14 Days Gourmand Tour in Florence, Tuscany, Umbria and Rome
$1222
/ per person
(0 Reviews)
INCLUDED
3 nights at the Hotel degli Orafi 4*** in Florence (or similar): 1 Double executive room
3 nights at the Boutique Hotel La Lupaia in Torrita di Siena, Tuscany (or similar): 1 Double deluxe room
3 nights at the Hotel NUN Relais and Spa Museum 5***** in Assisi: 1 Double deluxe room
4 nights at Hotel degli Artisti 4**** in Rome (or similar): 1 Double superior room
Breakfast every day at the hotel
Private car with English speaking driver for transfer from Florence Airport to the hotel
Dinner in Florence: 3 courses with wine pairing
Private English speaking guide for the tour in Florence: 6 hours
Food tastings during the food tour in Florence
Private car with English speaking driver at disposal for the full day to Pisa and Lucca: 8 hours
Private English speaking guide for the tour in Pisa and Lucca: 4 hours
Private car with English speaking driver from Florence to Torrita Di Siena
Cooking class and dinner or lunch at La Lupaia
Private car with English speaking driver at disposal for the tour in Siena: 6 hours
Private English speaking guide for the tour in Siena: 3 hours
Lunch and wine tasting in San Gimignano countryside
Private car with English speaking driver from Torrita Di Siena to Assisi
Private English speaking guide for tour in Assisi: 2 hours
Private car with English speaking driver at disposal for the visit at Deruta: 4 hours
Private car with English speaking driver from Assisi to Rome
Private Vespa Sidecar tour with English speaking driver-guide in Rome
Private car with English speaking driver from the Hotel to the Vatican Museums
Private, licensed English speaking guide in Rome: 4 hours
Private car with English speaking driver from the Hotel to the Colosseum
Private, licensed English speaking guide in Rome: 4 hours
Private car with English speaking driver at disposal to the Roman Castles : 6 hours
Lunch and wine tasting at Roman Castles
Private English speaking driver with luxury Minivan for a direct transfer from hotel to Roma Fiumicino Airport
Skip the line entrance tickets at:
Accademia Gallery
Duomo in Siena
Colosseum and Roman Forum
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
NOT INCLUDED
All meals not mentioned in the program
Municipality city tax to pay at each hotel location, upon arrival
Tips
All that is not expressly listed in “THE TOUR INCLUDES“
HIGHLIGHTS
From our gallery
Tour Plan
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Day 1 – Florence: Arrival & Unique dinner
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your private English speaking driver and transfer to your hotel: Hotel degli Orafi 4**** . We will book 1 Double Executive room. Check in and enjoy free time at leisure.
In the evening, you will reach the restaurant we selected for you where you will taste the traditional Tuscan dishes with wine pairing. Here, you will enjoy a dinner where the recipes are combined with distinct flavors, using the best local ingredients and from other regions too, always searching for raw materials of the highest quality. The location is divided into two areas: the restaurant, furnished with warm and cheerful decorations on the walls, and a wine bar, which has a more casual atmosphere and opens out on to an outdoor courtyard. After dinner, you can enjoy the beauty of Florence by night.
The hotel, once an Augustine convent of the 13th century, is set beside the Uffizi Gallery, facing Florence's Ponte Vecchio and includes the ruins of an ancient medieval tower. The roof garden with bar offers views of the Cathedral. Breakfast is an American-style buffet and it is served daily in a former ballroom, with 19th-century frescoes and views of Arno River and Via dei Georgofili.
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Day 2 – Florence: Walking Tour with Food tour & Accademia Gallery
After breakfast, you will be met by your private English speaking guide in the hotel lobby for your walking tour of Florence. You will have the opportunity of getting a close up of the priceless Duomo, main cathedral and the dome done by Brunelleschi, the largest brick dome in the world. You will also see its splendid bell tower: the famous Campanile of Giotto. Next stop will be the political center of the city that will open its doors to us, offering you the chance to visit the Palazzo della Signoria also known as Palazzo Vecchio, seat of the secularists' power and residence to the Medici governing family, today seat of the municipality, as well being the first "piazza" (square) in Medieval Florence, you will proceed to Piazza della Repubblica, built on top of the Ancient Roman Forum, today surrounded by historic cultural cafès, where young intellectual Florentines have always and still do, like to gather. Your walking tour will bring you to the nearby San Lorenzo Market, where you will have a taste of Tuscany’s “green gold”, its renowned olive oil, as well as a variety of cheeses, salami and prosciutto, truffle sauces and balsamic vinegar. You will also have a wine tasting where you will enjoy some of the region’s finest wines. Still not full yet? Next stop will be at a local “fiaschetteria” where you will have a tasting of some of the city’s traditional recipes. The tour will finish in grand style with one of the finest gelato parlors in the city where you can pick your flavor made with genuine and fresh products. After this culinary experience, you will discover the Accademia Gallery Museum where the most symbolic work of Michelangelo is housed: Il David, an expression of beauty and physical perfection. It also has other sculptures by Michelangelo and an excellent collection of Renaissance paintings: you can admire the original plaster of “Il Ratto delle Sabine” by Giambologna (The Rape of the Sabine Women) the real marble one is in the Signoria Square, and discover why all artists made plaster casts but not Michelangelo Other masterpieces include “La Madonna ed il Bambino” (Madonna and Child) and “la Madonna del Mare” (Madonna of the Sea) by Botticelli. End of the tour and the rest of the day will be at leisure.
