiful and moved some of the group members to tears.

On day three we were whisked mainly to the EUR area of Rome to see some the areas and some of the buildings being constructed and renovated which are part of the new Second Tourist Pole initiative. We had lunch at Spazio 900, which is used for special events and art exhibits which is quite interesting architecturally and the Palazzo Civilta del Lavoro which was built in the 1940’s and is being restored as the site for the new design mart. Another fabulous moment was also on the last night when they invited us to a black tie event for the Premio Colosseo Awards ceremony, an event which honors people who help promote the beauty of Rome. This event took place on an enclosed roof top area of the Piazza del Campidoglio. Before dinner they also provided us with a a private tour of a section of the huge Capitoline Museum which is housed below.

My Harvest Italia 2011 tour – an experience to live like Italian for one week -- is now open for registration. If you’d like to tack on time before or after the tour to visit Rome, I can make those arrangements for you. I think you’ll be happy you did!











]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/11/12/ciao-roma#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours

Today I am writing to inform you that the Harvest Italia tour planned for November 1 – 8, 2010 via my side venture, Spirit of Italy Tours, is officially cancelled. As you can imagine, this was a disappointing and difficult decision for me to make.

However, I am very excited [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/09/24/mark-your-calendars-now-for-harvest-italia-2011 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:26:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/09/24/mark-your-calendars-now-for-harvest-italia-2011

Today I am writing to inform you that the Harvest Italia tour planned for November 1 – 8, 2010 via my side venture, Spirit of Italy Tours, is officially cancelled. As you can imagine, this was a disappointing and difficult decision for me to make.

However, I am very excited to announce that Tanya Falcioni, proprietor of the Casa Falcioni (www.casafalcioni.com) property that is home to a 10-acre grove of more than 600 olive trees and makers of artisanal olive oil, and Daniela Posfortunato, the proprietor of the beautiful Agriturismo Valleverde (http://www.agriturismovalleverde.com/) vacation apartments, are back on board to welcome my Harvest Italia tour guests in 2011.

If you are yearning for a truly unforgettable “slice-of-life” travel experience to enjoy the Tuscan countryside in the Fall when the climate is moderate without hordes of tourists, a chance to get to know the locals, savor extraordinary Italian cuisine made with the freshest ingredients, meander through outdoor markets, historic sites, restaurants, and nature, or simply relax in carefree idleness (il dolce far niente) then please mark your calendars now for Harvest Italia 2011 – same dates next year – November 1 – 8, 2011.


Come relax and spend a glorious week living like an Italian!

You’ll get to pick your own olives, see them pressed and take home a bottle of your very own olive oil -- a rewarding experience you will reflect on for a lifetime. Daniela will spoil us all with meals with her home grown produce and wine from her vineyards. Tanya and her husband Silvano will share insights on the olive oil making process – from tree to bottle – and also pamper us with meals fatto da mano (homemade) while we meander and pick olives on their spectacular property with views out of a medieval Tuscan dream with only the sounds of church chimes to break the silence.


Harvest Italia 2011 is designed to coincide with the annual olive harvest (la raccolta). The tour is centered in the picturesque small towns and villages of the Valdarno (Valley of the Arno River) region of Tuscany, about 30 minutes southeast of Florence. The cornerstone of Harvest Italia 2011 will be picking olives by hand at Casa Falcioni in the charming and central Tuscan town of Cavriglia.

Agriturismo Valleverde located in the Chianti hills will serve as home base for the seven night duration of the trip. The breathtaking property features a characteristic farm house and adjoining apartments that overlook an expansive courtyard, meadow and hillside.

The carefully handpicked Harvest Italia 2011 itinerary also includes visits to outdoor markets, a winery tour, cooking demonstration by local chefs, visits to Florence, Siena, Cortona and Arezzo, and much more. The itinerary may include some minor adjustments throughout the year as we hear of new activities/locales that could improve it. (For additional itinerary details please visit - http://www.spiritofitalytours.com/itinerary.htm.)

For anyone that will be celebrating a special occasion or planning a family reunion in 2011, Harvest Italia is something to consider. We are also happy to help make arrangements for those interested in tacking on time before or after the tour.

The cost of the tour is for land only and includes, all ground transport, breakfast and most meals, sightseeing, most activities, and more. Please visit the registration page on this website for additional detais, www.spiritofitalytours.com. Please contact vicky@spiritofitalytours.com for pricing details.

