Florence and Tuscany

7 nights

Price for 2 persons

Based on charming 3 star hotels with all private amenities from Euro 2,895

Land Only

Prices subject to change based on time of year and hotel availability

Your custom itinerary includes:

§ 3 nights in Florence at a charming villa hotel, breakfast included.

o 3 star options: TORNABUONI BEACCI, GUELFO BIANCO or similar

§ 4 nights in Tuscany (plan day trips all around) in a 3 star castle or villa or country inn with breakfast.

o 3 star options: LEON BIANCO, LA CISTERNA or similar

§ 1 night in Rome to fly out:

o 3 star option: REGNO, OXFORD, LOCARNO or similar

§ Bottle of champagne upon arrival

§ Special dinner at a top restaurant in Tuscany with wine and a la carte menu

§ All reservations, restaurant recommendations, customized itinerary to design your special trip;

§ Private half day guided tour in Florence with professional guide: visit the beautiful historic centre of Florence as the most enchanting sights as the unique Brunnelleschi’s Dome, the Baptistry, the Palazzo Pitti with a tour of the famous Galleria Palatina with masterpieces from world-famous painters as Raffaello, Botticelli and many more. The tour lasts about 3 hours

§ Ticket reservations to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence;

§ Private cooking course in Florence: you may select your own menu and type of regional cuisine. Meal is then served with wine;

§ EXTRA SPECIAL: a full day chauffeur driven excursion “Unknown Tuscany” with lunch included – tailored to your specifications. Be picked up in a Mercedes direct at your hotel and be driven through medieval hill towns, visit private wineries, cheese and olive oil farmers, private palaces, abbeys and more.

§ All assistance in planning a custom designed itinerary to your specifications;

§ Not included are meals unless part of an excursion, airfare and anything not listed.

§ Federal Express package to your home: containing all vouchers, hard copy itinerary, train tickets and any other bookings included in your package

OPTIONALS

v Car rental for Tuscany: based on best quote available and type of car you desire

v Seaside excursion unforgettable day sailing in the Mediterranean with an experienced skipper, feasting on fresh fish pasta and visiting one or more islands.

v All transfers to and from airport and hotel by limousine and driver.

v Tickets for a music or theatre performance in Rome or Venice; pending availability

v Pottery/Ceramic Class in the wonderful Chianti region, a craftsman will share with you the art of ceramics, teaching you to pug, lathe, bake and colour, after which you will keep the object you made.

v Horseback riding excursion into the countryside for half a day: enjoy the Tuscan countryside on a leisurely horseback ride. Our guide will take you through woods, hills and plains to hidden castles and ancient ruins..

v Bus and guide tour to Siena and San Gimignano from

v Various bus and guide tours visiting Rome, outside Rome, the Tuscan towns of Pisa and Lucca and similar options

v Guided visit to the historical handcraft laboratories of Florence. The irresistible tour opens up the precious old caskets of artisanal Florence, which lie hidden from the hurrying tourists. You will visit only the most authentic and prestigious laboratories of the historic Florentine craftwork: rare perfumes from the past, precious embroideries and fine laces, artistic leather workmanship and the Medicean Art of mosaics of semi-precious stones. It is also possible to purchase exclusive items directly in the craft workshops. You will be picked up directly at your hotel at about 3 pm and return at about 6:30 pm.

v Golfing in the dramatic setting of the Chianti region. Private transfer from hotel to Golf club and return The facilities include driving range, putting green, pro-shop, tennis court, swimming pool, bar and restaurant

v Hiking for half a day in the Tuscan Countryside with expert guide:

v Hot balloon ride: A truly unique experience floating silently over the Tuscan landscape you will experience views of villages and towns, piazzas and castles, with luxury car and driving escort. The tour lasts about 8 hours.

DAY 1, 2, 3 - THE TUSCANY COUNTRYSIDE (car rental recommended for best way to visit, driving is easy and fun)

THE CHIANTI REGION

The territory of Chianti runs on pretty much a north/south axis from Florence down to Siena. It is the famous land of vineyards and hilltop towns, with Greve, Radda and Castellina forming a triangle in the very heart of Chianti.
The area is bordered to the west by the Florence - Siena autostrada, passing first by San Casciano Val di Pesa, the largest town in the area, and on to Poggibonsi.

