Itinerary

2012 TOURS

 

 



2013 TOURS

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CLASSIC TUSCANY

TOUR DETAILS

This tour may be combined with the Venice and the Italian Lakes Tour, the Insider's Rome Tour and the Amalfi Coast Tour.

This tour starts on September 14, 2012 in Florence. Your flight should arrive before 2:00PM.

Day 1: As you arrive at the Florence airport, you will be met by our chauffeur for a private transfer to our boutique hotel in the center of the Renaissance Florence. In the afternoon, we'll meet our private guide and tour the Accademia Gallery, featuring David and other sculptures by Michelangelo. In the evening, we'll enjoy a welcome dinner of traditional Florentine cuisine, and get to know each other, as we join in a discussion about Florence's history and present.
Meals: D

Day 2: We'll start our tour of Tuscany with an in-depth insight into the history of Florence, as we tour the city to gain an appreciation for the art of the Renaissance. We'll admire the masterpieces by Giotto, Raphael, Botticelli and da Vinci. We'll take a guided Renaissance walk around the city's most renowned sights: Brunelleschi's Duomo and Giotto's Bell Tower, the Gates of Paradise at the Baptistery, the historic Piazza della Signoria, and Ponte Vecchio spanning the picturesque Arno River. After lunch of Florentine delicacies and great wines in one of the city's atmospheric cafes, we'll tour the Ufizzi Art Gallery, then enjoy a free afternoon.
Meals: B, L

Day 3: Today, we'll leave Florence and drive through the enchanting Chianti Hills. We'll explore a typical medieval village of Greve in Chianti, with its triangular piazza, wine bars and the Franciscan monastery. We'll also tour the nearby Verrazzano Castle, taste local wines and sample Tuscan culinary specialties of delicious focaccia bread dipped in olive oil, slices of red tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil and sun-cured olives. Afterwards, we'll continue to our luxurious Tuscan villa, and after checking in, the rest of the afternoon will be free to relax in the captivating Tuscan countryside and enjoy the villa's amenities. We'll end the day with a celebration of Tuscan cuisine and wines at the villa's dining room.
Meals: B, D

Day 4: In the morning, we'll tour of the eastern part of Tuscany, as we venture to the legendary town of Cortona. Set into the side of a hill covered with olive groves, Cortona offers stunning views across the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside and has changed little since the Middle Ages. We'll tour Santa Margherita and San Nicolo Churches, but will also have free time for personal discoveries. Outside of the city, we'll visit the Etruscan Tombs, stop by Frances Mayes' house, before returning to the villa in the afternoon. In the evening, we'll enjoy a private cooking class, culminating in dinner where we'll sample Chianti culinary specialties and excellent Chianti wines.
Meals: B, D

Day 5: Today, we'll travel to Siena, where we'll join the local historian who will take us on a guided tour of this beautiful town, spread over red clay hills, dotted with grey-green olive trees and centered around the fan-shaped Piazza del Campo. Founded by the Etruscans, Siena later became a Roman colony and flourished during the 13th and 14th centuries. The tour will include the semicircular Campo, the public square famous for the Palio horse race and the focus of Sienese life since 1340, as well as the impressive Duomo Cathedral with improbable frescoes and mosaics. After some free time to shop and to enjoy Siena at your own pace, and this is a fabulous place to stroll and admire some of the most glorious examples of medieval architecture in existence, we'll meet for a Siennese dinner in one of the city's traditional restaurants, before going back to our villa.
Meals: B, D

Day 6: After a free morning spent relaxing by the pool or in the gardens, we'll continue our exploration of the Tuscan countryside with a tour of Chianti Classico Hills, mesmerizing with their vineyards, olive trees, castles, abbeys and black cypresses beneath picture perfect farmhouses and villas. We'll explore the villages of Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and Gaiole in Chianti, where we'll visit castes, wineries and spend some time wandering around the charming villages. We'll end the day with a sunset tour of the Brolio Castle, followed by dinner of authentic Chianti cuisine and Baron Ricasoli's select wines served in the castle's dining room.
Meals: B, D

Day 7: We'll spend the day exploring the western reaches of the legendary Tuscan countryside. Our first stop today will be the medieval Volterra where the ancient Etruscan alabaster industry survives till today. We'll visit the Etruscan Museum and see the Roman amphitheater, before continuing to the rose-colored, medieval village of Etruscan origins: San Gimignano, with its 14 towers and well-preserved ramparts. After touring San Gimignano, we'll return to the villa for a low-key pizza dinner.
Meals: B, D

Day 8: Today, we'll continue our exploration of Tuscany with a visit to the beautiful southern part of the Siena province. After the morning drive through le Crete, amazingly different from the landscapes of northern Tuscany, we'll visit Montepulciano, a walled Renaissance town known for its Vino Nobile. We'll the continue to Pienza, a lovely Renaissance village, known for its classic Renaissance piazza, the lavish Piccolomini Palace and pecorino cheese. We'll return to Villa Belpoggio in the evening, and we'll celebrate our Tuscany adventure with farewell dinner of great food and excellent wines.
Meals: B, D

Day 9: Today, we'll say good-bye to Tuscany and return home, richer in Tuscan experiences and discoveries. If you are continuing to Rome, we'll have a private minibus transfer in the morning. If you are leaving us, the airport transfer will be at 9:00AM, reaching Florence airport at 10:00AM.
Meals: B

This tour ends at 10:00 on September 22, at Florence Peretola Airport. Please schedule your return flight after 12 noon.

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