Description
Discover some of Tuscany’s highlights on this day trip from Florence by coach. Explore the historic hill towns of Pienza, Montalcino, and Montepulciano; marvel at the breathtaking vineyard-clad landscapes of the Val d’Orcia; and indulge in cheese and wine tastings as you stop at local wineries and other spots. It’s a wonderful day in the Italian countryside.
Grab a seat on the comfortable coach bus, and you will shortly depart for the scenic beauty of Val d’Orcia! During the picturesque drive, your guide will dive into some interesting information about the towns and lush land of the Valley.
Montalcino: After driving through the spellbinding, Tuscan hills, you will be itching to explore one of the fairytale towns! Your first stop will be Montalcino, the land of world-renowned Brunello wine. Follow your guide uphill into the town, as you stroll through labyrinths of cobblestone, medieval streets. Your guide will lead you to a famous Brunello winery. A local producer will lead you through the winery, as he or she explains the secrets of Brunello production. Then, indulge in some samples of some of the finest wines in Italy! Cheers!
You will have some free time after the wine tasting to independently explore Montalcino and enjoy a pleasant, Tuscan lunch. Montalcino is a hidden gem of Tuscany, encompassing the medieval essence of the region. We recommend you walk uphill through the town, until you reach the town’s majestic Fortress. Don’t forget your camera to capture the breathtaking landscapes!
Pienza: After your journey through the rolling hills, you will arrive in Pienza, standing upon a hill and dominating the Orcia Valley with extraordinary views! Your guide will explain that Pienza is different from other towns in Tuscany, as it was rebuilt to be an idealist-Renaissance town by order of Pope Pius II. Enjoy exploring Pienza at your leisure – admire the atmosphere of harmony and peace that surrounds you. As you walk along the narrow and charming streets of Pienza, you will be captivated by the breathtaking Pienza Cathedral. Located in the town’s charming historic center, the cathedral is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.
Val d’Orcia: stands out in Tuscany as being home to some of the most stunning landscapes in the region. If you have ever seen a postcard from Tuscany, it most likely was a photo from Val d’Orcia! Your bus driver will bring you by some of the famous landscapes, so be sure to have your camera ready! Your guide will point out the Chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta, one of the most photographed spots in Tuscany. This small chapel contrasts magically with the bright, green rolling hills, and it is perfectly framed with a line of cyprus trees. The bus will also drive by the gladiator’s home in Ridley Scott’s Academy Award-winning “Gladiator.”
Montepulciano: The last stop of your tour in Val d’Orcia will bring you to Montepulciano, home to the exquisite Vino Nobile vineyards. More recently, the town also became a popular destination, as it is where the vampire movie, “New Moon,” was filmed. Spend an hour discovering the most elegant village in Val D’Orcia – full of magnificent palaces, Renaissance buildings, and imposing churches. There is no better way to finish a tour of Tuscany than with a wine tasting! Meet back with your group, and follow your guide to a wonderful winery in the historical heart of Montalcino. Follow a local producer into the fragrant wine cellar, and learn all about the Nobile wine making process. Then, savor the flavors of the famous Nobile wine! This tasting will be accompanied by some light snacks, made from fresh, local ingredients. Then, purchase any last-minute souvenirs before heading back to Florence.
ADDITIONAL INFO
WHAT’S INCLUDED
MEETING POINT
Piazzale Montelungo, Firenze FI, Italy
TOURS & NEWS KIOSK AT PIAZZALE MONTELUNGO BUS TERMINAL Located at 5-10 minutes walking distance from Santa Maria Novella Train Station. Look for our staff wearing a FUCHSIA CIAOFLORENCE JACKET and holding a CIAOFLORENCE CLIPBOARD!
Nicole –
Val d’orcia was a gorgeous day trip a couple hours from Florence! The wines we tried were perfection and the leaders of our winery tours were very kind and informative. My only complaint is that we didn’t get to have any free time in Montepulciano to explore and I was looking forward to seeing the Breaking Dawn filming location. The wine tasting and scenery were an excellent way to spend the day though.
Audrey –
This tour was amazing. The guide Jacob was extremely knowledgeable, Friendly and helpful. I wish I could give him 6 stars ! The 2 wine tastings were very different and both outstanding. You had just enough free time. You never felt rushed. Highly highly recommended
Eleni –
The scenery and views of Val d Orcia were amazing. Suggestion: make stops for taking photographs at some really scenic spots. Montepulciano and Pienza were really beautiful! Alessia our tour guide and Vladimiro our driver were very polite and made the journey really pleasant!!
Andrea –
Wonderful tour! Our guide was informative and made the whole experience memorable as she was providing facts about Tuscany and the towns we visited. I may have the wrong name but I think her name was Alexia? and our bus driver’s name is Luigi. I would highly recommend this tour if you love wine or at least would love to learn about it! Or if you want to visit less crowded towns and get lost in beautiful streets, this is definitely the tour for you. Although heads up, there is quite a bit of hiking in this tour, and although I am fairly active, my legs were very very sore at the end of the day.
Patrick –
We really enjoyed the tour of three small towns in Tuscany, lovely towns to explore. The wine tastings were also nice, although small amounts, in two of the towns. It seemed to be more of a focus on visiting the towns rather than wine tasting but I had read the reviews beforehand, and that was fine with our group. lunch is on your own in the middle town. Each town was very quaint and surrounded by old walls , located high on hilltops. Just to be aware also that the Bus doesn’t have a bathroom. The guide was sometimes difficult to understand (her English) but the information was mostly regarding where to meet in each town. Beautiful scenery on the drives
abbylipperman –
This was a great day trip tour to see the hilltop towns of Tuscany. We enjoyed seeing the countryside from the bus and had plenty of time in Montalcino, Pienza, and Multepuciano to see the main sites, get something to eat and drink, and do some shopping. The wine tastings were great and we enjoyed tasting the local offerings. The tour was a great overall experience and gave us a feel for each town’s personality. We would definitely return someday to spend more time. Hilary was a great guide and so knowledgeable and kind. Great experience!