7 Days / 6 Nights
Make your self at home in a luxurious way and dig in to the famous and beloved culture of Tuscany for a week!
Under the guidance of your private city expert, walk through Florence’s historic center, visit the imposing Duomo and view Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the David. Travel to the fascinating medieval towns of Siena and San Gimignano with your private chauffeur driver. Spend a half day in Pisa and visit its iconic Leaning Tower and the impressive Cathedral. Top your stay in Florence with a private cooking class at a Florentine signora's beautiful country home to taste some Tuscan delicacies and local wines!
Itinerary
Arrive in Florence at Vespucci Airport. Your private driver will bring you to your Florence hotel. Settle in, rest up and enjoy your evening at leisure.
Tomorrow begins your exploration of Tuscany!
Discover Florence's historic center on this walking tour including the Accademia Gallery. Suggested sites for this private walking tour: the Baptistery Doors by Ghiberti, coined the “Gates of Paradise” by Michelangelo, the Duomo, the astounding Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Brunelleschi’s magnificent Dome.
The afternoon and evening are at leisure. Want to see more of Florence? Check out our other Day Tours in Florence and feel free to add them to your itinerary. We suggest seeing the incredible Uffizi Gallery (not included in the package price).
Pisa, one of the most visited cities in Tuscany, is famous for its Leaning Tower and the beautiful Piazza dei Miracoli, which are considered among the most beautiful sights in the world. The guide will lead you on a visit of the Leaning Tower, the Monumental Cemetery, the Cathedral and Baptistery. Enjoy free time in the city before heading back to Florence.
The afternoon and evening are at leisure. Explore Florence on your own, or feel free to add one of our Day Tours in Florence to this itinerary. We suggest taking a private tour to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens (not included in the package price).
Enjoy a private cooking class at a Florentine signora's beautiful home located in the outskirt of Florence. The house was built in the 11th century as a lookout tower. Later, it became the residence of Francesco Granacci, a successful painter in the 16th century and one of Michelangelo’s close friends, and for this reason it was named “Casa del Pittore” (Painter’s house). It’s now a gorgeous renovated stone farmer’s house on a hilltop overlooking Florence. During your 3-hour hands-on cooking class, you will learn how to prepare a typical 4-course Tuscan meal. The menu may slightly vary depending on the season and the fresh ingredients available, and it will usually include a starter, home-made pasta from scratch, a second dish of meat (beef, pork or chicken), and a dessert. At the end, savor the meal you prepared paired with some of the finest Tuscan wines.
Your private English-speaking driver will pick you up at your hotel and transport you to the lovely Tuscan countryside. The first stop is San Gimignano. The town with its characteristic towered skyline is also famous for its wine, Vernaccia, saffron and the precious Santa Fina pottery. The guide will accompany you to every corner of the town. The day will continue with the tour of Siena where you will be enchanted by the architectural styles of the Cathedral and of the Municipal Building in Piazza del Campo, the stage of the famous Palio race.
You may ask your chauffeur driver to stop at a local winery for lunch and wine tasting (lunch and wine tasting not included in the tour price).
Enjoy the day at your leisure. Explore Florence on your own, or feel free to add one of our Day Tours in Florence to this itinerary (not included in the package price).
Your Italy Vacation has come to an end as you transfer from your hotel to the Florence Airport and head back home.
Inclusions
- 6 nights in a 5-star hotel in Florence
- Round trip airport transfers
- Private Best of Florence with Accademia Gallery Tour
- Private cooking class with a local signora
- Private Siena & San Gimignano Tour
- Private Pisa and the Leaning Tower Tour
- All transportation during excursions
- Breakfast daily at hotel
Hotel Info
Hotel Brunelleschi ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The 4-star historical Brunelleschi hotel is perfectly located in the heart of the historical center only a few steps away from the Duomo and within easy walking distance from all major tourist sights. It is the only one that was created within a circular Byzantin tower of the 6th century and a medieval church, entirely reconstructed with a special care for maintaining the original characteristics of the two buildings. We can say that we are talking no ordinary accommodation here: this is an authentic boutique hotel, with an exclusive location and a classy feel inevitably associated with it.
Please note: this hotel is on very narrow street that cars cannot fit through. Therefore, when you arrive either by taxi or transfer, you will have to walk a very short distance from the main street to the front of the hotel with your luggage.
Florence
Hotel Bernini Palace ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Hotel Bernini Palace, a luxury 5 star hotel in Florence, is located in a 15th century palace located in the city center, behind Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery. It is only a few minutes from Via Tornabuoni, the most famous street for shopping and about an hour's drive you can reach the outlets of great Italian brands such as Prada and Gucci.
La Chiostrina , the Hotel Restaurant, offers a menu of exquisite regional and international dishes. Furthermore, nearby are the most exclusive restaurants in the city, such as Enoteca Pinchiorri, Ora d'Aria, as well as a selection of typical Florentine trattorias.