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/09/24/mark-your-calendars-now-for-harvest-italia-2011#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
It’s a beautiful glossy magazine and has interesting
features on everything [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/07/14/harvest-italia-featured-in-italia-magazine Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:59:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/07/14/harvest-italia-featured-in-italia-magazine
It’s a beautiful glossy magazine and has interesting
features on everything from travel ideas to properties for sale. It’s available here in the US at Barnes & Noble and Borders.

You can read a portion of the article here.

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/07/14/harvest-italia-featured-in-italia-magazine#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/05/31/explore-the-val-darno-region-of-italy-on-harvest-italia Mon, 31 May 2010 14:40:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/05/31/explore-the-val-darno-region-of-italy-on-harvest-italia
The Val d’Arno is steeped in history. The area was formed more than three million years ago by water pushing up from land masses which gave it its bowl shape. The area is bordered to the west by the Chianti Mountains and to Pratomagno Mountains to the east.

This area of Tuscany is simply breathtaking in the Fall. On the tour, guests will see traditional groves of olive trees up and down terraced hillsides along with vineyards and rows of dark green cypress trees. On our friend’s 10-acre olive grove – Casa Falcioni -- we’ll be there to help with the olive harvest (la raccolta) which has been going on for centuries, and chilling Italian style. And, we’ll go to an olive pressing facility to see our olives turned into oil -- a bottle of which you can take home with you!

We’ll travel narrow and snaking roads leading to outdoor markets and several world-famed attractions and destinations off the beaten path. Apparently, Leonardo da Vinci admired this region and some scholars believe that the painted countryside background in his Mona Lisa painting is of the Valdarno countryside.

What I’ve always found so exceptional is that these towns which are steeped in Renaissance and Baroque history also have the VERY best the 21st century can offer in the way of excellent restaurants, museums, shops and outlets of major fashion houses.

Anyone interested in an awesome travel experience? Just let me know.



]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/05/31/explore-the-val-darno-region-of-italy-on-harvest-italia#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/24/spirit-of-italy-tours-launch-event-at-ristorante-da-mario-era-un-successo Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:34:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/24/spirit-of-italy-tours-launch-event-at-ristorante-da-mario-era-un-successo
My Spirit of Italy Tours launch event took place on Sunday. A fantastico time was had by all! Sandro Costanza of Ristorante Da Mario offered my guests his warm southern Italian hospitality and made everyone feel so welcome with beverages and delicious appetizers. My friend Barbara Bardelli-Rindge with Tesoro Treasures had her Italian ceramics on display and the restaurant looked especially beautiful with the natural sunlight filtering onto the Tuscan gold-toned yellows of the walls; a great backdrop for me to talk about my Harvest Italia tour to Tuscany. I also had olive oil for my guests to sample from Casa Falcioni, the olive grove where we’ll be picking olives this November, that our friend’s Tanya and Silvano Falcioni brought us from their 2009 harvest which was a huge hit. Ristorante Da Mario was the perfect setting for relaxing and promoting the tour. I’m hoping to stage another event there in early summer! (Special thanks to my hubby Chris and son Dante who helped with so much of the event!)

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/24/spirit-of-italy-tours-launch-event-at-ristorante-da-mario-era-un-successo#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
They noted that among Americans that travel, 60% desire to [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/19/italia-much-more Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:06:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/19/italia-much-more
They noted that among Americans that travel, 60% desire to spend time in Western Europe, and of those, Italy is the number one destination at 24%. (England comes in second at 18% and France and Germany are tied for third at 16% each). The North American director of ENIT and other travel professionals that I got the chance to mingle with all complimented the originality of my Harvest Italia tour concept centered around picking olives.

The validation was extremely welcomed!

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/19/italia-much-more#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
Trekaroo.com is a new social media site that bills itself as the fun way to get the inside scoop on traveling with kids. [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/05/harvest-italia-featured-on-trekaroo-com-as-a-truly-unique-family-vacation-experience Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:08:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/05/harvest-italia-featured-on-trekaroo-com-as-a-truly-unique-family-vacation-experience
Trekaroo.com is a new social media site that bills itself as the fun way to get the inside scoop on traveling with kids. They provide reviews of kid-friendly hotels, activities, and travel tips for family fun. If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll like this site.!


