Excursions, tours and trips from Florence, Italy

The excursion leaves Florence at 08.30 in the morning and lasts around 11 hours; the tour runs seven days a week from the 1st of April until the end of October.

Florence will enchant you, of that there's little doubt, but you are likely to want to see at least some of the wonderful countryside of Tuscany, and where better than the Chianti wine-producing region? With this day long excursion you'll see much of medieval Tuscany, town and country, and you'll be well advised to have backup batteries for your cameras.

On the way to Siena there'll be a stop off to explore Monteriggioni, a gorgeous example of a small, fortified Tuscan hilltop town.

Next comes Siena, where you'll be shown the city in the company of a local guide who'll guide you along steep medieval streets and show you the breathtaking cathedral (exterior) as well as the impressive Town Hall and the famous Piazza del Campo, home of the Palio.

Next you'll enjoy a three course buffet meal along with a demonstration of how to make such Sienese delicacies as Panforte, Cantucci and Ricciarelli - you'll then have some free time for a bit of shopping, perhaps.

Next stop is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Gimignano, the 'medieval Manhattan', where bankers outdid each other to build the highest tower in town. You'll have some free time to wander the alleyways of this memorable and evocative place, discovering ancient churches and hidden squares as you go.

The tour then heads off towards Florence, stopping on the wat at a Chianti winery where you'll be given a tasting of some excellent Tuscan wines, accompanied by a snack of bruschetta, cold meats, and cheese. You'll return to Florence in the late afternoon.