Compare Tuscan towns & countryside by Audley Travel vs Classic Northern Italy by Culture Trip
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 7 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 4,815 | $ 3,529 |
| Price Per Day | $ 688 | $ 353 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A | 10 breakfasts, four lunches, two dinners |
| Description |
Seat of the Roman Empire, leading light of the Renaissance and fervent advocate of la bella vita, Italy is renowned for its art, architecture, style and passion. Such is the depth of Italy’s cultural treasures, even the most modest church façade can hide work by the likes of Michelangelo. Our Italy specialists draw on their deep-seated connections with the country to help you unravel Italy’s well-known highlights, from Rome's ancient Colosseum to the untouched medieval towns of Tuscany and the lagoon city of Venice. They also use their first-hand knowledge to show you Italy's lesser-known ways of life. You might find yourself truffle hunting with an expert and his dog in Tuscany’s hillsides, sampling street food in Palermo, Sicily, exploring the characterful villages of Puglia, or hiking through terraces of vines to reach the tiny villages of Liguria’s Cinque Terre. Whether you explore great cities, alpine lakes, or Roman relics, our specialists can help you unlock Italy’s hidden secrets, from exploring Pompeii without the crowds to uncovering the many delicacies of Italy’s gastronomic capital, Bologna. |
From wine-tasting and pasta-making to exploring centuries-old cities, this 10-day adventure showcases the best of northern Italy. Starting with a cycling tour of the ancient ruins in Rome, you’ll get to see the sights of Siena, Florence, Pisa, the Italian Riviera and Lake Como, before finishing off with a foodie walking tour of Milan. This trip combines the buzz of the old urban centres of Italy with the tranquil countryside and coastline. Along the way, you’ll explore winemaking cellars, hike along the Mediterranean coast, float across an Alpine lake and learn how to make the perfect tiramisu. |
Day 1 Lucca
Pisa , Lucca
You’re met at the airport today for a private car transfer to your hotel in Lucca. On the way you will stop in Pisa where you will meet your guide and explore the city famed for its leaning tower.
Day 2 Lucca
Lucca
Today, you will meet with your guide for a walking tour of Lucca, exploring the walled city. The afternoon is yours to further explore the city, perhaps walking or cycling along the walls that date back to the 17th century.
Day 3 Gaiole in Chianti
Tuscany , Gaiole in Chianti
This morning you will meet with your driver and leave western Tuscany and head to the Chianti region. Before reaching your hotel, you will make stops in the medieval city of Siena, famed for its Palio horserace, for a private walking tour with your guide and the hilltop town of San Gimignano where you will have free time to explore.
Day 4 Gaiole in Chianti
Gaiole in Chianti
Today is a free day to explore the surrounding countryside or relax by the pool.
Day 5 Gaiole in Chianti
Florence , Gaiole in Chianti
Today you will journey to Florence and on to the Uffizi gallery where you will meet your private guide for a tour of the gallery which holds a number of Renaissance artwork's.
Day 6 Gaiole in Chianti
Tuscany , Gaiole in Chianti
This morning you will meet with your private driver and visit two vineyards in the Chianti region. At both estates you will be given a tour of the property and enjoy tastings of their wines. In between, you will be treated to a hearty Tuscan lunch.
Day 7 Return home
Gaiole in Chianti
Your private driver collects you and takes you to Pisa airport for your onward flight.
DAY 1
Arrive in Rome and dine at a family-run restaurant
Your Italian adventure gets underway at 6pm with a welcome drink at your hotel and the chance to meet your group and our Local Insider who will accompany your group throughout the trip. Dinner will be served at Ristorante Al 34, opened by Walter and Maria Luisa Casalini in 1968 and now helmed by son Nicola, whose extensive menu revolves around Italian classics such as lobster linguini and Roman meatballs. After dinner, you’ll be free to explore before turning in for the night.
ACCOMMODATION
- Hotel Art
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
- Welcome dinner
DAY 2
Explore the highlights of the Italian capital by bike
The action starts with a three-hour guided bike tour through Roman antiquity (bikes, helmets and insurance are all included). You’ll pedal past landmark attractions such as the ruins of Trajan’s Market, the Mausoleum (built in 28BCE and commissioned by Augustus, the first Roman emperor), and piazzas Spagna, Navona and Venezia, before finishing near the Colosseum. Refuel over lunch at Ristorante Isidoro – the building in which it sits was a convent in the 17th century – before walking to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, all of which you can access with your pre-booked ticket. The rest of the day and the evening’s dinner venue are up to you.
ACCOMMODATION
- Hotel Art
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
- Rome bicycle tour
- Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill entry
DAY 3
Uncover the sights and sounds of Siena
Day three kicks off with a private transfer and train to Siena, one of the most important medieval cities in Tuscany. On arrival, lunch will be served in the 13th-century dining room of Gallo Nero; expect typical Tuscan dishes with locally sourced ingredients, freshly pulled pasta and homemade bread. Next, you’ll be whisked off to your hotel in the Chianti wine region; you’re free to explore by yourself for the rest of the day. You could make your way into Siena and admire the beautiful gothic Duomo di Siena, or unwind with an Aperol spritz by the hotel pool.
ACCOMMODATION
- Villa Curina Resort
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
- Train to Siena
DAY 4
Wine and olive oil tasting, vineyard tour and cooking class
Go light on breakfast, because today is all about eating and drinking. Departing at 9am, you’ll be driven 45 minutes north of Siena, to a winemaking estate in the walled medieval village of San Gimignano. Tour the vineyards and olive groves, visit the cellars, then taste fresh produce on a terrace with panoramic views. Then, the main event: a rustic Tuscan lunch outdoors and a cooking class in which you’ll learn how to make tiramisu and pici pasta. Don’t worry about over-indulging – all you have to do afterwards is sit back as you are driven to your Florence hotel.
ACCOMMODATION
- Hotel De La Ville
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
- Vineyard tour and wine tasting
- Cookery class
DAY 5
Discover Florence on foot
Start the morning with a walking tour of Florence. Afterwards, you can spend the day as you wish. There’s so much to explore in Florence. Beyond art, the Accademia has an extraordinary collection of instruments for music lovers, while Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella will entice perfume fans. Alternatively, recharge at the hotel and take a cocktail in the American Bar. You’re ideally placed for shopping and sightseeing, as the hotel is just off Via Tornabuoni, where designer stores such as Gucci and Tod’s mingle with Renaissance palaces, such as Palazzo Strozzi.
ACCOMMODATION
- Hotel De La Ville
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
- Guided Florence walking tour
DAY 6
Wander through Pisa and the coastal village of Levanto
Today you’ll be whisked away in a private vehicle to Pisa, giving you the chance to see the leaning tower. Next, it’s onto the coastal resort town of Levanto, a hidden gem in the heart of the Italian Riviera with views over the leafy hillsides on the edge of the Cinque Terre National Park. Stroll down to the medieval town where pastel-coloured houses cling to the cliffside, snap those all-important photos along the promenade and enjoy an Aperol spritz at sunset. If you’re in the mood, take the chance to cool off with a swim in the Mediterranean.
ACCOMMODATION
- Park Hotel Argento
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
- Leaning Tower of Pisa entry
DAY 7
Trek the Cinque Terre coastal route
The main event today is a coastal hike through the five fishing villages of Cinque Terre, a Unesco National Park. It’s a six-minute train ride from Levanto to Monterosso, from where you’ll trek 13km (8mi) along basil-strewn clifftops to Manarola, via Vernazza, Corniglia and Volastra. Drink in panoramic Mediterranean views through the pine trees. Then take the train from Manarola back to Levanto. The excursion will take about four hours, which leaves you free to explore this stretch of unspoilt coastline at your leisure. Alternatively, enjoy the coastline by train and ferry ride.
ACCOMMODATION
- Park Hotel Argento
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
- Guided Cinque Terre coastal hike
- Train back to Levanto
DAY 8
Admire Lake Como from the water
Today starts bright and early with a private four-hour transfer to the shores of Lake Como. Enjoy lunch by the lakeside and perhaps a visit to the 14th-century Como Cathedral and its 18th-century bell tower, which offers astonishing views. Next, hop on a boat where an English-speaking skipper will lead a tour of Lake Como. Sip an aperitif as you watch the sunset, and later, wander the romantic cobbled streets of Como to find a restaurant of your choice.
ACCOMMODATION
- Hotel Metropole Suisse
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
- Lake Como boat tour
DAY 9
Indulge in Milan’s gastronomic side
After a slow breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Lake Como. You’ll be in Milan by midday, in time to start a three-hour culinary walking tour of the economic powerhouse of Italy. Among the gastronomic treats you’ll sample are 24-month-aged Parma ham, artisanal ice cream, melanzane alla parmigiana, lasagne and mondeghili (meatballs done the Milanese way). Finish the day with a farewell dinner at 10 Corso Como, where a conservatory-style interior blends seamlessly into a secluded patio overflowing with foliage and flowers. Choose a bottle or two of Italian wine and toast an unforgettable trip with new friends.
ACCOMMODATION
- iH Hotels Milano Ambasciatori
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
- Milan Walking food tour
- Farewell Dinner
DAY 10
Depart from Milan
Your trip around northern Italy concludes with one final breakfast. Say goodbye to your group at 10am before catching your return flight home (or staying in Italy to explore some more). Remember: if you got a little carried away with the souvenir shopping during your trip, check an extra bag.
