A project that was started over a plate of homemade pasta and a glass of local chianti wine, Tennis in Tuscany, offers a specialised experience for tennis fans looking to combine their passion for the sport with a unique Italian travel adventure. This initiative is run by Shannon and Marco Taccalite of Talis Tennis and Our Tuscan Farm. Together, they have designed a complete tour that integrates tennis instruction with some unique, cultural and culinary experiences in one of Italy’s most scenic regions.
Stay in a luxurious 17th century villa, play tennis on classic red clay courts encircled by vineyards and get an authentic and local experience of the Tuscany countryside! Sounds good?
Tennis Offerings
The core of the Tennis in Tuscany program is of course tennis, which takes place on beautiful, red clay courts, a surface widely used in this part of Europe. All days will include tennis playing with their international tennis professionals including Marco Taccalite, a former professional player and coach to some of the top players on the International tour, now running his own tennis management company.
The program is designed to cater to all skill levels, even complete beginners can join in. Tennis is being played daily, but it’s never mandatory, travelers can opt to skip sessions and experience other parts of their travels. Sessions and tournaments can also be arranged at other nearby courts.
Tour Itineraries
They are currently taking bookings for several group tours in 2025, both for Toscana and Rome. Yes, they also offer fantastic group tours of the Italian capital, where you stay at the historic Hotel Damaso, get to see Rome from the inside and get the chance to watch the tennis action at the nearby Italian Open Masters 1000 at the Foro Italico.
The main booking is of course their Tuscany week where guests stay at an exclusive farmhouse villa set in the Chianti region of Tuscany. Mornings are usually set for tennis while the rest of day is being spend relaxing with good food and wine, enjoying excursions or at local experiences in the area.
Usually it’s very small groups, less than 12 participant, which make the whole experience exclusive. Most of the trip, from tennis sessions to tours, is personalised and you can expect to visit many places hidden from the avarage tourist.
What’s included?
Once you get yourself to the villa, everything is setup for you. Seven nights accommodation in the villa with breakfast, lunch and dinner all included. Also, tennis instruction from Marco, and everything related to the excursions, is all included in the package. This can be for example museum/concert tickets, basically everything listed in itinerary for the trip.
Prepare to enjoy top-class chianti wine and farm-to-table Tuscan cuisine as you explore the countryside or explore charming medieval villages.
Tennis in Tuscany also provides a private group option. Travelers can contact the organizers to curate a custom trip tailored to their group’s size, dates and preferences.
Beyond Tennis
The tours extend beyond the courts to include unique experiences in Tuscany’s food, wine, art and culture. Activities are facilitated by Shannon and the team’s local connections, who has long built relationships with residents to provide access to authentic experiences. These might include visits to small towns, wine tastings or hands-on culinary sessions, though exact details depend on the itinerary and season.
Some interesting activities we’ve heard about: olive harvest, truffle hunting experiences, E-bike tours of the countryside, cook with Italian grandmothers, VIP tours of Florence and Siena and more.
You are also free to explore on your own as well of course. This team will help you with all you need, they surely know all the best restaurants around and what to see and do in the area.
More Details and Pricing
The Tennis in Tuscany tours are structured to accommodate a mix of tennis players and non-players, making them suitable for groups with varied interests. On their website, tennisintuscany.com, you can see all information needed about upcoming tours and make your bookings.
Regarding pricing, we recommend to visit the website or contact the team directly. However, mention Tennisnerd when booking and they will arrange a $100 discount on your trip!
For tennis travelers seeking a structured yet flexible and unique experience in Italy, tennisintuscany.com presents a superb option.
