Florence - "the heart of the renaissance"

The birthplace of Dante, the cradle of the Italian language and still a center of civilization where Humanism and the Renaissance fanned into life in the first half of the 15th century is your home base for the week.

If you're visiting Italy, visit Florence and take advantage of this opportunity to experience the Florentine lifestyle

Stay at any one of our choices of fine hotels and explore the heart of this wonderful city your way at your pace. Combine history, culture and sightseeing with cooking and wine tasting lessons, wine country excursions. Tours may be scheduled for most days and can be conducted in English plus other languages.

Professional tour guides who are traditionalists in the Tuscan way of life, wine and food lead all of our tours.

OUR CLASSIC 7 DAY "SUGGESTED" SIGNATURE TOUR OF FLORENCE offers you a choice of diiferent hotels, economy, first class and deluxe. It's one of our most popular offerings and 100% flexible. Add or subtract features to satisfy your needs. For those choices check the connecting links at the bottom of this page.

You have the choice on the suggested tours and excursions listed below and you can choose between the tours, cooking and wine tastings and if you want a more intimate private experience use private guides, tours, tastings and cooking lessons one on one and you can do that for an extra charge.

Included in your Florence Tuscan package:

Six nights, Seven days accommodation with private bath, breakfast daily, service charges & VAT at: Your Hotel Choice of a 3 star superior tourist class hotel or a 4 star first class all located in the historical section close to the Duomo, the Museums, the Ponte Vecchio and the Pitti Palace and other sites.

Walking tour of historic Florence - see the highlights and get the feel of the city.

Wine-tasting lesson - learn more about red or white regional wines with snacks

Hands-on cooking lesson - Prepare a full course meal and then eat it for dinner with the proper wines.

Two Museum Sightseeing tours - bhot the Accademia famous for Michelangelo's statue of David and the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most famous in Europe with the works of Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto, Cimabue and Masaccio.

Choice of one of three sightseeing excursions - a full day to Siena & San Gimignano, a half day tour to Pisa & the Leaning Tower or an afternoon tour of Chianti Wine Country with visits to a winery and vineyarda with tastings and snacks.

Day by Day Suggested Itinerary

All hotels include daily breakast, value added taxes (VAT) & service

Sunday: Arrive Florence, check into your hotel with the rest of the day free.  

Monday: Walking tour of the central historic section of Florence (9:45 am-12:45 pm)

Wine-tasting lesson with suggestions for matching wine with food; accompanied by traditional canapé's, slices of toasted bread with tomato or garlic, olive oil and basil, etc. Starts at 4 PM.

Tuesday: Day free till 330 PM

Cooking lesson at 3:30 pm which takes place in a special kitchen located in the historical section of Florence less than a 15 minute walk from most hotels and the Duomo, where you will prepare your dishes and then enjoy them for dinner along with local wines.

Wednesday:

Must sees are Michelangelo's statue of David or one of the worlds best art museums, the Ufizzi Gallery. Today you can see the Accademia & David at 1130 am and the Ufizzi Gallery at 4:00pm and you don't have to take both tours the same day; reschedule to your convenience

Thursday:

Choice of one of three tours. A full day trip to Siena & San Gimignano (900 AM -600 PM), an afternoon tour to Pisa and the Leaning Tower (200 - 730 PM) or an afternoon tour (200 - 7:00 PM) of Chianti country including a vineyard visit and wine tasting.

Friday:

Day at leisure, browse or visit areas that you have missed, spend a day relaxing or take an optional shopping tour to famous designer outlets (Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabana, etc.)

Saturday: After breakast check out of your hotel and continue on your Italian dream vacation or fly back to your home city with a million memories..

2006 Prices - January through December

Hotel Lido A charming 3*** hotel in the heart of a historic and residential neighborhood less than a 20 minute walk or a five minute bus ride from the most important monuments and museums in the center of Florence. This family owned hotel is built in an elegant Villa from the end of 19th century. Rooms are with private bathrooms, shower, water massage shower or bath tub, hairdryers, air conditioned, minibar and satellite color tv. A continental buffet is served in the breakfast area, in the room or weather permitting on adjoining balcony.Parking facilities in front of the hotel or in a garage nearby on request. With this warm and family atmosphere the Hotel Lido is ideal for both holiday and business travel. Local restauarants abound with great meals at affordable prices.

Il Lorenzo Magnifico, this 4**** hotel in the heart of Florence just a short 5/10 minute walk to the Duomo and the Accademia Museum w/ Michelangelo's David. the in the historical center. The villa, restored to its original splendor, is a home for visitors staying in our city for business or pleasure. It's a place where everything cenetrs on the guest and their wishes, hence “Magnifico” with a whole range of services designed to meet every need. 29 bedrooms and 2 suites, all fully equipped with a/c, minibar, safe, satellite TV, computer and internet connections, marble bathrooms with Jacuzzi bath or shower and an american bar and breakfast room.

Your Choice - "Privatize your tour" if you prefer to have cooking lessons with your
private chef instructor; a private guide for sightseeing including the Accademia and Michelangelo's David and the Uffizi Gallery; a private wine tasting lesson with an oenologist wine specialist and a half day private guide and tour of Chianti wine country there would be a supplement of $500 per person to your base price above.

Or "Modify your tour" with more or less days or build your own "signature tour" (minimum 3 days) from your choice of:

Any day arrival in Florence: choose from many hotels, agriturismo's or villas:

JUST CLICK ON BOLD TYPE TO GET MORE INFO ON

Group Cooking Lessons or Private Cooking Lessons,

Group Wine Tasting or Private Wine Tasting

Group Wine Country Tours or Private Wine Country Tours

Other Tuscany Tours- hidden museums, taste of wine and cheese, visit abbeys and castles and many more.......

Combine the joy of this beautiful city with the heart of the Italian mystique - eat, drink and be merry and you can "do it your way".