8 nights
Florence, Tuscany
12 Guests
Selling Fast – 4 Spots Left
From $13,000 pp
Experience the energy, wonders and romance of Florence
Who is Emiko Davies?
Emiko, an Australian-Japanese food writer, photographer, and cookbook author, has lived in Italy for 20 years. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she moved to Florence for art restoration studies and met her husband Marco, a Tuscan sommelier. In 2023, they opened Enoteca Marilu in San Miniato, offering cooking classes and wine experiences. Emiko has written six cookbooks, including the award-winning “Gohan: Everyday Japanese Cooking,” which will be released in Italy in 2024. She has been writing about regional Italian cuisine and travel for over a decade, contributing to major publications and serving as a judge for culinary awards. Emiko has also appeared on TV and was recently named one of the 50 powerful women in food by Corriere della Sera.
Emiko will join us for three days of food adventure.
Stay
“An ancestral mansion complete with high frescoed ceilings, hand-picked antique furniture and unequivocal style”.
Harpers Bazaar
AdAstra Boutique Hotel is a hidden Florentine gem. The hotel stands in the Giardino Torrigiani, the largest privately-owned garden in central Florence. With windows overlooking the wrap around terrace and the garden beyond, you will feel a million miles away and yet it is only moments from the Ponte Vecchio. Expect lavish flourishes and 21st-century design.
AdAstra is the result of a collaboration between the architect Francesco Maestrelli, with interior design by Matteo Perduca and his brother Marco. It is perfectly positioned in the Oltrarno area south of the Arno river – the most artisanal and authentic Florentine district. Squares, museums, churches, shops and restaurants are all at a walking distance from this secret hideaway.
There are 14 individually decorated rooms featuring classic elements with contemporary touches. Mid century to mid 70’s Italian furniture, artisanal lighting and art hand-picked by the owners adorn the spaces.
We will have exclusive use of this sanctuary.
Visit
Florence, the renaissance city, has many iconic sights. The Duomo, a cathedral famous for its Brunelleschi dome and the bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell’Accademia houses Michelangelo’s David and the Uffizi exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation”. There is the Ponte Vecchio, the Boboli Gardens, the mercato centrale, the Arno and that refers to just a few.
While it is likely we will come across some of these, our aim is to walk you along a different path, hopefully a path less travelled.
Visit the Florence of today, sitting deep in history but always looking forward.
Experience
Enjoy a cooking class and wine class with Emiko and Marco at Enoteca Marilu followed by a lovely long lunch.
Walk the quieter areas of Florence with our private guide experiencing history, modern culture, street art and architecture.
Head into the forests around San Miniato for summer truffle hunting. Once the spoils of our hunt have been gathered, prepare lunch in the lodge surrounded by wilderness, with the local truffle Hunter and Emiko.
Explore the streets of Florence, eating the best local specialities, visiting emerging artisans and fashion designers, view private galleries and gardens.
Tour the hills surrounding Florence in vintage Fiats before indulging in a country Tuscan feast.
Enjoy sunset drinks overlooking Florence and boat rides down the Arno River.
What Lies Ahead
“Florence is a city where every cobblestone whispers a story. You are walking througha open museum full of history, art and culture. Being a fine arts graduate, I first visited Florence for the timeless masterpieces in the Uffizi. I feel in love with the Arno, Campari and the surrounding hills of Tuscany. Florence is pure beauty.”
Emma Snodgrass Accoutrement Tours
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