"My name is Maurizio. I was born in the fall of 1956 in the heart of Florence. During my adolescence the historical center of the city with its well-known monuments provided a continual backdrop for my upbringing and learning. I studied Art History and Architecture to discover the origins of the city, believing that the keys of the future lie in the past. I married a lovely woman in 1977, and I have 2 “children,” 26 and 21 years old. I began my working career as a fashion designer, working in the United States and in Japan. My son Matthew now works in this field, and I am very proud of him! One of my favorite books, partially damaged by the great flood of the Arno River in 1966, is dedicated to Renaissance Art History. I bought it in Lucca when I was a young teenager. I began working as a driving guide just for fun 12 years ago: today it is my life!!! I love to share with foreigners my interest in all things Tuscan: the traditions, the art, the architecture, the local products, the wine. I strive to establish friendly relationships with my guests, offering not simply a service but providing emotions and true feelings. To be quite frank there is no one part of Tuscany that I prefer more than others. I love to introduce guests to unknown locations where popular traditions are still alive. Being a driving guide is not simply a job: it is an endless journey, proving special experiences and learning exchanges. Each tour is a new discovery for both my guests and myself!"

"My name is Euan. I’m from Glasgow, Scotland, but I have been living in Florence now for nearly 10 years, preferring Tuscany to the colder climes of home! I trained as a squash instructor, but I quickly fell in love with the beauties of this land, and would be delighted to show you exactly why I stayed here, guiding you around in a relaxed and friendly manner, always willing to give you a fresh approach and insight into life in Italy. My hobbies include food and wine (Italian, of course, not Scottish!). I enjoy being around people and will happily help guests to make the most of their precious time in Tuscany."

Here are seven itineraries Marizio and Euan offer, for groups of up to six people (larger groups are also possible; please ask us about rates):

A Day in the Chianti
San Gimignano & Siena
Cortona & Montepulciano
History & Art & Wine in Tuscany
Montalcino for Serious Wine Connoisseurs
Lucca & The Carrara Marble Quarries

A DAY IN THE CHIANTI

Depart at 9:30 am from your hotel anywhere in Florence.

Spend the day tasting wonderful wines and exploring the world-renowned area between Florence and Siena known as the Chianti. You will leave Florence from the south, taking the winding and picturesque Chiantigiana Wine Road. Your day of tastings begins at a 13 th-century castle village lined with quaint alleyways.

 

Afterwards, you’ll move on to visit Greve in Chianti, the main town in the Chianti Classico region, birthplace of Giovanni da Verrazzano, who discovered the bay of New York in the 14th century. The town’s charming 19 th-century square is the site of a weekly market, and on any day of the week you’ll have plenty of time to stroll around the delightful piazza and visit the famous butcher Falorni, where you will be able to taste salamis, cheese and wild boar sausages. If you wish, you can stop in at a local wine cooperative which proudly displays over 150 different types of wine, almost all of which you can taste.

By now it is almost time for lunch, and your guide will suggest that you head to a nearby farm. Before enjoying a wonderful meal al fresco on their panoramic outdoor terrace, you will have a chance to walk through their historic wine and vinsanto cellars and taste their wonderful wines as well as their small production of mosto di chianti - balsamic vinegar aged in small casks for 15 to 30 years.

After lunch, a small family-run modern vineyard awaits you, where a wonderful Chianti Classico is made. The rest of the afternoon can be tailored to your personal tastes. If weather permits you can visit the interesting Chianti Botanical Gardens. Or else you can learn more about Etruscan civilization by visiting another charming wine town, Castellina in Chianti. If you have not had enough wine yet, a visit can be arranged to another fabulous nearby winery, Rocca della Macie.

A 60-minute drive takes you back to Florence with enough memories to last a life time. The tour is approximately 7/8 hours long. The cost of lunch and wine tastings is not included (price varies from winery to winery, with some wineries being free of charge). Please be aware that the itinerary may change due to opening and closing times of local establishments.

1-3 people: 4-6 people: 7-8 people:   462 EURO 522 EURO 565 EURO

All fees include transportation to/from your address in downtown Florence and private guide. Your guides are happy to pick you up and take you home to other locations. Please ask us for a price

SAN GIMIGNANO & SIENA

Depart at 9:30 am from your hotel anywhere between Florence and Siena.

Your driving guide will pick you up and drive you to visit the amazing medieval village of San Gimignano. Already a powerful community in the 12 th century, San Gimignano gained renown for its soaring towers, built to symbolize the wealth of the town and of its merchants. Situated along the busy French road that connected the northern part of Europe to Rome and the Adriatic Sea, the village profited economically from the constant flow of goods, textiles, wine and safron traveling along this medieval "freeway."

On the way to Siena, you will stop at little-known Abbadia a Isola, the “Abbey on the Island,” which dates back to 1000 A.C. This was the hamlet of Ava, who in 900BC married a warrior from the North and created this island in the middle of a swamp to host a church. On this man-made island, you will visit the stunning Romanesque church and its well-preserved artifacts.

