Signature Tuscan Postcard Tour (trip)

Signature Tuscan Postcard Tour

  • Italy
  • Family & Friends
  • Culinary & Wine Travel
Italy, Europe, Tuscany - Toscana

from $4,579* per person10 DaysApril-July, September, October
Boutique accommodations Exertion level: 4
Operator: Story Land & Sea® 16 people max

What does Tuscany bring to mind? 

~ Scenic landscapes that beg for a movie set. ~ Culinary and wine experiences that rival the world's top menus. ~ Photographic experiences for the amateur or professional.

Discovering a unique itinerary through Tuscany for travelers looking for more than the usual is Story's Italian Postcard. The trip features in depth and after hours experiences at Tuscan landmarks, delicious culinary experiences, regional wines of Chianti and Toscana and of course we stay in authentic Tuscan villas and hotels.

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Locations visited/nearby

Italy, Europe, Tuscany - Toscana

0 testimonials about this trip.

1 testimonial about the provider, Story Land & Sea®:

  • Reviewer: Laurie P located in Cortland, NY USA
    There were absolutely no financial surprises on this trip! We booked the Deluxe package and added the Amalfi Extension. We came a day early, and stayed a day late…and are super glad that we made both of those decisions. Other additions that we added were transfers to/from the airports, the Uffizi in Florence, ferry to Capri, Pompei guided tour, and our flights. All breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 6 dinners were included in our cost. On the included dining nights appetizers were ordered for the table, and then we each ordered from the menu. The wine and limoncello flowed freely all night, and I never saw any attempt to slow it down. Most nights that we did not have an included dinner our tour captain invited us to join her for dinner at our own costs. Generally we went, as did many others in our group. Mark Story, the owner of Queenslander oversees a very organized/logically planned program. All of our hotels (details later) were in the center of the action and very lovely. All luggage was moved seamlessly from place to place.

    The earliest time we left in the morning was 8AM…very different from other tour companies that I had researched. A few times during our travels it rained, and Queenslander picked up the taxi cost. The tour had a great blend of included tour time, and free time to explore on our own. Generally hubby took a one hour nap every night before dinner to reenergize!!

    We had a slight problem when QLT booked our flights and a spelling error occurred. It was caught immediately by Queenslander, but Air Canada would not deal with it until 72 hours before travel. (We had booked last December). 72 hours prior Ron Gholston had to end up rebooking the entire flight for a change fee of almost $400. Queenslander paid that without a question, and Ron handled everything very professionally. This was the type of customer service that we encountered every time we contacted Queenslander.

    Jodie Hedrick was our Tour Captain. There were only 16 of us in the group. We all came from very diverse backgrounds and got along famously. Jodie was such a caring, knowledgeable person, and was gifted at working with many different personalities. Everyone felt very special on this trip. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to travel with such a travel enthusiast. Her enthusiasm was infectious.

    VENICE: This was our favorite city of the trip. Private water taxi was the transfer, with a greeter to meet us at the airport. We stayed at Hotel Saturnia & International. We had a huge room. The hotel is very close to Piazza San Marco. Included tours: Grand Canal, Piazza San Marco, Basillica San Marco, Gondola Ride, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and a water taxi to visit of the Island of Murano. In addition, we independently visited the Campanile, the Opera House, the amazing Rialto market, and walked miles and miles getting lost in Venice and loving every second of our experience!!

    FLORENCE: We arrived via the Silver Bullet fasttrain. Our hotel was Helvetia & Bristol which was a quick walk to the Duomo. Included tours: Duomo, Galleria dell’Accademia (David…the most impressive thing I have ever seen!!), and the Basillica di Santa Croce. Independently we went to the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi and the Market.

    CORTONA and the Tuscany Region: We traveled here by small bus and stopped at San Gimignano for a few hours. This is a very cute, medieval town, but it rained our entire stay. Independently we did the Church of Santa Maria. We had an included lunch at Castello della Paneretta; a winery that included wine tasting. The Cortona hotel was our favorite hotel of the trip. We stayed at the Villa Marsili. Stunningly gorgeous, and we had a very large room.