However, the 'classic' route is via the 'Chiantigiana', the N222 one of the most picturesque roads of Italy. The best way to discover Tuscany is by car…driving here is very easy and roads are well signed!

The first town on your route would be SAN CASCIANO VAL DI PESA, located on the northern edge of the Chianti Classico zone. It is the largest town (pop.16,000) in the area.

Parts of the 14th century walls still remain, and the town is home to an interesting church, Santa Maria del Prato, housing works by Simone Martini, Ugolino di Neri, Taddeo Gaddi and Fra Bartolomeo.

Continue south to GREVE IN CHIANTI, a great place to visit at almost any time of the year, but especially during the spring and autumn. The chief town of the Gallo Nero region, Greve is home to Chianti's largest wine fair, held every September. The small village, named after the nearby river, expanded considerably during the 14th & 15th centuries, and, after the unification of Italy, became the most important centre of the valley.
Today you will find a wine shop around every bend, with some of the better ones being found in the Piazza Matteotti. The statue in the middle of the square is of Giovanni di Verrazzano, the man who discovered New York harbour.

One km from the centre stands the Castello di Montefioralle and if you go back on the "strada chiantigiana" you will find the Castello di Uzzano (famous for its Chianti Classico). A few suggestions for a pleasant walk in the surrounding country-side are as follows. To Lucolena and Dudda, where you can visit the Castello di Querceto, and the Monte S. Michele.

A fundamental stop for history lovers is CASTELLINA IN CHIANTI, another quietly affluent hilltop town, yet it was at one time at the very frontline of the ebbing and flowing wars between Florence and Siena. A striking remnant of those times is the Via delle Volte, a covered gallery that was once part of the town fortifications. The old fort, in the central square, is now home to municipal offices.

Through the discovery of a large grave from the 6^th and 7^th Centuries AC we know it to have been populated by Etruscan settlement.

Destroyed during the Sienese and Florentine wars in the Middle Ages, it was wisely rebuilt. The shape of the ancient town is oval. To its centre we will visit the historical fortress with the 14^th C tower and the embattled dungeon, completed in the following century. We will now see the historical communication trench buried with its defensive function, its watchtowers and the neo-Romanesque church of San Salvatore that was restructured in 1947.

Exiting from Castellina head towards RADDA IN CHIANTI, a famous town between the Pesa and Arbia valleys.

The lovely town, to the east of the Chiantigiana route, has retained more of its ancient character than most towns and villages of the area. It is located in the hills of Chianti, the Monti del Chianti, and was once the seat of the mediaeval Lega di Chianti. This once powerful league took the black cockerel, the Gallo Nero of all bottles of Chianti, as its symbol.

The significance of this dates to a border dispute between Siena and Florence, a dispute that saw the border drawn at the point where a horseman from each city would meet on the road. They were both to set out at the cock-crow, as indeed they did, except that the Florentine cockerel had been starved, and woke to greet the day considerably earlier than its Sienese counterpart.

The town still retains the elliptical form it had in mediaeval times, and the streets of the miniscule town centre are centred around the square, Piazza Ferrucci. It is here you will find the Palazzo del Podesta, with frescoed decorations and numerous ancient coats, shields and crests, and the main church, raised on a platform directly opposite the palace.

Continuing along the Chiantigiana you will reach the ancient border between Siena and Florence, BORGO DI VOLPAIA. This village historically held a primary strategic defensive importance for the Pesa Valley. Today it has lost part of its walls but we can still see the dungeon conserved in the centre of the characteristic square.

If you have time do not miss to visit the beautiful Medieval, CASTELLO DI BROLIO, an ancient building belonging to the Firidolfi family, situated on a hill approximately 600 meters high and on the borderline between Siena and Florence

The castle has been abandoned for centuries, however in 1929 Bettino Ricasoli decided, with the help of Sienese architects Marchetti and Partin, to restructure the castle. The baron, being a good agronomist, built the farm that is famous today for his famous Chianti Amabile table wine.

