Duration: 2 hours

Type of Service: Vatican Under the Stars Evening Tour - small group tour

Are you looking for unusual things to do in Rome? How about touring the Vatican at night? Not only does this special small group Vatican night tour let you skip the crowds, lines and heat, but it also provides a fresh way to see the Vatican’s amazing collections. If you aren’t an early morning person, or you just want less distractions as you enjoy the museum’s treasures, this is the best Vatican tour for you. This two hour tour includes:

- After-hours access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

- An English-speaking guide with expertise in art history

- Access to the treasures inside the Vatican without the heat and crowds

- A maximum group size of 13 people

Night Tour of Vatican Museums - Skipping the line, take a journey with your expert Vatican guide through art history as you walk through the rooms of the most fascinating “living” museums on earth. See works of art in the Pinecone Courtyard and a great view of St. Peter's Basilica. View sculptures handed down to us from the Ancient Romans in the Pio-Clementine Collection. Pass through the Candelabra Gallery, Gallery of Tapestries and Gallery of the Maps as your guide explains the history and stories surrounding these art collections.

The School of Athens by Raphael - Learn about the complexities of Raphael's fresco in the former papal apartments. Raphael was one of Rome's most famous Renaissance artists and he encompassed all the ideals of a Renaissance man. He designed and frescoed multiple rooms connected to the Vatican Museums. In addition to other masterpieces, visit one of Raphael’s most famous works of art, The School of Athens.

The Sistine Chapel at Night - Our evening Vatican tour concludes in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, where the ceiling and the altar wall are adorned by world-famous and inspiring frescoes. Only when you enter the Sistine Chapel is it clear how high the ceiling is and how many paintings are up there. At this point, it is impossible not to appreciate how difficult it must have been for Michelangelo to lay on his back and toil at his masterpiece, year after year. Since the Sistine Chapel is inside the Vatican Museums, it is included in your Vatican tour tickets.

The Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, therefore, speaking inside is not allowed. Since our guide cannot explain the frescoes while you are inside, we explain the Chapel in advance and provide you with a map/handout for reference before you enter. Men and women must cover their knees and shoulders before entering. We understand the summers in Rome get hot, a good alternative is to bring a scarf or shawl to cover up with before you enter.

Take Your Time and Explore the Collections - If you want to stay inside the Vatican Museums after the conclusion of your evening tour, go right ahead! The museums remain open for another two hours after the guided tour concludes. Take your time and revisit your favorite works of art or simply wander around taking in the intense beauty of your surroundings. 

Things to Know

• Tour is offered April - October
• Tour is offered on Friday nights only
• Tour is offered at 6:45pm /Tour check in at 6:30pm
• VIP After Hours Access
• This tour does not include a visit to St. Peter's Basilica because it is closed at night.
• Meeting point location: in front of Caffe Vaticano, directly across the street from the Vatican Museums Entrance on Viale Vaticano. A representative will be there holding a sign with the tour name on it – more details are provided upon booking
• Cover your knees and shoulders - avoid shorts, and skirts/dresses and tank tops that do not cover your knees and shoulders. If you're a woman and you are wearing something that bares your shoulders, bring a shawl or sweater.
• Comfortable walking shoes or tennis shoes are highly recommended
• No tripods, large purses or large backpacks can be brought into the museums

Duration: 8 hours

Type of Service: Siena Foodie Tour with Charcuterie Lunch at Salumeria – private tour with one hour visit to the Siena Cathedral

You will be picked up from the Siena train station if coming from Florence or your accommodations in Siena. Private door to door service is also available from your Florence accommodations. The medieval town of Siena is located 1 hour, 20 minutes south of Florence.

This special foodie tour starts in the heart of the ancient hilltop town of Siena. We will visit a cafe for coffee, where the owners roast their own coffee beans as they have for 3 generations. 

Then we will make the short walk to a family owned generation bakery to hear the history and sample many of the local Sienese desserts.

If this tour is booked on a Tuesday or Saturday, we can visit a local farmers market for a sampling of the Tuscan Pecorino cheeses, and honey, among other things. 

Next, we make the short drive outside the walls of Siena, to a Salumeria for lunch. This is a historical delicatessen, which offers artesian quality products. The salamis are lovingly made by, the Norcino, using local recipes that are 300 years old. All made from local livestock without any use of colorants, preservatives, milk-based ingredients or gluten.