    ROME: We traveled to Rome by small bus, stopping in Assisi for a few hours along the way. We visited the St. Francis Basillica. Our hotel in Rome was Grand Hotel de la Minerve. It was located 10 yards from the Basilica of Maria Sopra Minerva, and 100 yards from the Pantheon (we visited both independently) Included tours: Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiore, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel. We also walked to see the Castel Sant’Angelo at night from the bridge. Beautiful!

    SORRENTO and the Amalfi Coast: This gorgeous area of Italy was our favorite area of the trip. We loved the food in southern Italy the most, although all of the food was great throughout our vacation. We drove the Amalfi Coast Highway (the “Mama Mia” Highway-so named for its very winding curves.) Our stay here was at the beautiful Hotel BelAir which is literally cut into the cliffs, so the views are absolutely amazing. Free view of Mt. Vesuvius every morning from the balcony! We took the ferry to Capri for the day. Luckily while we were waiting for the ferry, a gentleman by the name of Salvatore Cioffi offered to guide us on the island for a fee. This was worth every penny, and without his help we would have spent a lot of time wandering aimlessly around. His private transportation took us to Anacapri so we could ride the chairlift to the top of Mount Solaro. Stunning, and one of those “Wow” experiences. I highly recommend his tour services if you want to see this island in its totality. We also spent the morning at Pompei.

    Overall, we had the time of our lives on this celebrating retirement vacation. No company is perfect, but Queenslander is very close. The only discussion I heard from anyone throughout the trip was the comparison of individual hotel rooms. I believe everyone was happy with the hotels themselves, but some guests had suites, and some had smaller rooms than others, and it actually was quite simply the luck of the draw. The hotels themselves are limited in types of rooms available for groups. This really is not a Queenslander problem, but worth mentioning that guests will all have individually different rooms, and some rooms will be better than others.

    Queenslander Tours are worth the money spent in my opinion. Generally you get what you pay for, and I am so happy we made the decision to book with Queenslander. I’ll be happy to answer any questions about our trip.

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Itinerary

Your Flight

Day 1: Tonight, Enjoy Your Transatlantic Flight 

Flights from USA ~ Arrange your air to depart from the USA, Canada or Australia in order to arrive Italy the date following published tour date (example: Day 1: May 16 Tour commences in Italy on Day 2: May 17). We can provide you with an air-inclusive vacation package if you like ~ contact Reservations on 1 (877) 865-6711. 

  We very much encourage trip cancellation and interruption insurance.



Florence

 


Day 2: Welcome to Florence, Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance

City: Florence
Region: Toscana 

food icon   Included Dining: Welcome Dinner
star icon   Exclusive: Story Land & Sea® Original Experiences
 

Upon arrival at Florence airport, transfer by taxi or optional arrival transfer to our hotel located in the very heart of Firenze. Our tour commences with an orientation walkabout at 3pm.

Florence is the city of arts and the birthplace of the Renaissance and the family Medici. Though you may check-in and drop bags at the hotel, your rooms are guaranteed ready by 2PM.

3:00PM INCLUDED HOST ORIENTATION WALKABOUT
You will join the Tour Captain for the included Florence Orientation Walkabout through the cobblestones streets to become familiar with the location around our hotel, in the very heart of Florence. Find out where the major landmarks are located, ATM machines and other helpful sites ~ Hey, is that the Arno River?

•  Admission and tour of Palazzo Vecchio 

Walking Level: Light, Leisurely Pace: Volume: Light 

INCLUDED WELCOME DINNER TONIGHT — Tonight, Florence welcomes us with a variety of regional culinary tastes, beverages and ample portions of fine local wines from Toscana and Chianti. 

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Medici 

Day 3: Florence & The Medici Family's Legacy


food icon   Optional Dining: Join your Tour Captain for optional dinner in Florence tonight. 
star icon   Story Land & Sea® Exclusive: FLORENCE MEDICI EXPERIENCE


Discovery in Florence
Florence boasts a variety of fine sights to see, including Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery's Bronze "Gate of Paradise," Giotto's Bell Tower and more, but on this itinerary get ready for everything Medici!

The Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens delight and inspire while the mystery and romance of the family Medici springs to life. A great morning tour allows you to enjoy the afternoon for shopping and sightseeing on your own.

INCLUDED GUIDED TOUR WITH OUR LOCAL GUIDE. Today ENJOY ADMISSION & SIGHTSEEING to:

SPECIAL ACCESS: Admission and tour of Pitti Palace ~ The palazzo was built for the Pitti family in 1457, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and built by his pupil Luca Fancelli. We enjoy a full tour of the grounds and palace.