Florence
Hotel Helvetia & Bristol ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This 5-star elegant hotel is situated directly in the historical center of Florence near Palazzo Strozi and within easy walking distance from all sights, museums and galleries and fashion boutiques. Enjoy lavish and comfortable accommodation with personal touch and professional and courteous staff.
Florence
Optional Tour Add-Ons
Duration: 3 hours
City: Florence
Discover Florence's historic center on this walking tour including the Uffizi Gallery. Enjoy a guided tour of the main rooms of the Uffizi Gallery and follow the evolution of Italian art through the centuries, from the Middle Ages to Renaissance. Learn about Giotto’s revolutionary art, admire the beauty of Botticelli’s Primavera and the sensuality of his Venere, surprise yourself with Leonardo’s mix of rational genius and artistic creativity, and view the main masterpieces by many other unparalleled artists. Time permitting, you may also visit the following sites: Ghiberti's Baptistery Doors, famously dubbed the "Gates of Paradise" by Michelangelo; an exterior view of the Duomo and of Brunelleschi's magnificent Dome.
This tour is available at 9am, 10am, 2pm or 3pm. Please request your preferred time slot at the time of booking.
Exact time will be provided in final documents. If you are staying at a centrally located hotel, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby. Otherwise, a meeting point will be arranged.
Duration: 10 hours
City: Florence
Take the day to visit the beautiful Cinque Terre.
A private, English-speaking driver will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to Cinque Terre. From there, you will discover some of the towns in the Cinque Terre area on your own: Vernazza, Manarola and Corniglia.
You will enjoy the most astonishing views from land and sea, as you experience the national park by boat or train, and hike on the fabulous trails on the cliff in a perfect mix for a memorable adventure.
At the end of your day, your private driver will meet you and bring you back to your Florence hotel.
Exact time will be provided in final documents. Pick up at your hotel.
Duration: 3 hours, 11:00am - 2:00pm, 3:00pm - 6:00pm OR 6:30pm - 9:30pm
City: Florence
Learn how to make authentic, Italian Pizza and Gelato – a fun cooking class for kids too!
Under the guidance of a professional pizza chef, called a Pizzaiolo, you will make your own pizza - stretch it, sauce it, bake it, slice it. The chef will teach you the key techniques in making a soft and flexible dough and the trick for a flavorful yet light tomato sauce so you can make this pizza at home!
After pizza it’s time for Gelato. The chef will explain why the gelato is the Italy's favorite dessert and will give insight to the 'gelato culture' that continues to grow. Learn the basic raw ingredients, how to select the best products available according to specific principles, development and application of natural colors, the heating and freezing techniques and how they have different effects on the ingredients.
Then enjoy a presentation and tasting of some of the flavors used in gelato making!
This activity is strongly recommended for families that wish to have children to learn about the Italian culture, an easy and fun experience that will last forever in their memory.
Meeting point will be at a central location. Details will be provided in final documents.
Duration: 3 hours
City: Florence
On this private guided walking tour, see the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens.
This tour is available at: 9am, 10am, 2pm and 3pm. Please request your preferred time slot at the time of booking.
Exact time will be provided in final documents. If you are staying at a centrally located hotel, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby. Otherwise, a meeting point will be arranged.
Duration: 4 hours
City: Florence
The Medici family was one of the most important to ever live in Florence! This powerful Renaissance family resided in several majestic palaces and left behind tons of history. Learn more of their secrets with a local on a Florence Medici tour!
The Medici family’s economic and political success throughout the 1400s allowed Florence to become the cradle of the Renaissance. In the mid-1500s the Medici family was made by the papacy into a royal dynasty and it started ruling in Florence and Tuscany as Grand Dukes until the mid-1700s replacing the Florentine Republic. This walking tour takes you to the most important sights in town related to this family of Patrons of the Arts and allows you to discover the most significant art works and monuments the Medici Family commissioned to the Florentine Renaissance artists, including, among the others, Brunelleschi and Michelangelo.
Medici Riccardi Palace was their first residence in town and their business headquarters in the 1400s. Here is where Lorenzo the Magnificent was born and where Michelangelo was invited to stay with his family for a few months. Inside you will admire the famous Chapel of the Magi, featuring the detailed Benozzo Gozzoli’s fresco with faithful Medici’s portraits. Then, you will reach the parish church of San Lorenzo, which was commissioned to Brunelleschi by Cosimo il Vecchio de’ Medici in the early 1400s. You will visit the two magnificent Medici’s Chapels. The Chapel of the Princes with its baroque semiprecious stone wall decoration and the New Sacristy by Michelangelo featuring a very unique architecture and statues in the original setting. Next you will visit the interior of Palazzo Vecchio, today’s City Hall of Florence. The Salone dei Cinquecento, still used for official receptions, is the largest room in town featuring historical scenes on its wall and ceiling celebrating the Medici’s power. Da Vinci and Michelangelo were involved in its decoration.
This tour is available at 9am or 2pm on Monday, Friday and Saturday. This tour is available only in the morning on Thursday. Please request your preferred time slot at the time of booking.
Exact time will be provided in final documents. If you are staying at a centrally located hotel, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby. Otherwise, a meeting point will be arranged.
