The Treasures of Tuscany: Exploring Historic Cities & Hilltop Towns

This morning your tour guide will collect you from your hotel and take you on a private walking tour of Florence's historical centre and the Uffizi Gallery. You'll explore this beautiful city within its 14th century walls, which is bursting with cultural and artistic history, and experience its famous architecture and fine arts first hand. Highlights of the tour include the iconic Duomo, Michelangelo’s ‘David’ sculpture in the Galleria dell'Accademia and Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’ in the Uffizi Gallery. Later, for a taste of Florence's nightlife, head to a jazz bar and toe tap to a night of live performances, or spend your evening relaxing and sipping wines in a traditional local bar.

Spend the remainder of your time in Tuscany’s capital exploring the monuments, museums and galleries that you have passed on your introductory tour, but perhaps not yet had the chance to delve into deeper. Climb to the top of the Bell Tower by Giotto for views of the Florentine skyline, or stroll around the green outdoors in Florence's top gardens - the Rose or the Iris are the perfect place to take a break from the stone buildings of the city centre and enjoy a picnic on the soft grass.

Walk across the River Arno on the oldest bridge in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio, which was rebuilt in 1345 after the wooden structure was destroyed in a flood. Along the way, browse the jeweller's shops which now line the bridge, or simply look out over the river and enjoy the picturesque views. To admire this bridge in its entirety, head down to the adjacent Ponte Santa Trinita, where you will be far enough away to grab a full view of Ponte Vecchio's medieval craftsmanship and snap some scenic photos.

When it comes to dinner this evening, if you love to try out little local eateries, we know the finest places to eat and drink that are - mercifully - tourist-free, and can reserve a table for you in advance.

Get up nice and early because today you'll be driving from Florence to the Tuscan countryside. Collect your hire car and set off on the hour-long drive to the medieval town of Siena. We have a great range of hotels in this area so you'll be spoilt for choice when looking for somewhere special to retreat to among the rolling hills. Settle into your hotel upon arrival and spend the rest of the day getting acquainted with Siena’s medieval brick buildings and famed fan-shaped central square, Piazza del Campo. This evening promises another Italian feast, accompanied by some of Tuscany’s world-renowned wines.

Today entails exploring both Siena and the wonderfully preserved medieval city of San Gimignano alongside a private guide, which hosts the famous annual Palio horse race. Walk along the narrow medieval streets in Siena, admiring the splendid palaces until you reach the magnificent Cathedral. Next, you will visit Piazza del Campo, of which the Palazzo Pubblico (town hall) is the focal point, where you can stop for lunch in the beautiful square and people watch to your heart’s content.

Next up is San Gimignano, a tiny walled town located on a hill-top, intact through the centuries and famous for its numerous tall towers, frescoes and other valuable works of art. On arrival you will visit a museum inside a medieval palace and have the chance to watch how skilled craftsmen produce handmade objects according to long standing traditions.

After a busy day today you'll want to spend this evening back at your hotel, simply relaxing and enjoying the lush views - with a hearty dinner and lots of wine, of course!

Enjoy a half day excursion to Pisa this morning, where you can visit the famous leaning tower. After driving from your hotel in Siena to Pisa, you will be met by a local tour guide who will show you all there is to see in this historic town, which houses a portfolio of well-maintained Romanesque buildings, Gothic churches and Renaissance piazzas.

After lunch, return to your hotel and relax in the spa, experiencing a treatment inspired by local ingredients. We can also arrange horseback riding, mountain biking and yoga classes in the region if you’re looking for something more active.