| Arianna & Friends is a tourist incoming | | | | also visits to modern companies such as big |
| project that offers both accommodation in | | | | wineries, and chocolate factories are |
| country houses in Tuscany, and tourist | | | | included in the programmes. The tours are led |
| services such as wine and food tours, cooking | | | | by a tour leader that accompanies the guests |
| classes, cultural tours, arts classes, | | | | and guides them during the visits. At the end |
| outdoor activities. | | | | of the visit a tasting of the typical |
| | | | produceis always offered. |
| The project originated by the desire to | | | | |
| increase the tourism and the quality of the | | | | The cultural tours are focused on |
| tourist services in two areas of Tuscany | | | | destinations like small medieval villages, |
| which are not a destination of the mass | | | | castles, local museums, ruins of ancient |
| tourism, the area between Pisa and Volterra | | | | fortresses, handicrafts production such as |
| and the area around the medieval village of | | | | ceramic and terracotta. During these tours |
| Vinci. | | | | guests can see how localpeople live and what |
| | | | their history, usages and traditions are. |
| The owners of the accommodation facilities | | | | |
| together with professional tour leaders, | | | | Cooking is another important activity offered |
| cooks, tour guides, chauffeurs, teachers and | | | | by Arianna & Friends. Guests have at |
| artists, farmers, restaurants owners, and | | | | their disposal local cooks and interpreters |
| many other "friends" work together to give to | | | | and can learn a lot about Tuscan and Italian |
| their guests and customers very personal and | | | | cookery. Lessons usually last 2 or 3 hours |
| exclusive services. | | | | and after the preparation of the meal, the |
| | | | attendants can enjoy their disheswith local |
| Accommodation is available in rooms or fully | | | | wines. Everything take place in a familiar |
| equipped apartments in farm houses and | | | | and informal atmosphere. |
| villas, that still preserve the Tuscan | | | | |
| country architecture and furniture. | | | | Also sport activities are offered by this |
| | | | project. Guests can choose among bike tours, |
| The activities offered by Arianna & | | | | horse riding, quad tours, trekking and gold |
| Friends are thought for visitors who want to | | | | programmes. |
| experience as local people the culture and | | | | |
| the traditions of the region. There can be | | | | There is even the opportunity to take part in |
| only two people as well as families, and | | | | painting classes, classes of decoration of |
| bigger groups of friends or colleagues. | | | | ceramic and decoupage, as well Italian |
| Activities are planned also for solo | | | | language courses. |
| travellers. | | | | |
| | | | Arianna & Friends is able to customize |
| Arianna & Friends organizes wine and food | | | | and personalize any kind of vacation or |
| tours with the visit totraditional family-run | | | | holiday in the countryside and satisfy its |
| estates producing wine, olive oil, sausage, | | | | guests' wishes. |
| cheese, honey, marmalade, spelt, pasta. But | | | | |