7 Tips on How to Travel Within Italy

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:00:46 +0000

Traveling to and from Italy can be a mission, if not one of the most challenging things you may experience if you are coming to Europe for the 1st time. It can be hard to find information online about how to get around. How do I get to Lucca from Florence? How do I get to Siena from the Rome airport? How do I travel between Italian cities? How do I get to Venice from Cinque Terre?

Avoid the notorius chaos of Italian public transport if you can! Here is our advice:

1. Always check the website of the airport you are traveling to. They usually are updated fairly often and have information in English. Also, they usually are located a bit outside city centers. Le Baccanti can arrange your private transfer in a comfortable luxury vehicle to and from most major airports in Italy so you don’t have to worry about figuring out public transport or booking a taxi.

2. Have your car rental set-up BEFORE arriving!

3. Give yourself way more time than you think is extra time. Italy is home to some of the most chaotic traffic and national strikes happen periodically which can inconvenience traffic in major Italian cities.

4. Experience ITALO trains in 1st class! If you fancy the idea of taking an Italian train, we recommend the comfortable high-end train operator ITALO. The trains are high speed, safe, luxurious (for most train travel standards) have free WIFI and food and drink services on board. It may be a good idea to familiarize yourself with local names for Italian cities and regions. For example: Firenze = Florence, Roma = Roma, Toscana = Tuscany, Napoli = Naples, the list goes on and on!

5. Rent a helicopter! It sure beats taking a public bus:) In all seriousness, a helicopter ride is a stunning way to experience Italian scenery. We can plan your private Helicopter ride in Italy (wine tour included)!

6. Validate all of your travel tickets! If you happen to use any sort of public transport while in Italy, be aware. Most people don’t know that if you travel on an Italian train, bus, coach and even the vaporetti (water buses) of Venice you must stamp your ticket by the little machines on board or at the stop before getting on. If you get caught by the control staff, you will be slapped with a hefty fine of up to 240 euros! Okay, that’s what they say is the max but it is usually around 40 euros. But still, you don’t want to let a little detail like this sour your Italian dream vacation.

7. Be aware of national holidays and Sundays. A lot of Italian cities will seem like a ghost town if you arrive on a National holiday and you may be shocked if you find that you can’t take your Ferragamo shopping spree on a sunny afternoon due to it being a holiday.

Le Baccanti can organize the luxury, comfort and convenience of a personal driver. We provide transfers to and from destinations and airports all over Italy. We also organize private excursions for nearly every of cultural activity imaginable.

Buon viaggio!

Le Baccanti Tours is a luxury travel company located in Tuscany, Italy. We have been specializing in gourmet food, wine and cultural tours of Italy for over 10 years. We pride ourselves on showing our discerning group of clients the authentic and beautiful Italy of their dreams. Contact us or visit our website to learn more.

What to do in Lucca, Italy

admin — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:00:14 +0000

Lucca is a small medieval Italian town just 75 kilometers west of Florence and an easy bus or train ride from most cities in Tuscany. It is a popular destination for travelers with a Tuscan itinerary. There are over 30 tourist attractions in Lucca including the Teatro del Giglio, the Torre delle Ore and Torre Guinigi, the house of Puccini and much more.

Must do’s in Lucca:

Check out the gorgeous mosaic of Basilica San Frediano and appreciate the moment of being tucked away in a little street in the heart of Lucca.

Tell the time at Le Torre delle Ore!

Rent a bike and ride on the path ingrained on the historical city walls. It is 4 kilometers long and offers tourists a wonderful panorama of the city with peeks into the historical center’s dainty village streets.

Climb the stairs to reach the top of Torre Guinigi to get a view of the city atop a beautiful tree-filled tower.

On a Sunday, visit the antique market in the square of Teatro del Giglio where you will find all sorts of vintage finds, hand knit upholstery, and eclectic accoutrements to bring back home.

Make sure to taste something local! The Lucchese cuisine are known for hearty foods like Tagliatelle with deer ragù or Tortelli Lucchese (beef filled ravioli-type pasta). Enjoy some wine, too! Lucca is close to a little-known Italian DOC wine producing zone called Montecarlo and they make some good red and white wines, perfect for easy drinking and simple food pairing.

