from 2 reviews
up to 9 hrs
Daily Tour
30 people
English
Been to Florence & Pisa already and looking for something different? This is it! Our private shore excursion from Livorno to the heart of Tuscany for a wine tasting in the rolling countryside is something truly wonderful but completely different from your typical tour.
This day trip from Livorno is like a trip back in time, thanks to our stops in the wondrous Medieval villages of San Gimignano and Volterra.
San Gimignano has been called “the Medieval Manhattan” because of its majestic towers, some of which you can even climb for spectacular views of the territory. Besides the towers, San Gimignano will charm you with its beautiful stone buildings and Medieval architecture, stylish boutiques, and local products (especially the award-winning gelato!).
If you eat too much gelato, no worries! You can work off your ice cream by trekking up to the fortress. Once inside you’re likely to find musicians and artists enlivening the scene, and then you can climb even more stairs to get to the belvedere with jaw-dropping panoramas of the countryside all around.
For a less strenuous post-gelato activity, check out the frescoes in the churches of Santa Maria Assunta and Sant’Agostino, or take a stroll around the exterior of the town to admire the handsome ancient walls and city gates.
The Medieval town of Volterra, founded in pre-Roman times by the ancient Etruscan civilization that once inhabited central Italy sits on a rocky plateau and is protected by medieval ramparts. Even though Volterra is small there are lots of things to see.
In Piazza dei Priori you will admire the symmetry and beauty of the square, and really feel that you have stepped back in time as you gaze at the crenelated clock tower. If you’re crazy about the Etruscans you will want to make a bee-line to the world-renowned Etruscan Museum; if you prefer Roman history, then the Roman amphitheater, which is in excellent shape.
If you were a fan of The Twilight series you can run around and try to find locations made famous by the books, or maybe a vampire or two. Art lovers will appreciate the fine frescoes in the Church of San Francesco and the many exceptional works of art in the Pinacoteca. Shoppers will love the boutiques and alabaster products. Shutterbugs will be snapping so many shots they’ll be blessing the day digital cameras were invented.
The terrain around San Gimignano is particularly lovely, it’s that rolling Tuscan countryside you see on postcards. This region produces white wines. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is light and crisp, perfect on a hot day!
Jimo110
Great day in the stunning Tuscan countryside