Culinary Tuscany
A Size Inclusive Journey with Emiko Davies
This brand new Stellavision tour is designed to gather a community of like-minded people as we immerse ourselves in culture, cuisine and curated Tuscany experiences together. We start in Florence, the epicenter of the Italian Renaissance and journey onward to our favorite corners of the Tuscan countryside. We’ll experience Italy’s acclaimed white truffle festival (including a truffle hunt!) as well as cooking demonstrations, farm visits, flower arranging, midnight hot spring dips and so much more. Our itinerary is packed full of autumnal Tuscan beauty: you’ll encounter behind the scenes Italian adventures with plenty of leisure time to immerse yourself in the countryside and towns.
As women, our relationships to our bodies can be an ongoing journey. Our self image can factor into every decision we make, everywhere we show up in this world - including on vacation. At Stellavision, we believe your body should NOT be an impediment to a spectacular holiday. While we can’t shape the world outright, together with Emiko Davies, we can create a comfortable environment to explore Italy. As a pivotal figure in Italy’s culinary scene, Emiko uses her platform to promote a passion for food and inspire positive change, ensuring that every body is celebrated.
Join us to see, smell, hear, taste and touch the authentic Italy. As we celebrate you and each other.
At A Glance:
Tour Dates:
November 16 - 23, 2024
Tour Length:
7 nights & 8 days
Where We Go:
Florence, Siena, Bagno Vignoni, San Miniato, into the Tuscan countryside + more!
All-Inclusive Price:
$6745: single occupancy
$5245: double occupancy
All-inclusive prices mean you don’t pay for anything once in Italy! (Save personal shopping)
Itinerary please!
Weather:
Avg. temperature in Tuscany in Nov. is around 12° C / 54° F but the days can be much warmer and the nights cooler! (Don’t worry, we’ll send a packing list)
Tour Co-Host
Not only did Emiko Davies design the itinerary with our Stellavision Founder Zoe, she’ll be joining our group in Florence and hosting us in San Miniato.
Only 12 spots available… is one of them yours?
“Italy has many pleasures to offer but none so sublime as traveling with a group of kind, curious, progressive, badass [people]… seeing the country through your eyes was profound. ”
— Sara B.
“Autumn is the time of year when Tuscany truly shines and it is definitely the best time of year to taste what the region has to offer. I am so thrilled to partner with Stellavision on this dreamy, size inclusive trip to share my Tuscan favourites. For me this trip is all about celebrating and nurturing our bodies and all of our senses through tasting delicious, seasonal food and treating ourselves to a soak in the most magical hot springs in Tuscany.”
-Emiko Davies, award-winning Food Writer & tour Co-Host
Itinerary
Day 1: Florence
You’ll check into our city-chic hotel at your leisure where you’ll find some Stellavision surprises waiting for you. Then we’re kicking things off in high style - with an aperitivo at the best cocktail spot in town (only Italian liquors behind this bar!) This is your first introduction to the celebrated Italian tradition of the aperitivo hour, but far from your last. And it’s not just about booze - throughout the trip you can expect regional snacks, meats and cheeses to pair with your classic cocktail, prosecco or refreshing mocktail. Welcome. Over a dinner featuring traditional Florentine fare you’ll get to know our small group, Tour Guide and Photographer. Then the night is yours - but we’re furnishing you with the Stellavision guide to choose-your-own-adventure: our favorite evening walks and nighttime vistas as well as underground cocktail spots and wine bars.
Day 2: Florence
After breakfast, we’re sharing Florence with you! We’ll experience a walking tour of the city, focusing on the rich culinary traditions. From tastings to history to food in art - this bespoke tour offers a new lens on the cradle of the Renaissance… and is sure to work up an appetite! After the best panini in town, you’re headed to the famous Uffizi gallery for a choose-your-own-adventure. If you’re the type of traveler to catch vibes, see history and move on - we respect that. If you want to devote twenty minutes to examining Botticelli brushstrokes? WE RESPECT THAT. So - we’re furnishing you with a bespoke Stellavision guide to some of the classics and you can decide how to spend your time in one of the world’s greatest art galleries. After some free time in Florence or a hotel rest & relax moment, we’re heading out for a stylish dinner in one of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants.