You can reach the main entrance of the castle through the long path embedded in its wonderful scenic park. The oldest and most central part of the building is the dungeon, built ten centuries ago and fortified by powerful watchtowers. The protective wall, 5Km in length and in the shape of a pentagon, was built during the 1400’s. From the communication trench on top of the wall we have an extraordinary panorama, from the heights of the Amiata Mountains to Volterra.

As we leave the outskirts of this Chianti pearl we will arrive to CASTELNUOVO BERARDENGA, its name derived from Berardo, and from the second half of the 10^th C. It was a solid Sienese castle built to protect the surrounding area from the attacks of the soldiers of fortune. You will find many cellars in this area famous for the quality of theirs wines. One example of this is the VILLA PAGLIARESE famous for its wine and its legend of a wizard who could cure the strangest diseases. People came from every part in hopes of being cured by the wizard’s hands of gold.

SIENA

Sienna (Siena in Italian) is perhaps best enjoyed after visiting Florence, when its easy going and open atmosphere will contrast pleasantly with the traffic-ridden rush that is Florence today. Most famous for the annual PALIO, it is a city of quiet beauty, and the cityscape is easily appreciated by strolling up and down the largely pedestrianised streets. Please remember that cars are not allowed, however there are many parking lots just right outside the walls where you can park your car.

During the Middle Ages it flourished to one of the major cities of Europe, growing rich from banking and the wool trade dominating the routes from France to Rome. The city developed a highly sophisticated civic life, with its own written constitution and a quasi-democratic government. The fourteenth century saw a great amount of building; the Duomo, Palazzo Pubblico and the Campo were all begun then, but in 1348 the Black Death struck and this, together with subsequent political upheaval, saw the beginning of a drastic downturn in Siena's fortunes.

The city became little more than a rural market centre, and, as with SAN GIMIGNANO, it was the growth of tourism that saw a return to wealth and prominence. Indeed, it was exactly this marked decline that accounts for the incredible state of mediaeval preservation that Siena exhibits today.

Siena is built across a range of small hills, a unique position that gives it a pleasant atmosphere of being a collection of smaller towns. Since the thirteenth century it has been divided into three terzi, arranged around the splendid Campo. These terzi are in turn subdivided into contrade, seventeen in all, which play a hugely important role in the life of the city. Loyalty to one's contrada is total, and the rivalry between the districts reaches fever-pitch in the run up to Siena's famous horserace, the Palio, held in July and August.

Because Siena is built across several hills and valleys, and much of it is pedestrianised (or what passes for it here), there is a fair bit of up and down walking involved in seeing the sights. However, the lack of traffic makes it a wonderful place to wander - even when packed with tourists it feels pretty quiet and easygoing. From the Campo it is fairly easy to get your bearings. This spectacular shell-shaped space is the focal point of the city, the meeting place and the market place as well as being the venue for the Palio.

The Circular Piazza del Campo is where the Palio is run each summer. With its amphitheatre curve, it is an almost organic piece of city planning, and is still the focus of city life. This is probably one of Italy's most beautiful medieval city and a must. Visit the Palazzo Pubblico - the Town Hall where the frescos of Simone Martini are displayed. (Siena is worth a full day to be seen in depth - you may choose to do so - it can also be very cold in winter with cutting winds).

The Palazzo Comunale, with its 107-metre bell tower, the Torre del Mangia (daily 10am–5/6/7pm; mid-Nov to mid-Dec closes 1.30pm; L4000), occupies virtually the entire south side of the square , and although it's still in use as Siena's town hall, its principal rooms have been converted into a Museo Civico (Nov 6 to Feb 28 daily 9.30am–1.30pm; March 1 to Nov 5 Mon–Sat 9am–7pm, Sun 9am–1.30pm; L6000), a series of former public rooms, frescoed with themes integral to the secular life of the medieval city.

On the other side of the Campo, Via di Città cuts across the oldest, cathedral quarter of the city, fronted by some of Siena's finest private palazzi.

If you love art, at the end of the street, Via San Pietro you will arrive at the Pinacoteca Nazionale (May–Sept Mon 8.30am–1.30pm, Tues–Sat 9am–7pm; Oct–April Mon–Sat 8.30am–1.30pm, Tues & Sat 2.15pm–5.30pm or 3.45–5.30pm according to month; L8000), which contains a superb collection of pre-Renaissance art.

