Often called an open-air museum, the cradle of Renaissance hides surprises at every corner and would definitely become an icing on the cake of any Italy vacation.
Welcome to the birthplace of Renaissance, Florence! Upon arrival, you meet your private driver at the airport and are transferred to the centrally-located hotel for check-in.
The rest of the day is free for you to relax after the journey or start exploring on your own.
No meals included.
Set off to explore the most iconic landmarks in Florence while on a 3-hour walking tour with a professional private guide.
Today you pay a visit to the renowned Piazza del Duomo, as well as the Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Make sure to make the most out of your ticket to the Grande Museo del Duomo, which allows you to visit not only the Cathedral itself but numerous other monuments of Piazza del Duomo during your free time as well. The ticket is valid for 72 hours and provides entrance to the famous Dome, the Bell Tower, and the Cathedral Museum, boasting works by Michelangelo and Donatello.
Make your way to marvel at Piazza della Signoria, the main square of the city, while walking along several attention-worthy sights, such as Piazza della Repubblica and the Strozzi Palace. You also don't want to miss the chance to wander along one of the most beautiful streets in Verona, the nearby Via Tornabuoni.
Cross the Arno River on Ponte Vecchio and continue your tour to the Oltrarno district, filled with not only monuments but authentic crafts to admire as well. Visit the shops of local craftsmen to get acquainted with their art forms before moving on to marvel at the Santo Spirito Church and Convent, built for the Augustinians.
Talking about art, this is the part of the city, where you can find the early works of 17-year-old Michelangelo. You also have the chance to witness his talent at Galleria dell'Accademia, where the tour takes you to marvel at his iconic colossal statue of David.
After the tour, you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day at your leisure.
Breakfast is included.
We carefully select hotels to ensure amazing stay and experience for you.
Sit back, relax, and let our experienced driver take care of your worry-free journey to picture-perfect Castiglione d'Orcia. Make sure not to sleep through the scenic views along the way!
Situated in the wonderful region of Tuscany, enchanting Castiglione d'Orcia boasts mind-blowing mountain sceneries, impressive medieval architecture, and excellent local wines.
In the morning you check-out from the hotel in Florence and your private driver takes you on a sightseeing tour to visit San Gimignano and Siena.
In the morning you are picked up from the hotel by your private driver and taken to the first destination - San Gimignano where you have some free time for independent sightseeing. Often called the town of towers as it is home to 14 well-preserved towers from the medieval times. These towers vary in height and form the international identity of the town. San Gimignano boasts many churches, such as the Collegiata and the Sant'Agostino. Moreover, the heart of the town contains 4 Piazzas - Cisterna, Duomo, Pecori and Erbe.
Then you continue to Siena, Italy's loveliest medieval city. During the tour with a local guide, you visit all of the major sights including the Cathedral of the Duomo, which houses the works of artists like Nicola Pisano, Ghirlandaio, Ghiberti, Donatello and Jacopo della Quercia. You then see the Piazza del Campo - a shell-shaped structure, which is also a major attraction famous for hosting horse races.
After both tours, you are transferred to the amazingly beautiful hotel set in a former post office from the 15th century. Upon arrival, you check in the 4-star Hotel Osteria Dell'Orcia, located in the UNESCO-protected Val d'Orcia Nature Reserve.
Breakfast is included.
In the morning after breakfast, you have another amazing experience as today you visit a Pecorino cheese farm.
Your driver-guide takes you to Pienza, the area known for the wonderful Pecorino di Pienza cheese, which gets its name from the word pecora, Italian for "sheep". This delicious "sheep" cheese is made exclusively in and around the town of Pienza from sheep’s milk. In the beginning, you have a tour of the historical center of Pienza, included into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You enjoy the views of wonderful Renaissance Palazzo Piccolomini, the beautiful Cathedral of Pienza and Palazzo Comunale.
You are then driven to a gorgeous rustic organic cheese farm that sits on top of a hill overlooking the entire Val d’Orcia and even Pienza itself. Here the local cheese producer shows you how the pecorino sheep cheese is made and the many stages of aging from soft and fresh to hard and complex.
Later you carry on to Montepulciano, a small village of Etruscan origin and one of the most beautiful hill towns in Tuscany. After the guided tour of the Montepulciano historical center, you visit a traditional winery on a small farm. Here you enjoy tasting one of the most famous Italian wines: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano*. The Nobile wines of Montepulciano were the first to be given the ultimate quality level of DOCG certification.
In the evening you are transferred back to your hotel.
- Please note: there are 255 wineries in the region so if there is any particular that you wish to visit - let us know and we will modify program accordingly.
Breakfast is included.
Today following breakfast your private driver-guide picks you up from the hotel and drives you first to Montalcino. The ancient village is best known for its red Brunello di Montalcino wines, made with Sangiovese Grosso grapes.
