Characterised by green hills, country roads fringed with cypress trees and medieval architecture, the central hill towns are a charming place to spend a week in Italy. Beginning in Rome to ignite your love for Italian architecture, food and traditions, you'll spend a day exploring this wonderful city and soaking up its history. You'll then head into central Italy's Tuscan hills where you'll spend the rest of your trip in the towns of Pienza, Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, Volterra and Chianti. You'll experience farms where the vines are sung to in order to make them grow, delicious cheese is made and more. You'll venture to hidden corners, famous hilltop towns and beautiful cities like Siena.
San Gimignano Farm Experience with Wine, Oil and Saffron Tasting
Volterra
Chianti Wine Experience in a Castle
Airport transfer
Entrance fees
Ground transportation
Licensed English speaking guides
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Rome
Today, you'll arrive in Rome and be met at the airport by your private driver. They will then transfer you to your hotel, where if available you'll be able to check-in early and get settled. The rest of the day will then be free for you to explore the classic monuments of Rome including the Trevi Fountain and more. If you'd like to do something a little different, you can head out on a tour of a typical local where you'll visit local bars, taste local cheeses and enjoy stories from your guide.
Day 2: Rome to Tuscany
Today, you'll say goodbye to Rome after a short but sweet visit. You'll continue your week in Italy to the train station where you'll catch the train to the gateway of Tuscany. Your driver will meet you at the other end and transfer you to your hotel in the beautiful town of Pienza, in the UNESCO-listed Val d'Orcia. En route, you'll stop to visit Montepulciano where you'll explore the town and visit an exclusive family-owned winery for a tasting of the region's specialities.
Day 3: Tour of Val d'Orcia & Wine Tasting in Montalcino!
This morning, you'll depart for a full-day tour of the wonderful Val d'Orcia! You will explore Pienza, the pretty town transformed in the 15th century when Pope Pius II turned his home village into an ideal Renaissance town. Your next stop will be in a fattoria to taste the delights (cheese) made here. You'll then pass through the beautiful scenes of the Crete Senesi to arrive in Montalcino where you will have a wine tasting in one of the farms that produce the famous Brunello wine.
Day 4: Pienza to San Gimignano via Siena
This morning you'll check out of your hotel in Pienza and hop into the car to make your way to Northern Tuscany. En route, you'll stop in Siena for a two-hour guided tour of the city. You will for sure appreciate the sloping piazza popularly known as Il Campo. The piazza is the civic and social centre of Siena, with the Complesso Museale Santa Maria della Scala, the elegant Palazzo Comunale and the graceful Torre del Mangia. You'll then continue on to San Gimignano.
Day 5: San Gimignano Farm Experience, Wine Tasting & Volterra
This morning, you'll meet your driver for a tour of San Gimignano (with farm experience) and Volterra! To begin the tour, you will visit San Gimignano, a visually striking and perfectly preserved town of medieval towers. You will then head towards a great Fattoria (in San Gimignano)where you'll enjoy nice wine, oil and saffron as part of a light lunch at the farm! You'll then move on to Volterra, a favourite Italian hill town.
Day 6: Back to Rome via Chianti
This morning, you'll meet with your private driver and depart towards San Giovanni Valdarno train station (a one-hour drive), passing through the "miracle" of Chianti hills where you'll stop for a wine tasting. You will stop for a visit and tasting in a favourite winery/castle in the medieval village of Castello on the magnificent Chianti hills. You will have a great guided tour of the historic cellars and a superb wine-oil tasting. You'll then continue your journey to Rome.
Day 7: Goodbye Italy
Today is the final day of your beautiful week in Italy. After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel and transfer using the hotel's private shuttle to the airport for your departing flight.
