White Cottage underwent a comprehensive two-year renovation, blending high-end investments like quartz countertops with cost-effective choices such as vinyl flooring and online-purchased cabinets. The kitchen features TRUCOR Abstract Blue/Taupe flooring and Shaker Maple Bright White cabinets from cabinets.com. Amazon supplied the door knobs and handles, while Lowes provided fixtures and sinks. Silestone quartz was used for countertops and backsplashes, with Sherwin Williams paint adorning the walls. The bathroom showcases Delta faucets and a Kohler sink from Lowes. Additionally, furniture from Costco and Macys, as well as Frigidaire appliances, were incorporated into the revamped space.
A visit to Fattorio Poggio Alloro, a family farm in San Gimignano, Italy, offered an enjoyable cooking class and scenic lunch overlooking the city. The experience included making Italian pasta and bruschetta, and tasting Vernacia white wine from the farm’s vineyard. The activity was highly rated, and the cookbook purchased as a souvenir was found on Amazon.
Take a water taxi directly from airport dock to Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo. Once we have collected our bags from the airplane call water taxi at +39 3452796132 cost $190 Euros
After we settle, go walk around and take a gondola ride. Experience Aperol Spritz and appetizer bar along the Grand Canal. We could walk to St Marks Square Thru fish Market and over Rialto Bridge
Mimosa flower in bloom in Venice Italy
Dinner reservation at Osteria Mocenigo 7:00 pm For first night this was an easy dinner very close to our hotel
Day 2 Venice
Private Water Taxi will pick us up and take us down grand Canal and out to Murano
Tour glass blowing factory our Hotel is arranging factory for us to visit Gino Mazzuccato. Call hotel (or taxi driver whatever we arrange)when ready to come back 30 minutes prior to leaving 125 Euros
Walk back to Hotel have Aperol Spritz along the way and dinner reservation
Dinner AL Grill, Santa Croce, 2097, 30135 Venezia / 2-minute walk from Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo
Overall Things to see and do in Venice
*Rialto Bridge
*Fish Market
*St Mark’s Square
Saint Marks Basilica and Saint Marks Square From 4November to 31 March St Mark’s Cathedral is open to visitors but Skip the Line reservations are suspended because waiting times to enter the church from the main entrance reduce considerably and visitors can therefore enter without having to queue for a long time.
Rick Steves audio tour (free to download on his app) St. Marks Basilica 48 minutes
Rick Steves St. Marks Square 44 minutes (free audio tour to download on his app)
Doges Palace and prison (get tickets, Bridge of Sighs will go thru this on entrance to Doge Palace
Campanile (Bell Tower Venices skyscraper) location St Marks Square
*Gondola Ride– Gondoliers are hanging out all over town. Expect to pay about 80 Euros during the day and 100 Euros after 19:00. Establish, price rate and duration before boarding
*Ciccheti Bars(Venice tapas)
Extra Things to see if we have time:
Naval History Museum
Fondaco del Tedeschi ViewTerrace (rooftop terrace atop luxury mall with views over grand canal (one minute from Rialto Bridge)
Florence
Day 3 Florence
4:00 Timed Entry to the Galleria dell Accademia (Statue of David) Must purchase tickets in advance
Heart of Tuscany Drive Visit Pienza and Montalcino Val D’Orchia Loop. This loop includes Montepulciano, Pienza, Bagno Vignio and d’Orcia. Sites I think we would enjoy seeing starting from Montepulciano
Visit Contucci, skip palace formal wine tasting showroom facing the square and instead head straight for the wine cellar down the lane on the right. After sipping a little wine, explore the palace basement with its 13th century vaults. Originally part of the town walls these chambers have been filled since the 1500s. free drop in tasting, free cellar tour on request
Ramaio Cesare– Coppersmith made copper top Duomo Sienna, Cesare generally in his workshop
De Ricci Cantine– Most impressive wine cellar in Montepulciano sit below the Palazzo Ricci. Enter thru unassuming door and find your way down down down a spiral staircase. Youll wind up in the dramatic cellars, with gigantic barrels of wine. First three tastings free, two additional premium tastes 5 euros. Bottles affordable and they ship
Cantina della Talosa– This historic cellar, which goes down and down to an Etruscan tomb at the bottom, ages a well respected wine. They offer tours and tastings. Can drop by for a free sample can also call ahead to book tour and tasting 20 euros
