About this experience
Ever wonder why Italy is home to 70% of UNESCO World Heritage sites? In search of an answer, we will head to one of these places - the medieval 'Italian Manhattan,' San Gimignano. Known for its unique 12-13th century towers, wines and cheeses, as well as a special approach to preserving the past. All this and much more in our program!
What to Expect
Legends of Old
Riding in a comfortable car, I will pick you up from Florence, and in about 40 minutes we will enter the gates of San Gimignano. We will stroll through narrow streets, admire the 14 towers that scrape the sky as well as shiny skyscrapers. And we will climb one of them to see the beauty of the Tuscan hills and the city itself from a bird's eye view.
Simple Italian Joys
On one of the central squares of the city, we will visit Signor Dondoli - the famous Tuscan ice cream maker. He has won multiple times in the European professional competition: tasting his amazing treats, you will understand the reason. Ricotta with blueberry, saffron and cedar nut, red grapefruit and champagne, wine sorbet - choose your favorite flavor!
More Pleasure for Gourmets
San Gimignano is known as the birthplace of one of the first Italian wines of the IGT category. We will visit the wine museum, where you will learn in detail about Tuscan wines, their classification, and the requirements that must be met for the quality and production process. I will tell you the story of Vernaccia di San Gimignano, which the great Dante mentioned in the 'Divine Comedy,' and which Cosimo Medici I sent to Rome in barrels. In the museum, you can taste several varieties of the drink, including those aged in oak barrels.
After visiting the city, we can visit a sheep milk cheese production facility. This is a family farm located near San Gimignano. If you love cheese and want to learn how it is made, this is for you (not included in the basic tour and requires booking by prior request).
Living History
Next to San Gimignano is the ancestral estate of one of the wealthy Florentine families - Strozzi-Guicciardini. Once the ancestors of the Strozzi determined the fate of Italy and all of Europe. In the branches of their genealogical tree, there are many famous military leaders, writers, scientists, and politicians. The most famous of them are Mona Lisa and Winston Churchill. Perhaps you have seen this family in the Pozner and Urgant show 'Their Italy.' You will have the opportunity to personally communicate with princesses and princes, as they speak Russian. The estate produces excellent wines and will take you on a tour of the wine cellars with a tasting (not included in the basic tour and requires booking by prior request, cost 35 euros per person).
Organizational Details
- The cost of the tour includes a transfer in a comfortable car along the basic route (Florence - San Gimignano - Florence)
- Additionally paid:
- tower tickets: 6.5 euros per person
- anything you want to try: Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine museum (from 3 euros/glass), Dondoli ice cream (2.5 euros), tasting at the Strozzi-Guicciardini family estate (35 euros/person)