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Day 3 – Florence: Full day Tour to Pisa & Lucca
After breakfast at your hotel, meet your private English speaking driver and get ready to discover Pisa. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your private English speaking guide: the tour starts from the central Piazza Dei Miracoli, known as the Square of Miracles, not for any miracle but for its beauty, famous for its Leaning Tower built as a bell tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistry inside of which discover the perfect acoustics. If you observe closely you will see everything leans in the square, not just the tower, we will tell you why!
From here, you will have time to explore this small city with your guide and discover the many aspects of this fascinating town, named after a Greek city, from which it is believed originated the first inhabitants. A town, who thanks to its Tower, has become a symbol of Italy all over the world. It has also fascinated many film directors that have chosen it as a location for their film sets. It is so evocative and characteristic, that it has been proposed as one of the seven modern wonders of the world. At lunch time, you will have free time at leisure.
After lunch, your driver will chauffeur you and your guide to Lucca, where you will explore and learn about the beauty of this small but very important town made famous by its (still intact) Renaissance Walls the second largest one in Europe nearly 3 miles long, today used as a pedestrian walk way. You will be amazed by the architectural beauty and artistic ambiance of the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, built on top of an Ancient Roman Amphitheater and marvel at the historic sites as you walk around this tiny town.
After this visit, you will transfer back to your hotel in Florence. Rest of the day and dinner at leisure.
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Day 4 – Florence to Torrita di Siena
After breakfast and check out from your hotel, you will meet up with your private English speaking driver for a direct transfer to your next destination: Torrita di Siena at your charming Boutique Hotel La Lupaia. We will book 1 Double Deluxe room. Check in and enjoy a free day at leisure.
Overlooking the rolling hills of Tuscany, set in the province of Siena between Montepulciano and Pienza, the romantic Lupaia features a unique combination of nature and history. Situated in the heart of the Val d’Orcia, it is strategically close to the most enchanting historical towns such as Siena, Arezzo, Florence and Perugia, offering at the same time the unique experience of being on a tranquil country estate that offers the serenity and solitude that has become so rare in this busy world. Every room and suite at Lupaia is unique. They are spread over 5 ancient farmhouse buildings, with enchanting views of the countryside and our gardens. The heart of Lupaia is the open kitchen in our main building.
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Day 5 – Torrita di Siena: Cooking class
After breakfast, you can relax in the Sienese hills, where you will be free to relax and admire the splendid Tuscan valleys that surround your resort.
In the afternoon, you will have a wonderful experience! You will meet your English speaking Chef and get ready to learn the world famous Italian cooking techniques and the skills to cook delicious Italian dishes with focus on making hand made pasta, make sure you get the knack. Under the guidance of your fun and friendly host, you will immerse yourself in Italian life to discover the gastronomic delights of Tuscany. After cooking, you will enjoy the meal you have learned to cook, accompanied by local wines. The rest of the day will be at leisure.
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Day 6 – Torrita di Siena: Siena guided tour wine tasting and lunch
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be met by your private English speaking driver and reach Siena where you will meet your guide and begin to discover the city on a pleasant and interesting walking tour. Siena is a city that dates back to the Etruscan period. The legend tells us it was founded by Romulus and Remus before Christ, documents declare it later became a Roman colony at the time of Emperor Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome and during this period went by the name Saena Iulia. While walking along the streets, you will reach the Duomo (The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta), a classic example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, the Battistero di San Giovanni, and the historic Piazza del Campo with its unusual sloping seashell shape: it is here that the famous Palio di Siena takes place, every year on 2nd July and the 16th August, but the preparations before and the festivities after, go on for months and months. After the tour you will meet up again with your driver for a direct transfer to one of the most important wineries of the area.