Visiting? Try a cooking class in Lucca!

Le Baccanti has been designing events, tours, activities, and travel programs in Tuscany and throughout Italy for over a decade. Contact us or visit our website to learn more

Liberation Day in Italy

admin — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:26:12 +0000

The term Liberation Day is used for many countries who were once under an occupation by another state such as The Ukraine and the Netherlands. Liberation Day also marks the end of an oppressive regime, and can also mark the anniversary of a revolution like with Cuba. It can also be considered a sort of Independence Day. In Italy, Liberation Day is April 25th and marks the end of Benito Mussolini’s regime and among Italians, the day is known as Liberazione. Liberation Day in Italy also marks the birth of the new Republic of Italy. If you are travelling to Italy during that time, you may have a mix of pleasant and inconvenient surprises. The pleasant surprises are that no matter what city you are in, the local civic municipalities are organizing parties in town squares and various other cultural festivities to mark the occasion. The inconvenience may be that you find shops and establishments closed as well as tourist activities booked since many Italians go on vacation during this time. And the holiday, unless it falls on a Wednesday, will usually cause holiday schedules to continue even after the holiday as Italians call it “a bridge” when a holiday falls on a Thursday thus making Friday another day off. You may hear the song “Bella Ciao” on repeat in the streets and squares, which is a popular Italian folk song that tells the story of a partisan who died for freedom and his dying wish was to be buried in the mountains in the shadow of a bel fior (beautiful flower). If you are looking for tourist activities to do during the holiday, Le Baccanti can arrange a day out tasting wine or a food tour for the festive occasion. Buona Festa! Viva Italia!

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Sicily

admin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 06:55:18 +0000

Sicily is a fairytale, a step outside the norm. It is cliché but true that Sicily feels like a different country from mainland. Sicily is a mix of passion, delight, enigma, beautiful archeology with a rich and enigmatic history. And not to mention: food and wine. Here are some reasons why we consider Sicily one of the best Italian destinations.

1. WINE. Wine takes on the character of the land, and the soil in which Sicilian wine is grown is phenomenal. Due to the proximity of volcanoes such as Mt. Etna to many wineries, the soil tends to be rich in volcanic ash and rocky terrain which leads to wines with high minerality. You can take a phenomenal wine tour near Etna not only to discover some of the greatest wines on earth, but also to see some of Sicily’s most gorgeous sites.

2. Beaches. Talk about clear, blue tropical-like crisp waters and perfect water temperatures during the warm months. Palermo for example is home to some of the most breath taking beaches, like Mondello, with spectacular views of hilly landscapes in the back drop. You couldn’t ask for a more Mediterranean scene than a visit to a Sicilian beach.

3. The people! Sicilians have hospitality in their genes! They are some of the nicest, sweetest and most generous people on the face of this planet. They take life in stride and welcome you in like family, and if you happen to eat with them- you may experience fullness like you have never imagined in your whole life.

4. THE FOOD! Food here is amazingly diverse: meatballs, game, meats, pastas, desserts (cannoli!!), fried breads, gelato with brioche and cream, seafood, spicy flavors, all things ricotta and marzipan and so so much more. Oh and how did we forget the tomatoes? They grow like weeds here all year round and are the best tomatoes you will ever taste, find the freshest pomodori in the open air market stalls.

5. Nightlife! Italians are fantastic at nightlife. Bars, clubs, discos, outdoor concerts you name it. But Sicilians take nightlife with a serious attitude, and how could they not? Catania and Palermo are quite possibly the best spots for clubs and bars and they are near the seaside, not to mention the mild weather making it possible to enjoy evenings outdoors in buzzing piazzas or near the shore.

Thinking of taking a trip to Sicily? Discover an unforgettable enogastronomic itinerary like a Culinary Wine Vacation across various cities in Sicily or a Wine Tour in Etna offered by Le Baccanti.

