Experience Tuscany through its most authentic treasures, crafted by hands, perfected by time.
A day of heritage, flavor, and stories passed down through generations. From historic pasta making to rare aged prosciutto, discover food as a true art form.
From Wheat to Masterpiece: Five Generations of Pasta Making
When people think of pasta, they immediately think of Italy. But truly great pasta is never just about the country, it is about care, selected ingredients, slow processing, and deep respect for tradition.
We'll visit a historic pasta factory founded in 1860 and still owned and managed by the same family, now in its fifth generation. For more than 160 years, knowledge and passion have been passed from father to son, preserving authentic production methods while carefully embracing innovation. This is in an urban area near the beautiful town of San Miniato.
Your visit begins in the original pasta museum, a fascinating collection of antique tools, early machinery, historical documents, and vintage packaging. Walking through these rooms feels like traveling back in time, discovering how pasta was once made entirely by hand and how production slowly evolved over the decades without losing its soul.
The experience continues inside the working factory. Here you will follow the entire production process, from the selection of raw materials to the final packaging. You will learn how high-quality semolina is blended with water, how the dough is shaped through bronze dies to create a rough surface that better holds the sauce, and how the pasta is slowly dried at low temperatures to preserve flavor and nutritional value. A special focus is given to their unique wheat germ pasta, produced using a technique that enhances taste and digestibility, making it both traditional and innovative at the same time.
After the visit, you will sit down for lunch at the factory's elegant restaurant. The menu features two different pasta dishes, allowing you to fully appreciate texture and flavor, including their signature wheat germ pasta. The meal is completed by a traditional dessert and a glass of local Tuscan wine, simple, genuine, and perfectly balanced.
A Rare Tuscan Excellence, Aged in Silence and Wine
The journey then continues beneath the charming hilltop town of Montopoli, inside a remarkable underground aging cellar carved into the earth. This atmospheric space preserves one of Tuscany's rarest gastronomic treasures: a very special prosciutto aged for up to seven years.
Produced from free-range grey pigs raised in open, natural environments, this ham follows ancient curing methods dating back to before refrigeration existed. The aging process includes wine and ash, creating a microclimate that allows the meat to mature slowly and naturally. Time is the key ingredient here, patience, air, silence, and craftsmanship transform the prosciutto into something extraordinary.
During an intimate tasting, you will discover why this ham is considered a true masterpiece. Its texture is silky, its flavor deep yet elegant, with notes that evolve slowly on the palate. Like a fine wine or a musical instrument perfected over years, it represents balance, precision, and dedication, a product that cannot be rushed and cannot be replicated. It's called Stradivario for a reason!
This tour is about tasting excellent food and understanding the value of time, tradition, and family heritage in Tuscan gastronomy. A journey into authentic flavors that tell a story of passion and continuity.
This is a list of specialties that you are likely to sample as part of the program of this tour. Please, note that the specialties of the tasting session and/or lunch may vary according to the season and the availability of the products in the day of the tour.
A free sampling of Tuscan cold meats, cheeses and other delicacies along with a small glass of wine is served at the end of the Peccioli free guided tour.
A plate of local prosciutto, salami and pecorino cheese is a typical appetizer in the Tuscan cooking tradition. A plate of mixed cold meats and cheese can often accompany a guided tasting of Tuscan wines.
Boscaiola sauce is a very tasty topping for every kind of pasta. A base of Tuscan sausage, tomato paste and vegetables added with pine nuts, mushrooms and olives.
One of the most delicious tomato-based sauces for a pasta is sorrentina, a great recipe with black olives and red onions. The origin of this recipe is very poor but it is now considered one of the most delicate pasta dishes in Italy.
Together with a wide selection of wines, from young and fresh white wines to robust red riservas, we serve a whole buffet of Tuscan specialties that include Tuscan cold meats, cheese and extra virgin olive oil.
In our tour we like showing you places off the beaten track and introducing you to Tuscan people with their personal stories, careers and characters.
You will have one of our guides with your party during the whole tour. Please, see below all the guides who can be with you.
During this experience you can also meet some of the Tuscan friends involved in the events. Please, see below which friends you are likely to encounter.
Moira
guide
Moira
Pisa city tour guide & and tour leader at Arianna & Friends'
Ciao a tutti! My name is Moira, and I originally come from the north-west of Italy, from the city of Turin. I moved to Tuscany in 2012, immediately falling in love with the culture, the arts and history, the food, and of course, my favourite!, the wines of this beautiful region.
I started working with Arianna & Friends back in 2013 as an assistant at the Tourist Information Office of a small hilltop village, where our office was initially located. Later, I obtained my city guide license, and today I am the city tour guide on the team for the main towns of Pisa, Volterra, and San Miniato, as well as for some of our less famous tiny villages, which hide many secrets and have such a loooong history, such as Lari, Lajatico, and Peccioli.
