Rulers of Tuscany for three centuries, the Medici Family changed history and shaped the region of Tuscany as we see it today. This 3-day tour with will follow their footsteps and decipher the omnipresent legacy that this powerful family has left in Tuscany. This 3-day tour will also give you the opportunity to enjoy Tuscany with delicious wine tastings, interesting activities and amazing village to visit.

• Pick up and drop off from Florence.
• Small intimate groups.
• Guarantee departure every day.
• Fully escorted tour with a local guide

Day one: Villa di Poggio a Caiano and Chianti

Wherever you wander in Tuscany, whether on the tourist trail or way off the beaten track, you will find an astonishing array of architecture and art. Works which would be considered uniquely important in other parts of the world seem almost two-a-penny in a region drenched in history and culture. Today the local expert and driver will pick you up directly from your Hotel in Florence and take you to the Medici Villa in Poggio a Caiano as first stop.  The Villa Medici in Poggio a Caiano, a little town in the province of Prato, is just one of the palaces and villas scattered across the land, and you can almost hear in its rooms and halls the ghostly footsteps of the dukes, duchesses, painters and courtesans who lived there centuries ago. Built by Lorenzo dei Medici to a design by Giuliano da Sangallo in the late 1400s, the summer residence of the Medici hosted family celebrations as well as gatherings of notables, and witnessed tragic events of great political importance, including the death of Francesco I dei Medici - some say from fever, some say victim of assassination by a political rival. The crowning glory of the villa’s art is the frescoes on the walls of the Leone X hall created by the Medici stable of artists, including Andrea del Sarto, Pontormo, Franciabigio and Alessandro Allori.

After the visit of the Villa, the driver will take you to Greve in Chianti where you can enjoy a beautiful lunch on your own at the famous “piazza” before moving to one of the local winery and taste same delicious Chianti Classico wine.

The day will finish to your new home at the local cosy farmhouse “Agriturismo” where you will stay for the next 2 nights.

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Day two: Montepulciano and Pienza

Today we will start the day with a visit of Montepulciano, a medieval village of Tuscany where the Medici family certaily left their mark. In the 14th and 15th centuries, there was incredible power and wealth in Montepulciano from the noble families that lived there. It was in the 16th century, however, that the town reached its highest point of splendour under the rule of the extremely powerful Medici Family.

Porta delle Farine. There are two main gates into the town - Porta al Prato and Porta delle Farine. Once you have passed through these you can instantly start exploring the little nooks and crannies of this place. There are squares and palaces and churches to be seen. The Church of Sant' Agostino was designed by the artist Michelozzo who was working for the Medici family. There is also a fantastic Tower Clock and the home of the poet Poliziano who was under the patronage of Lorenzo de Medici. In fact, he also taught the Medici children. Montepulciano will be the setting for an international television production named Medici: Masters of Florence produced by Lux Vide and Big Light production. The most important actors will be Dustin Hoffman and Richard Madden (Robb Stark in Game of Thrones), the first representing Giovanni De’ Medici the patriarch, the other, the son Cosimo De’Medici performing the history of the famous Medici Family.

In the afternoon we will visit Pienza. Visitors should not miss the tiny hilltop village of Pienza, nestled in the Val d’Orcia between Montalcino to the east and the Montepulciano hills to the west. Some of southern Tuscany’s most beautiful landscapes unfold along this route, culminating in the view from Pienza itself. Despite its small size, this village is known as the ‘ideal Renaissance city’ and was the brainchild of the man who would become Pope Pius II. Born Enea Silvio Piccolomini in the village, he would later in life command the wealth and influence to rebuild his childhood home in the image of a Utopian city, built on the classical principles which animated the Italian renaissance.

On a less exalted note, it is also the home of a pecorino (sheep’s milk) cheese known as cacio, whose flavour can range from extremely delicate to thumpingly strong and sometimes has peppercorns inserted into it for extra crunch. Cacio is sold in many of the town’s small shops, alongside local wines, pici (the local pasta) and, best of all, and our particular recommendation for visitors a mixture of all three - pici con cacio e pepe (pasta with cheese and pepper) washed down with a glass of Montepulciano vino.

