Day 1 : Florence
Arrive at any time.
We highly recommend booking pre-tour accommodations in Florence to fully experience all this amazing city has to offer. There's lots to explore!
Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking accommodations in Florence before Day 1 of this itinerary.
Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
1h
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Optional Activities - Day 1
Galleria dell'Accademia Visit
Gallerie dell'Accademia 1h - 2h
Admire beautiful sculptures by the Renaissance master, Michelangelo, including the famous statue of David, at this beautiful art gallery. Check out rare musical instruments made by Stradivari (who made string instruments) and Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano, at Accademia Gallery's Museum of Musical Instruments.
Uffizi Gallery Visit
Florence 1h - 2h
Head to the Uffizi Gallery to see spectacular Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci paintings in person.
Pitti Palace - Palatine Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art
Florence 1h - 2h
Visiti the Pitti Palace and learn about history alongside modern art.
Medici Chapels Visit
Florence 1h - 1h12m
Admire the opulence of the two Medici Chapels. The Sagrestia Nuova was designed by Michelangelo and built as a mausoleum for the powerful Medici family.
Day 2 : Florence/San Gimignano
Enjoy a morning orientation walk in Florence, then travel in the afternoon via train and bus to your home for the week. Take an orientation stroll with the CEO for a first glance at San Gimignano then sit down to a home cooked dinner with your Local Living host, Ugo.
Transfer by train and bus to San Gimignano and walk to your home for the week, which is located just outside the beautiful medieval hill town of San Gimignano. The property owner, Ugo, is a San Gimignano native and is a fountain of information about the area. He lives in one of the apartments in his remodeled medieval house.
CEO-led Orientation Walk of Florence
Florence
Head out for a walk through the heart of Florence with your CEO as the sunshine fades and the monument lights come on. On the return trip stop to eat gelato.
Local Train
Florence - Poggibonsi 1h
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Local Bus
Poggibonsi - San Gimignano 0h30m
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Home Cooked Dinner with Ugo
San Gimignano
Enjoy a dinner prepared by your host, Ugo. Sit back, relax and take in the aromas and flavours of delicious Italian home-cooking.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Dinner
Day 3 : San Gimignano
Enjoy an included half-day cooking class this morning before setting out on an afternoon walk on top of the medieval city walls of San Gimignano for a new perspective on the town and sweeping views of the area.
Enjoy an included half-day cooking class this morning before setting out on an afternoon walk on top of the medieval city walls of San Gimignano for a new perspective on the town and sweeping views of the area.
Half-day Cooking Class
San Gimignano 4h
Expand your culinary skills with a cooking class. Learn how to prepare typical Tuscan dishes and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Medieval City Wall Walk
San Gimignano
Take a walk with your CEO around San Gimignano's medieval walls dating back to the 13th century and enjoy sweeping views both outside the walls and down little backstreets within the town. Walk all 2,176 metres or opt out partway.
Optional Activities - Day 3
Wine Museum
San Gimignano 1h
Learn about the history of San Gimignano's famous wine, Vernaccia. Entrance is free, but you can opt to indulge in a sommelier-guided tasting and enjoy the panoramic views from the terrace.
San Gimignano 1300 Museum
San Gimignano
Catch a glimpse into the past with a visit to this gallery. Tour the hand-sculpted reconstruction of medieval street life scenes, representing a culmination of more than 20,000 man hours to complete.
Collegiate Church of San Gimignano
San Gimignano 0h30m
Explore the frescos and towers of this beautiful medieval Roman Catholic collegiate.
Torre Grossa
San Gimignano 0h30m
Climb up San Gimignano's highest tower, and enjoy the panoramic views over the town.
Francigena Walk
San Gimignano
Considered to be one of the most scenic routes in the region, the walk between San Gimignano to Montalcino is part of the Camino di Santiago pilgrimage route. Walk through a portion of this route and enjoy the rolling Tuscan hills.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 4 : San Gimignano
Set off for Volterra today, a medieval city known for its ancient Etruscan walls, and visit an Alabaster workshop. Tour the facility and take in a demonstration before exploring on your own with a free afternoon.
Local Bus
San Gimignano - Volterra 0h45m 30km
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Alabaster experience
Volterra 0h45m
Take part in a tour of the workshop, where you'll learn a brief explanation of alabaster and its rich history. Following this, enjoy a demonstration of the working process, seeing firsthand how the material is transformed. Finish with a visit to our showroom where you can admire the finished pieces.
Free time:
Volterra Afternoon
Explore Volterra's medieval streets with free time.
Local Bus
Volterra - San Gimignano 0h45m 30km
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 5 : San Gimignano
This morning, take a leisurely walk through the Tuscan countryside along the historical Via Francigena path to Montauto, where great views of San Gimignano from afar await. Then enjoy some free time to visit the San Gimignano market. In the evening, enjoy a tasting of some local wines.
The Via Francigena, a historical path in use approximately 1,000 years ago by those making pilgrimage between Canterbury, England, and Rome, runs very close to the Local Living house. It is great path for those who wish to explore the Tuscan countryside by foot.
Tuscan Countryside Walk
San Gimignano 2h30m - 3h 8km
Take the ancient Via Francigena path, which passes alongside our accommodation, and walk through some woods, across a stream, and then through vineyards up to Montauto, which offers outstanding views of San Gimignano. Head back down the hill and along a country road.
Take the ancient Via Francigena path, which passes alongside our accommodation, and walk through some woods, across a stream and then through vineyards up to Montauto, which offers outstanding views of San Gimignano. We then make our way back down the hill, along a country road and through another vineyard up to an agriturismo.
We'll have a wine tasting at the agriturismo with a local expert walking the group through different varietals popular in the region.
Local Wine Tasting
San Gimignano
What's a Tuscan holiday without sampling its renowned wines? Sample local wine varieties from a local vineyard before returning to the rustic farmhouse for the night.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 6 : San Gimignano
Enjoy a day trip to Siena including an orientation walk with the CEO. Spend one final evening at the the agriturismo as you see fit with free time.
Local Bus
San Gimignano - Siena 0h45m - 1h 45km
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Head to nearby Siena and wander this medieval walled city. Options abound! Visit the gorgeous Duomo and the Piazza del Campo, where the famous Palio horse race is held each summer. Climb the Torre del Mangia for fantastic views of the Tuscan landscape.
Orientation Walk Siena
Siena 1h 2km
Wander through the medieval town of Siena, safely nestled in the heart of Tuscany. Feast your eyes on the gothic architecture while exploring the historic centre, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.
Local Bus
Siena - San Gimignano 0h45m 45km
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 7 : San Gimignano/Florence
Transfer by bus and train to Florence. Depart in the early afternoon from the Florence train station. Book flights for no earlier than 4 pm.
If you wish to extend your stay in Florence, consider booking post-tour accommodation with us. Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking accommodations in Florence after your tour ends.
Local Bus
San Gimignano - Poggibonsi 0h30m
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Local Train
Poggibonsi - Florence
Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
