No trip to Greece is complete without visiting the Acropolis of Athens! On our tour, Greece & the Greek Islands, September 26 – October 8, 2018, we’ll explore the major monuments of the Athens Acropolis.

The Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a citadel built on a hill during the Golden Age of Athens (460-430 BC). The Acropolis served as the preeminent sanctuary of the ancient city of Athens and its purpose was to provide sacred grounds to the goddess Athena. Athena was the goddess of many things: wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law, justice, mathematics and the arts.  She was essentially urban and civilized but was also the goddess of war.

Led by a certified guide, we’ll tour and learn about the key monuments of the Acropolis: 

Parthenon 
Temple of Athena
Erectheum
Temple of Athena Nike
Propylaea
Temple of Zeus
Theather of Dionysis

We’ll also visit the Acropolis Museum (opened in 2009) that houses the historic and archaeological treasures of the Acropolis as well as objects of Athenian every day life. The museum hosts its collections on three levels and has an archaeological excavation site that lies at its foundation.

1. Be guided through the Acropolis temples: the Parthenon, Temple of Zeus, Theater of Dionysis, Temple of Athena Nike…follow with a visit to the new Acropolis Museum.
2. Drink Greek wine…you’ll love it!  Also, tour and taste at Santorini wineries.
3. Enjoy free time to wander, shop and dine in the Plaka District of Athens. 
4. Take a culinary walking tour in Athens…sample and taste Greek delicacies and liqueurs.
5. Enjoy an evening event (a concert, dance, theatre) at the Acropolis…it’s especially beautiful lit up at night!
6. Hike to two Meteora Monasteries and visit their interiors…a serene experience!
7. Be guided through Delphi, the site of the Temple of Apollo…followed by a visit to the Delphi Museum.
8. Sail around the island of Mykonos on a catamaran… Greeks are known for their skill on the water.
9. Snorkel in a secluded cove…Greece has some of the most beautiful sea life on earth.
10. Enjoy the local cuisine in Old Mykonos Town from a seaside cafe…order some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever taste.
11. Visit a Greek volcano…hike along the Caldera of Santorini, the edge of the volcano.
12. Watch a Greek sunset… perhaps the best sunset you will ever see is from Oia, Santorini.
13. Eat a traditional Greek meal… we’ll try local specialties and traditional Greek dishes everywhere we go!
14. Learn to cook as the Greeks do in a hands-on cooking class paired with Greek wines.
15. Take in the beauty of the Aegean Sea…it’s a vista you will always remember!

Whatever you do…enjoy yourself and take in all that Greece and the islands have to offer during this small group tour!

Florence & Chianti in Tuscany: A Cultural & Culinary Adventure
September 6-17, 2017

During our fall tour, we will base ourselves for a week in a villa in the Chianti region. From the villa, we’ll visit these Tuscan medieval towns. Each town has its unique history, culture, architecture, traditions and charms. We’ll meet locals along the way. Get ready to discover these ‘gems’!

Greve: Greve is the hub of the Chianti Classico region. It is the center the Chianti wine industry. Greve regularly hosts a Slow Food Market. Its central square, Piazza Matteotti, is lined with attractive shops, restaurants and  tasting rooms. We’ll wander the streets of Greve, check out its shops and cafes and go to the farmer’s market. We’ll also visit the Wine Museum to learn the history of winemaking in Chianti.

Panzano: Panzano is a charming medieval town located on a high ridge surrounded by Chianti Classico vineyards. Panzano’s views are of vineyards dotted with cypress tress, olive groves, and farmhouses. Panzano has a good range of restaurants, ‘enotecas’/wine tasting shops and is home to the famous ‘Butcher of Panzano’, Dario Cecchini, featured on The Food Network. We’ll visit his butcher shop and have dinner at his restaurant, La Officina. 

San Miniato is a medieval hilltop village (in the province of  Pisa) half-way between Pisa and Florence. It is an ancient settlement above the meeting point of the Arno and Elsa Rivers giving it a rich history due to its strategic location. Its origin is BC. Ancient artifacts have been found in the surrounding area. The Tower, on the summit of the hill, dominates the valley below. San Miniato is a Tuscan ‘Slow City’ and is the center of the white truffle zone. We will go on a truffle hunt near San Miniato, take a truffle cooking class and visit this remarkable town.

