Review Complete Trip Details & Itinerary Here

When you think “Tuscany” - The Val d’Orcia Valley is the place you’re dreaming of! In May, the fields are abloom with poppies and wildflowers, and the rolling hills go on for days.

This tour is for the photographer looking for a laid-back, Italian experience focused on making breathtaking photos of the Italian countryside. Over 5 days, we will wake up each morning to capture the rising sun and mist that forms in the valleys. We will stay at a local Agriturismo, a working farm where you will stay in apartment-style living with your own bedroom, have plush amenities like a “pool-with-a-view,” and of course, delicious, homemade Italian food + wine each night. This tour is very laid-back, with all shoot locations located within approximately an hour of our accommodations.  

Landscape settings

Using tripods properly

Composition

White Balance

Depth, Compression of Perspective & Scale

Pre-Scouting Locations via Apps

Photographing the Moon (Full moon during the tour)

Drone Photography (totally optional)

Pasta-making, Wine & Slow-Living

Maybe some Italian Language?

• D-SLR or Mirrorless camera
• A tripod with ball-head
• An ultra wide angle lens
• A mid-range zoom lens
• Telephoto zoom lens
• Extra memory cards, batteries and charger
• Bathing suit & Flip Flops (definitely)

This tour is easy. Each shoot location is located within an hour of our accommodation. There is no hiking. The towns we will visit are cobblestone or brick, and require some uphill walking. We will however, be making use of the incredible light that appears at dawn for most days of this tour, with breaks during the day.

Please refer to our fitness guide for more detail about physical requirements.

After leaving Boston on an overnight flight on May 13, we arrive in Florence in the early afternoon. We will be driving in two SUVs for just under 2 hours to our accommodation in the heart of Tuscany - the Val d'Orcia Valley. We are staying at an Agriturismo - a working farm with some of the most beautiful views in Italy. We eat a homecooked breakfast each morning. After settling in and exploring our home base, we will have an early dinner nearby and photograph the sunset.

We will get up bright and early to beat the other photo tour and workshop crowds at the "most famous" vista - Podere Belvedere. Sunrise is scheduled for 5:55 AM, but we  hope to be there at 5. Lucky for us, our home base is only a 5 minute drive away. We will return for rest, and spend the day exploring the nearby towns of Pienza and Montichiello. Photograph sunset at the Chapel Vitaleta.

Photograph sunrise at any of the locations we've already visited - whichever we want another crack at. We will visit a photogenic lone grouping of Cypress trees once the sun has risen. 

The majority of this day will be spent at Podere il Casale (10 AM-3 PM), where we will take a guided tour of the farm, the stables and dairy. We will then be learning how to make 3 different types of fresh pasta, complete with pairings and dessert - and we will get to eat it! 

 Included on this day: 5 hours Farm Visit, Pasta-making & Lunch at Podere il Casale

Today we will drive south of our home base to visit Bagno Vignoni, a village known for its hot springs, and a "refreshment point" for Christian pilgrims on their way to Rome. Where most towns have a main square - Bagno Vignoni has a "main pool." Don't forget your bathingsuit - we will be taking a dip in a nearby natural spring!

Later, we will visit the Abbey of Sant'Antimo, a former Benedictine monastery. Today, a small community of Benedictine monks live there. 

Visit one of the worlds most famous names in Wine: Montepulciano. Montepulciano is a medieval hilltop town with cobbled winding streets, surrounded by vineyards. Try wine to your heart's delight as you will find wineries and vintners on every corner. We will meander the streets, hilltop view, and make a stop at a Wine Museum.

In the afternoon, we will actually leave Tuscany and cross the border into Umbria to visit one of Italy's largest lakes: Lago Trasimeno. Take in the breathtaking views while exploring the medieval fortress of Rocca del Leone.

 Included on this day: Admission to the towers & walkways of Rocca del Leone

One last chance for a breathtaking sunset, before we depart. We drive back to Florence (about 2 hours). For those who will be staying longer to explore the incredible beauty and opulence for Florence, you will need to take the tram to Firenze SMN - the main station.