Duration: 3 hours
Type of Service: Food Lover's Tour: Tasting at Florence’s Hidden Classics and Gems – small group tour
Florence is home to the some of the best foods and family run bottegas. On this food tour in Florence, we will have the bonus of strolling the historical center of town with a local expert while tasting the regions finest specialties on this fun, informative food lover's crawl. You’ll visit a mix of classic culinary institutions and hidden gems on the tiny streets off famous squares. You will visit artisan purveyors such as bakers, family-owned bottegas procuring goods from their own farms and local wines, a truffle cafe, institutional gelato parlors and more. You'll taste prized ingredients such as extra virgin olive oil, caliber vintage prosecco, aged balsamic vinegar, local cheeses (ewe's milk pecorino), artisan cured meats, and learn all about Florentine's food history while getting a sense of the city with this specialty gourmet walk. This tour is a must for true food lovers who want to get down to the grain of the local food culture while meeting the city's most cherished bottegas, with a touch of sightseeing and main square orientation.
Highlights:
Our gourmet food tours in Florence are perfect for discerning food lovers, chefs, bakers, cooks, farm-to-table eaters and Italian culture enthusiasts. After your food tour, you will feel more confident to return to these shops and know what defines the traditional food landscape. Be prepared for genuine backdoor journey through these local-loved food shops.
Things to Know
Duration: 5 hours
Type of Service: Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class at a Farmhouse in Tuscany - small group class
Learn to make these Italian classics in an idyllic setting in the beautiful Tuscan countryside.
Under the guidance of a professional Italian chef you will be taken on a cultural journey learning the skills and inside tricks of making the best mouth-watering pizza and gelato right in the country where they were born.
The beautiful estate that offers stunning views over the surrounding hills just outside the center of Florence provides the perfect setting to roll up your sleeves and get hands on when learning the process from making and kneading the dough to choosing the perfect topping for your pizza. Some ingredients for your pizza are picked from our very own vegetable garden.
You will be able to relax and enjoy the delicious pizza cooked in our wood oven with a glass of Chianti wine or a cold beer before you get started on the gelato making. By the end of the class you will feel confident enough to re-produce the food at home impressing your lucky guests!
Being both a fun but instructive class this hands-on pizza and gelato making class will be one of the most memorable parts of your trip to Tuscany.
Highlights
Things to Know
Duration: 3 hours
Type of Service: Family Friendly Discover Florence Walking Tour - private tour
Explore the most important sites in Florence with your very own privately guided walking tour.
Meet your guide at your hotel accommodations in the center city to begin your fascinating and fun tour of Florence for families with children. Your kid-friendly guide will keep the younger minds engaged with interesting history and tidbits. Follow your guide through the historic center of Florence to see the ancient Ponte Vecchio, the most famous bridge that crosses the Arno River. See the sculptures in the open-air loggia on one side of the Piazza della Signoria. Admire the Palazzo Vecchio, where the Medici family once lived, and the exterior of the Uffizi Gallery, which was once the Florentine government offices. Visit an outdoor market and rub the nose of a boar statue for good luck – the Porcellino. See the Piazza della Repubblica and visit Florence's magnificent Duomo. Your tour will finish at the San Lorenzo Market, where you can shop, or check out the food stalls. Taking this tour early in your visit to Florence means you'll get great tips and information for the rest of your stay.
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Type of Service: 1 Hour with David - Accademia Gallery Tour - small group walking tour
Duration: 1.5 hours
An exclusive cultural experience: easy, hassle-free priority entrance to Florence's Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo's awe-inspiring David!
Admired and acclaimed by experts and travelers worldwide. This amazing sculpture is not only one of the greatest works of art ever, it is also an icon of the Renaissance, one of the most revolutionary artistic periods of all times.
Carved from a single block of far-from-perfect Carrara marble when Michelangelo was only in his twenties the sculpture is truly impressive. Enjoy the chance to learn about this sculpture and much more from your experienced professional guide!