Day 3: Bagno Vignoni
The countryside is calling! After breakfast at our hotel, we’re boarding our bus and heading into Tuscany. A quick-ish trip later we reach our first stop: to meet cheese maker Ulisse and his partner Sandra at their caseificio. We’ll tour the incredible farm, seeing the animals and dairy before observing some of their delicious cheeses being made. With one of the region’s most gorgeous views, we’ll enjoy an organic, farm-fresh lunch before we depart for the town of Bagno Vignoni. This tiny village gets overlooked by many tourists who are certainly missing out as it boasts some of the warmest and most beautiful hot springs in Tuscany! In fact, instead of a central piazza, Bagno Vignoni’s center is a thermal bath! After checking into our spa hotel, you’ll be able to enjoy the indoor/outdoor pools which are heated by natural thermal waters before we reconvene for a cozy dinner. After dinner we’re taking a late night dip… you’ll never sleep so well as after a Tuscan hot spring submergence!
Day 4: Bagno Vignoni
We’ll enjoy a slow start this morning. Whether you’re sleeping late, going for a sauna or a stroll through town, the quiet pace of Tuscany will set in. By midday we’ll head to a farm renowned for their flowers - the first in Tuscany and run by a family of women! We love to see it. You’d be mistaken to think that the high season is the best time to enjoy Tuscany, a region whose beauty captivates all year long. We’ll be connecting with nature, seeing the farm in its autumnal state before a workshop composing dried bouquets - a natural adornment for the remainder of your time in Italy. A hearty, local lunch tops of our experience before we head to the nearby town of Montepulciano where there’s a hot chocolate with our name on it in the famed local cafe and a bit of time for strolling too. We’ll return to Bagno Vignoni with enough time for a final, pre-dinner soak. Then we’re dining at Emiko’s favorite restaurant in Tuscany. And she’s got a palate that knows!
Day 5: Siena to San Miniato
After yesterday’s mellow day, today is all about exploring. We’re hopping onto a bus this morning and heading straight for Siena where, after a coffee break in one of the country’s most famous piazzas (hint: it’s round!) we’ll be meeting up with our guide Sezgi who will be showing us around the UNESCO-listed town and highlighting some specific feminist history in the region. Then, a small drive takes us towards the walled, medieval town of San Gimignano, famous for its many towers, historical center and surprisingly robust modern art presence. After a street-food lunch and dessert at an award-winning gelateria, you’ll have time to wander the beautiful spaces at leisure. Back onto the bus, we’re headed to San Miniato, our final stop and our co-host Emiko’s hometown. We’ll be checking into a traditional, small-town hotel before meeting back up with Emiko at her natural wine-bar and culinary school: Enoteca Marilu, where we’ll be hosted for a delicious dinner.
Day 6: San Miniato
Yesterday we inspired your mind with history and your taste buds in Emiko’s kitchen. But a culinary tour of Tuscany just isn’t complete without wine so today is all about vino! We’ll first visit a winery where we’ll learn about the local landscape and how it informs the viticulture. And of course, we’ll sample the regional specialty; Vin Santo. Heading back to Enoteca Marilu, we’re in for a wine-lover’s treat. Over a slow, cozy lunch, Emiko’s partner Marco will take us on a tour of Italy through wine. A sommelier who built the wine lists at some of Tuscany’s most esteemed (and delicious!) restaurants, Marco will help us connect the local Tuscan varietals to wine culture in 12 different regions of Italy, a feat of exploration with accompanying tastings. With a few leisurely hours, you may choose to go for a passeggiata (stroll) through town or perhaps a pisolino (nap!) is calling before a dinner highlighting another Tuscsan foodie experience. We’ll be dining at San Miniato’s acclaimed butcher, an ancient Tuscan trade that honors free range traditions and 0km product.
Day 7: San Miniato
It’s what you’ve been waiting for! Don your most sensible shoes as we embark on a private truffle hunt in the Tuscan woods outside San Miniato. Alongside the region’s famed truffle dogs and our expert guide, we’ll experience the search for one of the most sought-after ingredients in the world: Tuscany’s white truffle. We will be outdoors but the terrain is easy and the distance we cover modest. After we dig up these delicious treat, we’ll be rewarded with a cooking lesson from Emiko! A once in a lifetime experience to learn to make truffle pasta with an award-winning cookbook writer! Together we’ll prepare a delicious lunch that highlights the white truffle. Following lunch you’ll have some free time to experience small-town Tuscany, nurse a coffee in the piazza or curl up with your journal / book / headphones. Tonight, we’re find dining… with a twist! For our final dinner, our elegant meal will be decadent, elevated and exclusively vegetarian. The year-round bounty of Tuscany will be highlighted as we raise a glass to an incredible week together. But we’re not done yet…!
