Luxurious Tuscany

Enjoy a half day walking tour with your private English-speaking guide. You will be met at your hotel and will proceed on foot to view the top sights in Florence. This personalized tour will give you local insight into the real history and hidden gems the city has to offer. You'll visit the Ponte Vecchio, the famous Piazza della Signoria, the elegant palaces and fashionable shops, the charming narrow medieval streets and the impressive Cathedral square with Brunelleschi's imposing dome will all be concentrated in a pleasant slowly paced tour.  After exploring the city, you will proceed with your guide to the Accademia Gallery where you will have the chance to view Michelangelo's David. Completed in 1504 after four years' work, this stunning statue attracts millions of art lovers from around the globe each year. Your entrance tickets (included in the cost of the tour) are pre-booked so you can bypass the line.

Overnight guests at the Hotel Lungarno receive complimentary access to the Ferragamo museum in Florence - an artistic centerpoint in Florence. The museum’s footwear collection documents the entire span of Salvatore Ferragamo’s career, from his return to Italy in 1927 to 1960 the year he died. It highlights his technical and artistic skills which, through his color choices, the creativity of the designs and use of innovative materials made a fundamental contribution to the growth and establishment of "Made in Italy". Some of the items reveal Salvatore Ferragamo’s relationships with artists of his day, such as the futurist painter, Lucio Venna who created some advertising sketches and the famous Ferragamo footwear label. Others document his continuous quest for the perfect fit and the invention of special constructions and materials, from the famous cork wedge patented in 1936 and immediately imitated all over the world, to the raffia or cellophane vamps, and candy-wrapper paper used during World War II. In addition, there are the shoes that are famous because they were made for Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo and Audrey Hepburn. This museum truly gives an insight into a century of history told by footwear. The items on display are periodically selected from the over 10,000 models in the museum’s archives and featured in biennial exhibitions that present different themes through Ferragamo shoes.
The Collection is also enriched by footwear production after the death of Salvatore Ferragamo, down to the present day. Every year, in fact, a number of models suitably representative of the season are entered in the Salvatore Ferragamo Archives which the museum draws on for its exhibitions. 

Enjoy a full day private tour (6hrs) which gives you the opportunity of discovering the Chianti region. Your vehicle with English speaking driver will first take you through the countryside of the Chianti area with an ever-changing scenery of vineyards and olive trees. Enjoy a visit to San Gimignano, a tiny city that has remained intact through the centuries. The city is situated on top of a hill and is famous for its numerous towers, fresco's and other art treasures. On arrival in Siena there is some free time for lunch (not included). Fully sated, you will meet up with your Guide who will bring you on a guided visit of this magnificent medieval city. It is possible to admire the Cathedral, the Piazza del Campo one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, the Town Hall, and San Domenico, with its numerous treasures of Italian painting. During the return journey you will see the old medieval village of Monteriggioni enclosed by its famous walls which are still intact.

Depart Florence today in the comfort of your own private vehicle with driver, and relax on the drive south (approx. 1hr 45 mins) to Avignonesi, where you'll get to visit an excellent wine producer, Le Capezzine Estate, situated at a few kilometres from Montepulciano, complete with its own villa, chapel and ancient stone wine cellar. The shared visit of the cellar will last approximately 1hr15mins and will take you around a real labyrinth made of wine barrels.

At the end of the wine tasting enjoy a typical 3 course Tuscan lunch accompanied by Avignonesi wines to match each course. Lunch will typically consist of Tuscan Appetizer, choice between pasta first course or meat main course with side dish, dessert, 3 Avignonesi wines, 1 Italian dessert wine (the choice between pasta and meat has to be confirmed in advance).

Fully sated, you'll depart for the beautiful medieval town of Cortona, that was already a very important village during the Etruscan period between the 8th and 7th Century BC. Enjoy a walking tour of town with an English speaking guide for approximately 2hrs, taking in the Romanic Church of St Christopher, the Town Hall Square with the Town Hall building as well as a stroll down the main street surrounded by beautiful medieval palaces from where you can admire beautiful panoramas.