European Winery of the Year 2012….ARNALDO CAPRAI

admin — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:00:27 +0000

The Arnaldo Caprai winery was founded in 1971 with the purpose of recovering and restoring value to the very ancient indigenous Sagrantino grape that has been growing in the Montefalco area for more than 400 years. Today Arnaldo Caprai isthe leader in the production of Sagrantino di Montefalco wine, with an estate covering an area of 150 hectars (370 acres) all falling within the DOCG Sagrantino di Montefalco, DOC Montefalco and DOC Colli Martani wine areas. Overtheir thirty-five years of activity, Sagrantino has transformed from being at risk of extinction into an excel- lent product both well known and very important to the region of Umbria. The goal of the Arnaldo Caprai winery is the same today as it was in the beginning: topursue a productive philosophy strongly bound to quality and respect of territory through a constant and precise work both in the vineyard and in the cellar.

In 2012, Arnaldo Caprai won European Winery of the Year Award by The Wine Enthusiast. The winery is located in scenic Umbria just below the historical town of Montefalco. Umbria is coined the green heart of Italy and the Caprai winery is leading the path for green innovation in the wine world. Not only do they have a commitment to conserving this sacred grape variety Sagrantino, they also are committed to sustainable and biodynamic production practices. If you haven’t been to Montefalco, or Umbra for that matter, planning a wine tour or vacation to include the European Winery of the Year gives you the best reason to plan your Italian vacation!

Thinking of visiting Arnaldo Caprai? We have a wine tour for that: Sagrantino Wine Tour from Perugia. Let us pick you up in a private, luxury vehicle to show you the Italian wine country of your dreams!

Experience Aperitivo in Italy

admin — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 07:00:46 +0000

The word aperitivo is the Italian word of the french word aperitif which is basically a pre-dinner drink. Aperitivo drinks are made with bitter flavored liqueurs and spirits and are designed to stimulate appetite. These drinks usually involve campari, vermouth, martini rosso, aperol, soda and/or prosecco. In Florence Italy, one of the most popular aperitivo drinks is the Negroni and according to Bon Appetit: there is no wrong way to screw up a negroni. There are many variations on this Florentine aperitivo specialty, such as the Negroni Sbagliato (mistaken negroni) which is topped with prosecco instead of gin. In Italy, aperitivo is the happiest hour you will ever meet. It originally was put on the food and drink tradition map in northern cities like Turin and Milan and typically included a modest amount of salty snacks like potato chips and olives. By now, the activity has spread throughout the country and the food offerings have spawned to buffet-like proportions and variety.

Italians are not known for drinking to the point of intoxication, they are cultured drinking folk and food should accompany drink. It’s no wonder that food was naturally calculated into the aperitivo tradition. Almost every bar has some sort of food buffet to compliment an aperitivo, lower end bars will supply at least crunchy bar snacks and more higher end establishments including hotels like The Westin or The Four Seasons will have food from the top of the Italian food chain like charcuterie platters, roast meats, artisan pastas, frittate, farro salads, delicate gourmet crostini toasts and some even include a sweet dessert. This is just to name a few. Some aperitivo bars really go all out and by the end, you may not find that you have appetite enough for dinner! One of the best ways to experience culture, and especially Italian culture, is to partake in an aperitivo while you are in Italy. You will not only be able to taste Italian cocktails and delicious snacks, but you will get a glimpse and really experience the Italian lifestyle in a very authentic fashion. Not into cocktails? Beer and wine is also an option during aperitivo hour in Italy.

Curious? Discover the art of the Italian aperitivo with our Aperitivo Food & Drink Tour in Florence! On this food tour in Florence, you will be able to experience some of the finest bars and cafès Florence has to offer with our foodie insider. Buon appetito!

Best Time of Year to Visit Italy

admin — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:00:20 +0000

When is the best time of year to visit Italy? Well, knowing what months are ideal for travel is an important practical consideration if you are planning a vacation to Italy. Contrary to common belief, Italy can have some extreme weather and it should be taken into consideration when deciding on dates for your upcoming trip. For example, August can be hot and humid in the cities, but is the perfect time to do a relaxing vacation to a villa in the countryside with a pool, to one of Italy’s pristine beaches, to a lake or in the Alps. In August, many Italians take their yearly holiday to escape the heat and there is also the national holiday Ferragosto that falls smack dab in the middle of the month so some restauarants or services will be closed in the cities.