Following our lunch, we will make a short drive to visit a family winery for a wine and olive oil tasting. At the end of the tasting we will return to Siena or drop off at the Siena train station or transfer back to Florence.

Things to Know

• Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena
• The historic center of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site
• Piazza del Campo is the heart of Siena, where you just must spend some of your time once in town
• Piazza del Campo is a huge square and is also considered one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares and twice a year a historical horse race called Il Palio takes place there
• The square is transformed into a medieval race track for the 400 + year traditional event
• Lunch includes a large selection of salami and meats. The charcuterie is handcrafted by the owner as well as other tasty delights. Wine is served with lunch.
• Tour cost includes private transportation with driver and guide, round-trip transportation, food and wine tastings, and wine with lunch
• One-hour visit to the famous and beautiful Siena’s Cathedral - knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women
• Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes
• Pick-up from Florence accommodations for 2 people is $364.00 per person for the roundtrip door to door transfer with food and wine tastings and wine with lunch
• Pick-up from Siena accommodations for 2 people is $316.00 per person to include food and wine tastings and wine with lunch
• We will take care of your round-trip train arrangements if guests choose to take the train from Florence to Siena (estimated $24.00 per person round trip tickets)
• Tour is offered March to October
• Tour is offered Monday – Saturday based on availability
• Tour pick-up time is 9:30am
• There is a minimum of 2 people for this tour
• Enjoy this private tour with your English-speaking driver Massi who is a native of Siena
• Massi and Deb are excellent hosts and will provide you with an amazing food journey through Siena
• Bottled water is provided in the van

Duration: 3.5 hours

Type of Service: Privileged Entrance Vatican Walking Tour with Sistine Chapel – small group tour

Our Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour starts at 7:30a.m. and we enter the Vatican Museums just after 8:00a.m. (an hour earlier than general public access). As a result, witness the jaw-dropping Sistine Chapel before the masses of people stream in. After visiting the Sistine Chapel, our professional English-speaking guide will take you back through the highlights of the Vatican Museums. Then pass back through the Sistine Chapel and head to St. Peter’s Basilica. One of our most popular Rome tours, this 3.5-hour Vatican tour includes:

• - Skip the line Vatican tickets
• - Small group size of 14 people
• - Tour starts at 7:30am /entry to museums shortly after 8:00am
• - A professional English-speaking guide
• - Skip the line entrance to St. Peter's Basilica

First stop is a visit to the Sistine Chapel before it’s open to the general public. Since the Sistine Chapel is inside the Vatican Museums, it’s included in your Vatican Museums ticket. When you enter the Sistine Chapel, you’ll realize our descriptions cannot do this incredible work justice. As well as being one of Michelangelo’s most prized masterpieces, the Sistine Chapel also serves as a gathering place for cardinals of the Catholic Church. This is also where new popes are elected - including Pope Francis! The Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, so speaking inside is forbidden. Don’t worry though, your guide will provide you with a map/handout for reference before you enter. *The Sistine Chapel is a sacred place, so both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to a portion of your Vatican tour. We understand the summers in Rome are hot - a great alternative is to bring a shawl/sweater to wrap around you when necessary.

The Best Galleries at the Vatican - Led by our guide, visit our favorite galleries including the Borgia Apartments, Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of the Tapestries and the Gallery of the Maps. Predating a unified Italy by nearly 300 years and based on painted topographical maps of Italy, the Gallery of the Maps is one of the coolest places in the Vatican Museums. One of the frescoes contains the image of a sea monster - see if you can spot it!

Raphael Rooms - The term Renaissance literally means "rebirth" and refers to the period of European civilization that produced a great revival in art, literature and learning. Raphael was one of Rome's most famous Renaissance artists who encompassed all the ideals of a Renaissance man. He designed and frescoed multiple rooms connected to the Vatican Museums. Among other masterpieces, you’ll see one of Raphael’s most famous works of art, The School of Athens.

Skip the Line St. Peter’s Basilica - St. Peter's Basilica is the grand centerpiece of the Vatican. Imagine walking into the biggest church you've ever seen, filled with artwork from all the famous Italian artists you learned about in school. Skip the lines that wait outside in St Peter's Square as you access the basilica from the inside, through a special side entrance our guides can use. Once inside, admire masterpieces that include the Baldacchino, La Pieta, the statue of St. Peter and more. While it is free to enter, this guided tour helps you make the most of it, without suffering the long lines. 