FEATURING: Boboli Gardens ~ These gardens, housed on the grounds of the Pitti, are one of the most largest and elegant Italian style gardens in existence.

Walking Level: Moderate, Leisurely Pace; Volume: Moderate to Ample
 

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San Lorenzo

Day 4: Market Day at San Lorenzo

star icon   Story Land & Sea® Exclusive: Sunset over Florence

MARKET VISIT TO SAN LORENZO
We will visit the market to select only the freshest ingredients for today's class. Following the market visit in the morning, we proceed to the school where we will learn to prepare the typical Italian dishes under the guide of the chef.

Enjoy the fruit of your labor paired with perfect wine before continuing with the balance of the day at leisure.

Just before sunset, consider an optional walk up to Piazzele Michelangelo for an outstanding perspective of sunset over Florence. It's truly a beautiful perspective.

Ah! Firenze! 

 

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Cinque Terre
The Duomo in Florence, Italy

Day 5: Exploring the Five Lands

food icon   Optional Dining: With Tour Captain
star icon   Exclusives: Classic Perspectives Experience


FULL DAY TOUR: Enjoy our day trip to the Cinque Terre

We'll explore the five towns of the Cinque Terre on a full day's excursion. Return to Florence for overnight.

Optional dining with the Tour Captain or explore on your own. 

  
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Tuscan Countryside

Day 6: Wine Estate Visit, Tour & Tasting

food icon   Included Dining: Enjoy an included dinner on the grounds of the villa with your Tour Captain.
star icon   Exclusive: This is a highlight of the day as we tour a traditional Tuscan winery complete with tastings paired with cuisine from the region. 


"When I'm in Tuscany, my heart is free. My passion soars. It's My Tuscany."

  
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Culinary

Day 7: Culinary Delight: At our Tuscan Villa

food icon   Optional Dining: Tonight, enjoy a delightful dinner on the grounds.
star icon   Exclusives: Learn the Skill of Cooking.


STORY® EXCLUSIVE: Enjoy learning about the skill of cooking Tuscany-style. Discover the very best of Italy's countryside right with cuisine and wine paired perfectly as you experience our authentic private cooking experience in Tuscany. Enjoy a wine tasting with a sommelier, try fresh Tuscan produce from an organic Tuscan farm and then prepare and eat your Italian meal.

Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.   

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Siena

Day 8: Siena

star icon   Story Land & Sea® Exclusive: Walking tour beginning in the impressive Piazza del Campo, in the heart of Siena

Story Land & Sea® Immersion Experience: Taste of Siena

Deeper into Tuscany along the Wine Road we are bound for Siena in the heart of Tuscany today.

STORY® EXCLUSIVE: Enjoy a walking tour as we begin in the impressive Piazza del Campo, in the heart of Siena. The piazza is in the shape of the letter "D," and is divided into cloves to mimic the mantle of the Virgin Mary to whom the city honors. 

The tall tower, or Torre del Mangia, caps the Palazzo Pubblico, Siena's town hall.

Return to the villa for a night of leisure.

  
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Lucca

Day 9: Lucca

food icon   Included Dining: Dinner Tonight

Story Land & Sea® Sightseeing Immersion: This morning we arrive Lucca to enjoy a tour and then the afternoon by bicycle throughout the inviting flat landscape that is Lucca. If 'biking' is not your game, no worries, you can enjoy Lucca this afternoon at your own pace.

Lucca is perched on the river Serchio and is the capital city of the Province of the same name. Its most notable feature is its intact Renaissance-era city walls that enclose its rectangular grid which is the original Roman street plan for the city.

Traces of the amphitheater are found in the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and the city boasts a rich history.

Story Way® Dining: Tonight we enjoy a Farewell Dinner to celebrate our time together and plan for more adventures.

Accommodation: Hotel Alla Corte Degli Angeli or Similar

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Arrividerci!

Day 10: our Ends Today or Extend Your Journey with more time in Lucca or Italy!

After breakfast, check-out and transfer by train to Florence SMN and onward taxi to airport at own expense or extend to other locales in Italia! We offer a departure transfer from Lucca by driver as well — please inquire with reservations. 


More information from Story Land & Sea®: