Start your private tour with a hotel pickup from Rome, and travel north through Lazio into Tuscany. Make your first stop in Siena and, with your very own driver-guide, explore the old center.
Admire Gothic buildings such as the UNESCO-listed Palazzo Pubblico in Piazza del Campo, and learn how Siena celebrates its medieval heritage by hosting the twice-annual Il Palio horse race in the square. The festivities that surround the races draw crowds from around the world, with parties taking place for most of the days. Hear about it from your driver-guide, and ask as many questions as you wish.
Stop for photos by Siena Cathedral (Il Duomo) with its colorful marble exterior. If the outside tempts you to see more, simply pay your entrance fee and wander inside. Artwork by Donatello and Bernini sit alongside the cathedral’s lauded frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and more.
Take a rest for a coffee in Piazza del Campo, and treat yourself to lunch if you wish (own expense). Then, travel onward to San Gimignano, a tower-bedecked hill town, known by many as Italy’s medieval Manhattan. Once status symbols, the towers became outposts for the town’s feuding noble families, who eventually led the city into decline. Listen to tales such as this, and hear how today, the town is better known for its wine production, artwork and tourism.
Stroll along Via San Giovanni with your driver-guide, and stop to browse the wares of local craft shops that line the handsome street. Local ceramics, woodwork, leather bags, books and other souvenirs can all be found.
From Via San Giovanni, return to your minibus and travel back to Rome. Your tour finishes with a hotel drop-off in the evening.