Here, you will visit a vineyard and the particular spiral vineyard gardens that are capable of combining production with aesthetics and tradition. After that you will enjoy the cellar, where you will be able to admire and smell the typical wooden barrels in which the delicious wines are aged. At the end of this interesting tour, you will have an amazing lunch including the tasting of 10 wines. After lunch, your driver will accompany you back to your countryside resort. Rest of the day at leisure.
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Day 7 – Torrita di Siena to Assisi
Breakfast and check out from your hotel. You will be met by your private English speaking driver for a direct transfer to your next destination: Assisi. In about 2 hours, you will reach your hotel: NUN Relais & Spa Museum 5*****. We will book 1 Double Deluxe room.
Check-in at the hotel and enjoy some free time at leisure.
Located in the heart of Assisi and surrounded by the magnificent Umbrian mountains, the Nun Assisi Relais & SPA Museum is a haven for spending unforgettable holidays. The building is the result of the meticulous restoration of the ancient Monastery of Saint Catherine, to designed to maintain the harmony of the arcane beauty of its Roman Era, whilst blending in the lightness of contemporary architecture. The gastronomic offer is sophisticated and rich: guests can enjoy the delicious specialties prepared by the chef at Eat Out - Osteria Gourmet, inspired by Umbrian tradition. The Nun SPA Museum wellness center offers relaxing and tailor-made paths. Charming multi-massage heated pool, surrounded by six majestic 1st century BC limestone pillars. The hotel is also a perfect location for events thanks to its large spaces equipped with the latest technologies and professional staff.
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Day 8 - Assisi: Walking tour
After breakfast, meet your private English speaking guide and enjoy a 2 hour walking tour of the city. Assisi was the birthplace of St. Francis who gave up his worldly possessions and founded the Order of Franciscans dating back to AD 1208. You will see the Roman Forum, an area of historical significance and well-preserved Roman remains and other interesting spots. Then, you will walk to the magnificent Basilica of San Francesco, (AD 1230) which still preserves the saint's remains. With its medieval artworks by Giotto and Cimabue, the church is a Unesco World Heritage Site. At the end of your tour, the rest of the day will be for you to enjoy.
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Day 9 – Assisi: Visit of Deruta
After breakfast, meet your private English speaking driver and travel to the incredible town of Deruta.
The town is located about 15 kilometers south of Perugia on a hill top that overlooks the Tiber Valley. The old village is set against the historic fortifications and three gates in this traditional defense system that leads into the old town center. The civic towers loom above the walls, together with the bell tower of the Gothic-style San Francesco church, consecrated in 1388.
Production of ceramics in Deruta goes back centuries. There is documentation of this production since 12 August 1290 and states that there was "payment in kind" with "unam soumam vasorum". This was the archaic period with production of objects of common use: jugs, bowls, basins, covered with geometrical and zoomorphic decorations. The dominant colors are copper-speckled green and manganese brown.
Here, you will visit one of the most well-known artisans, where the staff will be pleased to guide you into their laboratory to give you a detailed description of all the steps of the fascinating artisan work of ceramics, from the molding by wheel, to the hand painting of the products, until the drawing out the masterpieces from the kiln. At the end of the visit, you will meet up again with your private English speaking driver and transfer back to your hotel. The rest of the day will be at leisure.
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Day 10 – Assisi to Rome
Breakfast and check out from your hotel. You will be met by your private English speaking driver for a direct transfer to your hotel in Rome: Hotel Degli Artisti 4****. We will book 1 Double Superior room. Check-in at the hotel and the rest of the day at leisure.
Degli Artisti Hotel is a cozy, elegant 4-star hotel in the heart of Rome, in the lovely neighborhood of the Ludovisi district on the Pincian Hill, a stone’s throw from the city’s main destinations. It has 35 large rooms and suites all featuring classic furnishing, exquisite fabrics and modern technologies. The Terrace Bar, on the rooftop, serves drinks, aperitifs, cocktails and delicious dinners in an exclusive location overlooking the beautiful garden of Saint Isidores College. Highly-qualified staff is always ready to assist with anything guests might need, including tickets and reservations for shows, events or restaurants.