The opposite side of the via del Capitano leads up to the Duomo, completed to virtually its present size around 1215; plans to enlarge the church withered with Siena's medieval prosperity, and the vast skeleton of an unfinished extension still stands at the north end of the cathedral square. The Duomo is in any case a delight, its style an amazing conglomeration of Romanesque and Gothic style. The interior alone took 200 years to complete and is renown for its marble floors

Behind the cathedral you can also visit the Baptistery (Jan–March & Nov–Dec daily 10am–1pm & 2.30–5pm; Oct daily 9am–6pm; rest of year daily 9am–7.30pm; L3000) and also the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (Oct daily 9am–6pm; Nov–March 9am–1.30pm; rest of year 9am–7.30pm; L5000), which occupies part of the cathedral's planned extension and houses many important pieces of arts.

THE WORLD-FAMOUS EVENT: THE PALIO

The backbone of IL PALIO are Siena's 17 contrade, which can be liken to city wards or administrative districts. These well-defined neighbourhoods were designated in the Middle Ages, basically to aid the many military companies hired to defend Siena's fiercely-earned independence from Florence and other nearby city states.

Over the centuries, the contrada has lost its administrative function and become an area held together by its residents' common emotions and devotions. Its role has broadened, so that every important event - baptisms, deaths, marriages, church holidays, victories, even wine or food festivals - was celebrated by, and only by, the contrada. Even today it is not considered a good idea to marry out of the contrada, and if you do, it's probably wise to sleep at your parents' house the night before the race.

The culminating moment of Il Palio, the actual horse race, is achingly brief: a minute and a half, give or take ten seconds. But so much has happened before the pack of frantic animals finally breaks loose from the ancient rope that marks the starting line!

It takes place twice a year: on July 2, (to commemorate the miracles of the Madonna of Provenzano) and on August 16, (to honour the Assumption of the Virgin).

If you are interested in knowing getting more information about the Palio you can visit the web site of the city of Siena www.comune.siena.it

OR

SAN GIMIGNANO - MONTERIGGIONI - VOLTERRA

Start in the morning and take the ss223 on your way to San Gimignano and enjoy the ride through this beautiful countryside.

Make a first stop in Monteriggioni, a mere fourteen kilometers from Siena and the epitome of a fortified hill town.

When you round the last curve of the Via Cassia coming from Siena, Monteriggioni miraculously appears before you. Its perfectly intact walls stand majestically defiant of both enemies and time. They are so well preserved that they appear to be a mirage, too perfect to be real. The walls completely encircle the town, their smooth surface being interrupted only by two gates. The Porta Franca or Romea faces southeast towards Siena; the Porta S. Giovanni faces northwest towards Florence and, in fact, still bears the hinges that supported the drawbridge, which faced the eternal enemy. Inside the village, the one and only street dissects the hamlet on its central axis and runs from one gate to the other.

Piazza Roma is charming and includes the Gothic-Romanesque Santa Maria Assunta church. But Monteriggioni's true magnificence can only be fully appreciated from the outside, preferably in the early morning light when it appears to hover a few feet off the ground, as in a vision, truly the queen of fortified towns.

Continue north-west heading to SAN GIMIGNANO, which is probably the most famous small town in Italy, and there are few places that evoke the atmosphere of mediaeval Tuscany so powerfully as it does.

San Gimignano dominates the Val d'Elsa with its dramatic skyline bristling with towers Only fifteen of the original seventy-two towers survive, which in the past represented wealth and influence more than defence and security - the higher the tower, the richer the family.

It was founded by the Etruscans and grew rich from agriculture as well as being an important resting place on the pilgrim way to Rome. The population was devastated by the plague in the fourteenth century, and its economy collapsed as the pilgrim trade all but vanished.

The town really does live up to expectations; it is immaculately preserved and surrounded by some of the loveliest countryside in Tuscany.

A similar renown can also be claimed by its Vernaccia wine, recently awarded the D.O.C.G., the highest acknowledgement and guarantee for quality in Italian enology. Among the numerous activities and cultural events, the prestigious international festival, which is held in the month of July, should be noted.