The massive statue - over 5.17 meters (17 ft) tall - represents the biblical David who killed Goliath with a stone from a slingshot. You will note how perfectly it depicts the young hero's limbs, muscles, veins, and find out that when it was finished, in 1504, it was placed at the entrance of Palazzo Vecchio to be admired by the people as an inspiring symbol of the strength and independence of the Florentines.
In addition to presenting the David your guide will explain how to appreciate Michelangelo's striking Prisoners and St. Matthew, as well as talk about many of the other remarkable works of art exhibited in the Accademia, including religious paintings, many with gold-background by major artists from the 13th to the 17th century, sculptures by 19th-century masters, and more.
Please note that entrance to the museum entails mandatory security check which may cause delays in access even with skip-the-line priority tickets.
Things to Know:
Duration: 2.5 hours
Type of Service: Wine and Food Tasting Dinner – small group tasting
Embark on a food pairing and wine tasting journey around Italy's regions at popular and famous wine bar in Rome. This wine tasting experience is fun and exciting in an intimate environment with delicious food.
This unique wine bar/restaurant focuses on the best and fresh artisan selections in wine and food from all over Italy. Their focus extends beyond just Wine Tastings and Dinners to Cooking Classes, Olive Oil Tastings, and more…their expertise sommeliers offer an unforgettable experience for the everyday wine drinkers to wine collectors.
Learn the origins, history and stories of Italy’s wines, regions and foods while you taste through the authentic flavors of the best artisan producers of Italy selected by expertise sommeliers in this group dinner (no boring lectures). An unforgettable night spent with people from all over the world with amazing food and wines.
Things to Know:
Duration: 12 hours
Type Of Service: VIP Small-Group Cinque Terre Discovery & Vineyards Escapes Tour with Seafood Lunch
There is nothing better than the VIP Cinque Terre Discovery & Vineyards Escapes to explore a real Italian coastal paradise with the exclusivity of a small-group tour. This is the most complete experience and the only one-day tour to Cinque Terre that will allow you to discover the beauty of the villages while breathing the true relaxed essence of this paradise. A small-group adventure. The personalized attention of a knowledgeable guide. Exclusive escapes from the crowds that will reveal hidden, no touristy, gems. Relaxed savoring of two of the treasures of this region: its cuisine made of ancient traditional recipes and its local unique wines.
Departure from meeting point in the morning, transfer to the North West Riviera with a comfortable air-conditioned minivan.
During the day the guide will introduce guests to this spectacular corner of Italy, famous for its panorama, its wine, its food, beautiful sea and hiking opportunities.
Our comprehensive exploration will include the visit of some of the most beautiful villages and landscapes of Cinque Terre National Park (a world-heritage protected by UNESCO since 1997) which are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, the villages clinging to a remote stretch of the Riviera coastline. You will enjoy the five-mile-long rocky coast lined by thousands of dry walls built on terraces cultivated with vineyards, and the small medieval fishing villages built on rock… add to this the incredible color of the sea and the sky, and you may understand what paradise the Cinque Terre really is. Enjoy the most astonishing views either from land and sea, as we stroll along the national park by boat, train, and walking/hiking on the fabulous trails on the cliff (including famous Via dell’Amore - see notes -) in a perfect mix for a memorable experience.
A delicious full lunch with wine tasting in a typical restaurant on the sea is included, thus you will be able to enjoy incredible fresh seafood cooked the Ligurian way, accompanied by some great white wines typical of this region.
An amazing boat ride (weather and sea conditions permitting) will be an additional memorable perspective on the Riviera, to take back home with you the most incredible pictures of this day.
This experience is a unique opportunity to explore Cinque Terre in a day, also enjoying a few enchanting escapes from the crowds of the villages. You will have the chance to admire the astonishing coastal panorama from a high vantage point, with a very light hike on an almost levelled trail through seaside vineyards. Natural amphitheaters of luxuriant vineyards will disclose to your eyes and senses, facing the sea and the open horizon, and you will learn about the unique peculiarities of grape harvesting (that often include incredible steep mono-rails through the vineyards) and wine production of this region.