I also obtained a license as an official truffle hunter, but I’m still mainly a truffle eater! My enthusiasm for learning new things never stops. I even learned how to become a professional olive tree pruner. When I’m not on tour, walking around our amazing places talking about art, culture, and history, or discovering local specialties together with our guests, you’ll find me in the office, taking care of bookings and reservations. I specialize in organizing active and fun weekends for groups of girlfriends.
I really hope to meet you soon to show you around our beautiful land, and since I come from another region, I can also reveal some secrets that Tuscan people will never confess!!
Luca
guide
Luca
Tour leader and websites content manager at Arianna & Friends'
Ciao Amici!! My name is Luca. I’m in my 40s and I’m probably one of the most energetic and fun-loving guides at Arianna & Friends
Like some of my colleagues, I have a multi-tasking role in the company. I am one of the content managers of our websites, especially during the winter, and when the season starts, I work as a tour leader.
Sometimes I also take care of bookings directly, and I often carry out site inspections to meet new collaborators and service providers, so we can be sure that every year the company offers new and interesting tours. From March to October, I lead almost all types of wine & food tours and cooking classes at Arianna & Friends. My favorites are truffle, olive oil, e-bike, and Vespa tours. Riding a Vespa through our wonderful hills is a must-do while in Tuscany, of course, only if you know how to ride a scooter!
When I started working for Arianna & Friends back in 2011, I was only able to prepare a very simple pasta al pomodoro (pasta with tomato sauce). Now, after so many years of cooking classes and thanks to our wonderful cooks, I am a very good chef (but please, don’t tell my wife!).
My motto is “Smile, you are in Tuscany.” I’m happy and very proud when I see people enjoying my country and having fun in Tuscany. Join us! Join me! Let’s have fun together!!
Yvonne
guide
Yvonne
Tour leader and wine expert at Arianna & Friends'
Dé – people smile at me, when I say it
But this is what Livorno, my beloved port town at the Tuscan sea, did to me – it placed itself into my heart. My name is Yvonne, and I have been living in several places on the world, but Tuscany kept calling me …
and here I am.
I love the wind, the sea, good wine and nature. In one word: Tuscany.
I love to share my passion and expertise about wine as a gift of nature with people. It makes me happy, when I hear people laugh while they enjoy a stunning E-bike ride through the rolling Tuscan contryside. And I love seeing their eyes shine when they discover the fascinating transformation of olives into delicious extra virgin olive oil.
Let’s enjoy it together – as your travel companion and tour guide, I am happy to make you discover the hidden gems and dive into the vibes of Tuscany.
Cristiano
guide
Cristiano
Tour leader at Arianna & Friends'
My name is Cristiano, and I live just outside the walls of Pisa, not far from the Leaning Tower. When I was a child, I lived in Mexico with my family, where I attended an international school in English. I graduated from a linguistic high school and speak English, Spanish, and French. I also worked for many years as a travel agent and managed tourist reception activities in Morocco.
Since 2024, I have been part of the Arianna & Friends team. Passionate about traveling the world, I love meeting new people and exchanging experiences and stories with them. I’ve been told I am a very charming and fun person, and many of the cooking classes where I act as the story-teller end with me singing traditional Italian songs alongside the chef, and sometimes even with our guests! I’m energetic, love sharing entertaining stories, and enjoy laughing with our guests while introducing them to Tuscan recipes, culture, and lifestyle.
My role here also includes being a tour leader for e-bike and Vespa tours, and my favorite activity to lead, beyond cooking classes, is the hands-on cheese-making experience
In my free time, I play tennis, love traveling to Asia, and enjoy hiking through the Tuscan hills with my friends and my dog, Ciccio.
I look forward to welcoming you in Tuscany and sharing unforgettable moments together!
Alessandro
guide
Alessandro
Tour leader at Arianna & Friends'
Buongiorno! My name is Alessandro. I was born and raised in a charming village near San Miniato, and I’ve spent my life immersed in the beauty of Tuscany. After traveling to England and Spain, I returned home to share my passion for my region. With years of experience in the hospitality industry, including roles in restaurants, hotels, and pubs, I’ve honed my skills in providing exceptional guest experiences. My sommelier training has deepened my knowledge of Tuscan wines and cuisine.
I am a thoughtful and patient person, always ready to solve problems and ensure every guest feels cared for and well looked after. Now, as a proud member of the Arianna & Friends team, I’m thrilled to share the stories and traditions of my homeland with visitors from around the world. Join me on a journey through the heart of Tuscany, where history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes come together.
ACCESSIBILITY:
This tour includes some stairs and a few more challenging stretches. If you have any accessibility needs — whether mobility-related, sensory, cognitive, or any other requirements — please let us know in advance and we will do our best to adapt the itinerary for you. CLOTHING:
No particular clothing required. FOOD RESTRICTIONS:
The foods served during this tour might contain gluten, lactose, nuts and alcohol. If you have any food restriction, please inform our personnel during the enquiry process. TRANSPORTATION:
This program and its rates do not include transportation and are set on a self-driving base. For further information see the box "transportation options".
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