The charterhouse of Calci, lunch at organic olive oil farm & Vicopisano
Day Tours & ActivitiesTHE PEARLS OF MONTE PISANO
The rural area of the lower Valdarno, by Pisa, is full of unexpected art jewels like country churches, fortresses, castles and fortified villages, all streching along a chain of mountains called Monti Pisani. The most renowend product of this region is a delicious and unique extra virgin olive oil. Arianna & Friends arrange an exclusive full-day tour to the most beautiful attractions of the area.
The carthusiam monastery of Calci
You meet our English speaking guide in Pisa or at an agreed meeting point and you get to the monumental monastery of Calci, just 10 kms from the town. The charterhouse was founded in 1366 by Carthusian monks and due to a Napoleonic Bill it was closed in 1808. Yet, monks lived there till 1972. Its central nave and its marble façade are marvellous examples of local 17th century Baroque. In the huge monumental building you will visit the sumptuous church, the internal cloisters and the gardens up to some cells where the monks used to live. The cells were very humble for regular monks and somehow “luxury” for monks of a higher rank. You will learn about the very severe habits of the daily lives of the monks and discover an unexpected jewel of rural art.
Olive oil tasting at a local oil mill
The tour goes on with the visit to a fascinating olive farm near the village of Vicopisano, just 20 minutes far from the monastery. The farm has got several acres of olive groves and produces some exquisite extra virgin olive oil. The production takes place directly here in a historical oil mill. On the farm we will visit all the premises, learn a lot about the olive oil production while walking along the groves and finally we will have a buffet lunch served during a guided tasting session of extra virgin olive oil. Lunch is made of all the products from the farm.
The medieval town of Vicopisano
After lunch we will walk to Vicopisano, a spectacular medieval village, just 20 kms from Pisa, which is still surrounded by huge fortifications and many ancient towers dating back to the XII Century.
The use of building high towers was in fashion in the Middle Ages among wealthy families. The town is spotted with towers and crossed by little winding lanes leading up to an imposing fortress, built by Brunelleschi. The tour ends by the fortress, where you can admire a wonderful view over the valley.
What you taste
This is a list of specialties that you are likely to sample as part of the program of this tour. Please, note that the specialties of the tasting session and/or lunch may vary according to the season and the availability of the products in the day of the tour.
In our tour we like showing you places off the beaten track and introducing you to Tuscan people with their personal stories, careers and characters.
You will have one of our guides with your party during the whole tour. Please, see below all the guides who can be with you.
During this experience you can also meet some of the Tuscan friends involved in the events. Please, see below which friends you are likely to encounter.
The total rate for this activity varies according to the number of people in your party.
Check rates in the table below.
PRIVATE TOUR TO THE CHARTERHOUSE OF CALCI, THE MEDIEVAL VILLAGE OF VICOPISANO
|
|
|---|---|
NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN YOUR PARTY |
TOTAL RATE |
| 2 persons | € 370 |
| 3 persons | € 410 |
| 4 persons | € 450 |
| 5 persons | € 490 |
| 6 persons | € 530 |
| 7 persons | € 570 |
| 8 persons | € 610 |
| 9 persons | € 650 |
| Extra Adult | € 40 |
| Extra Teenager (12-17 yrs) | € 30 |
| Extra Child (4-11 yrs) | € 25 |
Rates include
- An English speaking tour leader for the whole tour
- A guided visit to the Carthusian Monastery in Calci for about 1.5 hours
- A guided visit to olive grove and to a historical mill
- A walking tour of Vicopisano
- A full lunch and guided tasting of extra virgin olive oil and other specialities from the farm
- Tax
Rates do NOT include
- Transportation
Transportation is not included in the rates above. For more info on transportation, please see the box “Transportation options”.
This is an email we received from Sandi, who spent a week in Tuscany with her large group of friends and did many charming activities with Massimo.
Massimo:
We just arrived last night at home and have not stopped expressing our love for your country!
I would be honored to enjoy your father’s olive oil in America! It will not be anything that I will be able to buy here and I would love to have the Taste of Tuscany again!!
I have enclosed my work address so I or someone would be here! Thank you for your time with us and we have so many memories, thank you and Arianna for providing us this service!
Please send the recipes of our cooking class, the salad recipe that we all enjoyed so much!! And pictures!!!
Thank you again and again!!
If you wanted me to write something up so you can place on your website, I would be honored to do that!!
Sandi
This is an email we received from Ann after visiting Vicopisano
To Arianna and ALL our dear friends,
Both Fred and I want to say how very much we enjoyed our tour with Moira to Vicopisano and the cooking class taught by Lucia. Both were highlights of our trip this year. We will long remember the fabulous tastes from the organic farm and the dinner we all prepared together.
Best regards to all of you fabulous people,
Ann
This round trip takes place in the municipalities of Vicopisano and Calci, in a rural area between Pisa and Florence, close to Lucca.
MEET-UP LOCATION:
Unless differently specified, the meeting point with the guide is in Pontedera. Detailled instructions will be provided.
DURATION:
This program takes 6 hours. Time for reaching the meeting point not included.
AVAILABILITY:
Available all the year through, any day of the week.
LANGUAGE:
This tour is available in English, French or Italian with no surcharge. For German, Russian or Spanish a surcharge applies.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
Easy
CHILD FRIENDLY:
Ideal for children
CLOTHING:
No particular clothing required.
FOOD RESTRICTIONS:
The foods served during this tour might contain gluten, lactose, nuts and alcohol. If you have any food restriction, please inform our guide at the beginning of the tour.
TRANSPORTATION:
This program and its rates do not include transportation to the meeting point and are set on a self-driving base. For further information see the box "transportation options".
The destinations reached during this activity are in the Tuscan countryside, in areas off the beaten track that cannot be reached by public transport. We highly recommend renting a car or a scooter in order to reach them. As an alternative, we can offer a valued service by chauffeured car, van or minibus. Any cost of transportation is to be added to the rates displayed on the rate table of this page.
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