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iExplore Italy Gold - Tuscany

Tuscany offers a feast for the senses: magnificent architecture, an extraordinary collection of art, picturesque countryside, and some of Italy’s finest cuisine and wines.Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its palaces, churches and museums overflow with masterful paintings and sculpture. Tuscany features some of Italy’s most impressive hill towns and offers great opportunities for walking. Enjoy hearty meals of Tuscan specialties, accompanied by the region’s famous Chianti wines.iExplore Italy - Tuscany Gold features private guided sightseeing in Florence and the hill towns of Tuscany. This tour also includes two cooking classes offered by top local chefs, to give you an opportunity to experience Tuscan cooking first-hand.

Trip Itinerary

Listed price may be a starting price, available dates subject to change. Please call iExplore to confirm 1-800-iExplore (1-312-492-9443).

"Day 01: Arrive Florence, Italy

Arrive Florence airport or Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, located in the historic center of the city. The remainder of today is at leisure or to begin exploring the enticing city of Florence on your own.

Day 02: Florence

Half-day sightseeing tour of Florence. Begin at the Ponte Vecchio, then walk to Piazza della Signoria, with its Renaissance sculpture masterpieces, and to the Palazzo Vecchio, heart of Florentine political life since the 14th century. To reach the Duomo, pass through the oldest section of the city center. The Piazza del Duomo is the religious center of the city, where the Baptistery, the Cathedral, Brunelleschi’s Dome, and Giotto’s Belltower are all to be seen. Finish your tour in the lively San Lorenzo district, where the Medici family had their origins, and which is now the location of a colorful food market. Lunch and the balance of the day are at leisure.

Day 03: Florence – Cooking Class

This morning you will visit the colorful Sant’Ambrogio market, brimming with fresh produce and aromatic cheeses. You’ll meet an excellent local cook who will guide you through the market, selecting the best items for today’s lunch. Then transfer to the well-equipped kitchen where you spend the rest of the morning as a participant in a cooking lesson, followed by a lunch of the dishes that you have prepared. Return transfer to the center of Florence with the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 04: Florence – Radda In Chianti

Transfer to the beautiful Chianti countryside, stop in a small village for a guided tour of a winery specializing in Chianti Classic. Also visit the oil press, with an explanation of the merits of extra-virgin olive oil. Enjoy a tasting of three excellent vintages, followed by a light lunch in a picturesque outdoor café where you can watch all the activity in the little town square. After lunch, you have an option of taking a 4-mile walk (almost all downhill) along old farm tracks, past lush vineyards and rustic farmhouses. Transfer to the village of Radda in Chianti, a lovely hill town just south of Florence. Take a short stroll to familiarize yourself with the town, which still maintains its medieval charm. Check into your beautifully renovated manor house hotel, once the private villa of an aristocratic Tuscan family. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 05: Radda In Chianti – Siena – Radda In Chianti

Morning transfer to Siena, a well-preserved medieval town and a treasure trove of art, pageantry and architecture. An expert local guide will lead you on a walking tour of the historical center. Late this afternoon return to Radda, where the balance of the day is at leisure.

Day 06: Radda In Chianti – Cooking Class

This morning, enjoy a leisurely drive along the tiny back roads of Tuscany, most of them unpaved. Explore some of the tucked-away villages and view the magnificent castles crowning the hilltops. There is an opportunity for an optional walk (2-3 miles, 1 hour) and/or a visit to a ceramic shop, where exquisite pieces are hand-painted in rich Tuscan colors. In the late afternoon, meet an excellent local cook who will teach us the secrets of Chianti-style Tuscan cuisine. Afterwards we enjoy a dinner of the specialties prepared during the lesson, complemented by a superb local wine.

Day 07: Radda In Chianti – Florence – Depart

Transfer to the Florence airport or central train station.

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