Sophie and Annie’s Tuscany Food & Art Tour
Join food writer and cookbook author - Sophie Hansen – and her accomplished artist mum - Annie Herron - on an 8 day food and art trip in Italy’s stunning Tuscany region.
The Details
Dates: 6th- 13th June 2026
Route: From Florence to the Tuscan countryside (tour ends back in Florence)
Duration: 8 Days
Arrive in beautiful Florence where we’ll uncover the magic and charm of this whimsical city, savour traditional Tuscan cuisine, and navigate the cobbled lanes and picturesque piazzas.
Then we’ll head to the countryside via private mini-bus to our charming Tuscan villa where we’ll spend our days creating, painting and cooking, taking in the beautiful Tuscan countryside as our inspiration.
Enjoy daily visits to nearby Tuscan villages, wandering through the cobblestone streets, visiting local markets with Sophie, taking in the local sites, and enjoying delightful picnics. Most meals will be made by Sophie using local, fresh Italian produce, with cooking classes included.
With your teacher Annie, and in our daily art classes, we'll focus on creating beautiful visual travel diaries through sketching and watercolour classes along the way, so you can go on to capture your travels, illustrate recipes, and sketch and paint al fresco while away (and then back home!).
We will visit Lucca, San Miniato and our closest village, Vinci, with Sophie and Annie leading market, gallery and museum tours along the way. We’ll go for big walks, stop and have picnics, sketch and then come back to the villa to relax by the pool before making dinner together.
What a special experience led by a well-respected cookbook author, Sophie Hansen, and accomplished Artist mum Annie Herron!
The Itinerary
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7 nights in Boutique and Premium accommodation. One bathroom between 2 rooms (or 2 people) in the Tuscan villa. Here is the link to the villa where we are staying.
7 breakfasts, most lunches and 7 dinners including a Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner
2 Specialised Hosts from Australia (Sophie and Annie)
Tour Leader/Coordinator from Australia
Cooking classes with cookbook author Sophie Hansen
Art classes with accomplished artist mum Annie Herron (We will provide everybody with a list of art supplies, and you can purchase the brands and items you prefer.)
Visits to local Tuscan villages including Lucca, San Minato and Vinci
Entrance and fees to all local attractions and activities on the tour
Private minibus transport + Driver
Daily complimentary bottled water
All gratuities included for local services
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Welcome to Florence! The beating heart of Italy’s artistic and cultural heritage. Known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, this city is a treasure trove of architectural marvels, historical masterpieces, and gastronomic delights.
After checking in at your boutique hotel accommodation and having time to unwind, you will meet your Tour Hosts Sophie Hansen and Annie Herron for an evening walking tour which includes the famous Marino Marni Museum.
Enjoy a Welcome Reception & Dinner with delicious traditional Tuscan cuisine.
Dinner included
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Today we’ll uncover the magic and charm of Florence, savour traditional Tuscan cuisine, and navigate the cobbled lanes and picturesque piazzas including a visit to Piazalle Michelangelo, Boboli gardens, Pitti Palace and Uffizi.
Whether you’re an art lover, history buff, or food enthusiast, Florence promises an unforgettable journey through time, taste, and beauty.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
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Join Sophie for an early visit to Florence Farmers Markets to learn about local Tuscan foods and handpick specialty produce, breads and meats for your dinner tonight.
Travel out into the countryside by private minibus into Tuscany where you’ll check into a charming Tuscan villa for the next 5 days. Built in 1850, your villa is embraced by a park of 15 acres with a romantic garden, a beautiful Italian garden with exotic plants, fountains and swimming pools.
Settle in this afternoon for your first art class led by Annie before enjoying dinner in your villa served up by Sophie.
Over the next 5 days, you’ll learn to paint with Annie and cook with Sophie while surrounded by Tuscany’s world-famous landscape boasting soft rolling hills covered by picturesque vineyards and olive groves with medieval stone houses perched on top.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
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Travel by private minibus to a nearby Tuscan village where highly regarded cookbook author Emiko Davies, an acquaintance of your Tour Guide Sophie, will provide an Italian cooking class.
Emiko will lead you to the local village markets and local butcher to handpick fresh seasonal ingredients to prepare together a delicious long Italian lunch paired with natural wines by local Tuscan sommelier Marco Lami.
Head back to the villa for an afternoon art class with Annie. Dinner by Sophie in your villa.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
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Enjoy a morning cooking class with Sophie, preparing for today’s Tuscan picnic lunch. We’ll wander into the gorgeous local village where we’ll enjoy an alfresco art class with Annie in Vinci while enjoying our picnic lunch. Explore the narrow streets of the local village before wandering back to our villa for free time by the pool.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
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Morning outing by private minibus to Lucca to explore this charming historic village and enjoy some shopping while you’re here. Enjoy al fresco sketching with Annie and cycling along Lucca’s historic city walls. Then back to your villa for an afternoon cooking class with Sophie, preparing delicious dinner together in your villa.
Breakfast and dinner included
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Morning cooking class with Sophie in your villa, preparing a delicious lunch. Afternoon outing to the local village or enjoy time by your villa pool with an afternoon art class.
Farewell dinner at villa by Sophie.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
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After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to your fellow guests, taking home wonderful memories of picturesque Italy with you.
Breakfast included today.
If you would like to spend more time in your accommodation at the beginning or end of the tour, speak to us about hotel details.
This itinerary may alter slightly.
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Click the ‘Book Now’ button to complete our Booking Form.
We will contact you with further information and confirmation regarding your place on the tour.
Your place on the tour will be only guaranteed when the deposit of $1500 is received by us along with a photo of the front page of your passport. We will then send you a receipt.
Please refer to our Terms & Conditions.
NOT READY TO BOOK BUT WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION? Would like to join the waiting list? Or join our mailing list? Contact us and we’ll answer all your questions.
Your Tour Guide:
Artist and art teacher
Annie Herron
Annie Herron studied art at the National Art School . She has been teaching art for many years to all ages from pre-school to senior school, and worked as a diversional therapist in hospitals
She has been running residential art classes at her farm at Rydal for the last 20 years. She has a regular art class every Wednesday for people in the Central West area.
Annie is an exhibiting artist and sculptor, who has had over 25 solo shows at Maunsell Wicks gallery, Paddington. She has shown in regional galleries and been involved in many group shows, mainly with her sculptures, which she works up by combining her bronze cast birds and found objects to tell a whimsical story.
She is also a painter, usually working in oils, and is inspired by the landscape of the central tablelands. A favourite collaboration was with her daughter Sophie Hansen to create a wonderful book of good things to cook, create and do – the whole year through called ‘Around the Kitchen Table’.
Your Tour Guide:
Food Writer & Cookbook Author
Sophie Hansen
When it comes to food, Sophie Hansen is the expert. Sophie is one of Australia's most highly regarded contemporary country cooks. She attracts a huge community of followers to her ‘Local is Lovely’ blog and Instagram page, weekly ‘5 Things to Be Cheerful About’ newsletter, as well as hosting countless pop-up dinners (consistently booked out!) and cooking events throughout regional Australia.
Sophie is trained in print journalism and has over 25 years’ experience as a food writer. Before settling down with her family on a farm near Orange in NSW, she traveled the world to explore the food culture in many countries.
Sophie has written five cookbooks including Local is Lovely, A Basket by the Door, In Good Company, Around the Kitchen Table and What Can I Bring? Se is currently working on her sixth book.
Sophie’s calming presence and friendly nature makes her the perfect Tour Guide for Pink Pelican Tours.