Things To Do

Wedding Villa - Le Caselle

This will be our home base for the week. There's plenty to do, see and taste nearby! GPS: 43°12'6.62"N 11°59'8.30"E

Attraction - Piazza della Repubblica

There is a an Easter procession in Cortona on Friday evening.

Attraction - Fortress of Girifalco

Attraction - Basilica di Santa Margherita

Large Supermarket - Coop Camucia

The closest Coop supermarket is in Camucia. This will have plenty of wine, cheese, deserts and anything else a supermarket has at home. In fact this is a great place to find food gifts to take home like Tartufo, local pastas or Olive oil. Open everyday 8:30am to 8 pm and Sunday 8:30am-1pm and 4pm to 8pm, although may be closed for Easter Sunday and Monday. . https://goo.gl/maps/JcWyj69pwhv Near inside of Coop complex is a nice Gelateria, Gelateria Sette Voglie https://goo.gl/maps/qDvosKnyF1k

Bakery - Panificio Cortonese

Bakery - Pasticceria Banchelli

Bakery - La Panetteria

Restaurant - La Bucaccia

Restaurant - Il Conte Matto

Easter Activities in Casole d'Elsa

At Casole d'Elsa, on Easter Monday, you will find the "Mercatino di Lunedì in Albis" where artisans spread out across the city center with their antiques and handmade wares from 10am to 8pm. On this day, you can also visit the beautiful Archaeological and Collegiata Civic Museum that will start its summer hours from Palm Sunday: 10am-1pm and 3:30-6pm. The museum has the beautiful Etruscan sculpture called "testa Bargagli", the "Prophet's Head", work by Marco Romano and paintings by Augusto Bastianini. For more details, check the city's site: www.casole.it

Easter Cheese Rolling Competition in Panicale

There is a cheese wheel rolling competition called "Ruzzolone" on Easter Monday afternoon. Because, Italy. https://www.elin.ca/ruzzolone/

Visiting the outdoor markets

There is a market in Cortona on Saturday morning. Here's a list of others nearby to Cortona: Terentola market Tuesday mornings (just down the hill from Cortona) Passignano sul Trasimeno - Saturdays Castiglion Fiorentino- Fridays Foiano della Chiana- Every Monday (Tuesday on Holidays) Monte San Savino- Wednesday Arezzo- Saturdays Siena -Easter Monday Montalcino- Fridays Montepulciano Stazione- Saturdays Acquaviva- Fridays Perugia- Saturdays- Pian di Massiano

Special Easter markets

In the spirit of Easter, many towns in Tuscany have outdoor markets selling various things from food to homemade goods to antiques and handcrafts. Siena usually holds a large market all day starting at 9:00 a.m on Easter Monday which sells everything from food and deserts to toys, ceramics, leather goods and books. A trip to Pitigliano on Easter Monday will include the Festa della Farina Dolce: the sweet flavors of chestnut flour in the courtyard of this quaint little town. Taste the local specialties including Necci, Castagnaccio, Frittelle Dolci and Polenta Dolce.

Try the traditional Italian Easter Cake

While you are visiting, try the traditional Italian Easter cake, La Colomba di Pasqua, which is a close cousin to the Christmas-time Panettone. the rich and fluffy cake is traditionally made with high-quality flour, farm-fresh eggs, sugar, butter, and natural yeast that takes at least 30 hours to rise. After curing, the dough is then baked into the iconic dove shape and finally topped with pearl sugar and almonds. Like panettone, colomba is one of the rare exceptions to Italian cuisine; even the most traditional nonna will buy her colomba from the store, rather than make it herself.

Celebrate La Pasqua, Italian Style

Easter (La Pasqua) is a very important holiday in Italy, and several towns will be hosting solemn processions and masses leading up to Easter Sunday. Easter itself is a joyous celebration filled with rich rituals and traditions, and Easter Monday (La Pasquetta) is also a public holiday throughout the country. https://www.discovertuscany.com/tuscany-events/easter-in-tuscany.htm

Wine shop - Enoteca Molesini

Gastropub - Birrificio Cortonese

Wine bar - Enoteca Enotria

Market - Mirko Tartufi

Sells local pasta and jars of tartufo and other foodstuffs

Ice Cream - Gelateria Dolce Vita

Shopping - Minimarket Lunghini

Wonderful store with local pastas, cheese, meats, oil, wine and other Italian foods

Shopping - Galleria “Il Pozzo”

Shopping - Clelia Tondini

Vineyard - Azienda Agricola Leuta

Pop in and try red and white wine and olive oil. Comes highly suggested.

