Pleasures of Tuscany Tour: Florence and the Countryside
What to expect on this itinerary
This 7-day tour of Florence will afford you an in-depth exploration of some of the best attractions and experiences that this region has to offer. From a musical night on the town to an interactive cooking course, this tour is designed to evoke what is best of the Tuscan capital and to prioritize your utmost comfort. What are you waiting for? Book your tour and experience the wonders of Florence.
Customizable Itinerary
Florence – Authentic Musical Performance
As the capital city of Tuscany, Florence boasts a culture and history that represents what is best of this colorful corner of Italy. A private car will pick you up at the Galileo Galilei International Airport and transfer you to this paradise of rolling hills and rustic villages. After you have had the chance to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings, you can look forward to ending the evening with a musical performance of some of the country’s top opera talent. A few steps from your comfortable hotel, a historic music hall will be the venue for the concert.
What's Included:
Florence – The City’s Most Iconic Monument
Florence – Tuscan Day Trip
Florence – Renaissance Excellence
Florence – 2,000 years of Winemaking History
Florence – Immersive Cooking Course
Florence – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Lose yourself in melodious rapture at a live performance of authentic Italian opera
- Feel the staggering weight of centuries of history during a visit to the Florentine Cathedral, Baptistry, and summit of its iconic dome
- Indulge in a whimsical visit to a nearby winery and sample wines from one of the best growing regions in Europe
- Delve into the colorful and aromatic atmosphere of a Florentine market before choosing ingredients to use in a guided cooking course
- Unwind on a curated day trip to neighboring Pisa, where you will see its famous tower and reflect on the formidable rivalries between the two cities that sit on the same river
Detailed Description
Long regarded as the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence offers visitors a variety of attractions that go far beyond the stunning artwork of masters, such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Da Vinci. This 7-day tour across the Tuscan capital is broad enough to cover the main highlights of the city but also give you enough time to experience the ambient culture that gives this city its flair.
Your arrival will be celebrated with an opera performance at a historic music hall. As the melodious notes of some of Italy’s top musical talent carry you away, this evening will set the tone for the charming remainder of your visit. During your explorations of the city enter, you will visit some of the city’s most iconic monuments. Florence’s main cathedral dominates the skyline and deserves more than a few hours to experience. From the glittering mosaics of the Baptistry to the lofty height of the main Dome, the prestige enjoyed by Florence over the centuries casts a literal and figurative shadow over the city. The classical revival of Greek and Roman art, known as the Renaissance, will be captured during a visit to the Academy and Uffizi galleries. On your final night, you will have the chance to create your own culinary art during an interactive cooking course.
This trip includes a blend of guided tours, engaging activities, and free time to maximize your enjoyment of this vibrant land. Comfortable walking shoes are the vehicle of choice for the city center, especially since much of the area is pedestrian-only. When walking along busy boulevards, it is best to keep your head on a swivel because Italy is not known for having slow drivers.
As Florence is a top European travel destination, summertime finds the city inundated with tourists whom all compete for the best restaurant tables and shortest lines. For maximum enjoyment, the early Spring and Fall are the best times to visit this breathtaking city because the temperatures remain mild and the crowds have not yet arrived.
Starting Price
$2,600 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
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 6937 reviews
Our trip was absolutely amazing and the planning done by Zicasso's travel company surpassed my expectations. The attention to detail was amazing: from excellent and punctual drivers to assistants who helped us with the water taxis in Venice to the lounge access for trains. It was truly white-glove service that made my trip seamless and allowed me to enjoy every moment because every detail was handled.
The excursions were fantastic. I especially enjoyed the cooking class at a farm in Tuscany and the Vespa tours in Rome. There was a nice mix of private excursions for the walking tours and boat rides, to a few shared excursions, such as the cooking class.
The hotels the travel company booked were chic, boutiquey Italian hotels and each had its own charm (from the former palace in Venice to the castle in Chianti), and we loved them. We would absolutely recommend to anyone booking a trip to Italy!
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Zicasso's team was excellent with planning and execution of the itinerary to meet our specific needs.
I was able to add an additional city on short notice!
We had knowledgeable local city guides and all drivers were professional.
We had a wonderful family trip!
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We had an excellent experience with Zicasso's travel company. We are a family of four and spent 18 nights going through Italy and France. We worked with the company to make arrangements to see the cities and sites we wanted to visit. They offered great options for hotels and activities. They stayed in close contact with us during the trip and made additional arrangements upon request. The company provided outstanding service making arrangements and during the trip. We were very satisified and have already recommended them to our friends.
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I can confidently say that Zicasso's travel specialist is truly dedicated to providing her clients a luxury experience. From the outset, we had a 20-minute call where she wanted to learn about our dream vacation and get to know us. She was attentive to every request we made and organized our itinerary accordingly. During the trip, she texted us daily to inform us about our drivers and guides for the next day. Additionally, she checked to ensure our trip was progressing smoothly.
Here are some highlights:
Rome: We were greeted at the airport by our agent, who expedited our passage through passport control. The following day, we started our exploration at the Vatican. Our agent had purchased our tickets in advance, allowing us to skip the line. She also planned the remainder of our self-guided tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and other ancient sights. We accomplished so much in just two days!
Florence: We took part in a pasta-making class with a chef who was fantastic! Her husband was also quite charming. Our experience there was truly wonderful. Special thanks to our driver, who was incredibly helpful and informative.
Sorrento (Amalfi Coast): We began with a visit to Pompeii, where our guide, also arranged by our agent, was spectacular! His passion and extensive knowledge made the experience enjoyable. Next, we had a fun blind wine tasting. When we arrived at our amazing hotel, we were greeted with a surprise.
While in Rome, we encountered a minor issue, which our agent resolved quickly. She even went above and beyond by ordering us a bottle of prosecco to celebrate. We also took a car tour of Positano and Ravello, guided by a local from Ravello who was informative, knowledgeable, and delightful. We loved her! Our day ended with a lovely sunset cruise off the coast! Both days had excellent drivers.
This trip was a dream come true for my husband and me. Without a doubt, our agent made it the luxurious experience we desired. I highly recommend her and her team!
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The trip went very well! Our Zicasso travel specialist did a thorough job planning our vacation to Italy. We would definitely use her again.
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Our trip was a 10 out of 10! There is no way it could have been any better. Zicasso's travel expert and the tour company's team were incredibly responsive (not that we had any issues) and the itinerary was so impeccably curated.
Every greeter, driver, and tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and professional, and hotels were immaculate. It was such a relief to know that every last detail was taken care of and we didn't have to worry about anything.
We highly recommend our travel company and would definitely use them again.
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