Upon arrival, you have a cooking class in a local farm restaurant located just few kilometers outside of the village. Here you learn how to cook a traditional Italian meal and about Italian dining traditions. Your experience starts from picking spices and vegetables and collecting the eggs. After about 3 hours of the workshop, you enjoy a full Italian lunch which includes starters, home-made fresh pasta with sauce, the main course and a dessert.
Later you have a private visit to an amazing winery located inside a historical castle. At the winery you have a tour of the cellars, the vineyards, take in the gorgeous views and taste Brunello "Riserva" and also Rosso di Montalcino.
After the tour, you are transferred back to your hotel and have the evening on your own.
Breakfast and lunch are included.
We carefully select hotels to ensure amazing stay and experience for you.
Marvel at the Italian landscapes as you make your way to Florence with our experienced driver. Don't miss the chance to soak up the picture-perfect views as you cross numerous scenic sights and charming towns.
Often called an open-air museum, the cradle of Renaissance hides surprises at every corner and would definitely become an icing on the cake of any Italy vacation.
After fueling up on breakfast at the hotel, you have the day free to explore Florence on your own, go souvenir hunting or choose one of our carefully planned optional tours:
- Optional tour 1: Florence Gastronomic tour
Set off on an unforgettable gastronomic adventure together with a professional chef! Tour some of the best local gastronomic shops, located in the historic center, and taste authentic Prosciutto, Tuscan cured meats, and Parmigiano Reggiano. Make your way later to visit the best cheese shop, providing varieties of sheep, goat and cow cheese. To make it even more special, the tour continues to an artisan chocolate shop, where the master and the owner of the shop produces authentic chocolates out of high-quality cocoa beans. After that, you get the chance to pay a visit to one of the most historic delicatessens in Florence. A popular meeting point for the locals and a must-visit for tourists, it offers specialties made with truffles; thus, here you sample the renowned truffle-paste sandwich. The cherry on top of the cake of your tour today is the historical wine shop, Enoteca, where you enjoy tastings of wine and olive oil.
- Optional Tour 2: Truffle-hunting tourToday your exciting day starts bright and early! In the morning, you meet with your local professional truffle hunter and English interpreter, as well as his loyal partner, the truffle-hunting dog, and set off on a journey through the silent, misty paths. The exceptional tour is dedicated to getting acquainted with and looking for the local specialty; therefore, make sure to be really attentive! After the truffle-hunt, make your way to the farm and wine cellar, where you have the chance to sample local delicacies and enjoy a guided sensory analysis of the black and white truffle. Lunch is available at the farm upon request.
Breakfast is included.
It is the final day of your marvelous tour in Tuscany! Say farewell to the Italian landscapes and meet your driver for a private transfer to the airport. We wish you a safe flight home and hope to work on your future vacations!
- Recommended extension: If you would like to extend your Italian vacation, continue exploring its wonders with our extensions, please, contact your specialist for details.
Breakfast is included.
We carefully select hotels to ensure amazing stay and experience for you.
What's included
- Accommodation at remarkable 4-star or 5-star centrally located hotel in Florence and 4-star Osteria dell'Orcia hotel in Tuscany;
- Delicious breakfasts at your hotels;
- Airport transfers and all transportation according to the itinerary with private drivers;
- Sightseeing tours with private professional English-speaking guides;
- Entrances to the Baptistery in Florence and Duomo in Siena;
- Tours to Tuscany wineries with tasting;
- Tour to a cheese farm in Montepulciano and cooking class at a farm restaurant in Montalcino;
- All tourist fees & taxes, including tourist city taxes;
- Support line during the trip.
Note: we include 1 vehicle for your arrival and departure transfers. If multiple vehicles are required additional transfer costs will apply.
Not included: international flights, multiple arrival/departure transfers, other meals not mentioned in the program, optional tours and services, all personal expenses.
Tour Highlights
- Fully tailor-made program according to your interest;
- Your own professional local guides and drivers;
- Full flexibility of hotel options;
- Guided tour inside Florence Baptistery and Galleria dell'Accademia;
- Tours to five UNESCO Sites of the Tuscany region;
- Cheese tasting in the rustic organic farm in Val d’Orcia region;
- Tastings of the world-known wines in Montepulciano and Montalcino regions;
- Cooking class with from field to table experience;
What To Know
- In Tuscany you will come across different types of bars and restaurants: the trattorias, casual neighborhood restaurants; the ristorantes, full-service restaurants; the osterias, wine bars that serve simple meals; enotecas, the wine bars
- You can expect to find some shops and restaurants closed from 1-4 p.m. as it is "Riposo" time, Italy’s midday siesta. Most places will be also closed on Sundays
- Tipping in restaurants is included in the bill, the cover charge is called ”coperto”. A charge from $1 to $3 will be noted on the menu
