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.
In the late afternoon it starts your discovery of Florence.
You start with the most representative places of the city:

Piazza della Signoria, the magnificent Palazzo Vecchio where you visit ”Salone del Cinquecento” – the ’500 century Saloon with famous fresco paintings of Vasari and the courtyard, you admire the statue of David by Michelangelo in front of the palace, the elegant Loggia dei Lanzi with important groups of sculptures and the Fountain of Neptune that the florentine people call ”Biancone”, the Court of the Merchandise and the Palazzo Ugoccioni

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

Day 2: Florence
Uffizi Gallery, Vasari Corridor, the wonderful view 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 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, 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 an original portrait collection of famous painters from Middle Ages and portraits of the famous family doctors. The view of 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 a trattoria where you can taste the 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).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 housing models and tools for construction of the imposing cathedral.

Evening: typical florentine restaurant, tasting the delicious culinary products

Day 3: Florence
PALAZZO PITTI, GALLERIA PALATINA , MUSEUM ARGENTI, SANTA CROCE SQUARE
Tasting of tuscan wines and cheeses
The third 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, Museo degli Argenti and the Costume Gallery.
In this magnificent corner of Florence you also visit the Boboli garden, full of beautiful fountains and statues.

After 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 4: FIRENZE SPA – IMPRUNETA
The Spa town of Impruneta, known for its Renaissance monuments and the beauty of its landscape, is very close to Florence. Impruneta Spa was already known during the Roman Empire.
You reach it by bus.

Spa & Wellness package includes:
Access to Florence Spa
Access to all hot tubs and waterfalls
Access to the steam caves
Access to saunas and steam bathsmassage 1 h. (to choose among: Antistress, Reinvigorating, Ayurveda, Shiatsu with colour therapy, Ayurvedic Stone and Crystal therapy,Relaxing with essences)
Lymphatic drainage
Spa kit: bathrobe, slippers
Light Buffè and infusions

Day 5: FIRENZE SPA – IMPRUNETA
The Spa town of Impruneta, known for its Renaissance monuments and the beauty of its landscape, is very close to Florence. The Impruneta Spa was already known during the Roman Empire.
You reach it by buss

Spa & Wellness package includes:

Access to Florence Spa
Access to all hot tubs and waterfalls
Access to the steam caves
Access to saunas and steam bathsmassage 1 h. (to choose among: Antistress, Reinvigorating, Ayurveda, Shiatsu with colour therapy, Ayurvedic Stone and Crystal therapy,Relaxing with essences)
Lymphatic drainage
Spa kit: bathrobe, slippers
Light Buffè and infusions

Day 6: FLORENCE – FIESOLE & THE HILLS 8, 5 km on foot or by buss
Tasting of local delicious gastronomic products and tuscan wines
Your sixth 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 visit the ruins of the ancient baths, the temple as well as the roman theatre and the old church and former convent.

In the afternoon you visit the Farm Buonamici in Fiesole tasting, in the middle of the nature, the 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 7: FIRENZE – GREVE IN CHIANTI 30 km by train or bus
Tasting of a selection of cheeses, cold cuts and tuscan wines
The sixth day of your itinerant adventure takes you in the footsteps of the famous Chianti wine. You visit here the church of Santa Croce and Piazza Matteotti.
You also attend a wine tasting combined with the tasting of local cheeses and cold cuts that delight your palate and you also visit a winery where there are going to be explained the methods of vinification, aging in cask, technical bottling and you can stroll through the vineyards of the famous Chianti wine.The cellars of Greve in Chianti Carpineto will have you as guests.

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