However, what you may not be expecting is just how popular a tourist destination the town is. It is utterly packed with tourists throughout the summer months (do try to visit out of season), and the atmosphere of quiet rural village is hard to maintain. This should not though deter you from visiting, just be prepared for the crowds. Why not try to stay overnight? - most visitors are day-trippers, and the town is a very different beast at night.

San Gimignano can easily be seen in a day. Enter through Porta San Giovanni, built by the Sienese in 1261, and follow Via San Giovanni past the Pisan Romanesque black and white striped façade of San Francesco, the monastery Cosimo the First suppressed in 1553 (it's now a wine cellar with a spectacular view of the countryside), through the Arco dei Becci, one of the gates of the original city walls, and into Piazza della Cisterna, the social heart of town, where markets, tourneys, and plays were held

San Gimignano was governed from the neighboring Piazza del Duomo. You will most likely wish to begin with the cathedral, with its spectacular fresco cycles of the Old and new Testaments and its Last Judgment. Don't miss St. Fina's Chapel (to the right -- the admission charge will also get you into the other three municipal museums, and the custodian will give you a nice town map). The town's two art museums are both off Piazza del Duomo, one in the cloister of the cathedral, and the other in the Palazzo del Popolo, the new town hall that was completed in 1298.

The former, the Museo d'Arte Sacra, hosts the treasures of the Church and a variety of Etruscan pots and urns found in the surrounding countryside over the centuries (if you take a walk in the fields you will still find Etruscan pot shards today). The latter, which is the town art gallery, has two nice 12th century crucifixes, several Gothic altarpieces, including one showing scenes from the life of Saint Gimignano, the Madonna with Saints Gregory and Benedict by Pinturicchio, and some amusing frescoes of family life, with a couple taking a bath in a tub and going to bed. The Museo Comunale also has the Torre Grande, which takes some effort to climb but offers a stunning view.

Next you will probably want to see Sant'Agostino, the finest of the surviving monasteries (San Domenico looks more imposing from the outside, but has been transformed into a prison). Leave Piazza del Duomo along Via San Matteo, and turn right just before the gate, onto Via Cellolese.

Further interesting museums are the Criminal Museum, a grisly private collection of medieval torture instruments just off Piazza della Cisterna (admission 8,000 Lire), and the museum of the history of handicrafts, a sizable collection of tools and implements with everything from a 17th century doctor's office to a 1920's Fordson tractor (outside Porta San Giovanni; admission 5,000 Lire).

You can also visit the fortress of San Gimignano a typical of the strongholds to which the population of a town could withdraw as a last resort. The view from the bastions is quite pleasant. During the summer it also doubles as an open air theater.

After lunch, you can, if you like, wander down to the wool-washer's fountain outside the Porta dei Fonti, an impressive series of tubs under Romanesque and Gothic vaults, or explore San Gimignano's charming side streets. Or, if you have a car, you can visit Cellole, a pretty Romanesque church about two miles away (follow the signs), which offers a beautiful and completely unexpected view of the town.

VOLTERRA

Volterra is situated near Pisa. It was once a flourishing Etruscan city and a powerful city-state in medieval times. Many monuments adorn this ancient place, situated atop a tall hill. Here, you can find the Palazzo dei Priori (1208-54). This is one of the region's most ancient medieval public buildings. Also the monumental Porta all'Arco is situated here; it was erected by the Romans over an existing Etruscan structure. The "Museum Etrusco Guarnacci" is composed of 25 rooms and shows more than 600 Etruscan urns found in the local area. The most known sculpture is "Ombra della sera", but you can find also arms, ceramics and coins.

It is a true monumental town, steeped in urban and artistic evidence. Piazza dei Prior is surrounded by austere palaces with portals adorned with pointed arches and "case-torri". The massive Palazzo dei Priori (art gallery) with its 15C and 16C glazed shields, is one of the finest medieval squares in Italy.

The remains of the Etruscan walls with the Porta dell'Arco are impressive. The town has numerous alabaster workshops. Wholesome ewe's milk cheese, cottage cheese, mutton, cured meats and hams are produced in this area, which is also rich in truffles.

DAY 4, 5, SOUTHERN TUSCANY

The southern part of Tuscany is much less well known than the northern reaches of the region. The attractions of Florence are so monumental that many visitors never seek elsewhere. Those who are more adventurous usually stop looking when they find the treasures of Siena and the Chianti wine country. But I would suggest keeping going even further south if you have time. Between Chianti and the hills of Umbria are truly enchanting towns, the historic vineyards of Montalcino and Montepulciano.

