Swap the urban sights of Florence for the villages, scenery, wine and food of Tuscany on a small-group day trip! With a driver-guide, explore the Chianti, Crete Senesi and UNESCO-listed Val dÂ’Orcia areas; visit medieval villages such as Greve, Castellina, Montalcino and Montepulciano; and sample up to six glasses of wine during two separate wine tastings. A lavish Tuscan lunch featuring fresh local ingredients is also included at a farmhouse in the Val dÂ’Orcia hills. Numbers are limited to eight, ensuring a personalized experience.

Leave your centrally located Florence hotel, or make your own way into town to meet your driver-guide near Piazza della Repubblica. Then, relax as you travel out of the city to the Tuscan hills for your day of sightseeing and food.

In your minibus, pass along the country lanes that skirt the lush green fields of Tuscany, and head into the Chianti winemaking region where vineyards dot the landscape. Take in the surroundings and make your first stop at Greve, a quintessential Tuscan town, tucked into the hills. Explore the historical square and discover shops selling local handicrafts and traditional Chianti produce.

Hop back on board your minibus and travel to nearby Castellina, a small and ancient hilltop hamlet. Visit one of CastellinaÂ’s historical wine cellars for a look around, and learn about the history of winemaking in the area.

Then, continue to a locally renowned vineyard for a wine tasting with local specialties. The wines and food samples often change, but typically three varietals of wine plus vin santo (dessert wine) are served alongside olive oil with fresh Tuscan bread, lavender honey, snacks, bread sticks and cantucci cookies.

Feeling revitalized, hit the Tuscan roads and travel past the picturesque village of Monteriggioni with its beautiful medieval walls. Admire the clay landscape of Crete Senesi juxtaposed gloriously against the UNESCO-listed Val dÂ’Orcia hills. Stop at a rustic farmhouse for your second wine tasting of the day, accompanied by a regional lunch. Sample three glasses of the prestigious Montalcino wine: Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino and Super Tuscan. Lunch typically consists of two types of crostini, Tuscan bruschetta, vegetable omelet, cheese, cold cuts of meat, fruit and homemade pie.

Visit the farmhouseÂ’s cellars and enjoy some free time to work off the food with a stroll. Travel onward to the village of Montalcino to soak up the views over Val dÂ’Orcia and perhaps shop for artisan products. Finally, stop for a walk around the gorgeous village of Montepulciano before returning to the start point in Florence.

Florence - Tuscany and Florence, Italy