Siena
Day 10 Siena
Overall Things to see and do in Siena
Il Campo Best square in Italy
Duomo Art packed cathedral with mosaic floors and statues by Michael Angelo and Bernini (Rick Steves pg 621 self guided tour of duomo)
Civic Museum – City Museum in City Hall with Sienese frescoes, the Effects of Good and Bad Government
Duomo Museum – Sienas best museum, with cathedral art (Duccios Maesta) and sweeping Tuscan views. When you leave museum tour, there is a finale of the visit. Eventually you will climb down the steps then up about 40 tight and claustrophobic spiral stairs to the first viewpoint. You can continue up another 100 steps of a similar spiral staircase to reach the very top
City Tower Sienas 330 foot tower climb
Pinacoteca Fine Sienese Paintings
Baptistery of San Giovani—Cave like building with baptismal font decorated by Ghiberti and Donatello
Santa Maria della Scala—Museum with much of the original Fountain of Joy, Byzantine reliquaries, and vibrant frescoes depicting day-to-day life in a medieval hospital
This recipe features dried apricots dipped in Ghiradelli chocolate and topped with almonds. The ingredients required are dried apricots, almonds, and Ghiradelli chocolate wafers. This simple yet delicious treat only requires a few supplies to make, and can be enjoyed as a sweet snack or dessert.
The Sedona area offers various hiking trails such as Cathedral Rock, Devils Bridge, and Bell Rock, each with its own unique charm. Visitors can also explore additional activities like the Tlaquepaque Shopping Village and the Sedona Golf Resort. For dining, options include the Elote Cafe and Mesa Grill, while accommodations are available at the Hilton Vacation Club Ridge on Sedona. In Santa Fe, popular spots include La Fonda and The Shed. This six-day itinerary also includes stops at notable landmarks and restaurants, providing a well-rounded experience for travelers.
We spent three nights in Montepulciano. It was amazing waking up in our Tuscan farmhouse on Christmas morning.
Christmas Festivities
Nativity Scenes in Churches Presepe are found in shops, squares and churches. Many churches will have a sign saying Presepe. Once you go into this special room in the church you will find enormous nativity scenes.
Presepe in Cortona
Christmas Markets The Christmas market in Montepulciano included vendors selling mulled wine, cheeses, crepes, Christmas cake, ornaments, and local crafts
Christmas Market Montepulciano
Pienza bonfire This is an old Tuscan tradition, and is a bonfire set up outside of the duomo on Christmas Eve
Bonfire Pienza Christmas Eve
Accommodations
Tuscan farmhouse on AirBB Roberta had the farmhouse decorated for Christmas.
She had Christmas treats for us to enjoy like an Italian Christmas Cake.
3 Day Itinerary
Day one we arrived at our Tuscan villa late in the afternoon. We had spent the day exploring Siena. We had a hard time finding our farmhouse once we found it, we settled in. We then headed into Montepulciano for dinner and the Christmas market. we also visited wine cellars. It is important to try and get a reservation at the wine cellars. We ate dinner at Osteria Del Borgo. We had such a nice dinner and enjoyed their wine so much we ended up joining their wine club Perbaco Wine Experience.
Wine cellar Montepulciano
Day 2
We enjoyed a cooking class at our farmhouse. The class was arranged by the owner of the farmhouse and was a memorable experience. The cooking class took most of the day. After it was finished around 4:00 we headed back into Montepulciano to experience more of the Christmas Market and visit more wine cellars and have dinner.
There was a special Christmas event at the castle at the edge of town and Santa was there artificial falling snow and all. Some of the wine cellars we visited included Cantina Della Taloosa, De Ricci Cantine, and Contucci
Wine tasting at ContucciCooking class at farmhouse
Day 3
On our last day we experienced The Heart of Tuscan Drive. We visited the villages of Pienza, Montalcino Val D Orchia Loop. The loop included Pienza, Bagno Vignio, and Orcia
We enjoyed setting in an outside cafe in Pienza on beautiful sunny afternoon.
Bagno Vignio
We also enjoyed buying fresh cheese in Pienza
Cheese store Pienza
We enjoyed a Christmas Eve lunch at a Michelin restaurant in the hilltown of Monticchelio Ristorante Daria
Resataurant Daria
Dinner was hard to find that night because alot of restaurants were closed because it was Christmas Eve.
