Tuscany overflows with extraordinary vistas, flavors, and artwork that you will discover, explore, and experience on this 8-day vacation in the most famous region of Italy. From renowned Renaissance artists to charming seaside towns and medieval villages, you will be guided through the vineyards and the museums filled with masterworks. You will stroll through ancient streets and delight on local cuisine. From fabulous wines to marvelous accommodation, you will find the picturesque landscapes in...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Florence - Super Beginnings
Florence is a city steeped in marvelous history, from the local legends to the Renaissance, and reaching into the modern allure of its beautiful streets and enthusiastic museums. Arrive at the airport and be met by a private transfer who will take you into the historic city center near the unfathomable luster of the Ponte Vecchio and Duomo. It is hard to consider the city anything less than captivating; its streets continue to look as though they have come straight from the 15th century. At the top of Piazzale Michelangelo you will be able to view Florence’s panorama. The famous Duomo, a cathedral with the largest brick dome in history, towers with imposing wonder at the heart of the city. The elegant spires of Santa Croce’s marbled façade stand close by in the skyline’s scale as the vista pushes its way towards the mountains.
Follow your guide on an introductory tour of the streets, through the mesmerizing aroma of fresh baked pizza surrounding Piazza Signoria. A creamy gelato will soon drift by as well, ranging in flavors from fragola, strawberry, to stracciatella, chocolate chip. The buildings block the skyline but offer more historical grandeur. Small plaques adorn certain stretches of buildings that connote their inclusion within Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, letting passersby know the book, chapter, and passage in which you can find the reference.
Standing before the Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore, you will feel dwarfed by the immensity of the structure, not only in height but in total magnitude, every inch decorated of the façade is covered in detail, from color to saintly statues. It took almost 80 years to complete, not including the almost 40 extra years it took to finish the dome. In the cavernous interior there is a subdued glow that shines along the colorful images that encircle the cupola. Vasari and Zuccari painted the fresco over a seven-year span; the depiction of Last Judgment ranges from the unfavorable depths to the heavenly sky.
In the afternoon you will find yourself within the open halls of the Galleria dell’Accademia, known for centuries of teaching artists and also housing one of the most famous sculptures of all time, Michelangelo’s David. View the lofted ceilings and immaculate hallways graced with vibrant paintings, stunning musical instruments, and inspiring sculptures, none more notable than the David. Through a long stretch of hallway you can see the figure standing in its own domed gallery, lit by a natural glow from the relief of stained glass above. As you venture closer to the iconic image you notice its scale, standing over 14 feet tall, with a stoic gaze and storied sling hung over his shoulder. The detail is in the mythology; the inspiration for the piece stemmed from the original biblical telling and resulted in the representation standing before you.
What's Included:
Day 2
Florence - Flavors of All Varieties
Day 3
Florence - Into the Gardens
Day 4
Siena - Sweets and Cathedrals
Day 5
Siena - The Noble Hills
Day 6
Pietrasanta - The Quiet Hills
Day 7
Vernazza - Along the Coastline
Day 8
Depart Home - Super Goodbyes
Trip Highlights
- Savor a delicious wine tasting featuring Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
- Enjoy a cooking class during which you can sample the traditional flavors of Tuscany
- Explore medieval cities that are located along the Tuscan countryside
- Witness the masterworks of famous Renaissance artists within the Galleria dell’Accademia and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence
- Experience the charming coastal towns of Cinque Terre
- Visit the Field of Miracles home to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa
Detailed Description
The lush rolling hills and medieval villages are ready to be discovered on this custom travel package through the superb region of Tuscany. The landscape is famous for its beauty while the villages bring grandeur to the valleys. The food is sumptuous and the culture is vibrant. The countryside is filled with romantic history and illustrious wines. From the towering medieval walls to master artwork that has been admired for centuries, you will find the unparalleled wonder of Italy within the effervescence of Tuscany.
Begin in Florence, the Renaissance city of the masters, where the architecture continues to boast its splendid history. You will tour through the city to find the magnificence of the stones that evoke the delicate and detailed artwork. Within the Galleria dell’Accademia you will find the fantastic work that has filled the streets of Florence, including Michelangelo’s David. The following day you will be guided through the artwork of the Uffizi gallery, home to the paintings of da Vinci and Botticelli before venturing out into the countryside for a cooking course where you will learn about the elegant and historic cuisine. The following day is yours to explore the city as you wish, whether pouring through museums or chatting the day away within a café beside the gentle trickle of the Arno River.