Get the best out of a day out, join this small group adventure!
Things to Know:
Duration: 10.5 hours
Type Of Service: Daytrip from Milan - Full Day Two Countries: Lake Como Tours with Bellagio and Lugano Switzerland - small group tour
Leave The City for a Day -Trying to decide which beautiful sights of Northern Italy to see and how much time you need to see them? We’ll make it easy for you. Our new day trips from Milan take you to three of the most beautiful and most popular destinations - Lake Como and Bellagio in Italy and Lake Lugano in Switzerland – in just one day!
And Bask in Lake Como's Beauty - Our one-day tours from Milan leave from a central, easy-to-reach location in the city. Your air-conditioned private coach will head straight from Milan to Lake Como, just an hour but a world away. Along the way, your expert, English-speaking guide will make sure you don’t miss any interesting sights and will entertain you with stories about them. We take care of all the details of your trip – including roundtrip transportation from Milan and tickets for a boat tour of Lake Como – all you have to do is show up and relax!
Nestled in the mountains with beautiful scenery that changes with each season, picturesque Lake Como has been Italy’s leading vacation destination for hundreds of years. During our boat tour, you’ll see the beautiful lakeside villas once owned by La Scala’s opera singers and now by headlining celebrities such as George Clooney, Richard Branson and Matthew Bellamy of Muse. You might even recognize villas from the Star Wars and James Bond blockbuster films.
Once in the beautiful city of Bellagio you will have free time explore on your own. Shop from local artisans, enjoy local food in nostalgic restaurants or step in for a quick drink in an ages-old bar, it is entirely up you. Take as many photos as you please in this picturesque town before we board our motor coach once again and continue our journey across the Italian border to Lugano.
We now take a scenic drive through the Alps and across the Swiss border to Lake Lugano. It’s easy to see why this city is one of Switzerland’s most popular vacation destinations. Lugano boasts a beautiful, large lake surrounded by huge and often snow-capped mountains.*
You can spend your afternoon in Lugano as you like with suggestions and directions from your guide. Culture aficionados should visit the church of Santa Maria degli Angioli home to Switzerland’s most important Renaissance painting - the beautiful ‘Passion and Crucifixion’ by Bernardino Luini, whose paintings have been compared to those of Leonardo da Vinci. You be the judge!
Lugano Like A Local - Feel like shopping? In Lugano’s downtown shopping district you’ll find plenty of choices - from luxury goods to, of course, delicious Swiss chocolate. We’ll give you lots of time to explore Lugano before you board the coach and return to Milan in time for dinner.
Combining visits to two countries and three of the area’s most beautiful locations in just one day, our day trips from Milan offer the perfect getaway from the hectic city life of Milan. We’ve taken care of the details, so you can just relax and enjoy the scenery…and so much more.
Sites Visited
Things to Know:
Duration: 3 Hours, (includes one-hour visit to the interior of Doge's Palace)
Type of Service: Walking food tour of Venice
On this three-hour tour you’ll enjoy the authentic Venetian food and wine traditions at a local Osteria and be introduced to Venice’s famous landmarks, including the exterior of Doge’s Palace.
Your personal local guide will provide you a walking tour of the picturesque Venetian calli (streets) and ponti (bridges) of Venice, telling you the incredible history and secrets of this unique city. You’ll admire the center of the Venetian power during the Serenissima Republic of Venice: Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) and its fascinating buildings, such as the Basilica di San Marco and Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace), which was the heart of the political life and public administration of the Venetian Republic. Follow some incredible off-the-beaten-track itineraries and discover Venice's best-kept secrets, then taste the authentic Venetian food and wine traditions in a typical “Osteria.” Mix up with the locals and enjoy a tasty Venetian aperitif with “cicchetti e un’ombra di vino” (finger food and a glass of wine), that will invigorate your spirit and make you look at Venice from the locals’ point of view!