From Cortona, the final stop and todays destination will be Castiglion del Bosco, approximately a 2hrs30minute drive away.

There are two restaurants and a cozy bar at the Castiglion del Bosco property which showcase the talented chefs' seasonal and regional cuisine using the finest local ingredients, complemented by an extensive list of Castiglion del Bosco and regional wines. The traditional Osteria offers a casual ambience for an informal lunch or dinner, while the fine dining restaurant, Ristorante Campo Del Drago, presents an elegant setting for a sumptuous Tuscan dining experience.

Enjoy an hour and a half drive through the Tuscan countryside in the company of your chauffeur and private vehicle and arrive at Montepulciano, a beautiful medieval town built on a hilltop with an “S” shape and surrounded by very well preserved city walls. Discover its hidden narrow streets with many stores where you can also find beautiful hand made ceramics, and reach the main square “Piazza Grande” with the imposing Town Hall Palace. After about 3hrs of free time (during which you may also decide to enjoy a typical Tuscan lunch accompanied by the amazing Vino Nobile di Montepulciano red wine - not included), you'll depart  to Pienza, about a 30 minute drive away.

Pienza is a  very charming little town, which dates back to the 15th Century. Walk around the narrow streets and visit the typical “botteghe” (small stores) where you can find and taste all sorts of Pecorino cheese (with pepper, truffle, nuts, etc). Pienza also offers nice artisan stores which sell handmade leather items.

Return to Castiglion del Bosco in the late afternoon with your private driver.

Castiglion del Bosco is well set up for activities on the estate. In and around the Borgo, one can take advantage of a state-of the-art fitness center, a soccer pitch, and tennis and bocce (Tuscan bowls) courts. The Estate also features miles of picturesque hiking and biking trails that hug spectacular ridges and meander past streams, waterfalls and hidden historic sites. Handsome Maremma horses, used by traditional Tuscan herdsmen, are also an option if a horseriding trek is of interest and treks are taken through a network of riding trails extending to the far-reaching corners of the property.

Immersed in the heart of the Val d'Orcia Artistic, Natural and Cultural Park, Castiglion del Bosco Golf Club centres on a spectacular eighteen-hole course designed by the legendary Tom Weiskopf. Golf enthusiasts will certainly be pleased with the course.

Spa lovers will be truly content with the offerings at the Care Suite Spa by Daniela Steiner which is a serene oasis that specializes in unique therapies based on organic ingredients from the Estate. Entrust yourself to the caring hands of the in-house team, who will pamper you with a complete range of exquisite beauty, spa and wellness treatments. Alternatively, relax by the heated infinity pool or enjoy a wine tasting on the propertry if you haven't already - Castiglion del Bosco is among the first five Brunello wine producers!

The extensive Gardens are a magnificent amenity in their own right, and encompass a radiant Tuscan palette for all seasons, including flower-decked terraces, rustic olive groves, manicured fruit orchards and sprawling Sangiovese vineyards. The splendid vegetable garden, designed by the Vatican's garden landscaper, is home to more than 180 varieties of vegetables, fruits and aromatic herbs grown exclusively for La Canonica's restaurants and Culinary Academy.

Depart Castiglion del Bosco today by private driven vehicle and after approximately 2hrs30 mins you'll arrive at Orvieto, an important Etruscan town built around the 6th Century BC, situated in the Southern part of Umbria region. Meet your private guide and enjoy an approximately 2hr walking tour through Orvieto’s narrow streets. Admire the magnificent cathedral with the famous Rosone window situated right on top of the main entrance, and at the end of the tour, you'll have some free time for a nice lunch before heading to Rome.

Enjoy a private airport transfer in Rome (Fiumicino/Ciampino) with a private vehicle and driver.