Continue your Tuscan exploration in Siena, the medieval city that boasts prominent horse races and a distinct cathedral. Follow the winding streets of the city that always seem to lead you to exactly where you want to be. Enjoy a grand lunch in the hills of Chianti before meandering through the cobblestone streets of San Gimignano, also known as the “City of Towers.” A day traversing the hills of Val d’Orcia gives you the chance to taste the remarkable wines within the municipality, including the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. In Pisa you will witness the Field of Miracles, home to the Leaning Tower and the beautiful, ornate cathedral. The final day of your vacation has you outside of Tuscany and along the Italian Riviera visiting the elegant, bright architecture Cinque Terre, the five towns overlooking the Ligurian Sea. Although your vacation must come to an end, Tuscany will always be ready for your return.
Starting Price
$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.9 stars based on 5876 reviews.
Zicasso’s travel company was wonderful in planning our trip on short notice and in line with our requests and preferences. Their suggestions of what to do and where to stay were perfect. And when we accidentally got off on the wrong island, the travel company quickly got us new ferry tickets to get to the right place. It was all seamless.
Reviewed By Sherry G.
This trip was the greatest week of our lives! Everything planned was better than I could have imagined. The private drivers being coordinated behind the scenes made the trip so easy and removed all the stress of trying to navigate a new country. Every driver and our tour guide was so nice and I feel like we made friends with all of them.
My favorite part of the trip was definitely the cooking classes and that every tour was private and intimate for my wife and I. The connections Zicasso’s travel agent hooked us up with made the trip the most memorable experience. Our travel agent and the travel company took special care of all the tiny details of the trip; our hotel knew it was my birthday and had a special surprise for me! I’m beyond thankful for the perfect honeymoon they provided my wife and I.
Reviewed By Branson S.
The accommodations and private tours were worth the extra money. Our drivers were professional and helpful.
Reviewed By Claudia R.
The overall trip was great. The weather was terrific and the countries we visited had so much to see. Zicasso's tour company did a good job of balancing relaxation with fun. Each of the guides we had was so pleasant and shared so much information with us. They were very attentive to our needs.
Reviewed By Nisha V.
Wow, where to begin. This trip was an absolute dream.
When I first spoke to Zicasso’s travel consultant, I told her my main travel concern: traveling with nine- and 15-year-old boys as a single mom in Italy. I was excited to take the trip with them, but I really needed something that was meticulously planned to take away the nerves of having to navigate alone with two kids. She listened and executed the most beautiful trip.
She planned activities that captured the attention and imagination of a fourth grader and a teenager. And the experiences were unique. Probably the highlight of the trip was a truffle hunt with the hunter and his dog in the countryside outside of Florence. My oldest wants to move to Florence and start hunting! We had a personalized cooking class, a private Vespa tour of Rome, and a delicious and informative art and food tour, among other amazing experiences. As we were sending photos back home, I got so many requests for our itinerary because it was so special and unique. Both boys were hard-pressed to choose which part they liked best.
The hotels she selected were beautiful, comfortable, and right in the heart of the cities and attractions we wanted to see. When we encountered a small hiccup (by our hotel, not our travel agent), I contacted her and she responded right away, getting us a free room upgrade and free dinner! We felt very taken care of.
Aside from the amazing activities and locations we saw, the trip was fantastic because everything was so seamless. We always had a private driver arranged, pre-booked train tickets, and even someone to make sure we made it on time for our flight home. I never had to worry about a thing. It was also telling that every tour guide we interacted with had only glowing things to say about our travel agent and her keen attention to detail and organization.
If you're planning on visiting Italy, this travel company is the travel agency you need to select. It takes any of the stress and guesswork out of the travel process, and all you have to do is show up and enjoy.
Thank you so much! You helped us make some amazing memories!
Stephanie
Reviewed By Stephanie S.
This was possibly the best vacation we have ever taken. A fitting trip to mark our 25th anniversary, we will remember our days in Positano and Sorrento forever. Everything was perfect and the service and support were extraordinary.
Zicasso's travel specialist and the other people were always super-helpful and friendly. The hotels they chose for us in particular were exactly what we wanted. I can’t think of a single issue. Transport, transfers, etc., were perfect. The only bad part was that we had to return to normal life afterwards! We highly recommend our travel company to anyone! Grazie mille!
Reviewed By Mauro A.