Day Trips and Excursions :: CLASSIC SOUTHERN TUSCANY

CLASSIC SOUTHERN TUSCANY
A Full-day Excursion to Siena and San Gimignano

Set out from your hotel in the early morning with a private de luxe vehicle and English-speaking driver. En route, experience the magnificent - and certainly unforgettable - spectacle of the majestic Chianti Valley. This land of fabulous vineyards and olive groves - internationally-renowned for their productions - is truly the Tuscany of your dreams! Enjoy a seemingly endless progression of castles, villas and monasteries.
Arriving in Siena, you will be joined by an expert and lively authorized local guide for an introductory tour. The mysterious medieval atmosphere of the place is immediately perceptible in picture-postcard narrow streets and quiet squares. It is as if you have stepped back in time. Draped on its three hills, Siena is indeed a very beautiful city, a flamboyant medieval ensemble of palaces and towers cast in warm, Siena-colored brick - the whole of which is dominated by the Gothic Duomo. Make an interior visit to admire the extraordinary marble floor and the masterpieces of Pinturrichio in the adjacent Piccolomini Library. Proceed to the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, where twice each year the Palio horserace has occurred for centuries. Learn about this exciting event then visit the Palazzo Pubblico. This impressive seat of Sienese government, surmounted by the taut needle of the Torre del Mangia, houses spectacular frescoes including the Allegories of Good and Bad Government.
Have free time to enjoy lunch al fresco on the square!
Proceed to the medieval Village of Towers, San Gimignano. A highlight of the day is free time to wander this characteristic burg: the narrow streets of which are animated by numerous craft and food shops that are sure to attract your attention!
Next is a stop at a local farm; visit the estate’s vineyard, picturesquely nestled among the hills of Ulignano. Enjoy an informative wine tasting lesson by the sommelier/proprietor and a light snack of local products including bruschette, cheese, salami, ham and the estate’s own olive oil.