Tuscany, the heart of Italian Renaissance. is home to some of the world’s most recognisable Renaissance art and architecture, including Michelangelo’s "David" statue, Botticelli’s works in the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo basilica. Its diverse natural landscape encompasses the rugged Apennine Mountains, the island of Elba’s beaches on the Tyrrhenian Sea and Chianti’s olive groves and vineyards, narrow middle age streets, emerald green hills, cypress trees and magnificent views. We will be visiting Val d’orcia and renaissance architecture in Florence in addition to misty golden morning fog and olive fields, an experience where we taste local Italian cuisine and much more.
You will indeed start feeling the tranquillity in your soul the moment you arrive in this region. It is not a photography workshop only. We will be sampling delicious local cuisine in excellent Italian restaurants, wander in the narrow medieval streets, watch the sun rising over the breath-taking farms, tasting wine and much more — an unforgettable trip.
From beginner to expert level in photography, everyone can attend. If you are not into photography at all, that is also fine as you can take as much joy, visiting well preserved medieval villages and watch the picturesque landscape with your own eyes.
Our schedule may vary depending on weather conditions, but in general, it will be as follows:
Day 1: Rome
Welcome to Tuscany. Upon arrival at Rome Fiumicino airport, our private vehicle will be waiting to take us to our hotel in Val d'Orcia. Once we clear the airport, on our way to our villa, we will stop by some great sunset locations to take photos. Then we will check into our historic but spacious, modern villa and enjoy the dinner. Overnight in near the Pienza.
Day 2: Val d'Orcia
Our day starts before sunrise. We will be taking photos of one of the most iconic property of Tuscany, Podere Belvedere. After capturing the sunrise here, we will head to one more location for our workshop. Once we enjoy these two locations, we will go back to our villa for breakfast and photo editing session. After lunch, we will head to a villa near Asciano to take photos of the sunset. After sunset, a table will be reserved for us for gourmet dinner in a local restaurant. After dinner, we will be resting in our villa.
Day 3: Pienza
First daylight, we will head to Villa Gladiatore near Pienza. Our first point of interest is the house of the Gladiator. Once we take photos there, we will move on to another location and then return to our hotel to have breakfast. We will have plenty of time to walk in the streets that smell of freshly baked pastry and Italian espresso. We will also visit a famous Winehouse; even the Pope is one of the customers. We will not forget to taste the world’s most delicious sheep milk cheese.
After lunch, we will wander in the streets of Montalcino and then return to our sunset location with stunning Tuscany landscape. Following the sunset, we will take photographs of the renowned Podere Belvedere in blue hours. Then we'll go to a nice restaurant for dinner.
Day 4: Pitigliano and Sorano
Today, early morning, we will be visiting 2 gems of Tuscany`s: Sorano an ancient medieval hill town hanging from a tuff stone over the Lente River, and Pitigliano a town inhabited from Etruscan times, both great examples of middle age culture. These towns are not discovered by mass tourism groups yet but well known by photographers.
We will be taking photos of narrow, steep streets, paved with cobblestone, house entryways decorated with colourful flower pots, red bricks covered by greenish moss and much more. Lunch will take place in Pitigliano and then we will head towards Montalcino for sunset. We will return to our villa after dinner.
Day 5: San Quirico d'Orcia
Early in the morning, we will take photos of the sunrise at a location very close to our villa. After a quick breakfast in our villa, we will go to Montalcino, another historic city in Tuscany. We will also visit San Gimignano, one of the most famous cities in Tuscany.
The town, which became famous in the Middle Ages, hasn't changed much since. It is also known as “Medieval Skyscrapers surrounded by walls and dominated by 14 stone towers. Since 1990, the historic centre of San Gimignano has been a UNESCO heritage site. This charming town is also famous for the most delicious ice cream in the world. For sunset, we will go to a cypress tree cluster near San Quirico d'Orcia. Then we have dinner and return to our villa.
Day 6: Rome
Although this is our last day, we still intend to take photographs during sunrise. We will take photos of the emerald hills, a couple minutes’ walk from our hotel. After having our breakfast, we pack our luggage and head towards Rome airport. We will return to Rome airport no later than 2 pm.
Our villa is will be a historic farmhouse in Tuscany.
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
5 Night Villa Accommodation + Breakfast
Pick-up and drop-off from Rome airport
All transfers during the tour
Photography training and consultancy to be provided by Cuma Cevik
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
Airfare to and from Rome airport
Visas (if applicable)
Lunch, dinners and drinks
Single supplement 300 USD
WHAT TO BRING:
Camera body, wide-angle lens, middle-zoom and telephoto zoom lens
Tripod, remote control and filters
Memory card (at least 64 GB)
Portable hard drive or USB flash disk for taking tutorial video by Cuma Cevik
Casual clothes for dinners and lunches and photography workshops
Summer clothes and a light jacket for morning photography (5-10 C)
JOIN US TODAY:
TERMS AND cONDITIONS:
The group leader has the right to change the content of the program depending on the weather conditions, road conditions and social events.
In case of insufficient participation, the tour will be cancelled, and all fees will be refunded on condition that all participants are informed two weeks before the date of departure.
Hotels, where accommodation will be made, can be changed with the condition that the quality standard remains the same depending on the circumstances.
For meals not included in the trip price, the group leader recommends place or places, but there is no obligation to take services from the recommended places. Everyone can get assistance from any place provided they do not disrupt the trip schedule.
CANCELLATION aND rEFUND pOLICY:
If the participant gives notice of termination more than 60 days before the start of the tour due to a situation or force majeure which cannot foresee and prevent, despite all due diligence; the amount paid by the participant is returned to him without any deduction, except the fees, taxes and similar legal obligations that must be paid, and the costs that can be paid and documented to third parties and are not possible to be refunded.
For cancellations made 60 days or less before the date of the trip, 50% of the package fee; for cancellations made 30 days before the time of the trip, the entire package price will not be refunded.