San Gimignano

Culinary & Nightlife

Begin your journey of Tuscany at Florence’s central train station, where you will be greeted by your guide who will take care of you throughout the day.  Head straight to Siena, Italy’s most picturesque medieval city, whereupon arrival your guide will take you on a walking tour. Look up to admire the lovely terracotta roofs adorning the buildings and marvel at the magnificent Gothic and Romanesque architecture of the main cathedral.   Next, head to the hilltop town of San Gimignano, a UNESCO world heritage site, famous for the tower houses built in the Middle Ages. Enjoy free time here to see its splendid squares, palaces, churches, and magnificent towers. The last stop on your Tuscan excursion is a visit to Pisa and its iconic leaning tower. Take a stroll through the Piazza dei Miracoli and see other marvelous monuments, before driving back to Florence. Best of all, choose from either a small-group or private guided experience to make your trip special. Choose the lunch option to enjoy a homemade lunch paired with an informal wine tasting at a traditional wine estate in the Chianti wine region. Savor 4 regional wines at lunch and learn about their unique production techniques. Feast on an organic, farmhouse meal while you overlook the rolling vineyards under the Tuscan sun.

First arrive in San Gimignano, a tiny medieval town that has remained intact through the centuries. Sitting upon a hilltop, it is famous for its numerous towers, frescoes, and other art treasures. Enjoy more free time to discover this fascinating city on your own. Next, stop at the charming historical hamlet of Monteriggioni, an amazing small medieval village enclosed by its famous walls, which remained standing to this day. Enjoy some free time to visit this place. Afterwards, you will cross the gently Chianti rolling hills, arrive at a small and typical winery. Taste 4 fantastic wines, then sample balsamic vinegar and other locally produced zero food miles products, to end this memorable experience in the heart of Tuscany. Your final stop is in Siena, where you will have free time to walk along the narrow medieval streets admiring the splendid palaces, the Cathedral, Libreria Piccolomini, and the famous shell-shaped Piazza del Campo.

Join this fun day-trip made for 18 to 35-year-old travelers to the Chianti countryside by van, and discover why the area is famous for its scenery as well as its wine. Visit two local wineries and taste their flavorful wines, as well as local produce samples. Walk through the streets of San Gimignano at your own pace, discovering this charming town first-hand. Head straight to a wine tasting school, your first stop, where you will taste 4 different type of wines, including the famous Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. and a Super Tuscan wine, a 30 year-old balsamic vinegar, and the delicious truffle extra virgin olive oil. Here, learn how to recognize the different flavors and develop your taste buds together with a wine passionate producer. Next, drive to your second stop, a local winery located in a stunning area well-known for the production of the D.O.C.G. Vernaccia white wine and facing the famous towers of San Gimignano. Let the winemakers guide you through the vineyards and the cellars and they will share the secrets of the wine and oil production as well as the best wine and food combinations. At this winery, take the opportunity to buy their local products and wine at a convenient cost to bring back home or to ship to friends and family. In the afternoon, enjoy visiting and spending time wandering through the narrow streets of San Gimignano at your own pace. Shop 'til you drop and enjoy gelato from the world-champion ice-cream making gelateria. Your departure from San Gimignano is at 3:45 PM with an estimated travel time of 1 hour and 10 minutes. You'll arrive back in Florence at about 5 PM.

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at authentic truffle hunting with the help of beautiful dogs? Then this is an experience not to be missed. After meeting your professional guide, have a lesson to learn all about how to recognise and search for truffles, with the help of an English-speaking translator.  After building up your confidence with your lesson, set off on a truffle hunt with beautiful dogs, searching through stunning oak forests. Following an exciting truffle hunt, sit back, relax and savor a delicious lunch made with Tuscan products. Sample some of the winery's finest wines to complete your experience.  LUNCH MENU: Appetizers: Tuscan salami and cheeses, Bruschetta (Bread with Olive Oil), and snack. First Course: Truffle lasagna with meat sauce; Second Course: Roasted meat with potatoes and vegetables; Dessert: Cantuccini with Dessert Wine;                                                                                                          WINES AVAILABLE FOR TASTING: Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G. Cabernet Bartolomeo Riserva I.G.T. Merlot Baldassarre Riserva I.G.T. Syrah Cavaliere Riserva I.G.T. Vernaccia of San Gimignano D.O.C.G. Chianti D.O.C.G. Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. Chianti Classico Riserva D.O.C.G. Vino Nobile of Montepulciano D.O.C.G. Red of Montepulciano D.O.C. VinBeato - Dessert Wine Extra Virgin Olive Oil Cold Pressing White Truffle flavoured Olive Oil Pepper Hot Olive Oil Balsamic Old Vinegar selected

The first part of your full-day tour begins with a visit to the walled medieval town of San Gimignano, the City of Fine Towers, a UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site. Armed with helpful information from your tour escort you’ll have free time to explore the town’s historical center and browse its artisan shops. San Gimignano is also the birthplace of Vernaccia, a white wine produced exclusively in the area. The wine is noted for its high quality and for being the first Italian DOCG wine. The tour continues on to Monteriggioni, the ancient crown-shaped fortress that appeared on Italy’s old 100-Lire currency. The 13th-century walls feature 14 towers that Dante likened to the giants in his Inferno. Afterwards, you’ll stop at a winery for a lunch of salami, cheese, and other local products, accompanied by a tasting of Chianti wines. Visit Val d’Orcia, another Tuscan jewel and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue on to Montalcino, perched on a hill overlooking 1,500 hectares of Brunello vineyards that have contributed to the area’s international reputation. The final stop of the day will be a local wine cellar, where you’ll have a chance to taste the renowned Brunello of Montalcino, rated among the finest Italian DOCG wines. Sample other typical local products as well.

Enjoy a 1.5-hour visit to Podere la Marronaia, a small family-run farm in San Gimignano, dedicated to the cultivation of grapes and olives and production of organic wines and extra virgin olive oils. In 2016, the fields were converted to the more sustainable form of biodynamic agriculture. The purpose was to produce wines and extra virgin olive oil using authentically grown Tuscan grapes and olives. Take a short walk from central San Gimignano to Sosta Alle Colonne, the cellar and the tasting venue. Your visit will not be just a wine tasting, but an introduction to the world of Tuscan wines. Experience the family's passion for the land and its products.

Visit a new Spiral vineyard, capable of producing mixing aesthetics and tradition, which has become a new attraction in Italy. A harmonious succession of rows of vines arranged in a spiral circle in a spaced move from an island in the central stone as vantage point to enjoy this spectacle of nature.  Visit the estate with a guide with whom you will trace the historical roots to the current production line. During the visit of about 1.5-2 hours, you will have the opportunity to taste wines of the estate's production.  The visit is aimed at a broad audience of both wine lovers and people who wish to make a first wine culture experience. LUNCH MENU Appetizers: Tuscan cheeses and salami, Bruschetta and snack. First Course: Truffle lasagna and tuscan ribollita Second Course: Roast meat with roast potatoes Dessert: Cantuccini with dessert wine WINES Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G. Cabernet Bartolomeo Riserva I.G.T. Merlot Baldassarre Riserva I.G.T. Syrah Cavaliere Riserva I.G.T. Vernaccia of San Gimignano D.O.C.G. Chianti D.O.C.G. Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. Chianti Classico Riserva D.O.C.G. Vino Nobile of Montepulciano D.O.C.G. Red of Montepulciano D.O.C. VinBeato - Dessert Wine Extra Virgin Olive Oil Cold Pressing White Truffle flavored Olive Oil Pepper Hot Olive Oil Balsamic Old Vinegar selected

See the Tuscan gems of San Gimignano and Volterra on a day trip from Florence. Admire the fascinating Tuscan landscape with its rolling hills on the way. Top off your trip with a stop at a scenic winery to enjoy the sunset. Meet your guide in Florence and hop on a comfortable minivan to reach San Gimignano. Get a brief introduction about the city's history and its countless towers. Savor a delicious wine tasting session with light snacks. Stop at a popular gelato shop, winner of the world gelato championship, and order some for yourself from this master ice cream maker. After a guided walking tour, enjoy some free time to shop around the boutiques of the city center. Visit a local winery for a mouth-watering lunch in a unique venue offering spectacular views. Then, proceed to Volterra to enjoy another guided walking tour. Visit local monuments and iconic attractions. Have the chance to see a Tuscan jewelry store and an Etruscan museum. On your way back to Florence, stop at another winery to enjoy the sunset over another wine tasting.

If you're a fan of Tuscan wines and interested in learning more about the San Gimignano area, this is a truly unforgettable experience. In spring and summer, experience the magic of the Tuscan hills covered with vineyards, olive groves and woods. Surrounded by these breathtaking views, enjoy a lunch accompanied by the estate's wines. Weather permitting, you can even ask to have your lunch outdoors.  Gain an insight into the reality of the vineyards of the Giachi family as you tour the barrel room, wine cellar and tasting rooms surrounding the gardens. Appreciate the ancient Vernaccia vinyards of San Gimignano, still under the management of Romano Giachi since 1996.  Visit the new spiral vineyard, an attraction for connoisseurs. The harmonious rows of vines are best viewed from the center marble vantage point and are truly a spectacle of nature. Your guide will also walk you through the company’s historical production line, and you will have the opportunity to taste the wine amongst the groves from which it was born. SAMPLE LUNCH MENUS: Appetizers: Tuscan cheeses and salami, Bruschetta and snack. First Course: Truffle lasagna and Tuscan ribollita Second Course: Roasted meat with roasted potatoes Dessert: Cantuccini with dessert wine WINES AVAILABLE FOR TASTING: Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G. Cabernet Bartolomeo Riserva I.G.T. Merlot Baldassarre Riserva I.G.T. Syrah Cavaliere Riserva I.G.T. Vernaccia of San Gimignano D.O.C.G. Chianti D.O.C.G. Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. Chianti Classico Riserva D.O.C.G. Vino Nobile of Montepulciano D.O.C.G. Red of Montepulciano D.O.C. Vin Beato - Dessert Wine Extra Virgin Olive Oil Cold Pressing White Truffle flavored Olive Oil Pepper Hot Olive Oil Balsamic Old Vinegar

The day starts with pickup from central Florence (see meeting point section) where the group will be taken in an air-conditioned van/coach to the Chianti region. Upon arrival, a local English-speaking guide will share some information on the region before giving a brief safety demonstration and assigning the Vespas.   Start the Vespa ride on the quiet and scenic roads through the rolling hills of the Chianti region where some of the most famous Tuscan wines are produced and fall in love with the fields of vines, cypresses, and Tuscan rural houses. Admirea the skylines of the incredible Medieval villages like Sna Gimignano and listen to the legendary stories that these places hold from your local guide When hunger strikes, the group gathers back together at a local winery to share an authentic Tuscan meal combined with a light wine and olive oil tasting.   After a day full of sightseeing, the group returns to Florence at approximately 5:00 PM.