Tuscany & the Cinque Terre Cultural Walking Tour

• Gather in Florence, where a short journey into Chianti leads to a private visit and tasting at one of the famed wineries, followed by a scenic walk to our hotel, a historic villa that dates to the 16th century and is owned by a count and countess.

• Walk past silvery olive groves to visit a shepherd who shows how he makes sheep's-milk cheeses…and a chance to sample some of the traditional specialties.

• Follow a footpath in the lovely Chianti hills, to a vineyard walk that ends with a home-cooked lunch and wine-tasting in the private cellars of Castello della Paneretta.

• Spot San Gimignano, fortified with more than a dozen medieval towers, shimmering in the near distance as we approach along a rural footpath.

• Journey along the Apuane mountains to Santa Margherita, where our hotel overlooks the Ligurian Sea.

• Walk to the colorful, isolated villages of the Cinque Terre — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Rio Maggiore — with time out for shopping or a picnic. (Or skip the walking, and take a little coastal train that runs between the villages.)

• Explore the tiny monastery of San Fruttuoso reachable only by foot or boat after visiting iconic Portofino.

• Cap off an evening in Florence with a memorable dinner at our favorite trattoria, where in one meal we enjoy the whole tapestry of Tuscan cuisine.

• Skip the lines to see Michelangelo's David as part of a guided walk in Florence that provides an insider's view of the famed Renaissance city.

• Wandering the ancient streets to see and learn about Brunelleschi's incredible dome, the Ponte Vecchio, and Piazza della Signoria.

• Graze through San Lorenzo, the Florentine's main market, with its pyramids of produce, olives, breads, meats and more.

• Experience the world on foot and at eye level. Each day, join your guide on the most cinematic footpaths in Tuscany and along the coastal towns of Cinque Terre.
• Exceptional full-time local guides who become your well-connected friend. Our amazing guides are with you throughout each day of the tour, sharing their lifelong connections as well as engaging anecdotes about Italian history and culture.
• Small groups that provide you unrivaled access. An average of fewer than 10 guests per departure means we can offer you special access to sites like skipping the lines to see Michelangelo’s David in Florence, visiting with a shepherd and tasting his sheep’s-milk cheeses and strolling through a vineyard with the owners in Tuscany.
• Award-winning hotels are waiting for you at the end of every day. Luxuriate in the finest and most distinctive accommodations in the region you’re exploring, including a historic villa that dates to the 16th century and is owned by a count and countess.
• Eat like (and with) the locals. Food is a foolproof way into the hearts, homes and history of the places you visit with us. From gourmet picnics to coveted local restaurants, our meals offer you opportunities to explore native food traditions and fine dining.
• Handcrafted itineraries with all activities included. With our long-term friendships, we know our walking tour regions more personally than anyone else. So you get thoughtfully curated itineraries that combine explorations of the villages, organic farms, archeological sites and the people who know them best.
• Sustainable travel that supports the places you’re visiting. We put our local currency into the pockets of the people who live where we travel. It’s your guarantee that you’ll have authentic, up-close experiences on your trip. Best of all, our person-to-person approach helps sustain their ways of life.