San Gimignano and San Vivaldo tour with wine tasting

San Gimignano and San Vivaldo tour with wine tasting starts at your lodging where a minivan with private driver will pick you up.

The first stop will be at the medieval town of San Gimignano.

San Gimignano stands 334 metres above sea level on the site of a small Etruscan settlement, but it takes its name from the Bishop of Modena who saved the town from Barbarians in the 6th century.

It developed considerably during the Middle Ages thanks to the Via Francigena which runs straight through the town.

The Via Francigena is an ancient road and pilgrim route running from the Cathedral city of Canterbury in England, through France to Rome and Apulia, where there were the seaports to embark for Holy Land.

The Elsa Valley around this famous Tuscan town is everyone's image of a wine producing region in Italy.

Cypress trees, vines and olive orchards form an impressive landscape.

The vines cultivated around San Gimignano produce the "Vernaccia", a dry, pale, white.

It is a wine so gentle you could be drinking a refined mineral water and its character hasn't changed for centuries.

This the reason why our wine tasting will be right in a fabulous wine estate situated in San Gimignano, The lovely family who runs it with care and commitment, love sharing their passion for the land, the wine and the olive oil with their guests.

The location is unique. You will be overwhelmed by the beauty around you. It is possible to arrange for cooking class too, using the products of their land.

Afterwards we will head to the "Living Jerusalem" at San Vivaldo.

San Vivaldo, a hidden gem that really few people know. It is a special place, a unique site in which history, art, spirituality and nature blend together perfectly. It hosts the “Jerusalem” of San Vivaldo - one of the most significant examples of Western reproduction of the Holy Land - built at the beginning of the 16th century by order of the local community of Franciscan friars and conceived like a “real” Jerusalem for pilgrimages. For centuries going on pilgrimage to Jerusalem was not possible due to the Ottoman Occupation. The Franciscan friars built several Chapels that represent the important sights of the city in order to allow pilgrims to do a symbolic pilgrimage.

After touring it, we will head back to your lodging.

Tour length: 6/7 hours

Transportation: minivan with private driver

San Gimignano square — San Gimignano detail

Chianti and Siena Tour with wine tasting

Chianti and Siena Tour with wine tasting is an amazing day trip that takes you from Florence into the super picturesque Chianti region.

This tour gives you the chance to explore the rolling hills of the marvelous Chianti Wine region. It’s a getaway from the noise and the crowds of the city.

During our drive through the famous Chianti region, you will be spoiled with spectacular views of this famous landscape. As we drive, admire the cypress trees, vineyards and olives groves.

Our first stop will be in Siena where we will explore Piazza del Campo and the Cathedral.

Once in the Piazza del Campo, you’ll see why it’s so well known and well loved. It’s a semi-circular piazza, in a bowl-like shape, surrounded by beautiful red-brick buildings. This is the heart and soul of Siena, not to mention one of its most distinct landmarks. It was built with the intention of all the locals being able to meet there for events, games and socializing. It’s still doing its job of bringing people together, as you’ll see from the amount of people sitting on its curved base, eating, drinking and chatting.

The piazza is also home to Siena’s famous bareback horse race, the Palio di Siena, which is held twice a year. They do put sand on the tiled flooring of the piazza, so the horses aren’t galloping directly on stone, but the turns are still incredibly tight.

Siena’s Gothic cathedral is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. Even if you’re not into cathedrals, it’s worth seeing and is one of the highlights of the city. Its green-and-white-striped interior is even more impressive than Florence’s duomo, and the exterior is pretty snazzy too, with one of the most detailed facades you’lI’ve ever seen on all your travels.

Afterwards we will head to Panzano in Chianti to visit a winery where we will have a wine tasting.

The stop at winery is also an excuse to get know a little bit more about the winemaking process, we will explore the Estate, the vineyard and the cellar with one of the staff of winery who is very knowledgeable and passionate about the wine.

Harvesting by hand and rigorous quality selection of the grapes are the distinctive hallmarks of their harvest. Cutting-edge technology and the final, hands-on-touch of their winemaker are the secrets of the high quality of this winery’s wines.

Once we’ve covered every aspect of winemaking, we sit down to taste three Chianti wines accompanied by fresh olives and cheese. It is possible to have lunch too.

After the wine tasting we will head back to your lodging.

Tour length: 6 hours

Transportation: minivan with private driver

Which are the grapes of Chianti Classico?

Sangiovese, the region’s principal grape variety, is the exemplar of the unique characteristics of the land of the Black Rooster. Chianti Classico wine can be produced with Sangiovese grapes at a minimum of 80% or with the maximum addition of 20% of other red varieties.

Over time, thanks to the commitment to research in the field, the importance of Sangiovese in Chianti Classico wine and the use of red varieties has become increasingly important: since 1996 it has been possible to produce DOC wines using pure Sangiovese grapes, and since 2006 Chianti Classico can be produced exclusively with red grape varieties.

