Tuscany’s popularity stems from a rare combination: it is simultaneously the historical cradle of Western art and high culture, a world-renowned culinary destination, and one of the most visually iconic countryside landscapes on Earth.
This adventure may feel less like an ordinary vacation and more like moving into a slice of Italian history. A unique feature of this trip is a week long stay in a carefully restored private villa in the heart of the Tuscan countryside. All travelers will have their own ensuite bedroom and be able to enjoy many well appointed common areas and grounds featuring panoramic views. Meals (breakfast and dinner) will be prepared by and served at the villa by our own private cook staff.
With the villa as our home base for the week, we will enjoy day trips to Florence, many charming hill towns, and to the famous Cinque Terre along the Mediterannean coast. These are all included in your trip package as part of this ALL-INCLUSIVE adventure. You can read more details about each of these day trips below.
This trip has been carefully curated to allow you to feel the magic of Tuscany!
There is a magic in Tuscany that can only be felt, not explained. It is a place that captivates your heart and never lets go. --From the travel memoir Bella Tuscany
Why GoEuro Adventures?
Small group size (Limited to only 12-14 travelers)
ALL-INCLUSIVE! (Trip price includes roundtrip airfare, a week stay at private villa, breakfast & dinner each day, ground transportation, admissions & tickets, etc.)
Trip organized and personally led by GoEuro's owner
Carefully crafted itinerary
Competitive pricing
COMPLIMENTARY CHAMPAGNE (OR BEVERAGE OF YOUR CHOICE) TOAST AT THE AIRPORT
It is too early yet to know the details ... Airlines do not release their schedules until about 10 months prior to our travel dates. Based upon current airline schedules, we will likely fly direct overnight to Paris or Amsterdam and then take a connecting flight to Florence. All flights are INCLUDED in your trip package.
Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is universally recognized as the cradle of the Renaissance. Bisected by the Arno River and set against rolling Tuscan hills, it functions as an open-air museum filled with red-tiled roofs, cobblestone streets, and centuries of artistic genius.
ENJOY THE BEST PANORAMIC VIEWS OF FLORENCE FROM PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO
Piazzale Michelangelo is Florence’s most famous lookout terrace, offering sweeping panoramic views of the city's red-tiled skyline, the Arno River, and the surrounding Tuscan hills.
Perched on a hill south of the Arno in the Oltrarno district, it was designed in 1869 by Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi during a major urban renewal project when Florence was briefly the capital of Italy.
NOTE: Villa pictured below are of Borgo Petragnano which GoEuro Adventures rented during it's 2025 Tuscany trip. A number of villas of similar quality and features are being considered for your adventure and a final determination will be made when more details become available as to the exact size of your group.
ADVANTAGES TO STAYING IN A VILLA FOR THE WEEK
Most villas are centuries-old restored stone farmhouses, historic estates, or former aristocratic manors that have been extensively renovated to provide all of the modern comforts while still providing you an authentically Tuscan experience
Instead of having to move from hotel to hotel, the villa is our home base for the week allowing you to unpack, settle in, and unwind
Able to fully enjoy the villa's grounds, gardens, and spectacular Tuscan views
Michelangelo’s David is widely regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of High Renaissance sculpture. Sculpted between 1501 and 1504, the monumental 17-foot (5.17 m) marble statue depicts the Biblical hero David, standing as a symbol of youthful strength, focus, and Florentine civil liberty.
On THE Secret Food Tour: Florence – Sant’Ambrogio, we’ll show you the most authentic side of Florence, as you eat, sip, and savour your way through the local market, taste olive oil, sample traditional salamis and cheeses paired with fine local wines, and more.
By the end of your tour, you'll have tasted some of Florence's most delicious dishes and gained a better understanding of Italian culture and history.
Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio are the only two districts where you can still find real Florentine people. Away from the museums and the crowds, you'll find a moment to relax, experience a still thriving atmosphere, and meet local people in their shops.
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (commonly known simply as Il Duomo) is the architectural centerpiece and defining symbol of Florence. Construction began in 1296 in the Gothic style and was completed in 1436 with the addition of its famous Renaissance dome.
Brunelleschi’s Dome (Cupola): Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, this octagonal engineering marvel remains the largest masonry vault in the world. Built without wooden scaffolding, it uses a double-shell structure and a herringbone brick pattern to support its enormous weight.
The Exterior Facade: Clad in geometric marble panels in shades of green (from Prato), pink (from Maremma), and white (from Carrara), reflecting the traditional Florentine Gothic design.
The Last Judgment Fresco: The interior ceiling of the dome features a massive 3,600 m² fresco painted by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari between 1572 and 1579, depicting the Last Judgment.
Though separated by only 25 miles of rolling Tuscan countryside, Siena and San Gimignano offer two vastly different windows into medieval Italy. One was a powerful, proud republic that rivaled Florence for regional dominance; the other was a prosperous trading outpost whose wealthy families built sky-high stone towers as status symbols.
