Highlights of the Tuscan City States
Piazza del Campo, Siena
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: You board your flight for the overnight journey to Florence.
Day 2: Upon arrival you are met by your guide and escorted to your private car. You get an orientation tour of the city plus a light lunch at an enoteca before being delivered to your hotel. You have a chance to relax before enjoying dinner at the hotel. (L, D)
Day 3: Your day starts with a private tour of the Uffizi, built by the Medici and housing famous works by DaVinci, Giotto, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Raffaello. After lunch visit the Accademia Gallery for Michelangelo’s 19-foot masterpiece “David”. In the evening enjoy true Tuscan cuisine at one of our favorite restaurants. (B, L, D)
Day 4: After breakfast you head into the countryside with the first stop being Pisa, famous the world over for its leaning tower. After lunch you head for the town of Lucca enclosed by red brick walls in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is also the birthplace of Puccini and you will discuss key links between Lucca and the composer before returning to Florence. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Today you head into the Tuscan countryside with your first stop in the charming town of San Gimignano, which you’ll explore on foot with your guide. You stop for lunch in Chianti on a terrace overlooking the Tuscan countryside. After lunch you head to your hotel near Siena, a converted 14th century monastery with outstanding views of the countryside. During your stay here enjoy a la carte dining with wine. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Spend the day walking through and discovering the charms of Siena including the Piazza del Campo, considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world and site of the annual Palio horse race. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Today you set out “Under the Tuscan Sun” to the town of Cortona made famous by the book and the movie. It is a charming town and you have the chance to explore on foot and enjoy a leisurely lunch off the main square. In the afternoon you visit Arezzo, one of the centers of Etruscan civilization and the birthplace of Petrarch. After your visit you return to the hotel where a quiet table, a superb a la carte menu and a good bottle of Tuscan wine will help you celebrate your own personal farewell to Tuscany. (B, L, D)
Day 8: After breakfast your driver picks you up for the trip to the airport and your return flight to the U.S. (B)
Accommodations:
While savoring the art treasures of Florence:
Hotel Lungarno
Standing on the south bank of the River Arno, the Hotel Lungarno offers you your very own ‘room with a view’ with stunning aspects over Florence – the cultural capital of the world. A monument to the Renaissance, few cities can rival Florence. And, at the heart of it all is the Hotel Lungarno. The large windows in the lobby frame the masterpiece view of the Ponte Vecchio and the palazzi that face the river. The interior design is a smart balance of ivory toned fabrics and ocean blue carpets, with details that recall the elegance of an aristocratic Florentine home. Guest rooms are luxurious, even dramatic, and splendidly appointed. Privileged access to the restaurant, Borgo San Jacopo, provides a delicious view equal to its timeless Italian home cuisine.
While basking in the countryside outside Siena:
Hotel Certosa di Maggiano
The Certosa di Maggiano, built in 1314 with funds donated by Cardinal Ricardo Petroni, was a place designed for meditation and prayer. It is located in the countryside immediately outside Siena, within walking distance of the famous Piazza del Campo. The property passed from hand to hand until 1969, the year in which Mrs. Anna Grossi Recordati fell in love with the majestic, ruined complex and decided to restore it to its former glory. In 1975 the establishment was transformed into a hotel and became part of the famous “Relais & Chateaux” brand.
Prices:
$6,650 per person based on 2 traveling
$4,861 per person based on 4 traveling
$3,496 per person based on 6 traveling
For more information on Highlights of the Tuscan City States, please contact us.