Highlights of Tuscany

Being your journey through the highlights of Tuscany in the cradle of the Renaissance. Upon your arrival at Florence’s airport, you’ll be met by our driver for a private transfer to your hotel in the city. The rest of the day is yours to rest and refresh, perhaps beating any jet lag by taking a walk through the cobbled streets with fresco-filled churches, grand 15th– and 16th-century palaces, and world-renowned art museums with works by masters like Botticelli and Michelangelo. If you need a pick-me-up, you’ll find plenty of cafes for sipping an espresso, including options for people watching with a Duomo view. Or, head to the terrace at Borgo San Jacopo restaurant which offers an especially romantic view of the city’s oldest bridge, Ponte Vecchio.

Our local guide will meet you at your hotel this morning for a walking tour of Florence that includes a guided visit to the Accademia Gallery. Start at Santa Croce Church, built in the late 13th-century and most notable as the burial place for Italian greats, including Michelangelo and Galileo. Continue from here to Piazza del Duomo which houses the famous Florence Duomo and Piazza Della Signoria, the main square in Florence and the center of political life since the 14th-century which is overlooked by Palazzo Vecchio. In Accademia Gallery, you’ll see Michelangelo’s David, which was moved here in 1873. His St Matthew and Prisoners sculptures can also be viewed along with paintings by Raphael, Botticelli, and more. One of the newer sections is the Museum of Musical Instruments which displaces one-of-a-kind masterpieces by Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano. At the tour’s conclusion, return to your hotel at leisure.

Say farewell to Florence with your private driver providing transfer to the walled hilltop town of Cortona, made famous by the book and subsequent film, “Under the Tuscan Sun.” It’s about a 90-minute drive, but along the way, there will be a stop made to visit Avignonesi Winery in the world-famous Montepulciano region for a tasting. It’s renowned for its Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, made from the Sangiovese grape, but it also produces grappa, honey, and olive oil. After reaching Cortona and getting settled into your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Enjoy the impressive view of the valley below or wander through the streets with some 3,000 years of history to discover, including beautiful squares, palaces, and intriguing museums.

A highlight of your time in Tuscany, today you’ll step into the kitchen of a talented chef as part of the II Falconiere Cooking Class, hosted at Baracchi Winery. A fully immersive experience, it’s one of the best ways to get to know the delicious Tuscan fare, making exquisite recipes that are typical of the area using fresh seasonal ingredients. The secrets of why this food is so renowned will be revealed as you help prepare two dishes with a tasting during your lesson included. It will be combined with wines that were produced here in the cellars of Baracchi Winery, which has been following the tradition of a family who has cultivated the vines and produced the wines since 1860. That includes the first Syrah Riserva, the first Cabernet Riserva, and unique wines such as the first sparkling wine produced from Sangiovese.

Enjoy a day of leisure, perhaps exploring Cortona’s historical center that’s still surrounded by well-preserved walls. Highlights include the Piazza Della Repubblica which holds the 14th-century Palazzo del Popolo and the imposing Palazzo Comunale that dates back to the 13th-century. From Piazza Garibaldi, you can take in a breathtaking panoramic view that stretches from Val di Chiana to Montepulciano. The best way to learn about the origins of the town is to visit MAEC, the Museum of the Etruscan civilization with its fascinating, eclectic collection. It includes a famously unusual 5th-century BC chandelier, the largest of its kind ever found, with dolphins and waves surrounding a gorgon’s head. The elegant décor and 17th-century frescoes alone make it worth the visit, but there are Roman statuettes and many artifacts, like bronze figures, weapons, paintings, and much more.

Heading to the final destination this morning, a private transfer will bring you to Siena, the classic medieval hilltop town best known for Piazza del Campo, the vast, fan-shaped piazza that hosts the Il Palio horse race. After checking into your hotel, you’ll meet your local guide for a walking tour of the city, including the famous square. It’s not only the site of the globally famous horse race but it hosts the 13th-century City Hall and the nearly 335-foot-high Torre del Mangia bell tower. You’ll see Gaia Fountain and Sansedoni nearby as well as the exterior of Siena’s gothic cathedral that dates to the 12th-century and the Battistero. Both feature remarkable sculptures, frescoes, and paintings created by some of the Italian greats.

Enjoy the city of Siena at your leisure today. It’s easy to get lost among its medieval grandeur, best done by slowing down your pace to take in the enchanting atmosphere. By climbing Torre del Mangia you’ll enjoy an awe-inspiring vista from one of Italy’s tallest secular towers. There are more than 400 steps to get to the top, but the 360-degree view that awaits is a reward that makes it well worth the effort. Afterward, we recommend sampling what’s said to be the best gelato in Italy (and the world) at an authentic gelateria, La Vecchia Latteria. The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo is one of Italy’s oldest private museums, housed on the south side of the cathedral. It features the original statues from the cathedral façade and one of the early 14th-century masterpieces by Buoninsegna.

Enjoy a scenic drive to San Gimignano, the City of Beautiful Towers. The hilltop town is famous for its 14 surviving medieval towers that create a stunning skyline visible from the surrounding Tuscan countryside, sometimes referred to as “The Manhattan of Tuscany.” The towers date from the 11th to 13th centuries, with Torre Grossa the tallest at nearly 180 feet. From here you can take in a jaw-dropping view of the landscape below. Continue your journey to picturesque hilltop Volterra, one of a dozen Etruscan power centers between the 4th and 6th centuries BC. You’ll meet a local guide here for a walking tour that includes a stroll through Piazza Dei Priori and a close-up look at the medieval walls, gates, a 1st-century Roman theater, and renaissance-style palaces.

Enjoy your last morning in Siena, fueling up with breakfast before your driver picks you up for a private transfer back to the airport in Florence. If you’d like to spend more time here or combine this trip with another, reach out to our expert travel staff who will be happy to help you make it happen. Otherwise, we wish you a safe trip back home and hope to host you on another memorable adventure in the future.