This region, which extends to the south and east of the Siena, has been nicknamed Crete Senesi (Sienese Clays), because of the sand and clay topsoil that was left when the sea receded from the area thousands of years ago. The sandy clay mixture creates some of the most bizarre landscapes, particularly during the height of summer when the lush green color of the spring and early summer vegetation has given way to blinding yellow and sand colors, reminiscent of the Sahara or Death Valley. Only an occasional casolare (farmhouse), inevitably perched at the top of a hill with perhaps a few characteristic cypress trees standing sentinel around it, disturbs the desert-like solitude.

The most historic of the hill towns are AREZZO, MONTEPULCIANO and PIENZA.

With less than 100,000 people, AREZZO is the largest town in the area. It claims many famous sons, including the poet Petrarch and the architect and biographer Vasari. The town changed hands many times in Medieval and Renaissance days, but managed to keep its focus; still today it remains a prosperous center of the jewelry business. The highlight is the central PIAZZA GRANDE, surrounded on two sides by the crenelated façades of Gothic houses and on the other two by stunning Renaissance masterpieces. These include a LOGGIA designed by Vasari, now the site of the renowned monthly antique market. Peeking into one corner of the square is the apse (or rear façade) of a 12th-century Romanesque church which fronts on a nearby street. In addition to the monthly market of antiquities (which is very famous in Italy), Arezzo has a large number of antique stores and, of course, jewelry stores.

MONTALCINO is a lively little town. The main piazza is vibrantly alive: people sit at the cafes to watch those ambling by; drink an aperitif or shop among the narrow cobbled streets. Visits to the vineyards, cellars and properties can be arranged.

Historically an important town its lands have for centuries cultivated olives, grains and the greatest red wine of Italy: Brunello. Stop at the Cistercian church of Sant' Antimo on your way to the town. Built thirteen hundred years ago during the time the Black Plague was devastating the area it is a spectacular construction made more so by its location. It will enchant you.

Continue onwards to PIENZA which is 6 miles northeast of the Abbey of Sant'Antimo in the Orcia Valley. This is a classic model of a Renaissance town.

In addition to wonderful churches, public buildings and private residences of all sizes, the town has a large number of antique and home decoration stores that are among the best in Italy. There are also many health food stores which sell local honey and preserves.

Each September brings a cheese festival to celebrate the local sheep cheese. It has a cathedral, palace, town hall and the buildings are decorated with frescos and paintings. It is Architecturally it is pure perfection.

Then continue, onward to MONTEPULCIANO. Montepulciano is at a high altitude of 2,000 feet and can be seen from a distance with its redbrick buildings. Park outside the town and enter on foot through the Porta al Prato, next to which a column rises to support a stone Marzocco, a lion which symbolizes the town's allegiance to Florence during the Renaissance. The masterpiece of this town is the Piazza Grande. On the hillside is the Madonna del Biagio church, one of the most moving churches built during the Renaissance. It is made out of pale golden stones preceded by a long avenue of tall cypresses, so typical of the Tuscan countryside.

The surrounding vineyards are the source of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a dark red wine whose name is the subject of many legends. Be sure to pick up a few bottles in one of the shops in town

ABBEY OF S. ANTIMO AND S. GALGANO

It’s well worth to visit this Abbey, a 12^th century Romanesque gem of pale stone set in the silvery green of an olive grove. The exterior and interior sculpture is outstanding, particularly the nave capitals. According to the legend, the sacristy forms part of the primitive Carolingian church.

The Gothic cathedral of S. Galgano missing its roof is truly a hauntingly beautiful sight to behold. Grass as grown through the floor, and the roof and windows are gone. What’s left conveys a grandiose and imposing feeling.

DAYS 6, 7, MONTE ARGENTARIO and BEACHES

Head to the coastline to MONTE ARGENTARIO. This is one of the very best parts of the Tuscan coast, the almost circular rocky promontory of Monte Argentario has the look and feel of the island it once was. Sand drifts silted the channel centuries ago and formed two isthmuses connecting with the mainland at Orbetello. The Tombola di Feniglia, 6 km long and 1 km wide, has a lovely long sandy beach, backed by tall pines.