Day three: Livorno and Pisa

As last day of the tour, the local expert and driver will take you to Livorno where you can enjoy a lovely cruise tour through the city and visit the famous port of Livorno.The lovely city of Livorno lies on the coast of Tuscany, some fifty miles due west of Florence (Firenze). Dominating the Ligurian Sea, it has been a gateway to Italy for many centuries and one of country’s most important ports. Livorno bears all the hallmarks of a Medici city - not surprisingly, as generations of the Florentine family closely supervised the development of the port and the town which spreads up the hills behind. Construction of the Porto Mediceo - the ‘Medici Port’ - was ordered in 1572 by Cosimo I dei Medici, first Grand Duke of Tuscany, although work only started under his successors. Cosimo commissioned the up-and-coming Florentine architect Bernardo Delle Girandole, (nicknamed Buontalenti, ‘the very talented’) to design a new city and a grand port to facilitate the trade which made the duchy rich. The original design was for parallel wharves to extend to the Fanale dei Pisani lighthouse on one side and the Old Fortress (Fortezza Vecchia) on the other. Cosimo I’s grandson, Cosimo II, oversaw much of the work, hence its name - Molo Cosimo (‘the Cosimo Wharf’). A third wharf, the Molo Mediceo, was later constructed to protect the fortress and the entrance to the harbour. Under the Medici, Livorno was dominated by the dockyards, where military and commercial vessels were fitted out for coastal and long-distance voyages and rich cargoes were loaded and unloaded. Lazaretti - quarantine stations - were built at a safe distance for passengers and crew coming off ships suspected of being infected with contagious diseases. The city was also equipped with a splendid system of fossi, the canals which still thread their way through the old city, linking the market to the wharves.

In the afternoon we will visit Pisa before coming back to Florence and finish the tour. Here, some of the amazing location you can explore:

Statue of Cosimo I dei Medici. The statue of Cosimo I dei Medici, commissioned by his son and successor Ferdinando I, stands in the Piazza dei Cavalieri in Pisa and is a lasting reminder of the family’s domination of Tuscany. Grand Masters of the Order of the Knights of Stephen, Dukes of Florence and Grand Dukes of Tuscany, Cosimo I and his dynasty ruled the province for several generations, their wealth, patronage and political power still seen in every town and city they controlled.

Palazzo Vecchio dei Medici The grand building built to house the Medici family in Pisa is now headquarters of the town’s prefettura (local authority), located on the street which bears the same name: the Lungarno Mediceo.The oldest part of the structure dates back to the 11th century, when it was a small tower-house owned by the aristocratic Albitone family. Developed in the 13th century by later owners, the Casapieri and D’Appiani, it reached its peak during the Medici residence, and therefore is still known by their name. Piero di Cosimo dei Medici (also known as ‘Piero the Gouty’) took the palace over in 1446, and it was also much used by his son, Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449-1492).

University of Pisa It was under Lorenzo the Magnificent that the Palazzo della Sapienza (‘The Palace of Wisdom’) was begun in 1486, extending the existing ‘Pisan Studium’, or old university. The new building was beautifully set in the 14th-century Piazza del Grano, whose entrance - the Porta dell’Abbondanza, or ‘Gate of Abundance’, is decorated with a cherub which remains the symbol of the university. After 1494, after Pisa rebelled against the rule of Florence, faculty and students were transferred as punishment to other Tuscan towns, including Prato and Florence.  Cosimo I ceremonially re-inaugurated the University in 1543.