After a stop for lunch, perhaps in the quaint 12 th-century fortress of Monteriggioni, a stronghold of Siena with no less than fourteen picturesque watchtowers, you will reach the city of Siena, the Gothic dream. Perennial enemy of Florence and cradle of the Ghibelline party, the two cities have seen 300 years of wars, battles, intrigue and betrayal. Siena's outstanding black-and-white marble Cathedral and Baptistery represent the city’s artistic wealth as well as its religious devotion.

The town hall is located in the 12 th-century shell-shaped main square, called Il Campo. This is where the famous Palio, the medieval horse race, takes place every summer in July and August. No rule is the only rule during this mad bareback race in which 10 out of the 17 districts of Siena participate by rotation. Before the race, half the city watches as the other half parades in a colorful pageant of medieval costumes and traditions.

A 50-minute drive takes you back to Florence. The tour is approximately 7/8 hours long. The cost of lunch and entrance fees is not included.

In Siena, you are on your own to visit the town as you like. The driving guide will of course give you many tips and lots of background information while you are on your way to the city. If you prefer to have a two-hour guided walk through the city, the cost is 120 Euros extra, paid in cash on the spot. 

1-3 people: 4-6 people: 7-8 people:   462 EURO 522 EURO 576 EURO

All fees include transportation to/from your address in downtown Florence and private guide. Your guides are happy to pick you up and take you home to other locations. Please ask us for a price

CORTONA & MONTEPULCIANO

Depart with your guide at 9:30 am from your hotel anywhere in Florence.

After an hour and a half of driving among the vineyards and olive groves of the Valdichiana area of Tuscany you will come to the hill town of Cortona, a city of ancient origins, most recently made famous in Frances Mayes’ books Bella Tuscany and Under the Tuscan Sun. Like most Italian towns, Cortona holds a wealth of history. It was an important Etruscan settlement and a significant Roman center until its destruction by the Goths. Built on a high hilltop, Cortona offers amazing views of the countryside - the Valdichiana stretching westward, and Trasimeno Lake visible over the low hills to the south. Wear your walking shoes, because the streets in Cortona are steep! You will stroll through the city center, with time to visit the town’s cathedral and the well-known church of San Domenico.

Around noon you will leave Cortona and head towards Montepulciano, in the heart of the Orcia Valley, known all over the world for its wine and its pecorino sheep cheese. One of the highest Tuscan hills towns, Montepulciano is built along a narrow ridge of limestone. It is a stunningly good-looking town, full of vistas, odd squares and corners, and endowed with dozens of Renaissance palaces and churches.

Your first stop is San Biagio, an unforgettable church on the outskirts of town. The architect Antonio Sangallo the Elder built this church above an earlier chapel and it is one of the most harmonious Renaissance creations in Italy, constructed inside and out from porous travertine, whose soft honey-colored stone blends perfectly with its niche in the landscape. Afterwards you will have time on your own for lunch.

Next your explorations will continue to the upper portion of the town. You walk through Via Poliziano (named after the Renaissance poet and humanist, who was born here), visiting the churches of Sant’Agnese and Santa Lucia. Montepulciano is famous for its vino nobile, a full-bodied red wine, so a visit would not be complete without a tasting. You will indeed have a chance to savor this wonderful red in one of the unique wine cellars, which are located in caves beneath the city -- perhaps served with a piece of pecorino cheese from Pienza!

After the tasting you will leave Montepulciano and head back to Florence. This tour is approximately 7/8 hours long. The cost of lunch and wine tastings is not included.

1-3 people: 4-6 people: 7-8 people: 511 EURO 576 EURO 609 EURO

All fees include transportation to/from your address in downtown Florence and private guide. Your guides are happy to pick you up and take you home to other locations. Please ask us for a price

HISTORY & ART & WINE IN TUSCANY

Depart at 9:30 am from your hotel anywhere in Florence.

This tour combines the best of Tuscany: a fascinating medieval village seeped in history together with the famous Chianti Classico wine area. The morning is spent in the amazing medieval village of San Gimignano.

Already a powerful community in the 1100, San Gimignano became famous for its daring towers built to symbolize the wealth of the town and of its merchants. Situated along the busy French road that connected the north part of Europe to Rome and the Adriatic sea, the village of San Gimignano profited economically from the constant flow of goods, textile, wine and saffron that traveled along that medieval "freeway". In town, you will have time to wander the alleyways or to visit the artistically important Collegiate church with frescoes of the New and Old Testament dating back to the 14 th century and the Renaissance jewel of a chapel dedicated to Santa Fina. Afterwards you'll head to another picturesque area known for its impressive red wines: the Chianti.

