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Tour Features
A tour to explore a region of sprawling vineyards, rolling hills, charming old cities, masterpieces of art and gourmandise: visit the magnificent Florence - the "Cradle of the Renaissance", Siena -famous for the Palio horse race, Chianti Montepulciano and Montalcino - known world wide for their prestigious wines, San Gimignano with its tall towers; visit wineries and cellars, sample excellent wines, rare cold cuts, Pecorino cheese and olive oil, shop for delicacies in the many food shops.

Slow Food Presidia and other Recommended Products:

• Certaldo Onion
• Pienza Pecorino Cheese
• Wine of Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello and Bolgheri vineyards
• Florence's oldest ice cream parlor - Perche No!

Points of Interest:

• Florence
• Siena - Pailo horse race
• San Gimignano - a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• the Chianti area - where some of Italy's best wines are produced
• Montepulciano - one of the most characteristic and intact medieval cities in Italy
• Pienza - the perfect example of a renaissance city, famous for its Pecorino cheese
• Montalcino - a beautiful art city famous for its Brunello, one of the best red wines in the world

 

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1) Arrival
Arrival at Rome airport, collect your car and transfer to the hotel Villa Il Palagio, near Florence. Time to settle in. To follow, a typical traditional dinner with some excellent produce from the region including Slow Food Presidia products. Overnight.

Day 2) Florence
Morning departure for Florence. Regular visit of Florence. Walk through the historical center of this amazing city and visit the Santa Croce church, known as the "Pantheon of Italian Glories" where many illustrious Italians such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Rossini and Machiavelli are buried. The visit also takes in the other religious buildings (the Baptistry, the Duomo and Giotto’s bell tower) and the houses of power in the old city (the Piazza della Signoria). Break at one of Florence’s oldest ice cream parlors, “Perché no!”, that offers more than 33 different flavors and a precise selection of raw materials (including pistachios from Bronte, a Slow Food Presidium product, saffron and cardamom). Free afternoon to stroll along Florence elegant streets. We suggest to visit the Uffizi Gallery or shop at the leather market, then traditional dinner at Osteria Tripperia Il Magazzino. Overnight.

Day 3) Siena, San Gimignano
Morning: we suggest to visit Siena, one of the most important and most beautiful architecture in the city, including the Museum delle Contrade (each horse in the famous ”Palio”, runs for a different Contrada or district). We suggest to sample of some delicious traditional desserts like the Panforte in one of the most famous pastry shops in town. Free time for shopping. On the way to San Gimignano along the ancient Via Francigena, lunch with some of the traditional local produce such as the Certaldo onion (Slow Food Presidium), and the organic extra virgin olive oil from San Gimignano at the little family-run farmhouse Il Castagnolino. Visit and have a talk on the techniques used in producing organic olive oil. We suggest, in the afternoon, to visit the famous towers and the San Gimignano 1300 Museum: storyboards, multimedia exhibits, street scenes and a ceramic recreation of the city as it was back in 1300. Overnight.

Day 4) Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti
Entire day given over to discovering the Chianti hills along the Via Chiantigena (an ancient road connecting Siena with Florence crossing over the hills of Chianti). Lunch at the Osteria al Ponte in Gaiole in Chianti. We suggest to set off for the wonderful city of Greve, and visit the little historical town center and then head for the Podere Le Fornaci where there will be some sampling of organic cheeses (including baby goats cheese and fresh ricotta) made from the milk of the goats that graze in the Chianti hills. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 5) Montepulciano, Pienza
Morning departure for Montepulciano, one of the most characteristic and intact medieval cities in Italy which from a height of 605 metres above sea level offers amazing views over the surrounding hillsides. Visit the Enoteca Contucci winery for a free tasting, then explore the wonderful town centre of Montepulciano; for lunch, we suggest the old Osteria dell’Acquacheta, with its rustic and familial atmosphere. Here, you may sample some of Tuscany’s best recipes (such as the Pici all’Aglione). In the afternoon, we suggest to head for Pienza, the perfect example of a renaissance city, famous for its Pecorino cheese. Overnight.

Day 6) Montalcino
Morning departure for Montalcino, famous for its Brunello, one of the best red wines in the world. Montalcino, however, is also a beautiful art city which, from upon high dominates 3,000 hectares of vineyards (1,500 for Brunello alone). A visit to the Mastio della Rocca which is home to the Enoteca La Fortezza where it will be possible to buy some local products and the exceptional honey, a local specialty, and sampling some wine. Free time for shopping. A visit to one of leading wine producers in the area for wine tasting and a guided tour of the cellars: Azienda Agricola Casanova dei Neri. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 7) Departure
Departure for the airport.

 

Hotel

Countryhouse Villa Il Palagio - Rignano sull’Arno (Florence)
Villa il Palagio is at the same time an historical palace and a modern-style apart hotel. The structure includes over 30 apartments which combine all the comforts and amenities of a luxury home with the discreet professional services and facilities of a world-class hotel. Villa Il Palagio consists of several buildings of different periods, such as, the Villa, the Oratory and the barn, nowadays converted into stylish apartments. Villa Il Palagio offers our guests a wide choice of luxurious two, three and four rooms independent apartments, with contemporary furnishing (for example two rooms apartments are about 80 sq.mt.). Kitchenette is supplied with electric cooker, fridge, dishwasher and oven. A wide green park with an amazing outdoor swimming pool & bar enhance the enjoyment of Villa Il Palagio guests.

*if the hotel is unavailable, a similar one will be provided

 

Car Rental

Car included in the tour price:
Group C (Category Small & Compact) - FIAT Punto EVO 1.2cc or similar

The rental includes:

• Unlimited mileage
• Collision damage waiver
• Theft protection
• Airport fee
• Road tax
• Railway fee
• One way rental fee (drop-off in a destination different from that of the pick-up)
• Administration costs
• VAT

Additional Options:

• GPS Navigator
• Baby seat
• Booster cushion
• Additional driver fee

Maggiore Rent A Car Locations:

• Rome Ciampino Airport
• Rome Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci Airport
• Rome Railway Station Termini: Via Giolitti 34

• Florence Peretola Airport
• Florence Downtown: Via Maso Finiguerra 13/R & Viale Amendola, 36 C/O Aci
• Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport

CALL: 1-800-ITALY-25 to book your Tuscany Fly & Drive Culinary Vacation today!