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As you will discover over the course of your very own holiday Tuscany there are clearly a lot of things that locals indulge themselves in over here with ease. In this post, we will give you insights into the kind of activities that locals here indulge themselves in, in Florence.

Take Cooking Classes

As much as Florence is known for its historic aspects, food and cuisine are integral to this part of Tuscany and Italy. So while in Florence, make the most of cooking classes which many of the locals organize.

Photography

Locals in Florence know the value of photography, given the immense scenic views all around the city. As a visitor on your Florence Italy tour do make the most of your time by taking up photography lessons, especially if you are passionate about it and yet somewhat of a rookie.

Glass Bead Making

Glass bead making is immensely popular among Florentines. You could take some valuable tips while on your tour Toscana.

Serving as a Guide

Locals in Florence have taken to functioning as guides in a very big way. Given the flurry of tourists into the city, it is effectively no surprise at all that there are so many guides speaking a variety of tongues! As a foreigner too, with the necessary formalities in place, you can always serve as a guide for visitors who speak your language in particular!

Aperitvo

Apperitvo is essentially akin to a happy hour which sees locals all decked up and going to their favourite bars. You can surely indulge yourself in that as well! You will never run out of choices in terms of trendy places to hang out at so do make the most of your Apperitvo outing in Florence!

Enjoy Jazz

With jazz being a daily routine at piazza Della SS Annunziata through June and September, locals treat themselves to ravishing jazz concerts during this time of the year. You as a visitor can certainly join in and have a truly “jazzy” time in the midst of your holiday Tuscany.

Mark your date with God

OK, we don’t mean it that literally but while in Florence on your Toscana tour, the sight and sound of churches is simply unmistakable. We would suggest you make the most of it and visit as many churches as you can, just as the locals do. Most entrances are free so cost will not be a factor.

For a FREE quote on your customized private tour of Florence simply fill up the form below and we will take care of the rest!

OK so you have landed at Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci international airport or perhaps reached Florence by train at the city’s main Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. Now what? What are the sights that you absolutely cannot and should not miss? This post will provide you with some visually delectable insights!

Museums

Remember that Florence is steeped in history and what better way to discover the historical magic of the city than to take a peek at its museums? There are so many anyway and that is the reason we have clubbed them together as a single must visit sight in the city.

In our opinion, your first stop should ideally be Galleria degli Uffizi on Piazzale degli Uffizi. Here you will discover exquisite Renaissance paintings including The Birth of Venus by Sandro Boticelli, among many other exclusive works of art.

For more Renaissance as well as Mannerist creations, your next stop could be Bargello or The National Museu of Bargello on Via de Proconsolo 4, where you can lay your sights on a plethora of artistic creations from Ammannati, Desiderio da Settignano, Antonio Rossellino, Donatello and of course Michelangelo himself.

Given the fact that there are so many museums in Florence, you could then head to Accademia Gallery on Via Ricasoli where you will be visually treated to Michelangelo’s David (who would want to miss seeing that anyway?).

Fashionistas would love visiting Gucci Museum where you can enjoy an eclectic collection of ensemble fashion creations by the Italian fashion giant, Gucci, which was founded in the city.

Palazzo Vecchio

The Palazzo Vecchio is a beautiful palace in the old town of Florence which should certainly be very high on the priority list of all visitors to the city. A major draw is the replica of Michelangelo’s David placed right outside the main door of the palace, where the original statue (now housed within Accademia Gallery as mentioned above) was situated.

Piazza Signoria

Piazza Signoria is a very active market square in Florence which scores not only for the abundance of shops and cafes around it but also for the plentiful statues within it including the “fake David”. Here you will particularly relish seeing the beautiful Florence Town Hall also referred to as Palazzo Vecchio.

Boboli Gardens

Situated right behind the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens, along with the Bardini Gardens offer exquisite landscapes which are a visual treat in themselves along with great views of the entire city.

Santa Croce

Santa Croce is a church which has the monumental tombs of Machiavelli, Dante, Michelangelo and Galileo within it which by itself make it an absolute must visit, besides the exquisite artwork that the church is adorned with.

Conclusion

Florence has a plethora of sights which you simply would not want to miss while you are in Florence for the first time. The above are only a representative sample of what we feel are some of the most attractive sights.

For a FREE quote on your customized private tour of Florence simply fill up the form below and we will take care of the rest!

Florence can be quite an intimidating experience for first time tourists to the city, considering the absolute plethora of sights to see there as well as the swarms of tourists that come to the city. So how does one plan out a perfect day in Florence without much ado? This post will clearly offer you some great insights!

