A view of Ponte Vecchio from from the Uffizi Gallery

La Grande Toscana

Florence, San Gimignano, Siena, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pisa, Cortona, Assisi, Perugia. 3 nights in Florence, 2 nights in Cortona, 1 night in Roma. Maximum flexibility with this itinerary. Ideal short tour for first time visitors with limited time at disposal. Easy customize itinerary for 2 to 6 people, with driver or self-driven

Typical Itinerary

DAY 1: MONDAY-SIENA & SAN GIMIGNANO 

Meet your driver and tour leader (or your driver) at Rome Airport or any hotel of your preference. Or pick up your rental car. Need help? just let me know.
Transfer to Florence with two en route stops to enjoy the best of Tuscany: Siena (guided visit suggested) & San Gimignano (free time). The drive itself is a magnificent path along the roads of Tuscany, where it is possible to enjoy the view of hills covered by vineyards, olives tree, small villages and original bell towers. The first stop is Siena, probably Italy’s loveliest medieval city, for a walking tour (with a local professional English-speaking guide, strongly suggested). Siena’s heart is Il Campo or Campo’s square, where the famous horse race Il Palio takes place two times each summer. The town offers magnificent masterpieces and incredible views. Enjoy a wine tasting with cheese and salami. Continue to Florence and en route stop in San Gimignano. The town is listed as a World Heritage site and fascinates for its medieval look. Its high towers create a unique skyline. Enjoy the village on your own. Arrival in Florence late afternoon. Free time for dinner. Overnight in Florence.

DAY 2: TUESDAY FLORENCE

In the morning, enjoy a walking tour of the city with an English speaking guide (strongly suggested) visit the Accademia, where you can admire Michelangelo’s David Statue.
Lorenzo de Medici transformed Florence into the cradle of the Renaissance by attracting the best artists, architects and writers of the time such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli to whom he com- missioned various works. Visit Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Dome with Giotto’s bell tower, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring Florence on your own, visiting the Uffizi or taking the opportunity to visit Chianti or Lucca. Overnight in Florence.

DAY 3: WEDNESDAY – DINNER IN CHIANTI 

The day is free at leisure. There are many optional tours available: Pisa with its leaning tower, Montepucliano and Montalcino, Cortona, Assisi and Perigia and many other. In the late afternoon, short ride to the Chianti area for a unique experience. Enjoy the view of the beautiful hills covered by vineyards and have a fantastic dinner in a farm house, accompanied with Chianti wine. Late evening return to hotel. Overnight in Florence.

DAY 4: THURSDAY-PISA

After breakfast, meet your expert driver guide and continue to Pisa. Here, meet you local guide and visit the city. Pisa is most famous for its Leaning Tower, but the old Maritime Republic offers incredible sights like Miracles’ square, the beautiful Battistero and many other masterpieces. At the end of the excursion, proceed to Cortona, where you will spend the next 2 nights. Dinner will be served in a typical restaurant. Overnight in Cortona.

DAY 5: FRIDAY CORTONA 

After breakfast, start your unforgettable cooking experience in Cortona with your local expert. Cortona is a small charming town in the Valdichiana, in southern Tuscany. The city, enclosed by stone walls dating back to Etruscan and Roman times, sits on the top of a hill about 600 meters above sea level. This dominant position over the valley offers a spectacular view from all over the town of the surrounding valley and even Lake Trasimeno. In the morning, you will have the possibility to visit the fresh market to learn about the local ingredients, then you will have an exciting cooking class to learn the secrets of Tuscan cuisine. Then, you will eat what you have prepared with your own hands. The afternoon on is free. Overnight in Cortona.

DAY 6: SATURDAY-ASSISI & PERUGIA 

In the morning meet your driver guide and proceed to Assisi, where you will have free time to discover the town.
Continue to Perugia. Your lunch will be served in a nice farm house in the countryside. Upon arrival in Perugia, meet your guide for a visit. At the end, continue to Rome. Your dinner will be served at hotel.

DAY 7: SUNDAY DEPARTURE 

Transfer to airport or railway station in Rome