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Tuscany: Gastronomic Tour

7 days2 cities
Italy1 country
Tour rating: 4.85 / 5, Based on 243 Reviews
Private tour to Italy

Get a taste of Italy's sunny Tuscany region with the tour combining major sights with a truly gastronomic experience of Italian wines and cheese. Explore the top sights of the motherland of Renaissance, Florence, visit San Gimignano and Siena and stay in a hotel set in a former post office from the 15th century. Taste noble Italian wines Montalcino and Montepulciano, visit Tuscany wineries, cellars and vineyards and taste delicious Pecorino di Pienza cheese.

7 days2 cities
Italy1 country
From
 $4,367 
Florence, Italy
2
days
Italy

One of the brightest gems of the Tuscany region, Florence, is the treasure trove, birthplace and cradle of the Renaissance.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
1
day
Arrival in Florence

Welcome to Florence! Upon arrival, you are met by your private driver at the airport, who transfers you to the hotel for check-in.

The rest of the day is at your own leisure to relax after the trip.

No meals included.

2
day
Florence Sightseeing

After breakfast in your hotel, meet with your private guide and go on a comprehensive walking tour of Florence's highlights.

Today's program includes exploration of the Piazza del Duomo with a visit to the Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

Your ticket to the Grande Museo del Duomo allows you to visit the other magnificent monuments of Piazza del Duomo in your free time within 72 hours: the Cathedral itself, the famous Dome, the Bell Tower, and the Cathedral Museum with works by Michelangelo and Donatello. 

As you proceed to the main square of the city - Piazza della Signoria - you pass through the heart of the historical center with its landmark sites like Piazza della Repubblica and the Strozzi Palace. Stroll down via Tornabuoni, one of the most beautiful streets of the city, famous for its fine shops. 

We will also cross over the Arno River on the Ponte Vecchio to enter the Oltrarno district where you see numerous local craftsmen shops and the beautiful Santo Spirito Church and Convent, built for the Augustinians. In this very part of the city you can find an early work of Michelangelo dating back to when he was just 17 years old. 

During the tour we also visit the Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's famous colossal statue of David, a must-see in Florence.

After the tour return to your hotel and enjoy the evening at your own leisure.

Breakfast is included.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

Hotel De La Ville, Florence

Set near the magnificent Florence Cathedral and the amazing Uffizi Gallery, the Hotel De La Ville is a great place to stay during your Italy getaway. The stylish property boasts excellent service and top-notch amenities.

car
Florence
Castiglione d'Orcia
8 hrs

Let our trusted driver take you through some of the most picturesque sceneries in Italy while you enjoy the comfortable journey admiring the views. 

Castiglione d'Orcia, Italy
3
days
Italy

Located in the region of Tuscany, Castiglione d'Orcia provides beautiful sceneries of the hilly Italian countryside, outstanding historic architecture, and opportunities for top-notch wine-tasting.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
3
day
San Gimignano & Siena Sightseeing

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.

4
day
Tour to Cheese Farm and Winery in Pienza & Montepulciano

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.

5
day
Cooking Class in Montalcino

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.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

Hotel Osteria Dell'Orcia, Castiglione d'Orcia

Set right in the heart of Castiglione d'Orcia, the Hotel Osteria Dell'Orcia invites you to enjoy an authentic Tuscany lifestyle. Guests are welcome to take advantage of the cozy well-furnished rooms, an open swimming pool, and a fantastic in-house restaurant, offering a great choice of local dishes.

car
Castiglione d'Orcia
Florence
2 hr 30 min

Travel towards charming Florence with our trusted driver while admiring the beautiful Italian sceneries along the way. The scenic route takes you through some of the most lovely towns and provides with numerous possibilities to admire the wonders of nature as well. 

Florence, Italy
2
days
Italy

One of the brightest gems of the Tuscany region, Florence, is the treasure trove, birthplace and cradle of the Renaissance.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
6
day
Transfer to Florence & Optional Tours

Following breakfast, you check-out from the hotel and your private driver transfers you to Florence. Upon arrival, you check-in and have a choice to either have a free day or join one of our carefully-planned optional tours.

  • Optional tour 1: Florence Gastronomic tour
    In the morning you have a gastronomic tour with a chef. You visit the best gastronomic shops in the historic center where you taste Prosciutto, Tuscan cured meats and Parmigiano Reggiano. Then you visit the best cheese shop where you taste Italian cheeses (sheep, goat and cow). Then onto a superb artisan chocolate shop, the owner and master buys the best cocoa beans and produces his own excellent chocolate. Your next stop is one of the most historic delicatessens in the city, which still represents a classic meeting place for Florentines as well as the preferred destination for lovers of specialties made with truffles. You taste the famous sandwich with truffle paste. Your afternoon gastronomic tour ends at the well known historic Enoteca (wine shop) where you have wine and olive oil tasting. Time at leisure in the afternoon. Overnight in Florence.
     
  • Optional Tour 2: Truffle-hunting tour
    Your truffle-hunting day starts early in the morning. Your local, professional truffle hunter and English interpreter (accompanied of course by the truffle dog) meets you in the morning and accompanies you on silent paths through the crisp, misty morning. You look for, listen, and learn, and in the end, you will almost certainly find the precious tuber, a moment of great excitement. Then move onwards to the farm and wine cellar for a tasting of local products and a guided sensory analysis of the black and white truffle. Lunch at the farm is available upon request at an extra charge depending on which type of truffle is featured in your meal. After the tour, you are transferred back to the hotel in Florence.

Breakfast is included.

7
day
Departure from Florence

This is the last day of your Tuscany exploration. Today you check-out from the hotel in Florence and your driver transfers you to the airport for your flight back home. We wish you a safe flight 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.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

Hotel De La Ville, Florence

Set near the magnificent Florence Cathedral and the amazing Uffizi Gallery, the Hotel De La Ville is a great place to stay during your Italy getaway. The stylish property boasts excellent service and top-notch amenities.

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.

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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