Local Living Italy - Tuscany San Gimignano
Itinerary
Arrive at any time.
We highly recommend booking pre-tour accommodations in Florence to fully experience all this amazing city has to offer. There's lots to explore! Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking accommodations in Florence before Day 1 of this itinerary.
- Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
- Pitti Palace - Palatine Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art: Visiti the Pitti Palace and learn about history alongside modern art.
- Medici Chapels Visit: Admire the opulence of the two Medici Chapels. The Sagrestia Nuova was designed by Michelangelo and built as a mausoleum for the powerful Medici family. (9-32 EUR per person)
- Galleria dell'Accademia Visit: Admire beautiful sculptures by the Renaissance master, Michelangelo, including the famous statue of David, at this beautiful art gallery. Check out rare musical instruments made by Stradivari (who made string instruments) and Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano, at Accademia Gallery's Museum of Musical Instruments.
- Uffizi Gallery Visit: Head to the Uffizi Gallery to see spectacular Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci paintings in person.
Enjoy a morning orientation walk in Florence, then travel in the afternoon via train and bus to your home for the week. Take an orientation stroll with the CEO for a first glance at San Gimignano then sit down to a home cooked dinner with your Local Living host, Ugo. Transfer by train and bus to San Gimignano and walk to your home for the week, which is located just outside the beautiful medieval hill town of San Gimignano. The property owner, Ugo, is a San Gimignano native and is a fountain of information about the area. He lives in one of the apartments in his remodeled medieval house.
- CEO-led Orientation Walk of Florence: Head out for a walk through the heart of Florence with your CEO as the sunshine fades and the monument lights come on. On the return trip stop to eat gelato.
- Local Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
- Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
- Home Cooked Dinner with Ugo: Enjoy a dinner prepared by your host, Ugo. Sit back, relax and take in the aromas and flavours of delicious Italian home-cooking.
Enjoy an included half-day cooking class this morning before setting out on an afternoon walk on top of the medieval city walls of San Gimignano for a new perspective on the town and sweeping views of the area. Enjoy an included half-day cooking class this morning before setting out on an afternoon walk on top of the medieval city walls of San Gimignano for a new perspective on the town and sweeping views of the area.
- Half-day Cooking Class: Expand your culinary skills with a cooking class. Learn how to prepare typical Tuscan dishes and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
- Medieval City Wall Walk: Take a walk with your CEO around San Gimignano's medieval walls dating back to the 13th century and enjoy sweeping views both outside the walls and down little backstreets within the town. Walk all 2,176 metres or opt out partway.
- San Gimignano 1300 Museum: Catch a glimpse into the past with a visit to this gallery. Tour the hand-sculpted reconstruction of medieval street life scenes, representing a culmination of more than 20,000 man hours to complete.
- Collegiate Church of San Gimignano: Explore the frescos and towers of this beautiful medieval Roman Catholic collegiate.
- Torre Grossa: Climb up San Gimignano's highest tower, and enjoy the panoramic views over the town.
- Francigena Walk : Considered to be one of the most scenic routes in the region, the walk between San Gimignano to Montalcino is part of the Camino di Santiago pilgrimage route. Walk through a portion of this route and enjoy the rolling Tuscan hills.
- Wine Museum: Learn about the history of San Gimignano's famous wine, Vernaccia. Entrance is free, but you can opt to indulge in a sommelier-guided tasting and enjoy the panoramic views from the terrace.
Set off for Volterra today, a medieval city known for its ancient Etruscan walls, and visit an Alabaster workshop. Tour the facility and take in a demonstration before exploring on your own with a free afternoon.
- Local Bus: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
- Alabaster experience: Take part in a tour of the workshop, where you'll learn a brief explanation of alabaster and its rich history. Following this, enjoy a demonstration of the working process, seeing firsthand how the material is transformed. Finish with a visit to our showroom where you can admire the finished pieces.
- Free Time: Explore Volterra's medieval streets with free time.
This morning, take a leisurely walk through the Tuscan countryside along the historical Via Francigena path to Montauto, where great views of San Gimignano from afar await. Then enjoy some free time to visit the San Gimignano market. In the evening, enjoy a tasting of some local wines. The Via Francigena, a historical path in use approximately 1,000 years ago by those making pilgrimage between Canterbury, England, and Rome, runs very close to the Local Living house. It is great path for those who wish to explore the Tuscan countryside by foot.
- Tuscan Countryside Walk: Take the ancient Via Francigena path, which passes alongside our accommodation, and walk through some woods, across a stream, and then through vineyards up to Montauto, which offers outstanding views of San Gimignano. Head back down the hill and along a country road.
- Local Wine Tasting: What's a Tuscan holiday without sampling its renowned wines? Sample local wine varieties from a local vineyard before returning to the rustic farmhouse for the night.
Enjoy a day trip to Siena including an orientation walk with the CEO. Spend one final evening at the the agriturismo as you see fit with free time.
- Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
- Siena Visit: Head to nearby Siena and wander this medieval walled city. Options abound! Visit the gorgeous Duomo and the Piazza del Campo, where the famous Palio horse race is held each summer. Climb the Torre del Mangia for fantastic views of the Tuscan landscape.
- Orientation Walk Siena: Wander through the medieval town of Siena, safely nestled in the heart of Tuscany. Feast your eyes on the gothic architecture while exploring the historic centre, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.
Transfer by bus and train to Florence. Depart in the early afternoon from the Florence train station. Book flights for no earlier than 3 pm.
If you wish to extend your stay in Florence, consider booking post-tour accommodation with us. Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking accommodations in Florence after your tour ends.
- Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
- Local Train: Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.
Trip Inclusions
- Share an apartment in our local friend Ugo's home.
- Eat delicious Tuscan cuisine and sample regional wines.
- Stroll the lanes of medieval San Gimignano.
- Walk along the beautiful Tuscan countryside.
- Make new friends at your home away from home.
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
- Your Local Living Moment: Home Cooked Dinner with Ugo, San Gimignano
- Your Foodie Moment: Half-day Cooking Class, San Gimignano
- Your Local Living Moment: Local Wine Tasting, San Gimignano
- Orientation walk Florence
- Welcome briefing with local host
- Dinner at Ugo's
- Cooking class in San Gimignano
- Orientation walk San Gimignano
- Orientation walk Volterra
- Alabaster workshop tour and demonstration
- Hike through the Tuscan Countryside
- Free time to explore Siena
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Local bus, train, walking
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout
- Hotel (1 Night), Apartments In A Locally Owned Home (5 Nights)
- 6 breakfasts, 1 dinner
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.
For travellers who want to go beyond the guidebooks, Local Living tours offer a deeper, slower way to explore. You will stay in one place for the week, often with a local host family, giving you the chance to truly settle in and see how life is lived every day. Read more
From Lifetime Deposits to no single supplements and 100% Guaranteed Departures, G make booking feel as good as going. Read more
The biggest reason travellers book our trips again and again? Our legendary Chief Experience Officers, aka CEOs. Read more
G's commitment to making travel a force for good is so strong, they gave it a name and made it official - meet G for Good. Read more
Dates & Pricing
The Great Adventurers Club
GJ Loyalty Discount
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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