Day 8: Return to Florence
Today the town of San Miniato comes alive as the white truffle festival reaches a fever pitch! Stalls will be erected in the center, offering a bounty of delectable food products - all local of course. Tents will be raised for cooking demonstrations and foodie presentations. While most tourists experience the Italian truffle via commercialized shops or in restaurants, this privileged visit takes us behind the scenes in San Miniato, a glimpse of an authentic food festival, known in Italian as a sagra. We have our resident expert, Emiko, to guide us through the prestigious white truffle festival, the culmination of our week’s culinary experiences! There will be plenty of taste testing: from heirloom pigs and prosciutto, roast chestnuts, porchetta, cheeses and of course, the white truffle. There will be time to shop before we meet for crostini and a prosecco toast to our wonderful week together.
With a drop-off point in central Florence this afternoon, the tour will end. Until next time, we’ll leave you with an effusive Italian goodbye: Ciao amici, ciao amori, tanti baci!!!
Post-Tour FYI:
Our tour is 7 nights and 8 days. We will be traveling back to Florence from Tuscany on Day 8 of the tour- November 23rd. There will be a drop off point in central Florence on Saturday afternoon, at which point the tour will come to a (sniff) close.
We expect to arrive back mid afternoon. We want to ensure your flight turnaround is not rushed, even if we hit a little traffic en route. Please consider the timing when you book your onward journey.
You may want to consider booking a departing flight on the following day (Sunday) or beyond. We’re here to help with your post-tour logistics, booking a hotel for Saturday night if desired. Let us know what you need and we’re here to assist (gratis, obviously) but please note - any post-tour fees are not included in the price.
What’s Included
All Accommodation
You’ll have your own beautiful hotel room (aka single occupancy) for 7 nights in accommodations that have been selected to represent each area we travel to. From a chic city boutique hotel to a Tuscan spa hotel, you’ll experience rooftop bars, pools, a working farm, vineyards and and more. Traveling with your sister? Friend? Partner? You can sign up for a shared-room at our Double Occupancy rate.
All Meals
I mean…where do we start? The focus of our Tuscan tour about culinary traditions of the region and culminates in a traditional Italian sagra. You’ll be eating well! From fresh breakfasts to fine dining, street food and gelato stops; all your meals & snacks are included. If you have particular dietary needs, let us know and we will accommodate you, deliciously.
All Activities
We’ve curated a range of both classic and creative experiences to offer a unique and immersive experience of Italy. From culture to culinary and classic sightseeing, you’ll experience it all - and always with a chic twist. There’s also plenty of time to enjoy Tuscany: the hot springs, curling up with a book, walking in nature and more. You’ll be spoiled for choices.
Photographer & Daily Photo Set
Your holiday album just went stratospheric. A professional photographer accompanies each Stellavision Tour. Each night of the trip you’ll receive a photo set featuring all the sites, tastes and experiences of your journey, group shots, candids and a stunning posed photo of you in Italy. Find out more about traveling with our photographer.
All Internal Travel
All of our transportation is private, air-conditioned and furnished with road trip essentials. Shall we have a ‘Tiny Dancer’ moment?
Alcohol
From chic cocktails to classic Italian aperitivi and wine with dinners, you’ll have plenty of reasons to say ‘Salute!’ Not a drinker? Not a problem. Please note: the booze is flowing but not unlimited.
Co-Hosts + Local Guides
We’re taking care of all of the logistics so you can kick back and enjoy. We’re on hand to host the tour, take care of everything you might need, and point out precious details you may miss.
Welcome Kit
Merch, maps and a few surprises await you upon check-in! We’re also providing masks and hand sanitizer to navigate ‘post’-pandy travel, safely.
Not Included
International Flight
You’ll meet us in Florence, where the tour starts (and ends).
If you’d like to extend your vacation, you can get a special Stellavision rate for additional hotel nights before or after the tour at our boutique hotel (pending availability)
Travel Insurance
is mandatory on all Stellavision Tours. We’ve done a bunch of the legwork for you though, you can find suggestions here.
