Rolling hills to Rugged Coastlines: Tuscany & Cinque Terre
- Tuscany and Cinque Terre
- 9 nights / 10 days, prices start from USD$5,500 per person
Enjoy a unique Italian adventure through Tuscany’s gorgeous rolling countryside and the historical seaside villages of Cinque Terre. Enjoy world-renowned food and wine as you marvel at the historical sites and stunning vistas.
Hillside villages atop crystal blue waters, Italy's wonders.
Top Highlights
- Gourmet Tuscan cooking class focused on regional specialties
- Leisurely bike tours through Italian vineyards
- Winery visits and tastings showcasing Italy's finest wines
- Walking tour of Florence with a private local guide
- Tours and tastings at a Chianti cheese farm and EVOO producer
- Explore the stunning medieval towns of Siena and San Gimignano
- Marvel at the gorgeous fishing villages of Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera
What’s Included
- Double room accommodations
- Breakfast at hotels
- Private transfers
- Private tours and experiences
- Full support from your travel designer and on the ground
Itinerary
Florence
Begin your journey in the beautiful Florence! The capital of the Renaissance and of Tuscany, Florence is renowned for its beauty, art, culture, and fashion.
You will be picked up at the Florence airport and transferred to the deluxe Grand Hotel Baglioni, conveniently located in the historic city centre. After resting off the travel, you will enjoy an engaging three hour private guided walking tour of principal sites, with the guide giving context, anecdotes and facts about this remarkable city.
Rich in culture, history, and natural beauty, Florence’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. You will marvel at the many impressive sites including: the stunning Duomo, with its glowing marble facade and impressive decorations; Ponte Vecchio; and the Academia Gallery where Michelangelo’s David reigns supreme. The Duomo stands as a powerful testament to the power and influence of the Medici family in Florence.
Remainder of the day is free to wander the city and dine at a trattoria famous for bisteca all fiorentina.
Suggested Accommodation: Grand Hotel Baglioni
Radda in Chianti
You will now head into the heart of the rolling hills of Tuscany to stay at the beautiful Borgo Vescine, a gorgeous hotel steeped in history. Originally constructed as a lookout post in the 7th century, it features gorgeous views of the surrounding Chianti towns, and is ideally situated close to Siena, Florence, and San Gimignano.
Rural Tuscany is the quintessential Italian experience including stunning hill towns, green and rolling hills, olive groves, and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Explore the heart of beautiful Chianti, meet local producers, farmers and purveyors of some of the finest food and wine in Tuscany. There will be tastings and tours available at a family-run winery, cheese farm, and extra virgin olive oil producer. Adventure awaits here, where you can explore by e-bike with a local guide. Perfect for cyclists of all levels; the views, fragrant trees, and vibrant colours of the hills will amaze.
You will have a private driver at your disposal to explore the surrounding towns such as Siena and San Gimignano. After Florence, Siena is Tuscany’s second principal city and is the true embodiment of a medieval town, described by UNESCO as a “testimony to human creativity and the expression of human artistic and aesthetic capacity in material form.”
Bask in splendor in the beautiful hilltop town of San Gimignano. Known as the ‘Town of Fine Towers’, San Gimignano is a fortified, well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site with medieval architecture, rich history, and an enchanting rural setting. Explore the area, wandering the lovely streets, perhaps climbing the steps up the Torre Grossa, or perusing the shops and boutiques selling traditional Tuscan goods like leather, ceramics, and local delicacies.
Suggested Accommodation: Borgo Vescine
Porto Venere
Next you’re off to the stunningly beautiful area of Cinque Terre, with an optional stop in Pisa to see the famous Campo del Miracoli and Leaning Tower.
Cinque Terre is a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. You will have the special opportunity to explore each of the five towns, with their colourful houses, steep hillside vineyards and impressive terraces and harbours. These fishing villages offer many wonderful restaurants and trattorias that offer exceptional seafood. Enjoy the area’s specialties, including the Liguria region’s famous sauce: pesto.
If you desire, you have the option to walk the famous hiking paths of Cinque Terre. Meet a private guide at the hotel who will facilitate your transfer and accompany you to Cinque Terre. There they will help you get orientated, explain the train schedules, and make hiking route recommendations based on your preferences. Enjoy the well-earned views of the gorgeous landscapes of Cinque Terre as you hike.
You also have the option for a pesto cooking class in the village of Manarola. You will learn how to use a pesto mortar, taste your own pesto in the traditional manner on a slice of fresh focaccia and enjoy the perfect pairing for pesto, a glass of Cinque Terre white wine.
As you make your way back to Florence, let the experts at GHardy recommend the best places to stop enroute! Options could include Forte del Marmi, the exclusive seaside Tuscan town famous for luxury shops, a cashmere market, and beach promenade; Carrara, “the city of marble”, or charming Lucca, where you can walk through the gardens and along the medieval ramparts.
Arrivederci Italia!
Suggested Accommodation: Grand Hotel Portovenere
We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something just for you.
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