Largely our experience tells us that try and avoid packing in too much into a single day. Instead your Florence Italy tour should be worked out in such a way wherein you are able to relax, soak in the entire experience and yet at the same time, are able to see as much of all that this historical and magical city has to offer. Therefore it would make sense that you do not have a very tight schedule spread over say only a day or two and instead are adequately prepared to spend at least 4 – 5 days in the city at the minimum.

With this thought in mind, if you were to kick start your first day in Florence, it would quite aptly be something on the lines of the following…

First, head to the Galleria degli Uffizi museum on Piazzale degli Uffizi. This museum is truly unique since its fine art collection is indeed one of the best that you are ever likely to come across anywhere in the world, such as The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. Make sure that you reach this place early (opens at 8:15 in the morning, Tuesday to Sunday). If you can be there latest by 9, you can comfortably see the works of art on display at least till lunchtime. There is a restaurant or café within the museum so you can have your lunch there and then head out.

Next as part of your private tour of Florence you can visit the Gucci museum where a plethora of creations from the Gucci stable are on display. This place is open till 8 pm, so after your lunch at the café in Galleria degli Uffizi museum, you could easily be here say between 2 or 3 pm till about 5 pm or so.

In summer when the days are longer and there is a fair amount of sunshine as well as daylight, you can leave Gucci museum at 5 pm or maybe even earlier and then head to the old town where you can be privy to the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral as well as Giotto’s Tower next to it. These are captivating views in themselves and should easily take up the remaining part of your day in Florence.

To get a good head start on this awe-inspiring city, this should really be sufficient for the day, with lots of memories and vivid feelings in your mind for the next day of your Florence private tour…

For a FREE quote on your customized private tour of Florence simply fill up the form below and we will take care of the rest!

Perhaps even before you embarked on your private excursion of Tarquinia you were well aware of the necropolises which this town is so well known for. After all, there are as many as 6,000 different tombs contained within the Etruscan necropolises. But clearly, it is not only the dead J which Tarquinia is so well known for – there is a lot on offer for the alive and kicking as well! 😉

In particular, as you go through the motions of your private excursion of Tarquinia you will find that wine is something which the town is particularly renowned for. With that thought in mind, let us look at the 3 best wines to try in Tarquinia.

First up, note that Tarquinia DOC wine is especially well known for its unique taste and flavour; sommeliers from around the world have appreciated the rather exotic nature of the wine which is produced here.

Tarquinia Bianco wine

This is white wine which you will relish to your heart’s content. The best part is that this Bianco wine is available as both dry (Secco) as well as semi-sweet (Amabile) variety so you can make your choice as per your preference. Either way, you can be assured that you will thoroughly enjoy trying out this particular wine on your private excursion of Tarquinia.

Tarquinia Rose Torre Pietra

Italy as a whole is well known for red (Rosso) wines and Tarquinia is no exception to that fact. In particular, Tarquinia Rose Torre Pietra stands out for its distinctive taste and aroma which is accentuated by the fact that it is a rose (Rosato) variety, making it that much more special and appealing.

Tarquinia Wine Derivatives

Besides the actual wines themselves, Tarquinia is very well known for the production of a wide variety of wine derivatives. For instance, there is Blood Orange Vodka Tarquinia which is vodka produced from the fruits grown here. Likewise there is Fass Tarquinia Peach Liqueur which finds connoisseurs right around. Then again there are Tarquinia Cherry and Plum varieties of brandies which again have an exquisite taste of their own which wine enthusiasts particularly relish.

Overall, there are clearly many varieties of wines which are available in this very interesting town. Feel free to partake in them on your private excursion of Tarquinia – you will cherish the fact that you did so, for a long time to come!

For a FREE quote on your customized private excursion of Tarquinia simply fill up the form below and we will take care of the rest!

As you will notice on your Rome tour, Bracciano in Lazio clearly has a lot to offer to visitors. Moreover, its proximity to Rome, being located just 30 kilometres northwest to it, makes it an ideal stopover or extension of any private guided tour of Rome. That said, clearly there are numerous attractions in Bracciano which make it a visitor’s haven. Accordingly, let us look at 3 beautiful sights in Bracciano in this article.

Lake Bracciano

If you are on a private tour of Rome and headed towards Bracciano, then one of the foremost sights which you will see for sure would be Lake Bracciano. The lake is huge and resplendent – second only to Lake Bolsena in this part of Italy. Moreover, the sheer attraction of Lake Bracciano also lies in the fact that it is a volcanic lake with regard to its origin.

