Step into the hidden towns of Tuscany tucked away along the northern border of the province. The imagery leaps out of a storybook, filled with rolling hills, towering mountains, cool streams, and quaint villages. Palaces perch on a hilltop overlooking the valleys below. Traditions persevere in culture and cuisine, adding layers of flavor to every dish. Your custom tailored tour of Tuscany takes you into the lesser-traveled region of Mugello, where the wonders of the past are real, and the treasures...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Timeless Views and Flavors
The endless beauty of Florence sits inside the medieval walls of the historic city emanating from centuries of artistic exploration, from painting to architecture, science to cuisine. The city center holds the images of Michelangelo and Dante Alighieri, Galileo and Brunelleschi. People line up outside of I Fratellini of Via di Calzaiuoli for a small sandwich and glass of wine, enjoying the feeling of smooth cobblestones beneath their feet. An assortment of fresh gelato decorate the display cases of Perche No! The creamy and sweet confections have an intoxicating aroma drifting out of the small shop.
Take in a view of the city at Piazzale Michelangelo, absorbing a panorama of Florence with the large dome of the Cathedral standing at its core. The brick reflects a deep red in the sunlight. Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in the city, decorates the Arno River. The bridge was constructed in the 14th-century and has Roman roots. Gold and silversmiths have inhabited the shops along the bridge for centuries.
Florence is quick to embrace and enchant you, filled with contemporary energy inside a detailed and preserved past. In the evening, you can dine on succulent pear and gorgonzola tortellini at a small, secluded restaurant across the river with a view of the piazza.
What's Included:
Day 2
Intentional Beauty
Day 3
Unique Palace View
Day 4
Continuing Castles
Day 5
Sampling the Mugello
Day 6
Discovering Mugello
Day 7
The White Gold of Mugello
Day 8
Road to Home
Trip Highlights
- Delight in the private guided tour of Florence, taking in the art and cuisine of the city
- Travel along the Via del Latte to visit the famous farms of the region and sample the celebrated dairy products, from cheese to milk
- Witness the extravagance of the past on private tours through numerous villas in the Mugello region
- Discover the enchanting landscape and ambiance of hidden corners of Tuscany when traveling inside the lesser visited region of Mugello
- Indulge in the exceptional flavors of the region with samplings of the famous Marrone di Marradi, an exquisite chestnut
- Revel in enchanting restaurants with extraordinary regional dishes, such as tortello di patate
Detailed Description
The Via Bolognese is a road winding through countryside villas and breathtaking panoramas of the Tuscany countryside. On your 8-day journey, you will find charming towns and lush farms near mountainous valleys, filled with unforgettable cuisine. Your vacation begins with your arrival at Florence International Airport. Your private transfer greets you and escorts you into the marvelous city of Florence. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the artistic framework of the city, ranging from stunning churches to world-famous museums.
At dinner, you have your first introduction to traditional Tuscan flavors with a modern twist. The following morning, your guide leads you through the city for a private tour of Florence’s wondrous past, offering you a firsthand look at the works that make both the city and certain artists famous both in their day and today. After your tour of the cityscape, you will have a tour of Florence’s favored cuisine.
After breakfast, your guide leads you to the edges of the Mugello region, where you can visit the exceptional grounds of Villa la Pietra, which is only open to public viewing two weeks out of the year, or for private occasions. You continue onward to magnificent Parco Mediceo di Pratolino to view one of the grandest parks in Tuscany. Venture to Trebbio Castle, one of the first Medici villas constructed, before visiting the remarkable 14th-century Villa Cafaggiolo. Your journey takes you deeper into the Mugello region, spending two full days visiting enchanting cities, some first settled by the Etruscans, and others preserving their medieval architecture.
Stroll along secluded hilltops and winding cobblestone streets, visiting the nine towns of the area, including Borgo San Lorenzo, Dicomano, and Marradi, sampling the extraordinary dishes along the way. En route back to Florence, you visit Via del Latte, where highly prized dairy farms provide insight into the production of various goods. On your final morning in Florence, your private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you to Florence International Airport, but you can always extend your stay in Italy to discover more of the country’s hidden towns and illustrious dishes. For trip extension ideas, you may want to browse the reviews for the best travel agents for Tuscany.
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 5869 reviews.
The trip Zicasso's travel specialist arranged for us exceeded all our expectations. It was absolutely wonderful; not a single detail was overlooked. The hotels were excellent, the tours were great, and the drivers were always on time. I totally recommend Zicasso and the agency, and will undoubtedly use them for future travel plans.
Reviewed By Philip S.
Zicasso's travel designer did a terrific job. We had the initial phone consult, after which she delivered a first draft of the itinerary. From there, she helped guide us through a few revisions until we got the details smoothed out. We are experienced travelers and can appreciate a well-constructed trip, and that's what our experience with our agent reflected.
One crucial thing is that all the drivers who are engaged to move you around are prompt. Every one of them was right on time and friendly and helpful to boot. It was much appreciated.
To sum up our experience, I would do it all again with Zicasso and the agency and our agent. Our trip to Italy in the late summer of 2025 was something we will not soon forget!
Reviewed By tony B.
Zicasso's travel partner is very thorough and makes sure the trip is tailored to your vision. They are flexible and very responsive. We would recommend them to anyone traveling.
Reviewed By Evan C.
Zicasso's travel agency far exceeded our expectations. We had our five-year-old and 11-year-old children with us, so the tour guides and walking needed to be kid-friendly.
Our hotel in Rome was wonderful, the location was perfect, and they had good A/C and a breakfast buffet. There were plenty of great restaurants within easy walking distance, as well as the Vatican.
Our tour guide for the Colosseum and Roman Forum was great. Pompeii was amazing. Our tour guide was basically a celebrity down there and knew exactly how to take us around the ruins without ever waiting.
Tuscany was our favorite by far. We did a cheese-making experience and lunch that was super-cool. The kids got to play with the farm animals and the owners were so attentive and interesting. We did a cooking class with a chef that was the kids' favorite thing on the entire trip. I would make a point to book this experience; the kids still talk about it and wear the aprons around the house. The resort in Tuscany was nice. We had our own private pool, plus the resort pool, and could easily walk to a small local town with some great food.
Venice was good, but probably our least favorite on the trip. You have to walk a ton, which was difficult for the kids, but it's still worth experiencing.
We travel a bunch and I would highly recommend using Zicasso's travel partner.
Reviewed By Kevin S.
Zicasso's travel designer made the whole trip run very smoothly. It was a pleasure working with her.
Reviewed By Joseph B.
This was the best trip ever!!! I am so grateful Zicasso introduced us to our tour operator. This team was amazing! They set up a call to learn more about us and jumped into action. Within a short time, they came back to us with a presentation on ideas, with recommendations. There is no chance our trip would have been half as good without them. They even had a text group on standby while we were here in case we needed anything.
Reviewed By Linda C.