Mix & Match: Tuscany Self Drive

Arrive at Florence Airport or Railway Station and collect your rental car. Drive to your hotel in the Tuscan countryside near Florence, your base for the next seven nights, and settle in.This evening a welcome dinner is included at the hotel.Special InformationOn arrival at Florence Airport or Railway Station you collect your rental car. The vehicle is an Intermediate size class, and the actual model depends on availability at pick-up.For this self-drive we use a 4-star hotel or historical residence in the Tuscan countryside, used as your base for all seven nights. The exact property is confirmed at the time of booking, with Villa Pitiana as the example used here.If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your car hire can be confirmed for the correct pick-up time. If you are arriving early and have made your own arrangements prior to your tour commencing, car hire will not be included.

This morning after breakfast drive into Florence, the cradle of the Italian Renaissance, for a half-day private guided tour of the historic centre.Walk past the Santa Croce church, known as the Pantheon of Italian Glories, where Michelangelo, Galileo, Rossini and Machiavelli are buried, and see the Baptistery, the Duomo and Giotto’s bell tower from the outside, along with the Piazza della Signoria, the seat of power in the old city. Lunch is included at a typical Florentine restaurant.The afternoon is free to stroll Florence’s streets at your own pace before returning to your hotel for the evening.Inspiring Highlights:Santa Croce churchThe BaptisteryDuomo and Giotto’s bell towerDining Recommendations:Perché no!, Florence - one of the city’s oldest gelaterie, with more than 30 flavours and ingredients such as Bronte pistachios and saffronSpecial InformationThe half-day private guided tour of Florence and lunch at a typical restaurant are included today.Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.Approximate distance driven: 65km (based on the suggested route)

This morning after breakfast drive south to Siena, one of Tuscany’s finest medieval cities, built around the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo where the Palio horse race is run. You might visit the Museo delle Contrade, where each horse represents a different contrada, or district, and try panforte, the city’s dense spiced fruit-and-nut cake, at one of its old pastry shops.In the afternoon continue to San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage hill town known for its surviving medieval towers. The San Gimignano 1300 museum recreates the town as it looked at the height of its tower-building, with storyboards and a ceramic model.Return to your hotel for the evening.Dining Recommendations:We suggest sampling of some delicious traditional desserts like the Panforte in one of the many pastry shops in town such as the Pasticceria Nannini - a historic pastry shop and café institution in Siena founded in 1911 by Guido Nannini.Special InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.Approximate distance driven: 180km (based on the suggested route)

This morning after breakfast spend the day among the vineyards of Chianti, following the Chiantigiana, the old wine road linking Siena and Florence over the hills. At a winery in Radda in Chianti you meet the producer, tour the cellars and enjoy a wine tasting.Continue to Greve in Chianti, whose historic square is home to the Falorni butchers, in business since 1729 and known for prosciutto, finocchiona and Chianti salami. A tasting of local salami makes a good stop, and lunch is worth taking at a Chianti trattoria.In the afternoon a second winery near Greve hosts a wine and olive oil tasting before you return to your hotel.Inspiring Highlights:2 winery visits and tastingsDining Recommendations:Trattoria Mangiando Mangiando, Greve in Chianti - suggested lunch stop on the historic squareAntica Macelleria Falorni, Greve in Chianti - butchers in business since 1729, prosciutto, finocchiona and Chianti salamiLocal delicacy to try: bistecca alla Fiorentina, the Florentine T-bone steak, and Chianti Classico wine.Special InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.Approximate distance driven: 130km (based on the suggested route)

This morning after breakfast drive south into the Val d’Orcia. Montepulciano sits at 605 metres, one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval hill towns, with long views over the surrounding countryside and a historic centre to explore on foot.Continue to Pienza, a planned Renaissance town famous for its pecorino sheep’s cheese. Visit a pecorino producer to see how the cheese is made, then enjoy a light lunch with pecorino and a wine tasting.In the afternoon you might stop in Montalcino, an art town that gives its name to Brunello di Montalcino, one of Italy’s great red wines, with vineyards across the surrounding hills. Return to your hotel for the evening.Inspiring Highlights:A pecorino tasting and a light lunch in Pienza Special InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.Approximate distance driven: 280km (based on the suggested route)

This morning after breakfast the day is given over to a Tuscan cooking class. Depending on the venue, the class runs in the morning or the afternoon, and you prepare a traditional Tuscan meal before sitting down to enjoy it, with lunch or dinner included.The rest of the day is free to relax at the hotel and its surroundings.Special InformationThe cooking class runs in the morning or the afternoon depending on venue availability, followed by lunch or dinner. Timings and venue will be provided with your final documentation.

Today is free to enjoy Tuscany at your own pace. You might spend it relaxing at the hotel and its grounds, or take a gentle drive through the surrounding hills and vineyards.If you would like to venture out, Fiesole sits on a hillside above Florence with Etruscan and Roman remains and long views across the city. The abbey and forest at Vallombrosa make a quiet half-day in the hills, and the smaller market towns of the Arno valley are good for a slow lunch and a wander away from the busier sights. A local weekly market is worth timing a visit around if one falls today.The evening is at leisure.

This morning after breakfast check out and drive to Florence Airport or Railway Station, where you drop off your rental car before departing for your onward journey.Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience.This morning after breakfast check out and drive to Florence Airport or Railway Station, where you drop off your rental car before departing for your onward journey.Special InformationThe rental car is returned at Florence Airport or Railway Station.