Things to Know

• Tour is offered March – December
• Tour is offered on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday – no tours on Wednesday and Sunday
• Tour is offered at 7:30am /Tour check in at 7:15am
• Meeting point location: Between Hotel Alimandi and Caffé Vaticano, at the top of the big staircase (Viale Vaticano,100). A representative will be there holding a sign with the tour name on it – more details are provided upon booking
• Tour will be closed on these holidays and special events – March 19, April 9 and 22, June 29, August 15, November 1 and December 26
• Cover your knees and shoulders - avoid shorts, and skirts/dresses and tank tops that do not cover your knees and shoulders. If you're a woman and you are wearing something that bares your shoulders, bring a shawl or sweater.
• Comfortable walking shoes or tennis shoes are highly recommended
• No tripods, large purses or large backpacks can be brought into the museums

Duration: 8 hours

Type of Service: VIP Small-group Siena and San Gimignano day tour from Florence with dinner - small group tour

 A fabulous and exclusive all-round Tuscan extravaganza! 

Spend an enlightening afternoon visiting Siena and San Gimignano, two of Tuscany's "jewel cities", and top the day off with a sunset and dinner in a boutique winery in the rolling Chianti countryside.

Depart Florence for Siena in full comfort aboard our state-of-the-art minivan, with your dedicated English-speaking driver and tour escort, and reach Siena. 
Set in a beautiful landscape, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, it is one of the most enchanting medieval cities in Italy.
Led by a specialized knowledgeable guide you will discover the town's most striking sights, admire the marvelous Piazza del Campo - where twice a year dashing horses compete in the heart-rendering Palio race. Explore quieter backstreets and learn everything about the Contrade (the 17 medieval city districts that compete against each other in the Palio) and enjoy a flavorful surprise, a tasting of a local specialty. 

Then travel on to San Gimignano, UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most splendid examples of an ancient walled town. Renowned as “the city of beautiful towers” or "Tuscany's Manhattan" it boasts an exceptional skyline. It is certainly one of the most well-preserved towns in the whole of Italy and has, in fact, been used as a background in many movies. During your free time here, stroll the maze of quaint cobblestone streets at leisure, discovering the many tall towers, once homes, which characterize the town. 

Breathe in the authentic atmosphere and then set off to admire the sun setting over the vineyard-clad Chianti hills and savor a genuine Tuscan dinner and wine tasting in the charming premises of a delightful boutique winery.
Enjoy the scrumptious flavors of an authentic typical meal splendidly paired with different excellent wines, as well as the privilege of a private visit to the estate's wine cellar.

Leaving you free to relax in the morning, and leading you into the heart of Tuscan beauty and heritage in the afternoon and evening, our VIP Small-Group Siena and San Gimignano with Dinner in a Chianti Winery provides a quintessential Dolce Vita Tuscan experience which you will never forget.

Things to Know:

• VIP small-group tour for 16 people or less
• Avoid the crowds leaving in the afternoon
• Gaze in awe at the Tuscan countryside at sunset
• Enjoy a delicious typical Tuscan dinner with wine tasting in a fascinating ancient cellar
• Transportation IN/OUT Florence by comfortable Minivan
• English speaking driver/tour leader
• Guided walking tour of Siena with professional English speaking guide
• San Gimignano visit with free time for shopping
• Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes
• Tour is offered daily between April – October
• Tour offered 7 days a week based on availability
• Tour departs at 2:00pm / Tour check-in at 1:45pm
• Meeting Point Location:  Piazza della Repubblicca - more details are provided upon booking
• Tour is offered for children ages 6 - 12 years old and must be accompanied by an adult or guardian

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:

• Small-group, culinary tour of Florence with a local, passionate expert
• 5 gourmet tasting pit-stops, with wine at 2 stops
• Crash course into Florentine food culture and traditional Tuscan goods
• Guided walking tour in the center of Florence, tasting at both cult classics and hidden nooks
• Traditional Tuscan sweet pastries like rice pudding budino or chocolate semolino tartlets with Italian roasted espresso
• Snack like a royal at king-approved truffle cafe’ for Florence’s famous panino tartufato with bubbles
• Visit classic bakeries for Tuscany’s schiacciata flatbreads along with seasonal delicacies (wine grape pie, sweet chestnut & pine nut cake castagnaccio, etc)
• Farmstead quality cheese and cured meat tasting with locally produced wine
• Savor in Italian excellence via tastings of Extra Virgin Olive Oil from around Italy & Aged Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 Wine tastings included (i.e. bubbly with truffles, local red wine with prosciutto, etc)
• Meeting local characters and purveyors
• Wholly artisanal gelato, gelato judge approved
• ...and more!

