Compare Food and Wine: The EuroChocolate Festival of Italy by Go Ahead Tours vs Local Living Italy—Tuscany San Gimignano by G Adventures
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 10 days | 7 days |
| Price From | Check price | $ 1,399 |
| Price Per Day | Check price | $ 200 |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included |
9 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches and 3 Dinners |
6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner |
| Description |
Sip regional Brunello di Montalcino in the Tuscan hills. Walk among the life-sized chocolate sculptures lining Perugia’s EuroChocolate Festival. Learn the craft of Italian cooking in the birthplace of the Renaissance. Gastronomy takes on a new meaning in a country where eating and art have always been revered as one and the same (and trust us, there are many, many masterpieces to be discovered). |
If you’ve ever wanted to forge a deeper bond with a destination, this is your chance. Centred in San Gimignano, this Local Living adventure places you in the heart of central Tuscany. You’re free to explore the town, visit vineyards, discover medieval highlights, or embrace your inner artist wandering the Tuscan countryside. If you’re looking for a deeper dive into Italian cities, there’ll be day trips to visit Siena and Florence. You’ll share the main accommodation with like-minded travellers and a CEO (Chief Experience Officer) there to point you in the right direction. Prepare to fall in love with Italy. |
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Florence today.
Day 2: Arrival in Florence
Meals:Dinner
Welcome to Italy! Meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Florence
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Set off to see Florence, the city at the center of the Renaissance with a local guide.
• Visit the Duomo, Florence’s legendary cathedral
• Pass Giotto’s Campanile, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture
• Step inside the Basilica of Santa Croce, the burial site of many illustrious Italians, including Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo
• See the medieval Ponte Vecchio and the Palazzo della Signoria, center of Florentine life
This evening, join a local chef for a cooking class where you’ll make pasta by hand, create two kinds of bruschetta and craft tiramisu for dessert. Eat your creations for dinner with accompanying wines.
Day 4: Free day in Florence
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a full free day in Florence or add excursions.
Optional Excursion - Medieval Lucca & the Flavors of the Countryside $119*pp
Optional Excursion - Fiesole Villa Dinner $95*pp
Day 5: Siena via San Gimignano
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included entrances: Wine tasting
En route to the enchanting city of Siena, stop in San Gimignano, “the city of beautiful towers.”
• Explore the small medieval town of San Gimignano on your own
• Sample some of the region’s fine wines and olive oils at a winery
• Arrive in Siena for this evening’s included dinner
Day 6: Montalcino & Siena
Meals: Breakfast, Light lunch
Included entrances: Wine tasting
Today, you’ll visit a winery and explore the vibrant cities of Montalcino and Siena
• Spend free time wandering the streets of Montalcino
• Taste three acclaimed Brunello grape wines and enjoy a light lunch
• Return to Siena, where a local guide shows you Siena Cathedral, home to major works of art by Donatello and Pisano, and the adjoining Piccolomini Library
• Stroll Siena’s medieval streets, stopping at the historic Piazza del Campo
Perugia2 nights Hotel info
Day 7: Perugia via Cortona & Lake Trasimeno
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Continue your travelers across the Tuscan landscape and into Umbria as you head toward Perugia.
• Explore the hillside town of Cortona on your own before visiting the Museum of the Etruscan Academy, home to an impressive collection of Etruscan artifacts
• Visit Lake Trasimeno, where Hannibal battled the Romans
• Enjoy a lunch of traditional Umbrian specialties
Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Perugia & EuroChocolate Festival
Meals: Breakfast
Set out on a guided tour of Perugia, the medieval town known for its Etruscan Arch before indulging in the famous (and delicious) festivities.
• See the Palazzo dei Priori, a medieval palace dating back to 1298, and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo
• Wander the tunnels of Rocca Paolina, Perugia’s historic underground city
• Savor chocolate delicacies while perusing the many chocolate “exhibits” on display at the EuroChocolate Festival
Day 9: Rome via Orvieto
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Journey across Umbrian valleys en route to Rome. Stop along the way in the Etruscan town of Orvieto for a wine tasting and lunch. Later, arrive in Rome in time for a farewell drink with your fellow travelers.
Day 10: Departure
Meals: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to further explore the city of Rome.
Day 1 Rome
Arrive at any time.
We highly recommend booking pre-tour accommodations in Rome to fully experience all this amazing city has to offer. There's lots to explore! Please note that if Vatican City is on your must-see list, we highly recommend purchasing your tickets online several weeks prior to your trip. Same-day entrance to St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel) cannot be guaranteed without advance tickets. Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking accommodations in Rome before Day 1 of this itinerary.
Day 2 Rome/San Gimignano
Enjoy a morning orientation walk in Rome, 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.
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.
Day 3 San Gimignano
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.
Day 4 Florence Day Trip
Enjoy a day trip to Florence with plenty of free time to check out local museums and plazas. Opt to go out for a group dinner back in San Gimignano or cook together at the apartments.
While the group will travel together to Florence, the return time is flexible and can vary by each person's touristing stamina. The return ticket is provided, but you decide when to leave.
Day 5 San Gimignano
Enjoy free time to visit the San Gimignano market in the morning before a leisurely walk through the Tuscan countryside along the historical Via Francigena path to Montauto, where great views of San Gimignano from afar await. 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.
Day 6 Siena Day Trip
Enjoy a day trip to Siena including an orientation walk with the CEO. In the evening, sit down to a home cooked dinner with your Local Living host, Ugo.
Day 7 San Gimignano/Rome
Transfer by bus and train to Rome. Depart in the early afternoon from the Rome train station (Termini). Book flights for no earlier than 6 pm.
If you wish to extend your stay in Rome, consider booking post-tour accommodation with us. Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking accommodations in Rome after your tour ends.
