- See some of Florence’s most spectacular architecture in the Grand Duomo Museum
- Drive through the verdant hills of the Tuscan countryside
- Stay in historic villas between the vineyards
- Take a private tour of the artistic town of Arezzo
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Route
FLIGHT TO FLORENCE
Your nine-day trip to Italy begins with a two-hour flight to Florence. When you land, you’ll be privately transferred to your accommodation for the first two nights: a 15th-century house full of original beams and frescoes. Located in the heart of Florence, this property has you perfectly placed to enjoy everything this captivating city has to offer.
THE GRAND DUOMO MUSEUM
Today we’ll organise queue-jumping tickets for the Grand Duomo Museum, the largest museum in Florence which grants you access to Brunelleschi's dome, the Cathedral, the Campanile, the Baptistery, the Crypt and the museum. Inside the museum, you’ll find original and reconstructed architecture and sculptures from some of Florence’s most iconic buildings, including the Florence Duomo, the Baptistery of Saint John and Giotto's Campanile. The grandeur of these historic buildings is clear to see, whether in Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise – a gleaming set of doors created for the Baptistry – or the reconstructed façade of the Duomo itself, which contains 40 exact replicas of the sculptures on the original façade. You’ll also find a poignant, unfinished Michelangelo sculpture here, which he carved for his own tomb. If you’d like to see more of Michelangelo’s work, we can also arrange for you to take a private tour of The Accademia Gallery.
EXPERIENCE SAN CASCIANO IN VAL DI PESA
Today, you’ll pick up your rental car and drive to San Casciano, about 35 minutes south of Florence. You’ll stay here for two nights in a beautiful Renaissance villa amid the vineyards. Since you’re in the Chianti region, carve out some time to visit a vineyard and sample their creations ¬– you’ll have beautiful views across the rolling Tuscan hillsides up at the historic winery of Gabbiano castle. The remainder of your time here can be spent visiting the Romanesque churches and fortresses, or admiring the frescoes of Cosimo Gheri's studio. If you like, we can also arrange for you to take a private tour of nearby Siena.
DRIVE TO CORTONA
Your next stop is Cortona, about an hour and a half away. Your home for the next two nights is a historic villa where the beautiful garden converges on fields of vines and tobacco. Sunny days can be spent cooling off in the swimming pool, and when you get peckish, tuck into inventive seasonal cuisine in the hotel restaurant.
VISIT AREZZO
Far from the hustle and bustle of Florence, Arezzo is a small country town that’s known for its artistic heritage and fabulous food. Specifically, this town owes its reputation as a city of art to Piero della Francesca and his frescoes in the Basílica de San Francisco. We’ll arrange for you to visit Arezzo with a private guide today, who will show you the town’s must-sees including the Basílica de San Francisco along with the church of Santa Maria della Pieve, the Piazza Grande, the Duomo and the Basilica of San Domenico. If you’d prefer to continue discovering Tuscany’s wine regions, we can arrange for you to visit the hilltop town of Montepulciano for a private wine tasting.
UNWIND IN PERUGIA
You’ll swap Tuscany for Umbria today, driving for just under an hour until you reach its capital, Perugia. Your accommodation for the next two nights will be a splendid castle just a stone’s throw from the historic centre, offering you beautiful views from the garden and terraces. In the evenings, enjoy some classic Umbrian cuisine in the hotel restaurant.
This beautiful city has a charming medieval centre full of cobbled alleyways and piazzas. Your final two days here are yours to spend as you please, whether that means shopping for traditional ceramics or sipping Aperol spritz with a view across the rooftops. If you like, we can also arrange for you to visit Assisi and the Basilica of San Francesco with a private guide.
FLIGHT HOME
It’s time to say arrivederci to Italy, so today you’ll drive to Rome airport where you’ll return your rental car before boarding your flight back to the UK.
A la carte
FLORENCE - MICHELANGELO IN THE ACCADEMIA GALLERY
At the age of 26, the genius sculptor Michelangelo began his Florentine masterpiece: ‘David’. He went on to be involved in many of the city’s important artistic projects including the façade of the San Lorenzo church and the Medici Chapel. During this private tour of the Accademia Gallery, you’ll come face-to-face with some of his incredible pieces including ‘Prisoners’ (or ‘Slaves’) and ‘David’, his most famous work.
SAN CASCIANO IN VAL DI PESA - PRIVATE TOUR OFF THE BEATEN TRACK IN SIENA
Clinging to three clay hillsides, the streets of this medieval city wind inside impressive walls before converging on the beating heart of the city: the Piazza del Campo. Every summer, this is the site of a horse race, the Palio di Siena, which sees competitors from the city’s 17 districts compete in a historic competition. During this private tour, you’ll go off the beaten track through Siena’s alleyways as you learn about daily life in this fascinating city.
CORTONA - MONTEPULCIANO AND WINE TASTING
In a remarkable location on a hill between the valleys of Chiana and Orcia, Montepulciano is a small Renaissance town with a Medieval soul. This is the undisputed capital of vino nobile, one of Tuscany’s most popular wines. During this private tour of the old town, you’ll see the Piazza Grande, the cathedral, the Palazzo Comunale, the Contucci and Nobili-Tarugi Palaces, and the San Biagio church. Afterwards, you’ll head to the wine cellars of Villa S.Anna for a tasting at this family-run business that’s overseen by the women of the household.
PERUGIA - PRIVATE TOUR OF ASSISI
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the small medieval town of Assisi was the birthplace of Saint Francis and is closely associated with the work of the Franciscan Order. During this private tour, you’ll learn more about the masterpieces it contains, and why it’s a benchmark for the artistic and architectural development of Italy and Europe.
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