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Day 11 – Rome: Ancient Rome Tour
After breakfast, meet your private English speaking driver and guide in the hotel lobby for a direct transfer to the Ancient part of the Eternal city: Colosseum and Roman Forum. Specially designed to provide visitors with an unforgettable experience and in-depth understanding of the splendors of Ancient Rome, this tour will lead you to the most significant monuments and sights of this spectacular open-air museum. Your visit begins as you access the Colosseum, Rome’s most stunning landmark and one of Ancient Rome’s most vital social centers. Once inside the amphitheater, you will tread the ground where gladiators and ferocious beasts once fought and the emperors, whom, with a mere gesture of the thumb, decided the fate of slaves and prisoners. Your professional guide will lead you through the ruins and bring to life the dramas that unfolded within these ancient walls nearly two thousand years ago. You will climb the Palatine Hill, the legendary hill where Romulus and Remus, found by a she-wolf near the river and brought up here to then found Rome. From here enjoy a breathtaking view of the Fora and the Circus Maximus, famous for the chariots races and first built in the 6th century BC. The tour will end with a stroll along the Via Sacra which is the main route through the Roman Forum. At the end of the tour, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
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Day 12 – Rome: Roman Castles with wine tasting and lunch in a first class restaurant
After breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your private English speaking driver and travel a short distance South East of Rome: to the Castelli Romani. This area has been inhabited by the many Roman nobles since Roman times due to its fresh, climate during summer. Your first destination is Castel Gandolfo, where the Pope has his summer residence on Lake Albano and where you can relax and admire the beautiful greenery. Afterwards, you can feast your eyes and your palate on an enchanting panorama that extends over Lake Albano in one of the most famous restaurants in the Latium area. Here, you will have the chance to taste the local wines from an ancient winery and then, have lunch in a nice terrace with a stunning view. The menu, composed of ingredients of the highest quality, is deliciously blended with the choice of over 40,000 wines. Once this culinary experience ends, your driver will escort you back to your hotel. The rest of the day will be at leisure.
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Day 13 - Rome: AM Vatican Museums & PM Vespa sidecar Tour with Aperitif
After breakfast at your hotel, meet your private English-speaking guide and driver and transfer to the world’s smallest state, the Vatican. Here, tour through one of the world’s most cherished art collections. Visited by over 5 million people every year, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel play an essential part in your Roman experience. Your qualified expert guide will lead you through the centuries and highlight the masterpieces that no visitor to Rome should ever miss. The treasure trove you see today originated over five hundred years ago, as a result of the humanist popes’ passion for collecting and commissioning artworks. Nestled among several marvels lies the world-famous Sistine chapel. You will be overwhelmed to find yourself at the core of the Christian world as you admire Michelangelo’s stunning frescoes among which are two of his most well-loved masterpieces: the Last Judgement and the Creation of Adam. Discover why frescoes are so special. Finally the guided tour will lead you to St. Peter’s Basilica, where the impact of Michelangelo’s Pietà cannot fail to move emotions, made by Michelangelo at only 23 years old. Admire the colossal dome also designed by Michelangelo and it still impresses every single visitor to the heart to be standing in the center of the Roman Catholic Church. End of the tour and free time for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will meet your private English speaking guide with your sidecar and will be ready to enjoy a unique tour of Rome. The tour will start with the Quirinale Square: the Palace, the Obelisk and Fountain are protagonists along with the Panoramic view. Riding down the Quirinal Hill, you will reach Fontana di Trevi, where you will park the Sidecars and walk to the Fountain. You will proceed towards Trinità dei Monti. This stop also provides a beautiful panoramic over Rome. The next stop will be in Piazza del Popolo and then, you will have the opportunity to walk through the colonnade of Saint Peter’s square. Afterwards, you will reach one of the highlights of Rome for its view, the Gianicolo, discover Rome’s skyline and time for taking pictures. Here, you will enjoy a quick aperitif. On the way to the next stop, you will drive across Trastevere and Jewish ghetto, two important areas of Rome. Trastevere’s narrow streets and lively squares with markets & cafés, allows you to sense Rome’s authentic soul, going beyond usual touristic attractions. The Jewish ghetto, besides its beauty, is imbued in tangible historical facts. The last stop will be at Pantheon, where you will visit the inside, the most incredible building in Rome dating back to before Christ. You will not miss driving through the central hub of the Capital, Piazza Venezia, which intersects via del Corso, the famous shopping area and via dei Fori Imperiali. Finally, you will briefly stop your vehicles between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill and from this strategic position, you will make your way to circumnavigate the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, and discover miracles & legends of this important Church.
End of the tour and rest of the day will be at leisure.
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Day 14 - Rome departure
Breakfast and check out from the hotel and meet your private English speaking driver in the lobby for a direct transfer to Fiumicino airport for your flight back home.
Tour Location
Gallery