Personal Expenditures
Incidental hotel costs (mini-bar, phone calls, laundry etc.), personal shopping and any expenses accrued during free time (e.g. after-dinner) are not included in the tour price.
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Your Tour Hosts
Meet Zoe.
Hi, I’m Zoe Shapiro (she/her) and I’m the Founder & CEO of Stellavision Travel. I love neon signage and have too many records. My milkshake flavour is PB & Banana but I’d never play favorites when it comes to gelato! When I started Stellavision, I was passionate about taking solo feminist travelers to the parts of Italy hard to see independently (still am!) Being based in the Tuscan region our group will be exploring, it was a no brainer to reach out to one of the local ladies I admire the most to collaborate on this tour. During my time in Italy, I’ve been privileged to connect with some of the incredible women doing “cool shit” in this country: outspoken activist and culinary sensation, Emiko Davies is certainly one.
Read more about Zoe’s Italian journey here, keep track of her local life in Rome here.
Meet Emiko.
Emiko Davies is an Australian-Japanese food writer, photographer and cookbook author whose been based in Italy for the past 20 years. Her most recent cookbook (one of 6!), Gohan: Everyday Japanese Cooking , just won Fortnum & Mason’s Cookery Book of the Year and the Andre Simon Special Commendation awards. Her culinary prowess is published via a weekly column in Italy’s top newspaper, Corriere della Sera and can be witnessed firsthand at her natural wine bar and cooking school: Enoteca Marilu… our group will be visiting, ovvio!
Beyond her acclaim as a food writer, Emiko is a vocal advocate against any body-based or fatphobic discrimination. She has let her values be known, transparently sharing about her experiences with online trolls but most importantly, Emiko shares her passion for food and cooking.
Subscribe to Emiko’s substack here.
Let’s Talk.
We are so unbelievably excited to go on this journey with you! We also believe in total transparency: your enjoyment and experience are far more important to us than selling you a spot on a trip that may not be the right fit. Here are some things you might want to consider:
We aren’t educators or therapists.
We participate in the discourse around fat advocacy, representation, size inclusivity and feminism and we are sure that nuanced, emotional and thoughtful conversations will arise on the trip. We are happy to share references but we are not experts and we do not have all the answers. This tour is designed to be a community-driven, empowering vacation, not a seminar. And it is extremely important to note: we are not qualified to and will not dispense mental health, eating disorder or other psychological advice.
Who is this trip for?
We debated for a while what to call the tour before selecting the term ‘Size Inclusive’. Because this trip is for everyone. If you are struggling with self-image, if you are on a journey to body-positivity or body-neutrality, it is for you. If you are fat, curvy, thicc - whatever your preferred adjective is! Maybe you wear straight size clothes and crave connection with a community of women on body-related topics: it’s for you too. There is no specific body or experience this trip is for, this is a Size Inclusive tour. If the itinerary and the trip speak to you, this trip is for you.
What will the experience be like?
This trip will be full of incredible Italian experiences and places, new friends and memories. But we cannot and won’t suggest that this is a trip that will make you forget about your size/appearance. It may, in fact, call attention to it for yourself or others (because it will likely be a topic of conversation and - when a group of beautiful women walk into a room - people notice!)
From our itinerary to logistical planning, whatever is in our power to control - we have. But the world isn’t always considerate of marginalized bodies and Southern Italy is not the most progressive place. We wish it weren’t so. But travel is often about going beyond your comfort zone and we can think of no better community to do so with than this one.
Whatever we are empowered to do to make your time perfetto, we will. As for the rest - you will have our unwavering support throughout - logistical and emotional.
Physical demands and mobility
At this stage, Stellavision Travel is not equipped to support travelers with mobility challenges. This is something we are working towards as our company grows. Please read the Booking Terms and Conditions for full details.
This is not a physically demanding trip. In many of the small towns we visit, there will be small-to-medium inclines as we walk around at a slow pace. The longest duration of walking activities is approximately 2 hours and on these occasions the pace will be slow and there will be hydration & rest breaks. There will be the opportunity to diverge from the tour if you’d prefer to wait with one of our Hosts in a central piazza and reconnect afterwards or explore at your own pace.
Travel Style
What can you expect from a Stellavision Tour? From journeying with a professional photographer to our travel values, find out how we do Italy:
Booking Terms & Conditions
All the fine - and not so fine -
print can be found here:
