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ONE WEEK IN ITALY TOUR

Rates & Dates    •    Tour Overview    •    Includes    •    Itinerary
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CLICK HERE FOR RATES & DATES » Limited to 14 people Touring:  Florence, Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, Siena, San Gimignano, Chianti - Greve, Cortona, Monteriggioni, Assisi, Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio Tour Overview: The best of Italian art, history, architecture and cuisine in one week. Sample renowned wines and cheeses as we enjoy the Tuscan landscape, especially its vineyards; explore ancient Roman ruins, and medieval hill towns and Renaissance churches and UNESCO World Heritage sites. The trip begins and ends in Florence, an important cultural center, where you will see such famous works of art as Michelangelo’s Statue of David and Giotto's frescoes. Departure & Arrival Airport: Florence airport VIEW Rates & Dates »

Tour Includes: 8 Days of Land Tour Comfortable, Charming and Centrally Located Hotels 3 Dinners and 2 Lunches with Wine Tour Manager Throughout The Tour Local Guides for Florence, Assisi, Orvieto Wine Tasting in Chianti Wine Tasting in Montalcino With Lunch Transportation to All Planned Activities Entrance Fees to All Scheduled Museums And Sites Airport On Arrival Day Not Included: Gratuity to your Tour Manager Airport transfer on Departure Day

INFORMATION REQUEST FORM ›        •        RESERVATION FORM ›

ITINERARY
Note:  Activities or order of activities are subject to change due to unforeseen closures, etc.  We reserve the right to replace an activity.
(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch,  D = Dinner)

DAY 1:
Arrival in Florence, Transfer to Pienza, Welcome Dinner, Overnight in Pienza
Your tour manager will meet you at the airport in Florence and escort you to Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage site and our base for the next six nights.  Our hotel overlooks Orcia Valley, arguably the most scenic and definitely most photographed area of in all of Tuscany.  Pienza is the birthplace of Pope Pius II, who ordered the town to be redesigned into a masterpiece Renaissance city.  Charming Pienza has many specialty stores, including food markets where you can sample pecorino cheese, one of the locally produced delicacies.  We will get to know each other over a welcome dinner tonight.  (D)

DAY 2:
Montalcino, Wine Tasting, Sant’Antimo, Bagno Vignoni, Overnight in Pienza
This morning we will travel through scenic countryside to reach Montalcino, whose acclaimed vineyards produce Brunello di Montalcino. We will tour a winery renowned for this fabulous red wine and sample some of the fruits of the vine.  You will have free time to enjoy this town, enjoy a leisurely lunch on your own and buy some wine to savor later.

In the afternoon, we will continue traveling Tuscany's backroads to reach the Romanesque Abbey of Sant'Antimo, an unforgettable 9th-century Benedictine monastery.  It is a simple yet magnificent stone church, set amongst the field of olive trees. We plan to arrive in time to hear the monks, clad in their white robes, chant their prayers in Latin at the altar.

After visiting the abbey, we will head to the little town of Bagno Vignoni, famous for its thermal waters since Roman times. We will return to Pienza, where you will have the evening to explore on your own.  (B)

DAY 3:
Siena, Lunch at Farm, San Gimignano, Overnight in Pienza
In the morning, we will head to San Gimignano, one of Italy’s most well-preserved medieval towns, known for its beautiful towers and a white wine called Vernaccia.  You will have free time to stroll the medieval streets, shop for some unique souvenirs, and photograph the picturesque valley the town overlooks.

From here, we will go to a family-owned farm where we will enjoy a festive lunch on their terrace overlooking San Gimignano.  After lunch, we will travel to historic city of Siena.  A short orientation tour will get you acquainted with the city and comfortable enough to explore it on your own.  Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has one of the most beautiful squares in Italy.  The fan-shaped Piazza del Campo has a 14th-century tower and a beautiful cathedral featuring the work of such famous artists as Donatello.    

You're on your own for dinner, but as always, your tour manager is happy to join you or make restaurant recommendations.  (B, L) 

DAY 4:
Assisi, Cortona, Overnight in Pienza
This morning, we will travel to magical Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis, patron saint of the animals. Our guided tour of this spectacular city, built up the steep slopes of Mount Subasio, includes the tomb and Basilica of St. Francis, famous for Giotto's brilliant frescoes depicting the saint's life.  We will also travel through time through Assisi’s various historical sites, from  the Temple of Minerva and Piazza del Comune, both built two millennia ago, to a thirteenth-century church called Chiesa di Santa Chiara.  Free time and lunch on your own after the tour. 

We will also travel to Cortona, one of the oldest hill towns and best-preserved Etruscan cities in Tuscany. As you follow Cortona’s meandering medieval walls, you will be treated to magnificent views of vineyards, olive groves and Lake Trasimeno.  As you explore Cortona’s charming medieval streets, it will be clear why it was chosen as the setting for the movie “Under The Tuscan Sun.”  Free time on your own; group dinner in the evening.  (B, D)

DAY 5:
Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio, Overnight in Pienza
Today, we continue our wanderings to the village of Civita di Bagnoregio in Lazio.  We will cross a 300-meter bridge to reach the earthquake-prone village, only accessible by foot.

We will also tour Orvieto, an ancient Umbrian hill town dramatically situated atop volcanic tufa rock.  Our guided tour of this charming medieval town features a beautiful Gothic cathedral and chapel where pilgrims and art lovers alike come to see Luca Signorelli's colorful frescoes vividly depicting the Apocalypse.  Orvieto is just as interesting below ground as it is above, with Etruscan and medieval caves, and the underground remains of an old olive press, for example.  Orvieto is also famous for its museums, ceramics, and wines (most notably the Orvieto Classico).   Enjoy exploring this beautiful town on your own after the tour.  (B)  

DAY 6:
Chianti:  Verrazzano, Greve, Monteriggioni, Overnight in Pienza
Today, we will follow the scenic Chianti road to Greve, another famous wine-producing town.  We will stop briefly here to enjoy the town square and wine museum.  From here, we will head to Verrazzano castle, featuring a magnificent garden and terrace overlooking the estate and the vineyard.  After a tour of the Verrazzano cellar, we will lunch Tuscan style: traditional dishes carefully paired with local wines. On the way back to Pienza, we will stop at sleepy Monteriggioni, once a fortress and now a walled medieval village. (B, L)

DAY 7:
Florence:  City Walking Tour, Accademia Museum, Uffizi Museum, Farewell Dinner, Overnight in Florence
This morning, we will travel to the romantic city of Florence for our last day together.  We will have a guided tour of the Accademia museum, where you will see some of Michelangelo's works, including the Statue of David.  Please dress appropriately for entrance to the cathedral afterwards. After free time for lunch, we’ll visit the Uffizi museum, and you will again be free to explore the city until our farewell dinner. Our overnight stay here is a fairy-tale ending to this fantastic tour.   (B, D)

DAY 8:
Departure for Home.
Prepare for your flight home.  A private transfer is scheduled to take the group to the airport in Florence. (B)  

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