Tour Itinerary
The Best of Tuscany – in 1 day (full itinerary)
Tuscany is known for its rich history, art, beautiful landscapes, delicious food and superb wines. The Tuscans enjoy a truly wonderful quality of life among a riot of colours, sounds and aromas. The "Best of Tuscany" is a fantastic tour that gives you the opportunity to visit the most attractive places in Tuscany in only 1 day and at an affordable price.
8.30 AM FLORENCE
After a scenic drive, with views of the typical Tuscan countryside and Monteriggioni - a tidy gem of a town encased within its imposing walls -, we arrive in Siena at 9.45, when no one is there and it is the perfect time in the morning to wander around its many quiet spots of great beauty to which you can escape. Siena is the heart of Tuscany and the perfect counterpoint to Florence. A place of immediate charm: airy, easy-going and pedestrianized; its attraction lies in its cityscape made of yellowish-brown buildings - the "burnt Siena" of paintboxes -, red clay roofs and green shutters.
MORNING IN SIENA
Join our guided walk tracing the history of Siena from its evolution as financial capital with the "Monte dei Paschi", the oldest still working bank in the world to "Santa Maria della Scala", the first public hospital originally used to host medieval pilgrims. Through ancient backstreets we get to the Cathedral, immediately recognizable for its large proportions, it seems like a massive wedding cake, while inside it is a treasure chest for the numerous works of art, among which the marble inlaid floor made in two hundred years of handiwork is an unique example in art history. End in Piazza del Campo, the square shaped like an enormous shell, the spot where Sienese always meet, the "showplace" of the city. Twice a year the outer perimeter is fenced off and covered with sand to host the famous Palio horserace. There is time to enjoy a drink sit at one of the open-air cafés while soaking up the sun or take advantage for some not overpriced shopping because here the same shops are used by locals too.
LUNCH AT A WINE ESTATE
Once back on the bus, we reach with a 45-minute journey a wine estate set on the Sienese hills, where a D.O.C.G. Chianti wine is produced. The estate is in the heart of the most verdant countryside, amid olive groves and rolling hills planted with vines, in a fabulous setting with a marvellous view over the towers of San Gimignano (the rural Tuscany at its best). If you have been to other wineries before, this is completely different because Mario, Paolo and Tiziana, who are the owners, play a large part in the running of the estate and they will pass their passion to you while serving a delicious Tuscan lunch made of local organic products with wines of the region (great for meeting fellow travellers). This lunch is also the best way to sit down, take a break and appreciate the relaxed local lifestyle away from the bustle of cities; people here are not catching up with the world, the world's catching up with them.
VISIT OF SAN GIMIGNANO
After lunch San Gimignano is only few minutes away. It is considered the most beautiful medieval hilltop village in Italy and known as the Manhattan of the Middle Ages, because its skyline looks like one of our modern cities. In fact the profile of its 14 towers, which stand out clearly against the sky, captures the wayfarer from far off. We have plenty of time to explore the maze of its cobbled streets and small squares that in summer are the site preferred by buskers who perform in the complete silence of people listening to them play. The many shops of local artisans and farm products together with one of the best ice cream shop of Italy are tempting, and walking among the towers we drop into the famous movie "Under the Tuscan sun".
CHIANTI COUNTRYSIDE DRIVE
Next we enjoy views of the true Chianti countryside and one of the most enchanting lands in the world with a patchwork of different panoramas scattered with hilltop hamlets, little churches and castles. The landscape of Chianti features in much Tuscan art of the Renaissance and it hasn't changed much since then. The gentle slopes are still clad with vines; olive groves abound; many blasts of yellow given by the fields of sunflowers; lands speckled with sheep; brilliant red poppy fields; and there is plenty of woodland, much of it inhabited by wild boar. The feeling that time has stopped is hard to avoid above all when seeing along the way the bleak, isolated appearance of Volterra, one of the first settlements of the Etruscans from around the eight century BC, with stunning views over Calanchi (cliffs of sand and clay). Things here have stayed the same way for centuries not by any accident, or economic reason, but because that's the way people like them.
LEANING TOWER
And for added value we reach Pisa where the image of the Leaning Tower is so familiar, but to see it first hand is quite breathtaking! Most people only expect to see a tower but the "Field of Miracles" always succeeds in exiting the imagination of its numerous and passionate visitors. Here time to admire such a memorable sight with the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the monumental Cemetery and to take a picture of the Leaning Tower <>.