Siena: Siena is the furthermost southern town we will go to in Tuscany. The city center is distinguished by its medieval brick buildings and fan-shaped central square, Piazza del Campo. The Siena Cathedral, a focal point of the city, is a medieval Roman Catholic church completed between 1360 and 1370. Its interior and exterior are constructed of distinctive white and dark green marble in alternating stripes. Built in two stages, the Siena Cathedral combines elements of Gothic, Romanesque and Classical architecture. It is a site not to be missed!  

Montefioralle: The ancient village of Montefioralle is still enclosed within its original walls. During the Middle Ages, it was one of the largest military and administrative centers of the area. It is believed to date back to 1085 AD. The village itself is virtually free of cars. The ancient passageways lead to the entrance of its main castle. Vineyards stretch in every direction and there are wonderful hiking trails in the area.

We will visit the town and taste at the Monefioralle winery.

San Gimignano: San Gimignano is a walled village about halfway between Florence and Siena. It is famous for its fascinating medieval towers that rise above all the other buildings. At the height of its glory, San Gimignano’s patrician families had built 72 tower-houses as symbols of their wealth and power. Although only 14 have survived, San Gimignano still retains its feudal atmosphere and appearance. This town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visit our website for more details: http://www.packafork.com/florence-tuscany-a-cultural-culinary-adventure/ 

JOIN US!   THROUGH JUNE 1, RECEIVE $200 OFF ON REGISTRATION. HOLD YOUR SPOT WITH A DEPOSIT.  REGISTRATION CLOSES JULY 1st.

Meet Massimo, the truffle hunter of San Miniato, Tuscany. Massimo is a third generation truffle hunter/tartufaio and started hunting for truffles as a child after school with his father. Both his father and grandfather gave him the love for nature and the intense passion toward the ‘diamond of the land’ – the White Truffle (Tuber Magnatum Pica). This variety is sought after and coveted by gourmands from around the world. It is the variety that is in season during autumn in Tuscany. It was Massimo’s father and grandfather that told him legends, stories and anecdotes as a boy about the truffle and the truffle hunters.

Massimo and his dog (and perhaps a family member) will share their passion and love of the hunt on our Florence & Chianti in Tuscany tour, September 6-17, 2017.

We’ll spend the morning on a truffle hunt in the woods outside San Miniato. We’ll learn about the history of the truffle, the varieties, the biggest truffle ever found and some of those stories and legends.

After the hunt, we’ll partake in a hands-on cooking class and make classic truffle dishes. 

Get prepared to hunt, learn, cook and experience a day all about Tuscan truffles from a true local!  

Later, we’ll wander the streets of the beautiful medieval town of San Miniato.  This town carries a rich history and setting above a fertile valley outside Florence.

In addition to experiencing the wine and food of  Tuscany, the Florence & Chianti in Tuscany tour, September 6-17, 2017, will take guests to several must-see landmarks. While in the countryside, we will visit medieval towns, restaurants, artisan marketplaces, Chianti wineries, local merchants and chefs. However, we could not go this far and not experience these landmarks to truly understand the rich history, culture, art and architecture of the region. Guests will have guided tours of each.

Siena Cathedral

Siena Cathedral, Interior

Siena’s beautiful Gothic Cathedral was built from 1229-1263. The alternating bands of dark green and white marble that make the cathedral’s facade and campanile so striking, continue on to the interior. Filled with works by Italy’s artists of the day such as Pisano, Donatelli, Pinturicchio and Michelangelo, the cathedral will take your breath away!

Accademia Gallery, Florence

Accademia Gallery, Florence

The Accademia Gallery in Florence is home to Michelangelo’s masterpiece sculpture, David. In addition, the Accademia houses a large collection of sculptures and Renaissance paintings. Many of the works were commissioned and were part of the collection of the powerful Medici family. The main halls offer works by great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Pontormo. The Accademia is Florence’s most visited art gallery.

The Florence Duomo

The Florence Cathedral, also called the Duomo, is the main Roman Catholic church of Florence. Begun in 1296, the cathedral complex, located in the Piazza del Duomo, includes the Florence Cathedral with Brunelleschi’s magnificent Renaissance dome, the Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile. These buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the historic centre of Florence. We will tour the Duomo with options to see the adjacent Baptistery and Campanile.

Florence & Chianti In Tuscany: A Cultural & Culinary Adventure
September 6-17, 2017

Group Size: 15 + guides

• EARLY BIRD SALE: Register with a deposit before June 1, 2017 and receive a $200 discount. 

Registration ends soon !

Experience the Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago is a network of three ancient pilgrimage routes stretching across the Iberian peninsula coming together at the tomb of St. James in the Cathedral de Santiago de Compestola, Spain. The history of the Camino de Santiago goes back to the 9th century.