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

• Small group tour food walking tour - 8 people or less
• Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes
• Tour begins at 3:00pm /Tour check in 2:45pm
• Tour is available for youth 12 years old to adults
• Inquire about discount rates for children ages 12 - 17 years old
• Meeting Point Location: Piazza Signoria – more details are given upon booking

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

• Small-group pizza and gelato making class at a breathtaking farmhouse set in the rolling hills of Tuscany!
• Learn the insider tips and special techniques from our professional chef
• Hands on experience: learn to make Pizza and home-made Gelato
• Enjoy the food accompanied by wine and beer

 Things to Know

• After meeting the professional chef in our centrally located office you will be transported directly to our beautiful private estate in the hills just above Florence where you will start to live the full Italian experience.
• On arrival you will be able to appreciate the stunning views over gorgeous countryside as you taste the traditional 'fettunta' and enjoy a glass of Chianti wine whilst listening to the culture behind Italy's most famous food, pizza and gelato.
• By this time you will be eager to get hands on. The professional chef will teach you the art of dough making and kneading and will give you all the inside tips in order to easily produce the same result back home where you'll be able to impress your friends and family. You'll learn about the different ways to make pizza depending on the region.
• Next it will be time to get creative as you use the ingredients picked from our very own vegetable garden and choose from the many traditional toppings the Italians love. The pizza will be cooked in our wood oven to give it the traditional flavor that will make you feel proud as you sit down and enjoy your pizza with more wine or beer.
• The fun continues as you then learn the special techniques to make your very own gelato. You will make creamy gelato with unique toppings/sauces and though you may always want to reproduce these same toppings the chef will make sure you have an adequate understanding in order to be able to experiment at home!
• You will leave feeling satisfied, excited and with wonderful memories that you will be able to take home with you!
• Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes and casual attire – you will be working in an outdoor kitchen
• Upon arrival from the parking lot – you will walk down a set of stairs to reach the outdoor kitchen and vegetable garden
• Meeting Point Location:  more details are given upon booking (center city of Florence)
• Tour is offered Monday – Saturday at 2:30pm

Duration: 3 hours

Type of Service: Pizza & Gelato Making Cooking Class - group class located in center city of Florence

Join us for this unique cooking class in Florence and learn to make pizza from the master chefs, called pizzaiolo. The techniques will teach you how to prepare the most tender pizza dough and the most delicious pizza tomato sauce. You will be able to take these lessons with you, cooking pizza like an Italian right at home. The chefs will show you how to add ingredients and bake your pizza, and best of all, you will be able to eat it at the end. This is truly one of the best things to do in Florence and beyond pizza, the chefs will also introduce you into the culture of Italian gelato. See why this is considered among the best ice-cream in the world and learn the secrets of the most delicious gelato from professional chefs. We offer you the best Florence experience for families, immersing into the traditional cuisine and culture of Italy, discovering more about two of the best Italian specialties.

Things to Know:

• Make your own Italian pizza and gelato in this Florence cooking class
• Sample a variety of different pizzas and gelato flavors
• Learn tips and traditional Italian culinary methods from a professional chef
• Use of apron and cooking utensils – hands-on experience
• All ingredients for your pizza and gelato
• Dinner with Wine Tastings (soft drinks for children)
• Graduation Certificate Booklet with recipes
• A small amount of walking is involved (12-minute walk from check-in location to cooking class)
• Class size is limited to 25 people or less
• Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes
• Classes available: 7 days a week based on availability / March - October
• Tour is offered Monday - Saturday
• Class times: 3:00pm and 6:00pm
• Meeting Point Location:  Center City of Florence - Piazza della Repubblica - more details and map provided upon booking

Duration: 8 hours

Type of Service:  Chianti and Its Wines - private tour

You will begin the day by visiting a beautiful and historical Chianti Classico winery, enjoying a guided tour of the estate and the marvelous cellar followed by a delightful and delicious lunch on the property, tasting the wines and a complete meal in front of an amazing view over the green rolling hills of Chianti.

After lunch, you will enjoy a visit to the beautiful village of Greve in Chianti, with time to enjoy the beautiful shops there. 

