The Best of Tuscany

We've designed this tour as a sampler that provides a taste of the many pleasures that Florence and Tuscany have to offer. You'll have a chance to go wine tasting in Chianti, visit medieval castles, see art treasures of the Renaissance, explore Tuscany's picturesque towns and villages, and enjoy exquisite local cuisine.

We’ll be staying at charming, comfortable hotels and villas in Tuscany. We’ll spend the first portion of our week in Florence at a lovely hotel in the historic core of the city, only steps away from many of the world’s greatest collections of artistic masterpieces. We’ll then transfer to the ancient Etruscan town of Cortona which has recently been made famous by the book and movie, Under the Tuscan Sun. We’ll be staying in a luxurious palazzo in the old town at the top of the mountain with commanding views of the Valdichiana plains down below.

For the final portion of our adventure in Tuscany we’ll based at an elegant Villa in the Chianti countryside that was a 16th century noble residence. It has a gorgeous pool and spectacular views of hillsides covered with vineyards and olive groves. From here we’ll visit the fascinating medieval city of Siena with its world-famous Gothic cathedral. And we’ll make several short excursions to explore wine, food, and art in the marvelous hilltowns and villages that make this one of the most beautiful areas of Tuscany.

You will have the opportunity to experience both the excitement and stimulus of the cities of Florence and Siena and the beauty and tranquility of rural Tuscan life. The small size of our group allows us to move about without following a red umbrella and to eat in restaurants and trattorias that are popular with the locals. Apart from breakfast, we share one full-course meal every day as a group, either lunch or dinner. (For other dining, we'll suggest locations where you can enjoy a gourmet meal at your leisure, or you may want to choose a quick bite and spend some time shopping).

The Best of Tuscany Tour combines daily planned activities along with unstructured time that you may spend as you like. If you have special activities that you’d like to pursue during the unscheduled portions of our tour in Tuscany, we’re happy to help you make the arrangements.

During the course of the tour we offer presentations and slideshows to help you better appreciate the art and the places we visit. The rest of the time, we attend to all the details to make your travel adventure as smooth as possible. You get to relax and experience The Best of Tuscany!

To request a detailed itinerary for this tour of Tuscany, click here and the itinerary will be emailed to you immediately.

Tour Specifics:

Dates: September 23 to October 1, 2010

Cost: The land cost of the tour is $3390, per person, based on double occupancy. Cash discount cost is $3300 per person for payment by check or wire transfer.

You may make your registration deposit using PayPal and/or your credit card and still be eligible for the cash discount cost if your final balance is paid by check or wire transfer. Single rooms are available for a supplementary charge of $695. Airfare is not included.

Accommodations: 8 nights lodging in carefully restored, historic properties; (3 nights in a Florence hotel, 2 nights in a hotel in Cortona, and 3 nights at a villa in the Chianti region). All rooms have private baths.

Meals: All breakfasts, one full-course meal daily, additional meals as scheduled. All meals-after breakfast!-include regional wines. We carefully choose the restaurants based on ambiance and quality of cuisine.

Transfers: All ground transportation during the tour.

Wine tastings of various Tuscan varieties (including small local producers and larger well-known wineries).

Workshops and Presentations: We include slideshows and presentations that provide essential background information to enhance your visits.

Admissions: Entrance fee for all planned visits to monuments, galleries and museums are included.

Small, Intimate Group: We will be limiting the number of participants to a maximum of 16.

Early Arrival/ Late Stay Options: Depending on hotel availability you may be able to arrive early or stay after the end of the tour. We'll be happy to help you make these arrangements.

Pick Up and Drop Off: The tour begins at our hotel in Florence, and we can help you with the logistics of getting there. We will take you back to Siena on the final morning of the tour without charge, or, alternatively, you can request a return transfer to Florence for 45 Euro per person. Pick-ups or drop-offs at other locations can be arranged through our travel partners for an additional fee.

Experienced Tour Leaders: Pam Mercer and Sam Hilt of Tuscany Tours have been leading tours in Tuscany since 1997.

Registration:

To reserve your place and register for this tour, please click the button below to jump to the Registration Page:

Please feel free to contact us via email or call us at (800) 634-3460 with any questions you may have about the tour or about traveling to Tuscany.

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