Discovery Italy

Day1: FLORENCE
PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA WITH THE PALAZZO VECCHIO, LOGGIA DEI LANZI AND NETTUNO 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 starts your discovery of Florence with the most representative place of the city: Piazza della Signoria with the magnificent Palazzo Vecchio and its beautiful ‘500 Saloon housing some of Vasari’s fresco paintings and the courtyard with the statue of David by Michelangelo.

You are also going to admire the elegant Loggia dei Lanzi with important groups of sculptures, Fountain of Neptune that the Florentine people call “Biancone”, the Court of the Merchandise and Palazzo Ugoccioni.

Evening: well known tuscan gastronomic tradition in trattoria and magical atmosphere with the illuminated small streets of the village.

Day 2: FLORENCE
UFFIZI GALLERY, VASARI CORRIDOR, WONDERFUL VIEW FROM PONTE VECCHIO AND ARNO RIVER
PIAZZA DUOMO AND ITS CATHEDRAL, THE BAPTISTERY, CAMPANILE GIOTTO, CATHEDRAL’S MUSEUM
After a good breakfast in Florence, together with your Tour Leader you continue 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, Uffizi Gallery which houses paintings of Giotto, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Leonardo, Botticelli just to name some of the greatest masters.
Particular attention will be given to the Vasari Corridor where can be admired the original portrait collection of famous painters from the Middle Ages and portraits of the famous family doctors.
The view on the Arno you have in front of you when you cross the Old Bridge will be kept in you heart for a long time.
Of equal beauty is the view of the hills surrounding the city of Florence.
Lunch in trattoria where can be tasted culinary delights of Florence (a must to be tasted are the florentine steak, a dish of roasted game, ribollita, florentine pappardelle, pasta with beans or local cheeses accompanied by a glass of wine).
During the afternoon you 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 that houses models and tools for the construction of the imposing cathedral.

Evening: Typical florentine restaurant, tasting the delicious culinary dishes

Day 3:
FIRENZE – IMPRUNETA 20 km by bus
IMPRUNETA – GREVE IN CHIANTI 16 km by bus
Wine tasting and local gastronomic products
Your morning starts with a tour to discover the hills of Chianti. A few kilometers from Florence you are already in the heart of the vineyards in a stunning landscape that alternates between grapevines, olive trees and cypresses.
Impruneta is going to be your first step into the world of Chianti Classico and if your itinerary brings you here in September you can join the Grape Festival and harvest and in the middle of October you can attend the Fair of St. Luke,a traditional local event.
You visit Basilica Santa Maria and the rest of the town.
After lunch, your guided tour takes you to Greve in Chianti, in the heart of Chianti hills and you visit its ancient triangular square lined by palaces, porticoes, arcades and the parish church of Santa Croce.
On Saturdays you can enjoy the lively market in the main square and in September you can join Italy’s biggest and most important wine shows.
Wine and local food tasting in an old cellar.

Evening: Accommodation in 3*Hotel, B & B or Agriturismo

Day 4:
GREVE IN CHIANTI – PANZANO 7 km by bus
PANZANO – RADDA IN CHIANTI 15 km by bus
After a rich breakfast you continue your guided tour to the Castle of Panzano that after the ancient battle between Florence and Siena and its plundering, still preserves a survived part with a beautiful front door and surrounding walls.
Your guided tour takes you also to the ancient village with buildings from the eighteenth-century.
Lunch in a restaurant and then you continue the journey through Chianti’s vineyards and the beautiful tuscan landscape.
The tour continues now southerly to Radda in Chianti, another major stop to discover the roads of the famous Chianti wine.
The village that you are going to visit is surrounded by the historic originally walls that covers the entire village built around the castle.
You also visit Palazzo della Podestà and a few kilometers from the village, the charming church of San Giusto in Salcio, isolated in a green valley among vineyards and then at equal distance to the north, the church of Santa Maria Novella.
Back in Radda in Chianti you enjoy a cold cuts tasting, cheeses and delicious wines from local vineyards in a local farm

Evening: Accommodation in 3* Hotel, B & B or Agriturismo

Day 5:
RADDA IN CHIANTI – CASTELLINA IN CHIANTI 11 km by bus
CASTELLINA IN CHIANTI – MONTERIGGIONI 15 km by bus
Wine tasting and local gastronomic products
Now you are in the heart of Chianti Classico Wine.
You cross other wonderful tuscan countryside landscapes to reach Castellina in Chianti, on the green hills of Chianti.
You also visit the old town with the medieval Via delle Volte and the etruscan tomb from VI century b.c. Then the itinerant tour brings you to the medieval village of Monteriggioni, where in addition to the visit of the old town you can enjoy extra virgin olive oil tasting, gourmet products and wines of Siena at Monteriggioni Castle.
This castle preserves a charming rustic style and from its top can be admired the beautiful evocative scenery.

Evening: sienese dishes and atmosphere at ”Osteria della Chiacchera”

Day 6: MONTERIGGIONI – SIENA 21 km by bus/train
Durind the late afternoon you are going to explore the mediaval Siena, in the heart of the city.
Piazza del Campo, shaped as a seashell, Palazzo Pubblico, Torre del Mangia and the beautiful Fonte Gaia are on the tour schedule in Siena.

Evening: Sienese gourmet, tasting local dishes and a glass of wine in one of the charming narrow streets around Piazza del Campo.

Day 7: THE ANCIENT SIENA
Wine tasting
During your seventh day, after a rich breakfast including a good croissant and cappuccino, you discover, together with your tour leader, another anchors belonging to Siena’s art life and history: Baptistery of San Giovanni, the magnificent cathedral with its distinctive façade of marble black and white stripes, the Archbishop’s palace with beautiful works of art, Museo dell’ Opera Metropolitana, preserving paintings and sculptures of incredible beauty.
From the 2° floor of the museum can be enjoyed the most evocative views of the city.
Lunch at the restaurant ”Le Logge”.
During the late afternoon you continue your tour to Museo Civico with its beautiful saloons where there are exposed many frescoes of famous painters.

Evening: End of the program dinner and wine tasting in an ancient sienese wine cellar