Indulge Your Inner Twihard on New Moon Tuscany Tours

by  Anthony Grant | Mar 22, 2010
Road in Tuscany
Road in Tuscany / gkuna/iStock

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With its famously mesmerizing scenery and historic roots, it’s no wonder Tuscany figures prominently in The Twilight Saga: New Moon – the hit movie based on Stephanie Meyer’s best-selling vampire love story. Now, both have come to life (afterlife?) in a four day Twilight Tour from Select Italy that uncovers the enigmatic Tuscan settings of the book and film. Starting at $953 per person, the trip includes multiple walking tours that take traveling Twihards to all of New Moon’s most recognizable Italian sites. Led by knowledgeable guides, you’ll wander the onscreen backdrops of Volterra and Montepulciano and as well as locales frequented by actors Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and the other members of the New Moon cast in “real life.”

Starting in Volterra, the fictional ancestral home of New Moon’s menacing Volturi vampires, you’ll receive an in-depth introduction to the town’s medieval monuments – including the Palazzo dei Priori, the oldest town hall in Tuscany and Meyer’s inspiration for the book's final scene. After dinner in the ancient palazzo comes a spooky nighttime guided tour (“Hot on the Trails of Bella and Edward”) accompanied by tales of secrets and cinematic sizzle, followed by a Red Blood aperitif (made from berries…not real blood) as a nightcap.

The second day begins with a morning stroll around Volterra’s narrow cobblestone streets while taking in the Etruscan archaeological highlights (aka the cryptic remnants of the Lords of Volterra) and later, a demonstration by a master alabaster craftsman at work in his studio. (Alabaster is a type of ornamental marble famed for its white, almost translucent quality…and not unlike the stone Bella so often refers to when describing Edward’s hard, perfectly chiseled skin). Afterwards, dine on true Tuscan appetizers and a superb slice at one of the old town’s most authentic pizzerias.

The last day takes travelers across 70 miles of countryside to nearby Montepulciano, where you’ll descend into the Cantina del Redi (the Volturi’s own underground lair), stand beneath the famous Clock Tower (whose resounding toll plays a prominent role in New Moon’s nail-biting climax), and stop by for a tasting of local vino and cheese at Robert Pattinson’s favorite wine bar. The ticket price also includes three nights at three- or four-star hotels in the two towns, buffet breakfasts every morning, and other New Moon surprises. Popcorn, however, isn't included.

Check out more of the latest movie-inspired packages and destinations (including Alice in Wonderland), and read about similar New Moon tours in the Pacific-Northwest.

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