Your drive will follow the picturesque Chiantigiana Wine Road, passing ancient farmhouses, impressive villas, and rows and rows of lush vineyards. By now it is almost time for lunch, however beforehand enjoy an aperitivo wine tasting in a winery which produces Chianti Classico and Super Tuscans, walking through historic wine and vinsanto cellars. Your guide will then suggest a wonderful country restaurant where weather permitting you can dine on local culinary delights al fresco. After lunch a short drive will take you to Greve in Chianti, the main town in the Chianti Classico region with its busy 19th-century market square. You will have time to stroll around the delightful piazza and visit the famous butcher Falorni, where you will be able to taste salamis, cheese and wild boar sausages. Greve is the birth town of Giovanni da Verrazzano, who in the 14th century discovered the bay of New York. If you wish there is the chance to visit a local wine cooperative which proudly displays over 150 different types of wine, almost all of which you can taste. If desired before returning to Florence, make a brief stop in the 13th-century castle village of Montefioralle, with its quaint alleyways. Return to Florence, with memories to last a life time.

The tour is approximately 7/8 hours long. The cost for the wine tastings is not included (price varies from winery to winery and some wineries are free of charge)

1-3 people: 4-6 people: 7-8 people: 462 EURO 522 EURO 565 EURO

All fees include transportation to/from your address in downtown Florence and private guide. Your guides are happy to pick you up and take you home to other locations. Please ask us for a price

MONTALCINO FOR SERIOUS WINE CONNOISSEURS

Depart at 9 am from your hotel anywhere in Florence.

Spend the day in one of the most beautiful parts of Tuscany, sipping one of the most prestigious of Tuscan wines. After a ride of about 90 minutes you will arrive in the breathtaking area around Montalcino, home to the famous Brunello wine. Your day will be spent visiting two or three top producers (depending on how much time is spent at each place!) and enjoying tastings of this full bodied sangiovese red wine. Upon your arrival in the area your first stop will be at the well-known Altesino winery located on a beautiful country estate. Afterwards it is almost time for lunch, and what better place to enjoy it than in the town of Montalcino! Here you will have time to stroll around the streets, enjoying the panorama, the Medici fortress and the shops that make this hill town so special. You may want to taste a few wines at the picturesque “slow food” wine bar owned by a retired local wine enologist.

After lunch you will drive to visit the very special ancient countryside Romanesque abbey of Sant’Antimo, hopefully in time to hear the haunting Gregorian chants. The day continues with a visit to the historic cellars of Biondi Santi, the birthplace of the Brunello di Montalcino wine. Enjoy a tasting and learn more about this famous family and winery. Time permitting, another winery will be visited. Otherwise on your way back to Florence, you can relax and enjoy the landscape that has made Tuscany so unique.

The tour is approximately 8/9 hours long. Please note that due to closing days at the wineries, the itinerary may be altered. The cost of lunch and individual tastings is not included (price varies from winery to winery).

1-3 people: 4-6 people: 7-8 people: 511 EURO 576 EURO 609 EURO

All fees include transportation to/from your address in downtown Florence and private guide. Your guides are happy to pick you up and take you home to other locations. Please ask us for a price. Wine tastings are extra and cost approximately 40 Euro/person.

“WHITE GOLD”:
EXPLORING LUCCA AND THE FAMOUS MARBLE QUARRIES OF CARRARA

Depart at 9:30 am from your hotel anywhere in Florence.

This excursion is for those who do not want to content themselves simply by observing artwork in a crowded museum, but prefer to understand how a rough piece of stone can be transformed into a shimmering masterpiece!

After about an hour of driving you will reach the delightful city of Lucca. This city has very ancient origins: for a long time it was under the control of the Roman Empire, later becoming a very important medieval town, especially for the trade of silk and wool. You will have time to discover the city center, surrounded by 4 km of perfectly preserved walls. Visit the Cathedral, founded by Saint Frediano in the 6th century and renovated in the 11th century, as well as the church of San Michele and Napoleone’s square where the palace of Elisa Baciocchi is located. Elisa was one of the sisters of the French general, who reigned over Lucca and its territory for many years in the 19th century.

After leaving Lucca you will head towards the sea, and more specifically to the town of Pietrasanta, the historical capital of Versilia and one of the loveliest towns in Tuscany. You will have time for a wonderful lunch in a local trattoria. Afterwards, time permitting, you can make a brief stop in the town of Colonnata to taste the famous lardo, a typical Tuscan salted pork meat matured for several months in marble slabs.

Next you head for the mountains, the “Apuan Alps.” This is where marble has been extracted for centuries. The marble found here is unique in the world for its shine, which is why Michelangelo Buonarroti came here personally to select the marble slabs he used for his masterpieces - such as his David and Pietàs. You will have a chance to visit a marble quarry and the Walter Danesi Heritage Museum, an open-air exhibition where you will get to know the tools and accessories used by the cavatori (excavators) who lived in the quarry with their numerous families.

For sculpture lovers who want to focus on getting to know the secrets of marble workmanship, instead of exploring Lucca you can visit one or two local art studios in Pietrasanta to watch as the artists actually convert the “white gold” into fabulous art works. After your visit a ride of about 1 ½ hours will take you back to Florence.

This tour is approximately 7/8 hours long. The cost of lunch is not included.

1-3 people: 4-6 people: 7-8 people: 478 EURO 511 EURO 598 EURO

All fees include transportation to/from your address in downtown Florence and private guide. Your guides are happy to pick you up and take you home to other locations. Please ask us for a price