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PRICES, DEPOSITS, AND PAYMENTS:

Price for this tour is USD 1200 per person. Single supplement: USD 150
Once we have checked the regular documentation included your travel insurance, 25% deposit of the overall tour cost, is required. No booking will be reserved until the prescribed deposit is received.
Balance of the payment will be due 30 days before the starting of the tour.
Deposits and balance of payments are accepted by bank transfer or credit card via PayPal with a 4% surcharge fees
A payment of a deposit indicates an acceptance of all the conditions.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TIMES:

Departures-Guarantee every day with a minimum of 2 guests

Starts/Ends in Florence
Max 8 people

Pick up at your hotel in Florence or train station– Click here for more information www.trenitalia.com :

Contact us if you need advice to reach the pickup point

TOUR GROUPS:

Our tour groups have been designed for a group of no more than 8 people per week to ensure that client needs and enjoyment is always our top priority.

INCLUDED IN TOUR COST:

1. Private Villa/Apartment in a 4 star farmhouse accommodation.
2. Two continental breakfasts, two dinners at the farmhouse with set menu
3. Pick-up and drop off from your accommodation in Florence.
4. Daily transfer with a comfortable vehicle from the farmhouse accommodation to the different locations of the tour and back. (9 hours day tour service)
5. Professional Local expert and driver (no licenced “tour guide”)
6. 3 days touring to itinerary locations.
7. On arrival at each location: remain as a group with tour leaders, alternatively explore independently and re-group at a pre-arranged time and location
8. Wineries visiting with wine tasting each location with a visit of the callers at selected vineyards/ establishments

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR COST

All items not detailed in inclusions

Personal spending

All transfers other than to the local train station

1. Airfares
2. Airport taxes
3. Travel insurance.
4. Entry fees to museums/galleries and other places wherever entry fees apply
5. All lunches and meals not specifically listed above.
6. All personal expenditure.
7. Refer to specific tour.
8. Licenced tour guided

OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Activities beyond the specified tours listed on this website are subject to additional costs. HISTORICAL TOUR GUIDE. If you are interested to learn more about art and history of any city we can engage a professional local tour guide who can explain you deeply the history and the culture of this area. The price is $95,00 USD per person (min 2 people). Max 3 hours service. If you want included the tour guide, please, let us know at least two weeks before the starting of the tour.

DINNER OUT WITH THE LOCAL: After each day tour, you can choose between having dinner at the farmhouse (included on the package) or going out to a family-run trattoria near the accommodation for a different traditional Tuscany food experience with the local guide. You can organize the dinner out directly to your local guide during the tour. The price for this extra service (pick-up and drop off) is $58,00 USD per person (minimum 2 pax). The price doesn’t include the dinner out.

TOUR GROUPS:

Our tour groups have been designed for a group of no more than 6 people per tour to ensure that client needs and enjoyment is always our top priority.
Tours and tariffs are subject to change.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:

All tours, travel arrangements and accommodations are secure from the time of confirmation of booking. Consequently a cancellation fee will apply on all cancellations.
If you cancel your tour reservation for any reason, your first deposit of 25% is non-refundable. If you cancel 90 days before tour starting date: 75% of your total tour cost is refundable. If you cancel between 90 days and 60 days before tour starting date: 50% of your total tour cost is refundable for physician documented emergency medical reasons or for police documented cases of accident, flood, fire, or crime. Cancellations less than 30 days from the tour start date, a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the tour cost will apply.
We do not provide refunds for: non-medical personal problems; air carrier delays or cancellations; inability to obtain passports; business problems or emergencies; etc.
In the unlikely event or if the tour fails to fill with the necessary minimum number of participants required (2 people), you would be entitled to a 100% refund in full.

COST/EXCHANGE RATES:

Prices and tariffs quoted for the tours are subject to change without notice in the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, such as significant currency fluctuations.

INSURANCE:

You are required to purchase your own travel insurance to cover cancellation coverage, airline tickets, trip delay, lost luggage or any potential medical expenses, personal accident and sickness, emergency repatriation and personal liability. It is advisable to take specific cover for ambulance through the respective State ambulance providers or through their own private health insurance.
Please note that travellers on Tuscany Untouched tours must have comprehensive travel insurance. We will require evidence including policy number, insurers name and emergency contact number before we finalise your booking.

LUGGAGE:

You are allowed one suitcase and one carry-on bag. If you exceed this limit there may not be space in the vehicle to transport your excess luggage and it will be at your own expense to have it transported. We suggest that you bring a day pack for carrying water, guide books, jacket, rain gear, etc.

