June 24 to July 6, 2023

Stay in Italy  

• 6/24 - Stay in Chicago, so we don't miss tomorrow's flight...Rivers Casino and Hugo's Frog Bar and Chop House

• 6/25 - 6/26 - Fly overnight to Frankfurt, then Florence (Firenze), drive to La Chiusa

• 6/27 - Morning walk through the olive orchard, and up to the city of Montefollonico SI, Italy.  Drove to one of our favorite cities: Montepulciano, for walking, shopping, and stopping at our little wine cafe Enoteca La Dolce Vita.  Dinner on the overlook at La Chiusa.

• ​6/28 - Drove to Porto Santo Stefano for lunch, then back to Montefollonico for dinner at Ristorante 13 Gobbi. 

• 6/29 - Morning walk in the garden, visit the bees, our personal olive tree, and the new vineyard.  Drove to Torrita de Siena to do laundry.  Back to La Chiusa for lunch on the overlook.

• 6/30 - Drove to Pienza for walking and lunch at Ristorante Beccofino. Gelato at BuonGusto.

• 7/1 - Drove to Parco Regionale del Lago Trasimeno, and on the way we got "ran off the road" and had to get help from the locals (who were awesome!).  Had lunch, then drove on to Perugia.  Dinner at La Chiusa.

• 7/2 - Drive from La Chiusa to Firenzi.  Stopped along the way to do laundry in Torrita de Siena, and a new city for us in Arezzo for lunch and a walk through the open market.  Staying at Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy in Firenze. Dinner at Osteria del Proconsola, one of our regular stops.

• 7/3 - We do love a good food tour! Slitti Experience for coffee, pastry, and chocolate; a big open market with all manner of sights, smells, and tastes; and a wine and cheese store to end the tour.  The afternoon was on our own, walking, tasting, drinking, and taking in all the beauty Firenze has to offer.

• 7/4 - Scooter Day - I thought we weren't doing this stuff any more! 

• 7/5 - David Day - Guided tour of the David museum (Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze), very good tour guide gave a lot of background and insight into the artists of the time.  Toured the Da Vinci Museum.  Made our way across the river to the Picci Palace (we were given a tip that this might be where Brenda's lost restaurant is), and it paid off...we finally found it!  The Maioli Bistrot Pasticceria!  Dinner at another of our favorites Gustavino Trattoria Pizzeria.

• 7/6 - Travel to Milan by train for the flight home.

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