AACI’s Kosher Rome & Tuscany
September 8-15, 2025
So much has been said about Tuscany. It is the capital of culture, wine and food, and the true heart of Italy; it is the subject of so many books and films. The treasures of Tuscany are the finest that Italy has to offer: spectacular landscapes, vineyard-covered hills, fascinating cities, rich Jewish history, culture, and above all fine wine and gourmet dining.
The capital, Florence, is home to some of the world’s most recognizable Renaissance art and architecture, including Michelangelo’s “David” statue, Botticelli’s works in the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo Basilica. Its diverse natural landscape encompasses the rugged Apennine Mountains – truly a trip for all lovers of Italy.
AACI is pleased to offer this kosher tour experience in Rome and in the culinary paradise of Tuscany. Included will be cooking workshop, tastings and visits to picturesque villages, ancient synagogues, historical sites and food markets. We will stay in hotels in the very center of Rome and Florence, not far from the astonishing synagogues of these 2 eternal cities, and enjoy the guidance of local guides, who will accompany the tour. The trip and Kashrut supervision is in collaboration with Yael, who is well experienced in these kinds of trips in Italy.
Day 1 – Monday, September 8 – Tel Aviv – Rome
After landing in Fiumicino airport (hour to be confirmed), we will head with our bus to Rome, the eternal city, which this year will celebrate its Juvenile year. The early noon will be dedicated to a guided tour in the Jewish Ghetto and the famous big synagogue of Rome, in which we will learn about the history and culture of the fabulous Jewish community throughout the centuries.
We will have Lunch at a kosher restaurant and will check in at the hotel, located in the Jewish Ghetto right afterwards.
After a short rest at the hotel, we will head to a guided art and architecture tour in the historic center of Rome, the Centro Storico.
We will end the day with dinner at a Jewish Kosher restaurant.
Day 2 – Tuesday, September 9 – Rome
After breakfast, we will have our private guided tour at the Colosseum and the Foro Romano, the place where Roman history started. After a light lunch we will head to the other side of the historical center, to the famous Vatican – for a Guided tour at the center of the Catholic religion, including an interesting visit at the famous Sistine Chapel.
As an alternative, we will offer the possibility to visit Villa Borghese Gallery, one of the most exciting museums in Rome. After dinner at a Jewish restaurant, we will enjoy a cultural evening, still to be confirmed.
Day 3 – Wednesday, September 10 – Rome-Pitigliano – Florence
After breakfast, we will leave Rome to the city of Pitigliano. From the Bronze Age to WWII, this little town captures the essence of Italy. The picturesque village of Pitigliano lies in the heart of Maremma, on a tuff rock spur dominating deep valleys with abundant vegetation, typical of Tuscany.
Together with Sovana and Sorano, it is one of the three “tuff towns”. With its narrow streets and alleys, it is a fine example of a medieval town, where curiosities and traces of past eras are hidden around every corner. In the valley that surrounds it, the Etruscans opened up large passageways excavated inside the tuff rock: the so-called “Vie Cave”, a network of cave routes that extends around the town through which you can walk freely and is quite fascinating both from a historical and visual standpoint.
It is the specific nature of the ground on which Pitigliano is built that has made it a town characterized by private cellars that have been dug out underground. Tuff is, in fact, a soft volcanic rock that is easy to work and shape. This has allowed the people who live here to dig places in which to store food, wine, and oil, away from the surface heat of summer days.
The town is rich in history and culture and was nicknamed “Little Jerusalem” because it had been home to Jewish families fleeing their homelands since the 16th century. Coexistence between the new Jewish community and the people of Pitigliano was so peaceful that the first Jewish places of worship, such as the Synagogue of 1598, were built here from the very beginning.
From its high position, the town overlooks an amazing landscape of fields cultivated with olive trees and vines. The latter in particular is key to the production of “Bianco di Pitigliano” DOC, one of the first DOC wines in Italy (1966), that was somewhat undervalued for many years, but is now alive and well thanks to the area’s wine growers.
After visiting Pitigliano, we will picnic at a delightful outdoor location and then continue to our hotel in Florence and after the check in we will have a Kosher dinner at a local Jewish restaurant.
Day 4 – Thursday, September 11 – Cooking class and Lucca
After breakfast, we will hold our cooking class together with an Italian local chef at a unique Tuscan farm near the town of Lucca. At the farm we will enjoy olive oil Tastings and then we will experience cooking of a real traditional Kosher Tuscan lunch. We will then have lunch based on the food prepared at the class.
After lunch we will head to the wonderful town of Lucca, one of the most ancient and interesting towns in Tuscany and enjoy the historic center together with our local guide. We will then have a light dinner following a session of Kosher wine tastings.
Day 5 – Friday, September 12 – Pisa
After breakfast, we will travel to the charming town of Pisa, where a guide will show us the sights including the ancient synagogue. The City of Pisa played an important role in Italy’s history. It was a vital seaport and a major center of trade. In the early days, Pisa was a popular resting place for pilgrims from Europe on their way to Jerusalem.
We will return to the hotel in Florence early to prepare for Shabbat and enjoy some free time in Florence.
After candle lighting we will have Shabbat dinner at the local restaurant in Florence.
Day 6 – Saturday, September 13 – Florence
Morning prayers in the synagogue followed by lunch at a Kosher restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will meet for a fascinating guided tour in Florence+Uffizi in which we will explore the treasures of one of the most important cities in the world.
18:00 – Seuda shlishit in the early evening.
Day 7 – Sunday, September 14 – Siena and San Gimignano
After breakfast, we will visit and tour with a guide the amazing town of Siena, one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Tuscany. Siena has a UNESCO-listed historic center which is surrounded by a well-preserved 1,000-year-old wall. The Central Piazza in Siena is known worldwide for the famous Palio horse races run here every summer. Siena and the Palio were featured in the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.
After a light lunch, we will drive to the charming town of San Gimignano. San Gimignano is famous for its fascinating medieval architecture and many towers. Local products include saffron and its own exclusive white wine.
We will meet for a festive last dinner at the kosher restaurant in Florence.
Day 8 – Monday, September 15 – Val d’Orcia – Rome-Tel Aviv
After Tefillot, breakfast and hotel check-out we will drive to the south of Tuscany, to the magnificent area of the Orchia valley, in which we will visit the lovely wine town of Montepulciano. After a picnic lunch, we will head to Rome airport.
Hotels/Prices/payment/cancellation details to be announced.
Hotels:
Flight details (not included in the price)
Departure flight:
Return flight:
Price:
€ per person in a double room
€ for single room
Prices includes:
7 nights hotel accomodation
Transfers
All activities listed in the above itinerary
Tips
AACI escort
local guide.
Price does not include:
Flights
Travel Insurance
Personal items
Payment:
50% deposit to be paid at REGISTRATION
Payment of the balance – 50% –
Cancellation:
20% cancellation fee FROM REGISTRATION
50% cancellation fee from
100% cancellation fee
Travel insurance is obligatory and should cover illness, luggage & cancellation. It can be purchased through your insurance agent, your Kupat Holim or Diesenhaus Tours.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
For further details please email: info@aaci.org.il or call 02-5661181 ext. 205