Things to Know:
Duration: 1 hour
Type of Service: Grand Canal Boat Tour - small group tour
Small Group Venice boat tours of the Grand Canal & minor canals of Venice provide the ideal sightseeing tours of the city of Venice for first-time visitors. One of our most popular sightseeing tours in Venice because it offers our clients the opportunity to view the city from a completely different perspective. Escape the hordes of tourist to discover a relaxing and rewarding experience as you glide down the main street of Venice. You'll feel like a VIP on our small group boat tours of the Grand Canal
On all our Venice boat tours you'll travel in a luxurious motor-launch, limited to a maximum of 8/9 participants so that we should be able to guarantee that everyone sits outside to enjoy an intimate experience of the waterways of Venice while listening to the detailed commentary of your expert Venice tour guide.
In the first part of these small group Venice boat tours cruise down the Grand Canal at a relaxed pace with numerous photo opportunities as your friendly and knowledgeable guide ntroduce you to the splendid Palaces, Churches, Bridges and other Monumental buildings that line the main waterway of Venice. Learn the history and evolution of the main street of Venice, and be entertained by anecdotes about the famous and infamous people that once lived along this celebrated waterway.
In the second part of these marvellous sightseeing tours of Venice sit back and enjoy a delightful journey through the minor canals of Venice. In the hidden Venice, as you travel through four of the city districts of Venice you'll get a full overview of the city and enjoy picture postcard views of the most romantic parts of the city. These small group Venice boat tours start & finish at St. Marks square.
Things to know:
Duration: 13.5 hours
Type of Service: VIP Amalfi Coast Tour from Rome by High-Speed Train with Mozzarella Tasting
Take in the marvels of the Amalfi Coast on the only guided day tour from Rome via high-speed train. This is your chance to experience the UNESCO recognized landscape, as well as see its top ‘jewels’, the towns of Amalfi and Positano, all with captivating insight from a local expert guide throughout the day. In addition to the stunning vistas and awe-inspiring towns, you’ll also get off the beaten path for a taste of one of the region’s world-famous specialties - Mozzarella and other local cheeses - from a working cheesemaker that produces this delicacy fresh every day.
Our Amalfi Coast tours from Rome meet at the city’s central railway station from where you’ll be whisked off to Naples. After meeting your local guide in this city by the sea, you’ll take a comfortable private coach into the winding roads and lemon orchards that characterize this part of Italy as you hear the local history and get insider recommendations from your guide. Enjoy the incredible views of the lush mountains, crystalline sea and colorful villages that characterize this paradise.
The first stop is the most picturesque town on the entire coast, Positano, whose houses seem to tumble down to the sea amid narrow alleyways, chic boutiques, restaurants, and ‘Dolce Vita’ cafés. Despite its glamor, Positano was once a nearly abandoned fishing village until it was ‘rediscovered’ by the elite. Come here and it’s easy to see why. Its charm will seep into your pores as you shop for local ‘limoncello’, visit the church of Santa Maria Assunta or soak it all in from a restaurant terrace.
Your next stop is the former capital of the maritime republic that gave the area its name, Amalfi. Once one of the most important trading powers in the Mediterranean, this port city in miniature is home to a dazzling piazza, pristine medieval cathedral, and streets that will captivate you with their fairytale-like flavor. Have free time for lunch, climb the staircase to the Cathedral (‘Duomo’) and its arabesque cloister, as well as shop for Amalfi’s handmade ‘bambagina’ paper. If you prefer the beach, the tiny bay is also an inviting place for a dip.
After taking in the crown jewels of the Amalfi coast, travel up the mountains that cradle it to take in more incredible views. Here you’ll have the rare privilege to see how one of Italy’s most famous foods is made from a real local cheesemaker. We’re of course speaking of real Mozzarella cheese. Also known as ‘the queen of Mediterranean cuisine’, this delicacy is made with pure cow's milk, and it will be hard to go back to the stuff back home once you’ve tried it.
See the Amalfi Coast as never before and let your senses by captivated by the sights, sounds, and flavors that have made it so cherished on this comprehensive guided day tour from Rome that is sure to be the highlight of your trip to Italy.
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