Discovery Italy

Day 1: Florence
PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA WITH PALAZZO VECCHIO, LOGGIA DEI LANZI AND NEPTUNE FOUNTAIN
Arrival at the airport, welcome by Discovery Italy Now Tour Leader, transfer to ***Hotel or B&B.
Refreshing welcome drink and free time to relax or to begin acquaint yourself with the enchanting atmosphere of Florence.
During the late afternoon it starts your discovery of Florence.
The tour is going to start with the most representative place of the city, Piazza della Signoria, the magnificent Palazzo Vecchio and on the inside you are going to visit the Salone del Cinquecento with the famous Vasari’s fresco paintings and the beautiful courtyard.
In front of the palace you can admire the statue of David by Michelangelo, the elegant Loggia dei Lanzi with important groups of sculptures, Fountain of Neptune that florentines call Biancone, Court of the Merchandise and Palazzo Ugoccioni

Evening: Dedicated to the old and famous food and tuscan wine tradition in a restaurant and then walk around magic atmosphere and town’s lit alleyways

Day 2: Florence
UFFIZI GALLERY, VASARI CORRIDOR, WONDERFUL VIEWS FROM PONTE VECCHIO AND ARNO RIVER
PIAZZA DUOMO AND ITS CATHEDRAL, BAPTISTERY, GIOTTO'S BELL TOWER, DUOMO'S MUSEUM
After a good breakfast in Florence, together with your Tour Leader you are going to start the discovery of the beautiful Florence.
We start with the “not to be missed” visit to one of the most prestigious museums of the world, the Uffizi Gallery which houses painting masterpieces of Giotto, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Leonardo, Botticelli… just to name some of the greatest artists. Particular attention will be given to the Vasari Corridor where you can admire the original portrait collection of famous painters from the Middle Ages, and portraits of the famous family doctors.
The view of the Arno river you have in front of you when you cross the Old Bridge will be kept in you heart for a long time.
Of similar beauty is the view of the hills surrounding the city of Florence.in a trattoria where you can taste the culinary delights of Florence (a must to be tasted are: florentine steak, a dish of roasted game, ribollita, florentine pappardelle, pasta with beans or local cheeses accompanied by a glass of wine).the afternoon you are going to visit another nice corner of Florence: Piazza del Duomo with its important monuments built in white marble of Carrara by geniuses like Giotto and Brunelleschi. You also visit the museum, housing models and tools for the construction of the imposing cathedral.

Evening: Typical Florentine restaurant, tasting the delicious culinary dishes

Day 3: FLORENCE
CHURCH OF SAN LORENZO, THE CONTIGUOUS MARKET, MEDICI CHAPELS, PIAZZA SS. ANNUNZIATA, SANTA MARIA NOVELLA, THE LAST SUPPER BY GHIRLANDAIO, PONTE VECCHIO IN FLORENCE AND ITALIAN FASHION IN FLORENCE
Gourmet and tuscan wines tasting
Your third day guided tour in Florence takes you to a very impressive corner, characterized by Florentine handiwork.
You visit the Church of San Lorenzo, the handiwork market and Piazza SS. Annunziata, with its church and magnificent buildings.lunch you are going to head towards Santa Maria Novella with its magnificent church where you find works by Brunelleschi, Masaccio and Ghirlandaio, continuing after towards the elegant Via della Vigna Nuova lined with boutiques of the most famous italian designers.
From Piazza Santa Trinità, walking for a while, in front of you will be visible again the wonderful view of Ponte Vecchio.the heart of Florence you are going to visit a local producer of chocolate and taste four different chocolates: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, vanilla chocolate, and hazelnut cream with local Italian wines. At the end you can also taste Pan Forte and gingerbread, two typical Tuscan cakes

Evening: Horse drawn carriage ride to admire the beautiful Florence.at “Acqua al 2” and a delicious Florentine ice cream at “Gelateria Carabè”

Day 4: FLORENCE
PITTI PALACE, PALATINA GALLERY, ARGENTI MUSEUM, SANTA CROCE SQUARE
Tasting of tuscan wines and cheeses tasting
The fourth itinerant day takes you to Pitti Palace, built by the famous artist, Brunelleschi. You visit the Palatine Gallery, where is exposed the largest art collection of the Medici family that ranges from Renaissance to Baroque, the Museo degli Argenti and the Costume Gallery.
In this magnificent corner of Florence you are also going to visit Boboli garden, full of beautiful fountains and statues.lunch you are going to visit, together with your tour leader the Pantheon of the city, Santa Croce, a masterpiece of gothic art covered with carrara marble.

Evening: Wine and cheese tasting in Enoteca Obsequium or near the home of Dante Alighieri. The best tuscan cheeses are going to be enhanced by the taste of tuscan wines such as Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG, Brunello di Montalcino, Tiezzi.It follows afterward some live music in a local bar full of lively atmosphere.

Day 5: FIRENZE – FIESOLE AND THE HILLS 8, 5 km on foot or by bus
Tasting of local delicious gastronomic products and tuscan wines
Your fifth itinerant day takes you to Fiesole which lies on one of the hills that surround Florence. It has a magnificent beauty both for its location which offers a wonderful view over the river Arno as well as for the rich archaeological area.
You are going to visit the ruins of the ancient baths, the temple as well as the roman theatre and the old church, a former convent.
During the afternoon you visit the Farm "Buonamici" in Fiesole area and taste in the middle of the nature, local organic products: extra virgin olive oil spread on delicious toasted bread, soups, cheeses, pastries accompanied by a good tuscan wine.

Evening: Return from Fiesole and walk to Oltrarno, an area of Florence, which preserves the authentic spirit of the tuscan capital.
Dinner at Antica Osteria "Mescita San Niccolo" in via San Niccolò

Day 6 : FIRENZE – GREVE IN CHIANTI 30 km by train or bus
Tasting of a selection of cheese, cold cuts and tuscan wines
The sixth day of your itinerant adventure takes you into the footsteps of the famous Chianti wine.
You visit the church of Santa Croce and Piazza Matteotti.
You are also going to attend a wine tasting combined with tasting of local cheeses and cold cuts that is going to delight your palate.
You also visit a winery where is going to be explained the methods of winemaking, aging in barrels, technical bottling and you can stroll through vineyards of the famous Chianti wine.The cellars of Greve in Chianti and Carpineto are going to host you.

Evening: return to Florence where you can dine in a rustic trattoria. Cibreo is known and loved by the Florentines.

Day 7: OPTIONALLY
day off to discover on your own the beauty of Florence or
FLORENCE – MONTELUPO FIORENTINO 18 km by bus
Free day for shopping or just experience on your own the unforgettable atmosphere of Florence.
Alternatively you can join a guided tour to Montelupo Fiorentino, a town renowned for its ancient handicraft production of ceramics, 18 km from Florence.
In Montelupo Fiorentino you visit the Archaeological Museum of Ceramics, Villa Ambrogiana and Palazzo della Salute.
If you are going to visit Montelupo Fiorentino in June you have the chance to see the International Ceramics Festival where the historic center recalls the atmosphere of the sixteenth century feasts and celebrations and are being exposed hundreds of works of pottery.

Evening: end of the program dinner in a local traditional Tuscan restaurant to enjoy the florence atmosphere