Traveling Owls Under the Tuscan Sun

For more than 55 years, Traveling Owls has offered opportunities for discovery that extend far beyond the hedges of Rice. This September, that spirit of curiosity and camaraderie came alive in Tuscany, where alumni immersed themselves in a landscape rich with history, architecture and endless wine. No matter their graduation year or residential college, each traveler shared a common denominator: a love of Rice and a desire to keep learning together.

Ever wonder what a Traveling Owls adventure is really like? Our marketing writer, Kara Timberlake, enthusiastically accompanied Rice alumni to Italy as a travel host. Join her on an unforgettable journey in the travelogue that follows.

Day 1: Ciao, Italia!

After 10 hours in the air, one layover and a blur of in-flight movies, we touched down in Italy! Our group of Owls were greeted at the airport by Orbridge tour director Marco Messina, an Italian native with a passion for history. Marco quickly became a beloved part of the week’s journey with his wit, warmth and love of his country. He felt less like a guide and more like an old friend. Our home for the week was a storybook castle named Castello La Leccia, which dates to the Middle Ages and is complete with stone walls, turrets and a view of the rolling Tuscan countryside dotted with vineyards and olive groves. Perhaps even more spectacular than the scenery was the staff, who truly made the visit magical with five-star service and an eager spirit to help. When we arrived, jetlagged from our travels, a sandwich and fruit cup waited in our rooms, a delightful snack for weary travelers.

That evening, travelers gathered in the sunlight-dappled garden to toast the adventure ahead. A four-course welcome dinner set the tone, featuring Tuscan sliced beef, spaghetti (of course) and flourless chocolate cake paired with artisanal ice cream. As the wine flowed, so did the conversation, with travelers discussing residential colleges (with more than one lighthearted dig over which college is truly the best), mutual friends and professors, and where their journeys have taken them since Rice. The trip had officially taken flight!

Day 2: Cooking like Locals

The next morning, alumni tied aprons and rolled pasta in a hands-on cooking class led by the castle’s chef. We learned to make ravioli, carefully folding neat(ish) spinach and ricotta filled pockets, and discovered the art of making tiramisu. The afternoon brought time to unwind by the pool or stroll the gardens before a sunset wine-tasting led by the property’s sommelier. Later, we enjoyed the delicious creations we’d made earlier in the day and agreed we were pretty good chefs.

Day 3: Pienza, Panoramic Views and Podere II Casale

Pienza, the “ideal city of the Renaissance,” welcomed travelers with panoramic views, preserved architecture and cobblestone charm. At Podere Il Casale, a sustainable farm, we savored a farm-to-table lunch and toured vineyards, olive groves and a cheesemaking workshop, stopping to say hello to goats, pigs and even a peacock! One traveler celebrated a birthday and was greeted with a gelato cake adorned with candles after dinner, a sweet gesture by Marco and the staff at Castello La Leccia.

Day 4: Under The Tuscan Sun and Beneath Stone Arches

In Cortona, the setting of the memoir, “Under the Tuscan Sun,” we glimpsed author Frances Mayes’ home, Bramasole. With plenty of time to meander, we explored the town’s basilica, the Etruscan Academy Museum and winding lanes filled with shops, picking up (many) souvenirs along the way.

Day 5: Bites of History

The journey continued to Volterra, perched high on a hill and famous for its alabaster artisans. Later, in San Gimignano, nicknamed “the New York of the Middle Ages” for its tower-filled skyline, travelers admired frescoes inside the Duomo before visiting master gelato maker Sergio Dondoli, whose purple glasses and smiling face reflected his enthusiasm. We sampled his award-winning flavors, including Rosemary Baby and Crema di Santa Fina.

Day 6: A Taste of Tuscany

A morning visit to the walled village of Monteriggioni set the stage for a culinary experience at Badia a Coltibuono, a winery founded by monks in the 11th century. Chef Benedetta Vitali led a hands-on cooking class, showing us how to make homemade spaghetti and biscotti in a lesson infused with learning and laughter. A shared dinner in the Renaissance dining hall, with frescoes overhead and a musician at the piano, tied it all together. Marco surprised everyone by pulling out a harmonica and crooning along with the piano player, much to our delight.

Day 7: Arrivederci, Owls

Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offered a final deep dive into history with its striped marble Duomo and sweeping Piazza del Campo.

That evening, back at Castello La Leccia, we gathered one last time for a farewell dinner. As glasses clinked and live music played, the shared feeling was clear: the Rice spirit isn’t confined to campus; it’s carried wherever Owls take flight.