STRENUOUS WALKING

Most medieval towns were built as hilltop fortifications, so you will find some challenging climbs. There is a lot of walking on our tours and you will spend a lot of time on your feet while sightseeing. Age is not important as long as you are physically fit and a strong walker. Our tours are not suited for anyone who has problems with knees, back, heart or obesity.

SINGLE TRAVELLERS:

Single travellers are provided a private apartment. The additional single supplement cost will apply.

PRICES:

Our recommended tours and dates, as listed on our web site, are guaranteed once a booking is confirmed. Your additional expenses will be for non-included meals, moderate tipping where appropriate, and personal sightseeing or shopping.LIMIT OF LIABILITY:

No responsibility is accepted for any loss, expense, accident, injury, or damage to any person or property due to the actions or omissions of any person, or any cause, including but not limited to acts of God, acts of terrorism, war, strikes, defects in machinery, breakdown of equipment, weather, quarantine, negligence, loss of baggage, or other causes beyond our control, such losses being the responsibility of the guest.

MEMBERSHIP ON TOUR:

Tuscany Untouched Pty Ltd reserves the right to accept, reject, or not retain any person as a tour participant whose condition or general deportment impedes the operation of the tour or, in the opinion of the tour manager, affects the rights and enjoyment of other guests. A guest not retained on tour shall have no cause for complaint or refund, and shall bear any and all extra expenses that ensue.

TOUR CHANGES:

All information on this website is, to the best of our knowledge, correct. However, we reserve the right to make changes in accommodations, visits, and itineraries at any time should it become necessary or desirable. Delays or itinerary changes caused by strikes, bad weather, traffic, or other unforeseen circumstances are beyond our control and we are not obliged to pay guests compensation.

STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Just a reminder that travel on Tuscany Untouched trip requires a degree of flexibility, and you should understand that the trip’s route, accommodation and modes of transport are subject to change without prior notice due to local circumstances. Should Tuscany Untouched PTY LTD deem it advisable to amend an itinerary for any reason, it may do so by shortening, varying or re-routing any trip. These changes are binding and additional expenses will be charged to you if the reason for any alteration is outside Tuscany Untouched’ control.

While travelling with Tuscany Untouched you agree to accept the authority of the leader at all times. You are aware that travel within a group may involve compromise to accommodate the diverse desires and physical abilities of group members. You understand that Tuscany Untouched reserves the right to decline, accept, or retain any person as a member of the group at any time. To the best of Tuscany Untouched’s knowledge, these third parties are qualified to perform the duties they are contracted to perform. However Tuscany Untouched  will not be held liable for any injury, damage, loss, delay or irregularity that may occur due to the behaviour of these third parties. Tuscany Untouched will not accept responsibility or liability for any traveller who contravenes any law or regulation of any country visited. No employee, servant or agent of Tuscany Untouched Pty Ltd has authority to vary these conditions.

CONFIRMATION BOOKING FORM

All Tuscany Untouched travellers on group trips must sign a Booking Form. Please note that signing the form is a pre-requisite of travelling with Tuscany Untouched Pty Ltd. The wording of this form follows.

“I understand that touring with Tuscany Untouched Pty Ltd may involve risks (and rewards) above and beyond those encountered on a more conventional holiday, and that I am undertaking a physical trip with inherent dangers. I understand that I am travelling to geographical areas where, amongst other things, the standard of accommodation, transport, safety, hygiene, cleanliness, medical facilities, telecommunications and infrastructure development may not be of the standard I am used to at home or would find on a conventional holiday. I have read and understood the Tuscany Untouched tour notes for the trip I am undertaking and have provided details of any pre-existing medical conditions I have to Tuscany Untouched Pty Ltd  representatives. I accept these risks and obligations and I fully assume the risks of travel. I release Tuscany Untouched Pty Ltd from any liabilities connected to these risks to the maximum extent permitted by law.”

ANIMALS:

Our tours are not pet friendly

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