]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/05/harvest-italia-featured-on-trekaroo-com-as-a-truly-unique-family-vacation-experience#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours amici at Little Italy San Jose. For those of you in the area that are interested in seeing a Little Italy neighborhood emerge in San Jose, please check out their Facebook [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/03/friends-at-little-italy-san-jose-announce-the-march-21st-event-at-ristorante-da-mario Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:34:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/03/friends-at-little-italy-san-jose-announce-the-march-21st-event-at-ristorante-da-mario amici at Little Italy San Jose. For those of you in the area that are interested in seeing a Little Italy neighborhood emerge in San Jose, please check out their Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Jos...e-CA/Spirit-of-Italy-Tours/169885801750#!/littleitalysj?ref=ts

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/03/03/friends-at-little-italy-san-jose-announce-the-march-21st-event-at-ristorante-da-mario#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
Gary has spent some time in Tuscany and we connected on my love for this particular region of the country. Please check out his article now.

As [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/02/24/spirit-of-italy-tours-featured-in-san-jose-metro-newspaper Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:35:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/02/24/spirit-of-italy-tours-featured-in-san-jose-metro-newspaper
Gary has spent some time in Tuscany and we connected on my love for this particular region of the country. Please check out his article now.

As always, for any of you are interested in registering for the tour, please contact me.

If you live in the Bay Area, please remember to join us on Sunday, March 21st at Ristorante Da Mario in Saratoga where I'll be providing more details about the Harvest Italia 2010 tour -- please see Evite here: http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=LEOXSNAOCACCDEHBOSQC

A presto,

Vicky

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/02/24/spirit-of-italy-tours-featured-in-san-jose-metro-newspaper#comments 1 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Sunday, March 21st in celebration of my Harvest Italia tour. I’ll be sharing details about the 7 night/8 day tour to Tuscany, Italy and how guests can register for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure that offers an intimate journey to enjoy the splendors of the Italian countryside in [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/02/11/join-spirit-of-italy-tours-at-ristorante-da-mario-on-sunday-march-21st Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:15:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/02/11/join-spirit-of-italy-tours-at-ristorante-da-mario-on-sunday-march-21st Sunday, March 21st in celebration of my Harvest Italia tour. I’ll be sharing details about the 7 night/8 day tour to Tuscany, Italy and how guests can register for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure that offers an intimate journey to enjoy the splendors of the Italian countryside in Autumn.

I’m teaming with Sandro Costanza of Ristorante Da Mario (www.ristorantedamario.com) and Barbara Bardelli-Rindge of Tesoro Treasures (www.tesorotreasures.com). Barbara will have some of her handmade Italian ceramics on display and for sale. And Sandro will be providing a lovely space in the restaurant and Italian appetizers and wine. I’ll also have Casa Falcioni olive oil on hand for sampling.

Harvest Italia is offered by Spirit of Italy Tours (www.spiritofitalytours.com) and is designed to coincide with the annual olive harvest which occurs each year during this time period. Highlights of the family friendly tour include picking olives by hand in the heart of Tuscany on the breathtaking 10-acre Casa Falcioni olive farm in Cavriglia (a charming town in the Val d’Arno region), a guided tour of the Ricasoli olive oil pressing facility to see self-picked olives turned into olive oil, excursions to outdoor markets and antique fairs, countryside visits to local wineries, Italian cooking demonstrations, and much more.

I hope too see many of you on March 21st! Ci vediamo! Vicky!

P.S. I originally posted the event date as March 14th. Please make a note of the revised event date, Sunday, March 21st.

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/02/11/join-spirit-of-italy-tours-at-ristorante-da-mario-on-sunday-march-21st#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/01/29/get-to-know-spirit-of-italy-tours-march-14th-at-ristorante-da-mario-in-saratoga-california Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:23:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/01/29/get-to-know-spirit-of-italy-tours-march-14th-at-ristorante-da-mario-in-saratoga-california
A presto,

Vicky

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/01/29/get-to-know-spirit-of-italy-tours-march-14th-at-ristorante-da-mario-in-saratoga-california#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
I hope everyone has enjoyed a festive holiday season and wish you all much love, joy, peace and prosperity in 2010!