Every year, thousands of people walk the Camino de Santiago either in organized groups or on their own. The purpose is as varied as the people themselves. Some of the ‘pilgrims’ set out on the Camino for spiritual reasons but many others find spiritual reasons along the way as they meet other pilgrims, attend pilgrim masses in the churches and monasteries and see the large infrastructure of buildings and establishments provided for pilgrims over the many centuries.

The most popular route is the French Way or the Way of St. James which stretches nearly 500 miles from France across northern Spain ending in Santiago de Compestola. We will spend a day on a rural section of the French Camino outside Santiago de Compestola during the tour PORTUGAL NORTHWARD TO SPAIN, June 13 – 25, 2017. Along the way, we’ll experience the culture of the Camino, meet pilgrims who are en route, stop at establishments frequented by pilgrims and feel the spirit of the Camino.

Our route will be a 3-4 mile stretch between Arzua to Amenal, one of the loviest sections near Santiago. This section will take us through pretty woods, across streams and through medieval villages. We will stop for lunch and visit the villages we pass.

Our Portugal – Spain tour is designed to give guests unique immersive experiences. This walk will provide only small taste of the Camino. It will be enough for those who are just curious or give inspiration for those who decide to become a pilgrim one day.

Note: An alternate activity will be provided for those who do not walk.

More heaven on earth…

The beaches of Galicia are regarded as sone of the best in Spain…and there are a lot of them. This area really is a beach mecca and we will discover the most notable ones in the area. Famous for their fine white sand and crystal clear water, most Spainards flock to this area of Spain themselves for vacation.

On our tour, PORTUGAL NORTHWARD TO SPAIN, June 13 – 25, 2017, we will spend a day on the Cies Islands. There are no hotels or roads on the islands, just a camping site and a few beach bars. The Cies islands are also a natural bird preserve. Aside from the seagulls, there are pairs of Iberian Guillemots, a bird species that is almost extinct, larger birds of prey and busy woodpeckers.

The destination will be Rodas Beach, voted by The Guardian as the ‘most beautiful beach in the world’. Spend a day on Rodas Beach. Relax, walk, discover its coves and enjoy a meal at one of the local hang-outs. 

Galicia brings in more fish, shellfish and crustaceans than any other region in Spain (or Eurpoe, for that matter) and the Galicians regard it as their staple diet. Typical Galician dishes include: Pulpo a la Feira (octopus), Empanadas (stuffed with fish, scallops, tuna or octopus) and Salpicon de Mariscos (seafood salad). The area is known for its clams, cockles, razor clams, spider crab, shrimp, lobster, and ‘percebes’ or goose-neck barnacles. If you can’t decide on just one, we can always order a mariscada or a huge seafood platter.  

For those that don’t like or can’t eat seafood, there is a range of other meat or vegetarian options in Glaicia. Try the Lacon Con Grelos (pork shoulder with greens, Churrasco (barbecued meat) or Caldo Gallego (Galician stew). 

This will be a great beach day…and who couldn’t use that ??

Heaven on earth.

No trip to Portugal is complete without a visit to Porto. Add to that a cruise from Porto on the Douro River and you have ‘heaven on earth’.

The Douro River river is one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula running from its source in northern Spain through Portugal to its outlet in Porto. The river forms part of the national border line between Spain and Portugal in a region of narrow canyons. These canyons have a microclimate perfect for growing grapes, olives and almonds. The canyons of the Douro River are lined with port-making wineries/ ‘quintas’, olive oil mills and terraced vineyards making for spectacular scenery. This postcard-pretty valley has fast become one of Europe’s leading wine destinations. The Douro River Valley was named by Travel + Lesiure, as one of the ‘Best Places to Travel in 2016’.

On our tour, PORTUGAL NORTHWARD TO SPAIN, June 13 – 25, we will spend a day on a cruise from Porto upstream on the Douro River (‘river of gold’). We’ll leave Porto in the morning, board the boat and spend a leisurely day taking in the valley, the calm water and the dramatic landscape. Then, we’ll stop at a select quinta for a tour of its port and wine making facilities, walk their vineyards, enjoy lunch on the patio and taste their port and signature wines.

We’ll take the train back to Porto which has scenery of its own. The destination will be the Bento Rail Station in Porto where we will find an architectural delight. The interior of the rail station is covered in 20,000 hand-painted Portuguese blue and while tiles detailing the history of Portugal.