Tuscany Up Close with Silvia Gualengi

Within the walls of Siena

We'll begin by visiting Spedale Santa Maria della Scala, dating back to year 898. Originally a hospital, it's now a museum. Then we'll see the famous Cathedral, the Duomo, which hosts the magnificent stained glass window by the painter Duccio di Buoninsegna. We'll have an aperitif in the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo where the renowned horse race called the Palio is run twice a year, on 2nd July and 16th August, then lunch. In the afternoon, a wine tasting at Enoteca Ai Terzi. Dinner at the farmhouse where I live, La Tenuta di Corsano, out by the swimming pool overlooking the vineyards and a romanesque church.

Italian fashion designer outlets

I'll pick you up midmorning and we'll drive to the Prada Outlet located near Montevarchi. We can have light lunch at the Prada Café and then if you are still looking for your Italian designer bag or shoes, we'll head for The Mall, which is about 25 minutes drive. The Mall features Agnona, Bottega Veneta, Emanuel Ungaro, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hogan, I.Pinco, Pallino, La Perla, Loro Piana, Marni, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Tod's, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent. Dinner in Siena at Tenuta di Corsano.

Montalcino wine tasting

We'll visit Montalcino and its fortress, and spend time with my friend Simone, who owns a winery just opposite the fortress. We'll have a typical Tuscan lunch at my friend Daria's restaurant, La Porta, in Monticchiello. This is the prettiest medieval hamlet, located on a hill where we can eat on the terrace, enjoying spectacular views of Pienza, the Val d'Orcia and the Amiata. Pienza, which we'll visit later, is closely tied to its founder: Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini (1405), later to become Pope Pius II, who wanted to create a splendid city in memory of his papacy that would be in complete contrast to Siena. Dinner at Il Chiostro di Pienza, where the Hotel director Massimo Cicale is a good friend of mine.