Castello Orsini-Odescalchi

Bracciano – as you will note on your private tour happens to be the location of one of Italy’s largest castles, the Castello Orsini-Odescalchi. Besides its size, what appeals to visitors is also the fact that it has been preserved very well to the extent that it can easily be considered as one of Italy’s most well kept castles. There is also a museum with various artworks and other items of interest which you will enjoy viewing while visiting the Castello Orsini-Odescalchi.

Italian Air Force Museum

Continuing with your guided tour of Bracciano you will come across the Italian Air Force Museum right next to Lake Bracciano. Here you will find famous relics from an era gone by such as the Savoia Marchetti S.79, the Supermarine Spitfire, the Panavia Tornado, and the Caproni Ca.100 among others. Three Schneider Cup racers also form part of the collection here. Additionally, there is an annual ‘Giornata Azzura’ airshow here which you can be privy to if you are lucky enough to be visiting at that time.

Overall, it is amply clear that when it comes to sights, there are plenty in Bracciano. We have restricted ourselves to three of them in this article but when you actually go visiting there, you will find that in fact there are plenty of sights awaiting you on your tour of Bracciano.

For a FREE quote on your customized guided tour of Bracciano simply fill up the form below and we will take care of the rest!

The Amalfi Coast and Amalfi are among the most fascinating areas of Campania and South of Italy. The city of Amalfi was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 and is full of beautiful monuments and places to visit. The cuisine of Amalfi is, traditionally, sea food, but you can also find a lot of dishes made with ingredients from the land, such as buffalo mozzarella and, especially, Pizza

For example, in Pogerola, a hamlet in the highest part of the Costiera, at the restaurant La Carcara, you can enjoy the seasonal cuisine of Amalfi and seafood, like the scialatielli with seafood and lobster paccheri (a type of pasta) while you enjoy a wonderful view of the coast.

Always in Pogerola, for those who don’t have much time and want just to stop only for a sandwich during the tour, you can stop at Gerry’s Pub, where you can taste some excellent wines with the cuisine of Amalfi.

If you prefer meat, you can have lunch at the restaurant La Taverna dei Briganti, where you will be able to taste some great appetizers from the region, such as the Brigante’ mix, and meat grilled with truffle.

For those who did not want to go up to Pogerola, but prefer to enjoy the proximity to the sea, or perhaps visit the Cathedral, also in Amalfi itself you will find excellent restaurants, such as Eolo, where you can enjoy the “end of the world”, a dessert with chocolate .

Always in Amalfi, you can enjoy a lunch at the restaurant Marina Grande, where you can taste some delicious cocktails, homemade bread and fresh fish, perhaps accompanied by a glass of red wine.

If you wish to eat meat, you could sit in the restaurant Da Gemma, and enjoy some meat in a crust or the caponata with porcini mushrooms.

Talking about the cuisine of Amalfi, we can’t forget the lemon and many derived products, such as many kinds of limoncello, a liqueur produced by maceration of lemon peels in alcohol.

The lemon variety typical of the area is called Sfusato Amalfitano and is also used to produce a variety of sweets such as lemon cakes in many variations, profiteroles with lemon cream and ice cream or sorbet, of course! There are also other types of dishes prepared with this particular citrus, such as lemons baked with mozzarella and spaghetti with lemon.

Don’t hesitate to Contact us now to request a special, PERSONALISED QUOTE for a tour of the Costiera Amalfitana and discover the Cuisine of Amalfi.

Right in the center of Florence, near the Basilica with the same name, runs through the streets the San Lorenzo market. Founded in the late nineteenth century, this market is one of the most important in the city, due to its vicinity to the church of Santa Maria del Fiore and the city center. The market is particularly renowned for leather goods and bags, which are one of the most characteristic products of Florence and the region, and in the production of which Tuscan people truly excel.

The San Lorenzo market is closed on Sundays and Mondays; during the rest of the week is open and full of all kinds of handbags, wallets, belts, jackets and leather shoes made in Tuscany. All products are on sale at excellent prices and suit all tastes.

In Florence there are also many other markets, such as the Market of the Pulci, the one named “of the Cascine“, the Central Market and the New Market. The Central Market is a red building at the center of San Lorenzo Market and is the main hub for trading fruit and vegetables; however, here you can buy also other local products, such as truffles, widely used in Florence, Tuscan pecorino , artichokes Empoli, breads, such as the “Schiacciata”, cakes with crushed grapes and castagnacci. Here you can also taste a glass of wine from the region, such as the Morellino di Scansano, the Chianti or the Brunello of Montalcino. Also on sale, are the typical Chianina’ steaks, which you can buy under vacuum and cook at home.