Interest in olive oil continues to mount. The San Jose Mercury News just did a nice piece on the growing olive oil industry in California; [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/01/01/felice-anno-nuovo Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:44:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/01/01/felice-anno-nuovo
I hope everyone has enjoyed a festive holiday season and wish you all much love, joy, peace and prosperity in 2010!

Interest in olive oil continues to mount. The San Jose Mercury News just did a nice piece on the growing olive oil industry in California; http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14081068?s...ource=most_emailed

As always, if you are interested in joining us for Harvest Italia 2010 and picking olives with us in Tuscany, please contact me and I'd be happy to answer questions and let you know next steps for registering!

Ciao,

Vicky

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2010/01/01/felice-anno-nuovo#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours to me and just passed along by someone who is planning on joining the Harvest Italia 2010 tour, who like me, loves olive oil and has adopted a tree -- http://nudo-italia.com/groves

You can also opt to come and pick olives with us next [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/12/19/adopt-your-very-own-olive-tree-in-italy Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:24:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/12/19/adopt-your-very-own-olive-tree-in-italy to me and just passed along by someone who is planning on joining the Harvest Italia 2010 tour, who like me, loves olive oil and has adopted a tree -- http://nudo-italia.com/groves

You can also opt to come and pick olives with us next November, and see the olives that you've collected pressed into oil and poured into a bottle of your very own. Sound good?

Reservations for the Harvest Italia tour are available here on the site or by contacting me, vicky@spiritofitalytours.com, 408-318-1980. I'd be happy to discuss the tour in-depth and answer any questions you might have.

I hope all of you are enjoying a pleasant and festive start to the holiday season.

Buon Natale,

Vicky

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/12/19/adopt-your-very-own-olive-tree-in-italy#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/28/an-olive-centric-thanksiving Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:49:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/28/an-olive-centric-thanksiving
Then, today our friend’s the Peruzzi's invited us to pick olives at their home in Aptos, Calif. They have a small grove of trees (perhaps 20 trees as compared to the Falcioni’s who have more than 600 or so) but the harvest was fairly substantial. The weather was exceptionally warm and the experience was really fun, communal and quite "zen-like!" There were about 80 people of all ages there having a great time handling the olives and hanging out together, outdoors. Following the olive collection a huge Italian feast was served complete with homemade lasagna that was just delicious. We were still full from Thanksgiving but managed to mangia bene! :-) We just can't wait until the Harvest Italia tour next year where we'll be able to again enjoy the olive harvest in Tuscany!! For those of you interested in registering for the tour, please click on the “register” tab, send me an email, vicky@spiritofitalytours.com, or give me a call, 408-318-1980.

Hope all of you enjoyed a terrific Thanksgiving!



]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/28/an-olive-centric-thanksiving#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
The two-night vacation stay in Tuscany that is mentioned in the article was donated to us by our friends Tanya and Silvano Falcioni which we [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/19/little-italy-san-jose-fundraiser-gets-some-ink Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:50:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/19/little-italy-san-jose-fundraiser-gets-some-ink
The two-night vacation stay in Tuscany that is mentioned in the article was donated to us by our friends Tanya and Silvano Falcioni which we in turn ...donated to the event organizers as a silent auction item.

We will be visiting the Falcioni’s olive grove (www.casafalcioni.com) during the Harvest Italia 2010 tour for an afternoon of olive picking. Who will be joining us? As always, if you would like to register for the tour, or have specific questions, just let me know! A presto!

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/19/little-italy-san-jose-fundraiser-gets-some-ink#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours
There is no better way [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/16/agriturismo-valleverde-tuscanys-finest Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:48:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/16/agriturismo-valleverde-tuscanys-finest
There is no better way to experience the ambience of Tuscany and enjoy a relaxing holiday than to stay in an agriturismo, a converted Italian-style farmhouse. Agriturismo Valleverde lies deep in the hills of the Chianti and is located five minutes from the charming town of San Giovanni Valdarno. The property features a characteristic farm house and adjoining apartments that overlook an expansive courtyard and meadow. Each apartment unit offers private, tastefully appointed two and three bedrooms all which have been restored and furnished in updated Tuscan country-style furnishings. Designed with practicality in mind, the apartments feature a combined dining room/living room, kitchen, private bathroom and terrace with garden views. Agriturismo Valleverde is conveniently located in the heart of Tuscany within 40 minutes of Florence, Siena and Arezzo and will offer our guests the ideal point of departure for many day trips to explore nearby hill towns and cultural centers, shop or to enjoy great country walks.