Vineyard - Azienda Agricola Baldetti Alfonso

Distillery - Sabatini Gin

The estate tour, which includes a tasting, must be booked and takes place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. To book or receive more information email ugo@sabatinigin.com. Or you can purchase the gin at Enoteca Molesini or Minimarket Lunghini.

Vineyard - Poderi Sanguineto

Vineyard - Poderi Boscarelli

Vineyard - Avignonesi Fattoria Le Capezzine

can book tours and tastings here https://avignonesi.it/en/tour-and-tasting

Town & Spa - Chianciano Terme

A lovely renaissance spa town with a hot spring spa. Historically, Etruscans built the town near the springs for its uses. Today you can get a day pass or a few hours soak at the thermal outdoor pools. There are family passes too. Open daily 10am to 8pm except Closed Tuesdays. Will need to reserve/book times and/or daypass. and don't forget to visit the older part of Chianciano town on the hill http://www.piscinetermalitheia.it/GB/Home Spa: https://goo.gl/maps/WkaYrG6JE3N2 On Good Friday, they host a procession called "Ancient Giudeata" composed of about 150 people in costume - from Madonna to Pontius Pilate - with reenactments of the scenes of the Passion of Jesus, like those of the Roman soldiers on horseback and of Christ walking the path to Mount Calvary carrying his cross. For over 30 years, this procession begins at 21.30 and then travel the streets of the town of Chianciano and end outside the walls of the village.

Vineyard - Azienda Agricola Poliziano

Besides their beautiful tasting rooms at the vineyard, they also have a shop in the Piazza Grande of Montepulciano town.

Vineyard - Baracchi Winery

Pre-book a tour and tasting for the vineyard. They also have a restaurant(Relais il Falconiere- Michelin starred) at the vineyard http://www.ilfalconiere.it/en/ and a wine bar/store in Cortona (Botegga Baracchi).

Place to visit - Lago Trasimeno

Town - Siena

Town - Orvieto

Town - Montalcino

Town - Montepulciano

Town - Civita di Bagnoregio

This "dying village" town has been crumbling under rock over years but may soon get a UNESCO protection. The town can only be reached by foot by a long bridge. To enter, you must purchase a ticket at the local ticket office at the parking lot. Open 8am to 8pm and it looks open during Easter holiday. https://www.promotuscia.it/visitare-civita-di-bagnoregio-biglietto/

Town - Florence

Florence, Easter Monday In Florence, Easter is celebrated with the Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the cart). A huge, decorated wagon is dragged through Florence by white oxen until it reaches the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence's historic center. After mass, the Archbishop sends a dove-shaped rocket into the fireworks-filled cart, creating a spectacular display. A parade of performers in medieval costumes follows. https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-events/easter-sunday-and-monday-in-florence.html

Town - Assisi

A stunning UNESCO site made famous for St Francis and its many basilica's and churches. As you drive up you will notice the impressive Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi. Be sure to also visit the Rocca Maggiore (fortress) at the top of the hill. https://www.coopculture.it/en/heritage.cfm?id=236 https://goo.gl/maps/9bYxw9KnFqT2 Assisi Easter Monday On Easter Monday it is time for "Evviva è Pasquetta": after a guided visit to the Bosco di San Francesco (Woodlands of Saint Francis), there will be an open-air spring concert, performed by the Ensemble Resonars in the clearing of the "Terzo Paradiso" (Third Paradise), with medieval and Renaissance pieces to celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of springtime. http://www.visit-assisi.it/en/

Town - Castiglione Del Lago

Town - Gubbio

Known for its Roman theater and the medieval Palazzo dei Consoli. Also for Mastro Giorgio a early renaissance master maker of maiolica pottery. You can also ride the Funivio Colle Eletto cable car to the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo for spectacular views. You can see a video here. http://www.funiviagubbio.it/home.asp

Town - San Gimignano

A Beautiful towered town which is the home of Pinocchio. Make sure to visit Pantani Arte - The Pantani family(Paola) will sign their own art. https://www.pantaniarte.it/en/about-us/