In the late afternoon, we will visit one of the most historic wineries in the Chianti Classico area. A private tour of this stunning Estate going back to Renaissance; it is here indeed that the famous Antinori wines have been created. The tour will be followed by a tasting of excellent and awarded wines paired with local specialties.

On your way back to Florence you will stop at the Piazzale Michelangelo to admire the views and take photos. At the conclusion of the tour, you will be dropped off at your accommodations.  This is one of our most popular tours with one of the most amazing guides/sommelier Arianna.

Timeline of Activities

10:00am pick-up from hotel

11:00am- 14:00pm (2pm) - Arrival at the first winery, guided visit and lunch

14:30pm-15:30pm (2:30pm - 3:30pm) - Free time in Greve with time for Shopping 

15:30pm(3:30pm) - Depart Greve and Travel to 2nd winery

16:00pm – 17:30pm(4:00pm - 5:30pm) - Guided visit to an historical winery with tastings

17:30pm (5:30pm) - Depart 2nd winery and travel to Piazza Michelangelo (10 minutes for photos )

18:30pm (6:30pm) – Arrive at Hotel

Things to Know:  

• Pick up/drop off service to and from your hotel in Florence at 10:00am
• Private transportation with air-conditioned with driver and local professional guide/sommelier
• Visit two historical wineries in Chianti, with amazing views and hospitality
• Lunch with wine tasting and local specialties
• Explore the small town of Greve in Chianti
• Visit Piazza Michelangelo for views and photos
• Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes
• Tour is offered daily between April – November (based on availability) Monday - Saturday
• We are happy to assist you and are very flexible should you like to stay an additional 5 minutes at a location to take pictures of the beautiful landscape or order wines to ship back home.                

Duration: 8 hours

Type of Service:  Visit a Goat Cheese Farm + Experience Organic Wine Tasting + Explore two Chianti Villages outside of Florence – small group tour

You will begin your day visiting an organic goat farm and cheese producer. You will meet the owner and his staff of adorable goats who will tour us through their organic farm. Our generous host will demonstrate and share the wisdom of organic production as you taste freshly made goat cheese and watch the baby goats play hide and seek with one another. You will then enjoy a delicious homemade lunch at the farm, sampling simple and tasty recipes with several types of cheeses. Delicious!

Afterward, you will visit a boutique organic wine producer and “vignaiolo”(wine maker), enjoy a guided tour through the vineyards and then escorted to their cellar for a final tasting of products. Your hosts will welcome you into their classroom of vineyards, where you will see an organic and passionate approach to wine and farming in the Chianti.

Things to Know:

• Pick-up and drop-off service from your hotel Florence Accommodations - pick-up time between 9:30am-10:00am
• Small group tour of 8 people
• Private transportation with a private tour leader 
• Visit a goat farm and cheese producer
• Enjoy a delicious homemade lunch at the farm
• Visit the vineyards and a boutique winery with wine tastings
• Explore two beautiful Chianti villages
• Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes
• Tour is offered daily between April – November (based on availability) Monday - Saturday

Duration: 8 hours

Type of Service:  Discover San Gimignano, Wine Tasting at a boutique organic producer of Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine and Silversmith Workshop - small group tour

 You will begin your day with a visit to a boutique organic producer of Vernaccia di San Gimignano, that is the only white wine in Tuscany with DOCG certification. You will enjoy a guided tour of this beautiful farm, followed by a delicious homemade light lunch with wine tasting in a characteristic Tuscan peasant museum of art and traditions.

Afterward, enjoy relaxing walk in the medieval village of San Gimignano. This magical location is famously known for its array of medieval towers that can be seen from miles away. You will enjoy a relaxing walk through the traditional shops and streets, and will also visit an interesting silver workshop there, where Matteo, a young and talented silversmith, will show you how he can transform shapeless silver into marvelous objects.      

Things to Know:

• Pick-up and drop-off service from your hotel; pick-up time between 9:30am-10:00am
• Small group tour of 8 people
• Private transportation with a private tour leader service
• Visit Vernaccia di San Gimignano winery with tasting plus a light lunch
• Vernaccia-based wine from San Gimignano has a long history. Since the Renaissance period it’s been considered one of Italy’s oldest and most noble wines. Its fame has no doubt been strongly connected to its region of origin, San Gimignano – an ancient Tuscan town famed for its medieval towers.
• Visit a silver workshop with a demonstration
• Free shopping time in San Gimignano
• Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes
• Tour is offered daily between April – October (based on availability) Monday - Friday