Please contact me for Harvest Italia 2010 tour registration details -- vicky@spiritofitalytours.com, 408-318-1980, or fill out the reg form on the website, www.spiritofitalytours.com.

A presto!

Vicky



]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/16/agriturismo-valleverde-tuscanys-finest#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours tie fundraising gala on November 21st. We'll get the chance to promote the Harvest Italia tour
and schmooze with others who love all things Italian. The evening will include Italian cuisine, entertainment by renown Italian musician [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/10/spirit-of-italy-tours-invited-to-participate-at-little-italy-san-jose-fundraising-gala-on-november-21st Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:39:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/10/spirit-of-italy-tours-invited-to-participate-at-little-italy-san-jose-fundraising-gala-on-november-21st tie fundraising gala on November 21st. We'll get the chance to promote the Harvest Italia tour
and schmooze with others who love all things Italian. The evening will include Italian cuisine, entertainment by renown Italian musician Pasquale Esposito, and much more, to raise money
to bring a thriving new business district to Downtown San Jose.

For the silent auction, we're donating a complimentary two-night stay at the Casa Falcioni, (www,casafalcioni.com) vacation apartments, in the heart of Tuscany, made available from the generosity of our dear friends Tanya and Silvano Falcioni.

For event details please visit: http://littleitalysjgala.eventbrite.com/

Hope to see some of you there!

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/11/10/spirit-of-italy-tours-invited-to-participate-at-little-italy-san-jose-fundraising-gala-on-november-21st#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/10/27/discovering-treasure-at-tesoro Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:21:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/10/27/discovering-treasure-at-tesoro and the holiday ornaments, http://www.tesorotreasures.com/ouritalianceramics/accessories.html

On the Harvest Italia 2010 tour our guests will also have the opportunity to visit shops selling the ceramics in the majolica tradition. But, why wait until November 2010?! If you’re interested in making a purchase, please check out Tesoro’s website, http://www.tesorotreasures.com/ouritalianceramics.html. They make great gifts for any occasion!

Wikipedia offers some good historical information on the art of majolica --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin-glazed_pottery

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/10/27/discovering-treasure-at-tesoro#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/10/21/pick-olives-with-us-and-bring-home-a-bottle-of-authentic-italian-olive-oil Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:58:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/10/21/pick-olives-with-us-and-bring-home-a-bottle-of-authentic-italian-olive-oil
I just read a disturbing article in Italy Magazine about Italian companies worried about "imitation food products" being marketed as being made in Italy. The article cites, for example, "Cheese, salame, olive oil, pasta, canned tomatoes, wine: all these and more have been counterfeited and sold abroad and sold as...Australian “ricotta”, Swedish “Fontina”, Californian “Chianti” and “mortadella” made from turkey meat which was on sale in the USA.

http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/made-italy-are-you-sure


On our Harvest Italia Tour 2010 you'll learn more about the Italian 'extra virgin' olive oil making process and will be taking home your very own bottle of authentic olive oil from olives that you hand-picked. This will be one bottle(s) of olive oil that you can be sure is not counterfeit! :-)

Please call or email us to register for Harvest Italia 2010!



]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/10/21/pick-olives-with-us-and-bring-home-a-bottle-of-authentic-italian-olive-oil#comments 0 Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours Vicky - Spirit of Italy Tours http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HjqJ7amPCU


The video is created from photos that Chris, Dante and I have taken during our recent trips to Tuscany. It is designed to give you a flavor for some of the areas and sights that we'll be visiting next autumn. [...]]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/10/05/watch-new-harvest-italia-2010-video-montage Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000 http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/10/05/watch-new-harvest-italia-2010-video-montage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HjqJ7amPCU


The video is created from photos that Chris, Dante and I have taken during our recent trips to Tuscany. It is designed to give you a flavor for some of the areas and sights that we'll be visiting next autumn.

To register for Harvest Italia 2010, or if you have any questions, please contact me, vicky@spiritofitalytours.com, 408-318-1980.

Andiamo!

]]> http://spiritofitalytours.com/blog/2009/10/05/watch-new-harvest-italia-2010-video-montage#comments 0