The Fall in Italy is superb! The weather is still warm but comfortable, everything is refreshed and re-opened after the holidays and there are so many harvest festivals including Vendemmia grape harvest! Another reason why Fall can be ideal, is because tourist season isn’t as high as say the spring or summer. My suggestion for Fall travel is in September or October. It is simply gorgeous in Italy and all the color changes make wine country even more picturesque. You may even be able to taste some of the new wine at the cellars you visit if wine tasting is a part of your itinerary. Speaking of new harvests and wine releases, new olive oil is also released in the Fall and you will be able to taste the freshest olive oil practically straight off the tree and pressed that day if you come late October or November.

Interested in a taking a tour? Consider Le Baccanti tours and events in Italy! If olive oil interests you, we suggest the Tuscany Olive Oil Tour- a perfect activity if you are planning an Italian vacation in the Fall!

Italian Wine Tours: How to avoid a wine hangover

admin — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 07:00:17 +0000

Do you like wine but avoid certain varieties out of fear of waking the next day with what a lot of people term: the wine hangover? I have overheard many people in tasting rooms or on wine tours avoid white wine for example because they suffer from wine hangovers. But I am here to tell you there is a solution! There is a strategy! And an (almost) fail-proof guide to avoiding a wine hangover so you can taste and enjoy wine on one of our fantastic Italian wine tours.

1. Stay hydrated! Drink nearly equal amounts of water for every sip or glass of wine.

2. Drink smaller amounts of specialty wines! The main cause for hangovers is your body’s metabolism of acetaldehyde. This chemical is higher in faulty, low quality wines and is higher in fortified wines like sherry and sweet dessert wines like Vin Santo.

3. Indulge in high quality wines like the ones we will have you taste on our Italian wine tours. The cost might be higher, but it is well worth it. Low quality wines tend to be higher in additives which contribute to a stronger perceived wine hangover.

4. Eat when you are tasting wine! Why else is food pairing so popular in the wine world? During our Italian wine tours, you will often to offered bread or other snacks to accompany your tasting. Well, this is because it is delicious but it is also practical. If you drink wine without food, you confuse your blood sugar and create a big headache for your metabolism.

5. If you are still having difficulty, look for wines that are lower in alcohol and have medium tannins. Italian wines such as Dolcetto, Barbera and Cannonau just to name a few that fit this bill.

Want to learn more about high quality Italian wines? Take a wine tour in one of Italy’s most prized wine regions where you will taste some of the best wines produced in the world, learn more about the tours that we at Le Baccanti provide HERE. You can take a wine class with one of our residing wine experts.

Antinori Wine Touring in Tuscany

admin — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:25:45 +0000

The new Antinori winery set in the rolling hills of Chianti Classico that has been 7 years in the making is finally opening its doors to the wine drinking public tomorrow, March 20th!

Be one of the first to experience the fantastic Antinori wines, visit the Antinori museum complete with hundreds of years of winemaking and family history with roots that run deep in the Tuscan countryside. The new winery is an architectural jewel, with natural products used in its construction and green technology that keep impact and energy usage to a very minimum without sacrificing style.

Be one of the first to visit the underground cellars and taste the top rated Antinori wines and dine in the newly opened restaurant. Why not join us for a Antinori Wine Tour while you are in Florence or Siena, both are just over 30 minutes away.

Rome: Cellar Tour and Wine Challenge Dinner in a castle!

admin — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 07:00:47 +0000

If Rome is your base city and you want to offer an activity outside office hours as part of your Incentive program, Le Baccanti has a new offer for you!

18:00PM: Pick-up from the hotel in the city in the direction of: Castles!

Welcome…enjoy your visit in a prestigious and stunning wine cellar- a spectacular venue choice for a company gathering.

Once in the main dining room, guests can relax with an aperitif as our master of events kicks off the evenings entertainment with the basics for how to taste wine, ensuring that even wine novies are relaxed and in their comfort zone. Wine doesn’t have to be intimidating!

Dinner will begin with a true sense of team building during the Wine Challenge. Every table will form a team and the challenge begins! The winner will be able to enjoy their prize after dinner, and if they choose, by sharing with their fellow collegues.

For details and options for personalizing an event according to your needs and preferences, contact Le Baccanti