The Headquarters of Italian World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is nearby, and the lagoons and promontory are home to many rare and lovely wild animals and birds including herons, pink Flamingos, and Corsican Seagulls. If you have time visit the unspoiled Uccellina Natural Park.

Crossing the lagoon by the road from Orbetello you will reache PORTO SANTO STEFANO, a lively, very attractive harbour and yachting marina. Very busy during July and August, there are excellent restaurants and an active night life as well as smart shops, regular ferries, and cruises to the Island of Giglio, Giannutri, MonteCristo and other lovely spots in the Mediterranean.

A panoramic road, 39 kms long, encircles the promontory from Porto Santo Stefano to the smaller PORTO ERCOLE. The cliffs are planted with olive groves, vineyards, and orange and lemon trees. In between the ports are areas of quiet, peaceful beauty.

We can arrange an exclusive sailboat excursion departing from Telamone if you should request it. You can choose an itinerary within the Tuscan archipelago: Isola d'Elba, Isola del Giglio, Isola di Giannutri, Isola di Montecristo and Isola di Pianosa. Fresh fish lunch on boat.

ISLAND OF ELBA and TUSCAN ISLANDS

Tuscany has some superb islands off its coast such as the Island of Elba and Giglio. The beaches are quite pristine and the vegetation is still quite wild. It takes 1 hour by ferry to reach Elba from Piombino by Hovercraft or you can fly from Pisa.

Portoferraio is the main base from which you can explore the island. There are excellent and simple restaurants such as LA CANOCCHIA (cl, Monday and Nov – April) on Via Palestro 3 in Rio Marina.

The ISLAND OF GIGLIO is even smaller and more exclusive and can be reached by ferry or hovercraft. Like a pearl in an oyster the Island of Giglio lies cradled in the warm blue sea of the Tirreno: Her clear waters earn her first piace among the cleanest seas of Italy and her mild climate offers you a holiday full of surprises in all seasons: Cristal clear emerald coloured waters, sea beds rich with fish, a rocky coastline of smooth granite, broken by bays, coves and sandy beaches, flora and fauna of great beauty and interest, numerous minerals, and everywhere the obvious signs of her ancient origins.

You can take the ferry from Porto Santo Stefano. It is not possible to take a car with you on the island since there is a communal disposition to avoid traffic.

We can arrange tickets for you for the ferry for you or assist you in purchasing them.

The island is also almost totally mountainous, with a maximum peak, the Poggio della Pagana, measuring 496m, little more then 1500 feet. From the top, particularly during clear weather, a spectacular panorama can be seen. Possibly, the most interesting feature of the island is the variety of its 28 kilometers of coastline, which alternates cliffs of smooth granite, with coves, bays and sandy beaches, and that always allow the excursionists the chance of finding a sheltered place.

THE MAIN TOWNS: GIGLIO PORTO, GIGLIO CASTELLO and GIGLIO CAMPESE

Giglio Porto, small but picturesque, with its multicolour houses, is the only harbour of the island. With its transparent waters (unheard for a harbour) manages to reconcile commercial necessities with touristic ones. The harbour, built by the Romans, remained untouched for eighteen centuries. It was extended in 1796, and in 1979, after an extremely heavy storm.

Giglio Castello, 405m high, is the seat of the town hall, which is surrounded by medieval walls, comprising ten towers, three of which have a circular base and seven with a rectangular one. The walled village, built by the town of Pisa, was later expanded and repaired by the Grandukes of Tuscany and nowadays its centre still remains almost completely intact. Giglio Castello, thanks to its narrows streets, often running underneath arches, to its balzuoli, external stairs for reaching higher floors, and to its Piazza XVIII Novembre, is a unique place full of charm and history.

Giglio Campese, the most recent of the inhabited areas, is the most important turistic centre of the island, thanks to its large and attractive sandy beach. The charming bay has on its right the Faraglione (an imposing cliff) and on its left the Medici Tower. The south winds, which enter the bay from behind, make Giglio Campese an ideal spot for surfing and sailing enthusiasts, while its west orientation allow the travellers to enjoy stupendous sunsets.