Pisa and San Miniato Tour with Truffle Hunting

Pisa and San Miniato Tour with Truffle hunting will allow you to discover the most impressive part of Tuscany.

The first stop will be in Pisa that is a small city and the most important sights are concentrated in the famous Piazza dei Miracoli.

The square is the obvious starting point for a visit to Pisa. You can spend an hour exploring the architectural wonders of the piazza, which is one of Italy’s most impressive squares. The leaning tower is a world famous attraction and you will see a lot of people taking pictures of themselves “trying” to push it straight!

The tower started to sink during its construction (12th century) that took about 200 years.

Next to it the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta with its Baptistery that is the largest building of the religious complex on this square. Its construction started in 1063 and almost a hundred years later it was consecrated. The cathedral houses the city patron’s relics, Saint Ranieri.

The white marble Baptistery was founded in 1152 and due to its construction on the same unstable soil as the Tower, it is also leaning slightly.

After touring the city, we will head to San Miniato.

San Miniato is a beautiful medieval city. The tour starts in Piazza del Prato del Duomo where you will find the most important buildings. On the top of the square there is the famous Frederick II Tower from where you can enjoy a great panorama over the city and the valley.Another important highlight is the concave colored façade of the Episcopal Seminary in Piazza della Repubblica.

San Miniato is worldwide known for its Truffle Festival every year in November.

That’s is the reason why you will take part in a once-in-a- lifetime experience: truffle hunting.

You will meet a professional truffle hunter with his dog and with them you will start your truffle hunting through the woods.

He will explain to you the different species of truffles and share with you the secrets of the hunting.

The tour will end with a local meal prepared with the truffles you found!

Tour lenght: 6/7 hours

Transportation: minivan with private driver

Pisa piazza Cavalieri — Pisa Piazza Cavalieri

Rome Jewish Ghetto Tour

We will start the Rome Jewish Ghetto Tour crossing an ancient Roman bridge connecting the charming Tiber Island to the left bank where Rome's main Jewish Synagogue is situated; it was completed in 1904 in the area that was once Rome's Jewish Ghetto, the small enclave where the Roman Jews were confined to live from 1555 to 1870.

We will walk through the remaining areas of the former Jewish Ghetto and down the old lanes of first century b.c. Portico d’Ottavia, a Roman library transformed into a church where the Jews were forced to attend mass.

At the end, we’ll stop at the Kosher Bakery to taste the famous Pizza Giudia or if it is the right season we can eat the delicious Jewish artichokes.

Jewish Artichoke — THE FAMOUS JEWISH ARTICHOKES

Food & Wine Roman Countryside

During the Food and Wine Roman Countryside tour, you will visit family vineyards and see the cellars where the wine is produced. You will be invited to taste the wines, which will also be accompanied by local specialities, such as porchetta, salami and bread cooked in a wood-burning oven. These farms also provide and unparalleled panoramic view of the city of Rome and its environment.

We will spend a lovely day visiting quaint villages, rich with history, located to the south of Rome.

The Roman countryside has drawn tourists since the time of the ancient Romans who came here to spend their vacations. Only 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Rome, these hillside villages and their splendid lakes punctuate endless fields of olives and grapes. The volcanically formed earth and the mild climate are ideal for the production of wines, such as the Frascati Superiore and the red I quattro Mori, as well as extravergine olive oil.If you love Italian food and wine, then come with me to discover historic farms in the countryside, outside Rome.

We will spend a lovely day visiting quaint villages, rich with history, located to the south of Rome.

The first village to visit is Castelgandolfo and its palace (Pope’s summer residence) and the lovely lake of Albano, a former ancient volcano. Driving along the Tuscolana road we reach Grottaferrata that is very famous for its important 15th century monastery and church decorated with 16th century frescos of saint Nilus’ life.
We continue visiting Nemi village built on the slope of a hill, overviewing Nemi lake, another former volcano. This village is very famous because in Spring you can sit in a bar tasting wild strawberries with fresh cream and looking at the panorama over the lake.

Be prepared for an unforgetable trip back to the times and flavours of the past.

Photo reference: Wikimedia Commons

Eat with locals

Get a real taste of local culture by dining with a local family in their home, which means you can enjoy an intimate setting and relaxed vibe.

Enjoy memorable experiences you won’t find in any restaurant. The host cooks with her personality serving up customized menus.

Not only will you enjoy home-cooking at its best and get to taste local delicacies but you’ll also have a unique chance to experience the local culture and to get to know the people by sharing a meal in a family home.

The host, Mrs. Allegra, English mother tongue, will be happy to cook and share with you her Roman recipies and secrets, welcoming you in her appartment, plenty of Art masterpieces, located on the top floor of a Art Deco building in the Ghetto Area. From her windows you will see the island of the Tiber and the Synagogue.