Tuscany

North American-based consortia, Ensemble, has announced details for its most anticipated event experience of the year: Beyond Extraordinary Experiences: Redefine Excellence.

A new Belmond rail journey will connect Paris with its Tuscany farm estate from May 2025 aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient Express.

Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany, has recently opened two new private villas inspired by the property’s rich Etruscan heritage.

Italian Villa Vacations has limited space remaining on its 2024 Tuscany Chapter small group tour. The trip promises a relaxed and immersive cultural experience with locals, and dining on arguably the world’s best cuisine.

Tauck is offering guests of its small group ‘A Week in… Tuscany and Umbria’ itinerary the opportunity to hear from acclaimed author Frances Mayes, whose memoir ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ was made into the Hollywood film. Mayes will share reflections on her 30 years in Italy with guests on the eight-day itinerary on over a dozen departures in 2023 and 2024, when the tour visits her adopted town of Cortona.

The Tuscan city of Florence has been earmarked as a future site for Marriott’s W Hotels Worldwide brand. With an opening date penned for 2023, W Florence is set to become a buzzing centrepiece in the heart of the artistic city alongside the Ponte Vecchio riverfront and the Duomo.

Leeu Collection has appointed Auberge Resorts Collection to manage Collegio Alla Querce (College at the Oaks) in Florence, Italy. The historic 16th-century property, acquired by Leeu Collection in 2017, has its own chapel and theatre and was previously used as a boarding school and hotel.

COMO Hotels and Resorts has launched a new COMO Shambhala Retreat at COMO Castello Del Nero – the first Asian-inspired wellbeing experience in Tuscany.

Italy my Way, a bespoke destination wedding planner based in Italy, has created a variety of different styles of Destination Weddings in Tuscany. Available at a selection of venues, guests can opt for an extravagant or a more traditional celebration.

“I was lured back to Tuscany for the launch of Toscana Resort Castelfalfi’s new golf clubhouse but the highlight turned out to be truffle hunting, which is, unusually, year-round.”

Florence is the Renaissance worldwide gem, a true open-air museum, a whole historic centre protected by UNESCO, and the house of the influential and historic Medici dynasty. Florence is just the place to be if your clients want to experience elegance, finesse and unmistakable Tuscan taste.

The high-end slow travel company, Butterfield & Robinson, has launched a new collection of trips for 2020, including a brand-new wellness portfolio for its luxury expedition trips, active itineraries for families with older children and explorations in the less-explored Balkans. Carefully crafted with more than 50 years of experience, these itineraries take travellers to new destinations and focus on creating unique and immersive adventures.