You can not miss the opportunity to visit the San Lorenzo Basilica, which is one of the oldest in the city, and is very close to the San Lorenzo market. The church has been decorated, among others, by the great Michelangelo and Donatello. There are many works by Donatello, like two bronze pulpits and the marble sarcophagus of the Martelli family from Florence.

Around the San Lorenzo market, there are also numerous restaurants and taverns where you can enjoy a good Florentine (a big steak), the lamprey (a dish made of the offal of beef or veal) or Ribollita (vegetable soup), such as Osteria da Nerbone or the restaurant Fonticine, or the classic tripe carts where you can enjoy a sandwich before continuing the tour!

If you would like to take this opportunity to make your Christmas shopping in Florence and in the San Lorenzo market, do not hesitate to contact us for a quote!

Welcome to the hearth of Rome! Here, the Fori Imperiali were the center of  life in ancient Rome in the age of the Emperors. The Fori are a number of squares and one of the biggest archaeological sites in the world.
The first square built was Cesar’s one, in 46 b.C., probably ended by Augusto. In 2 b.C was built the Augusto’s forum, in honor of the god Mars. During Vespasiano’s empire, in 75 a.C. was built the Peace templum and in 96 a.C. the Nerva’s forum, during Domiziano’s empire. The last was the Traiano’s forum, built in 112 a.C.
The Traiano’s forum is the home of the Fori Imperiali Museum, showing the ancient architecture with about 40.000 relics and the models of reconstructions of buildings in the area. The museum has now open some exhibitions like the LelioSwing and from Oreste Baldini, and organises many cultural events for children and students. The street that connects the forum is the Fori Imperiali street, ending at the Colosseum, the biggest amphitheater in the world, built in the 1°st century a.C by the emperors Vespasian and Titus. Inside the Colosseum, it’s possible to visit Eros’s museum and, from 2010, also the subterranean area with the network of passageways used in the past to transport gladiators and beasts to the arena.

Near the Colosseum, in the Oppio hill, it is possible to see the Domus Aurea, built by Nerone after the great fire that destroyed a big part of Rome in 64 a.C. The Domus Area had been forgotten until the year 1400, when a boy fell into a hole and discovered a strange cave full of frescoes. The people started to visit the cave, among the others artist like Raffaello, Michelangelo and Pinturicchio were inspired from that strange frescoes!
One side of the Fori Imperiali street was recently close to allow the people and the tourist in Rome to visit the archeological area, walking on the same places where Cesar, Octavian and the Roman’s emperor walked and breathing the history of this wonderful city.
Get in touch with us for a FREE PERSONALISED QUOTE to visit of Ancient Rome and the Fori Imperiali!

Duration: 9 hrs
Location: Siena, St. Gimignano and Monteriggioni.

TOUR DESCRIPTION:
Your tour start from Ship side or rome hotel city cernter, where a comfortable minivan driven by a fluent English speaking driving guide is waiting for you.
With my vehicles the tours in every Italian town are without restriction through ZTL (Zone Traffic Limited) thus your group is driven few steps beside the sites of interest to see, no long walking.
Also each minivan is equipped to accommodate a minimum of 2 max 8 people.
A drive along Tuscany country side, the most enchanting panorama in Northern Italy. Along the way you can stop any time you wish to take pictures of this romantic region where the most talented artists of the renaissance came from. Your driving guide shows you Lajatico the little native village of Andrea Bocelli. Day tour includes a stop in Siena to see Piazza del Campo, the field where the 17 Contrade (sections) compete the famous Palio, The Duomo to admire its spectacular mosaic pavement and the fantastic façade (only the façade is worth for a visit!), the medieval narrow stress deserves a walk. Tour continues to Monteriggioni to admire a perfect example of medieval castle in perfect condition and enjoy a lunch in a small typical Trattoria Toscana. Another Gem of Tuscany is San Gimignano, The Manhattan of Tuscany with original Towers in perfect condition, the original Via Francigena the medieval road used by pilgrim to walk down to Rome… A stop by a local wine producer can be considered.

Shore excursion is of 9 hour from pick up to drop off at Ship side or rome city center hotel, cost is based on people on tour.
Note:
The price of day tour, shore excursion or transfer includes the cost of the private vehicle, driver, gas, road tolls, parking fees and taxes. It does not includes entrance fees to sites, private guides for museums or archaeological sites or walking tours, the cost of lunch, gratuity for your driver and for the guide. The tour sequence may be changed due to clients need, local problem or traffic problem, always covering the sights mentioned with tour description and time frame. Your driving guide assist you for the location to see , but he does not enter the sites with you. Please understand we receive several request and the tour is sold to the first customer that buy it after filling up properly the reservation form sent to you. The request via email does not entitle priority for booking.