Siena feels like a living, breathing city frozen in the 14th century. Built out of warm red-burnt brick (Sienna terra), its narrow streets fan out around the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. Rather than feeling like a museum piece, Siena is energetic—home to one of Europe's oldest universities and 17 fierce neighborhood districts (Contrade) that maintain centuries-old rivalries centered around the bi-annual Palio horse race.
San Gimignano is defined by its dramatic skyline. During the Middle Ages, rival aristocratic families built over 72 stone tower-houses to flex their wealth and power. While only 14 towers remain, they create a distinct silhouette visible from miles across the Val d'Elsa. Inside the city walls, life moves at a slower, tourist-oriented pace centered on stone alleyways, artisan gelaterias, and sweeping views of olive groves
Tuscany’s culinary identity rests on three iconic liquid treasures: wine, extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. Together, they represent centuries of agricultural heritage, strictly protected regional standards, and the foundation of Tuscan gastronomy.
Azienda Agricola Poggio Amorelli (often spelled Poggio Amorielli) is a family-owned estate and winery situated on the hilltops near Castellina in Chianti, in the heart of Tuscany’s prestigious Chianti Classico wine region.
Founded in 1997 by Tuscan oenologist and agronomist Marco Mazzarrini and his wife Adriana, the estate is renowned for its traditional Sangiovese-driven wines, panoramic views, and intimate culinary experiences.
In addition to wine, the Mazzarrini family produces high-grade extra virgin olive oil from their estate groves, alongside barrel-aged balsamic vinegars (Aceto Balsamico IGP/DOP) produced in partnership with artisan facilities in Modena.
Castellina in Chianti is one of the premier historic hilltop towns of Tuscany’s famous Chianti Classico wine region. Situated high on a ridge along the scenic SR222 Chiantigiana highway, roughly midway between Florence (30 miles north) and Siena (16 miles south), it blends rich Etruscan history, 15th-century fortifications, and world-class wine production.
Perched high on a limestone ridge between the Val d'Orcia and Val di Chiana, Montepulciano is one of Tuscany’s most majestic Renaissance and medieval hill towns. Famed for its elegant palazzi, underground wine cellars, and sweeping countryside views, it offers an authentic alternative to more crowded Tuscan destinations.
A common point of confusion for travelers and wine lovers:
Montepulciano (The Town): Produces world-class red wine called Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. This wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape (locally called Prugnolo Gentile).
Montepulciano (The Grape): A completely different grape variety grown primarily in the Abruzzo region of eastern Italy (used to make Montepulciano d'Abruzzo).
The grand central square at the highest point of the town. Surrounded by imposing Renaissance structures, including the Palazzo Comunale (resembling Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, whose tower offers incredible 360-degree views) and the unfinished facade of the Duomo di Montepulciano.
Carved directly into the tufa rock beneath the historic palazzi are massive, centuries-old cellar networks. Historic producers like Cantina Contucci, Cantina Ercolani, and De' Ricci allow visitors to walk past giant oak aging barrels in subterranean, cathedral-like vaults.
Located just outside the city walls at the bottom of the hill, this 16th-century Greek-cross church designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder is considered a masterpiece of High Renaissance architecture.
A historic 19th-century Art Nouveau coffee house along the main street (Il Corso), offering pastries, espresso, and an outdoor balcony perched over the valley.
Cinque Terre (literally "Five Lands") is a rugged stretch of coastline on the Italian Riviera in the Liguria region of northwestern Italy. Comprising five centuries-old fishing villages—Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore—it is famous for its colorful pastel houses, cliffside vineyards, and dramatic views over the Ligurian Sea.
A UNESCO World Heritage site and protected national park, Cinque Terre is virtually car-free, connected instead by a local coastal train line, ferries, and a network of cliffside hiking trails.
Frequency: Trains run approximately every 15 minutes during the peak tourist season (mid-March to early November) and hourly during the winter months.
Travel Times Between Consecutive Stations:
La Spezia Centrale $\leftrightarrow$ Riomaggiore: 6 minutes
Riomaggiore $\leftrightarrow$ Manarola: 2 minutes
Manarola $\leftrightarrow$ Corniglia: 2 minutes
Corniglia $\leftrightarrow$ Vernazza: 3 minutes
Vernazza $\leftrightarrow$ Monterosso: 4 minutes
Monterosso $\leftrightarrow$ Levanto: 5 minutes
Volterra is a dramatic, hilltop medieval town in the province of Pisa, Tuscany. Perched nearly 1,800 feet (550 m) above sea level, it is famous for its ancient Etruscan roots, centuries-old alabaster carving tradition, towering stone walls, and commanding views over the surrounding Tuscan landscape.