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Duration: 9 hrs
Location: Siena, St. Gimignano & Monteriggioni

TOUR DESCRIPTION:
Your tour start from Ship side, where a comfortable minivan driven by a fluent English speaking driving guide is waiting for you.
With my vehicles the tours in every Italian town are without restriction through ZTL (Zone Traffic Limited) thus your group is driven few steps beside the sites of interest to see, no long walking.
Also each minivan is equipped to accommodate a minimum of 2 max 8 people.
A drive along Tuscany country side, the most enchanting panorama in Northern Italy. Along the way you can stop any time you wish to take pictures of this romantic region where the most talented artists of the renaissance came from. Your driving guide shows you Lajatico the little native village of Andrea Bocelli. Day tour includes a stop in Siena to see Piazza del Campo, the field where the 17 Contrade (sections) compete the famous Palio, The Duomo to admire its spectacular mosaic pavement and the fantastic façade (only the façade is worth for a visit!), the medieval narrow stress deserves a walk. Tour continues to Monteriggioni to admire a perfect example of medieval castle in perfect condition and enjoy a lunch in a small typical Trattoria Toscana. Another Gem of Tuscany is San Gimignano, The Manhattan of Tuscany with original Towers in perfect condition, the original Via Francigena the medieval road used by pilgrim to walk down to Rome… A stop by a local wine producer can be considered.

Shore excursion is of 9 hour from pick up to drop off at Ship side or rome city center hotel, cost is based on people on tour.
Note:
The price of day tour, shore excursion or transfer includes the cost of the private vehicle, driver, gas, road tolls, parking fees and taxes. It does not includes entrance fees to sites, private guides for museums or archaeological sites or walking tours, the cost of lunch, gratuity for your driver and for the guide. The tour sequence may be changed due to clients need, local problem or traffic problem, always covering the sights mentioned with tour description and time frame. Your driving guide assist you for the location to see , but he does not enter the sites with you. Please understand we receive several request and the tour is sold to the first customer that buy it after filling up properly the reservation form sent to you. The request via email does not entitle priority for booking.

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An ancient and quaint little town in Lazio, about 30 kilometres from Rome, Tivoli clearly has a charm of its own which in many ways is completely unparalleled. Thanks to its historical nature, as a visitor on your private excursion to Tivoli you will certainly find plenty that catches your eye. At the same time, it is the villas in Tivoli which will perhaps draw your attention the most, thanks to their resplendence, uniqueness and sheer beauty which most visitors find completely riveting. With that thought in mind let us look at some of the enchanting villas in Tivoli which MUST be on your “must visit” list, while in Tivoli.

Villa Gregoriana:
Commissioned by none other than Pope Gregory XVI himself, this is a sprawling park (yes, park, more than merely a villa) with beautiful paths that lead on to the Sirens as well as the caves of Neptune. In particular, on your private excursion to Tivoli do not miss The Grand Waterfall which is a major landmark of this villa.

Villa d’Este:
If you want to look at one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture not only in Lazio but indeed the whole of Italy, look no further than Villa d’Este, especially with its sprawling Italian Renaissance Garden. On your private excursion to Tivoli you will enjoy the view of Villa d’Este very much, thanks to its expansive structure, coupled with the numerous attractions which come amidst the garden, be it The Rometta Fountain or The Fontana dell’Ovato (Oval Fountain). The frescos on the ceilings of the villa are a visual treat in themselves as well.

Villa Adriana:
Villa Adriana is also referred to as Hadrian’s Villa, since it was especially built to serve as a retreat for Roman Emperor Hadrian from the hustle and bustle as well as the roles and responsibilities which came with managing Rome. This is a villa where over the course of your private excursion to Tivoli you will find that there are as many as 30 different buildings over a large and expansive area of at least 1 square kilometer.
An aspect about Villa Adriana which catches the eye of most visitors on their private excursion to Tivoli is the extent to which numerous architectural styles have been combined together, especially Egyptian and Greek, which was particularly a result of Hadrian’s travel to these parts. These are 3 villas we have listed here; of course watch out for more villas in Tivoli when you are there!

For a FREE quote on your customized private excursion to Tivoli simply fill up the form below and we will take care of the rest!