Country Tours
Country Tours
All tours have been carefully planned to give you a fascinating insight into the glories of Florence. See below for more information on each tour.Montaione and Castelfiorentino
Explore the beautiful villages of the area where you are staying. First, we take an easy stroll through Montaione, along beautiful old lanes with traditional decoration; then we visit the Palazzo Pretorio which houses a museum of artifacts found in the Montaione area, and finally we will see the church of St Regolo.
After that, we head to Castelfiorentino, to visit the church and museum of Santa Verdiana and the frescos in the new-opened museum dedicated to Benozzo Gozzoli, who is famous for painting the Medici chapel of the Medici-Riccardo-Palace in Florence.
Meeting point: Montaione
Duration: half day
Distance: ca. 11 km (transfer with own car)
Price: 12 € per adults, 6€ for children and teenager until 18 years
Other: special conditions for groups on request; minimum number required
Certaldo
A visit to the town of Giovanni Boccaccio, who wrote "The Decameron". Certaldo is a perfect medieval hilltop citadel, and very beautiful. We take the cog railway up the hill, with views over the lower town and surrounding area on the way. Then we explore the citadel and visit the house where Boccaccio lived and the church which is his final resting-place. Finally we visit the Palazzo Pretorio, the old medieval town hall. This trip offers stunning views, and on a clear day you can see the towers of San Gimignano.
Meeting point: Certaldo
Duration: half day
Distance: ca. 16 km away from Montaione
Price: 12 € per adults, 6€ for children and teenager until 18 years
Other: special conditions for groups on request; minimum number required
Trip to San Vivaldo, the famous Jerusalem in Tuscany
What makes the monastry of San Vivaldo quite remarkable is the "Way of the Cross", with chapels representing the "Stations of the Cross", placed a short distance from each other, around the church. From the original thirty chapels today there exists only eighteen. Fra 'Tommaso di Firenze had them built between 1500 and 1515. The topographical arrangement of the chapels completely reflects the "Via Crucis" in Jerusalem, thus recreating in this place a mystical and symbolic pilgrimage route. The real road to Jerusalem was made inaccessible by the capture of the city of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, and this is why Fra Tommaso decided to built his own. In the various chapels the "stations" depict scenes from the life, passion and death of Christ through glazed terracotta figures. These works of renowned craftsmanship are a testimony of the intense religious life and the expression of popular art in Tuscany in the sixteenth century.
Meeting point: Montaione
Duration: half day
Distance: ca. 8 km away from Montaione (transfer with own car)
Price: 12 € per adults, 7€ for children and teenager until 18 years
Other: special conditions for groups on request; minimum number required
Trip to Vinci, birthplace of Leonardo
Visit of the house in which Leonardo da Vinci was born in Anchiano, then a short walk through the olive groves to the village of Vinci, on the slopes of Montalbano. Picnic in an olive grove or lunch in a typical osteria, then visit the "Leonardo da Vinci - Museum." This museum located in an old castle studies the technical inventions of the genius: using wooden models which result from his drawings, you will see some of his most inventive creations.
Tip: On the way back stop at one of the famous Terracotta Workshops at Montelupo, which are famous for their "winter-proof" production.Meeting point: Montaione
Duration: full day
Distance: ca. 90 km (Montelupo included) with own car
Price: 35 € per person
Other: special conditions for families and groups on request; minimum number required
Circular walk around Montaione
An easy hike through woods and fields, partly on tracks, partly on country roads (about half of the way is on small country roads). The tour includes two short climbs and a stream crossing on big flat rocks. On the hilltop, in good weather conditions, there is a truly breathtaking view of the Monti Pisani near Pisa, the Apuan Alps with Carrara and up to the Apennin. Café stop along the way is possible.
Meeting point: Montaione
Duration: ca. 4 hours with breaks
Distance: ca. 10 km
Price: 15 € per person
Other: special conditions for families and groups on request; minimum number required
Circular walk around Iano
Easy loop hike around at Iano, a village not far from Montaione. Picnic lunch near the little church of Pietrina. From a cliff there is a panoramic view of Volterra and the stunning Tuscan countryside. Because of its romantic location in the forest, the church is now mainly used for weddings and ceremonies. Remnants of the former castle with its towers can be explored.
Tip: At the end of the tour lunch/dinner on the terrace of Osteria in Iano.Meeting point: Montaione (drive to Iano with own cars, ca. 12 km)
Duration: ca. 4 hours with breaks
Distance: ca. 10 km
Price: 15 € per person
Other: special conditions for families and groups on request; minimum number required
Circular walk "olives and wine"
The great variety of landscapes and counrtyside provides an opportunity for a nice circular walk near Montaione. In addition to the wooded areas still populated by wild boars and deer, the typical Tuscan hills are made up of vineyards and olive groves. Depending on the season, one can watch the people at work in the vineyards and olive groves, and sometimes exchange a few words with the farmers, who may even invite us to enjoy a glass of wine with them.
Tip : Wine-tasting and snack after the walk at the nearby cantina to relax and enjoy the wonderful view of Montaione. (8 € per person)Meeting point: Montaione
Duration: ca. 4 hours with breaks
Distance: ca. 10 km
Price: 15 € per person
Other: special conditions for families and groups on request; minimum number required
Circular walk from Montaione to San Vivaldo and back
Our walk leads from Montaione through the forest of Camporena to the famous Calvary chapels of the Franciscans in San Vivaldo. After crossing the small stream Egola and having managed a climb, we arrive at this important and unique place of worship. We then do a guided tour of the eighteen chapels dating from the sixteenth century, representing a symbolic pilgrimage, in which are depicted scenes of life, passion and death of Christ in glazed terracotta. The layout of the site accurately mirrors that of the "Way of the Cross" in Jerusalem. After the tour we stop for our picnic lunch break in a nice shady spot outside the monastery church. A similar path will take us back to Montaione. Return to Montaione by taxi transfer also possible.
Meeting point: Montaione
Duration: ca. 6 hours with breaks
Distance: ca. 16 km
Price: 15 € per person
Other: special conditions for families and groups on request; minimum number required
Hike to San Gimignano
After a short bus transfer to Gambassi Terme, we begin this particularly beautiful walk through the typical Tuscan countryside to San Gimignano. A varied route with beautiful views, such as those from Certaldo, will lead us to Pancole. From here we follow the ancient pilgrim road Via Francigena (last stretch on road), to San Gimignano. The town is world famous for the great number of its towers, which in other Tuscan cities are no longer standing, and for its unchanged medieval character. During the journey from Gambassi to San Gimignano we will take several breaks.
After lunch and a little leisure time to stroll around the city, we’ll visit the cathedral of San Gimignano. Then a short walk to a winery, for a tour and tasting, including the famous white wine of San Gimignano, the Vernaccia, and other specialities of the region. Return to Montaione by bus.
Meeting point: Montaione
Duration: full day
Distance: ca. 15 km, last bit into the village on asphalt road
Price: 45 € per person, includes wine-tasting and transfer
Other: special conditions for families and groups on request; minimum number required
Bespoke Tours
I am happy to design a program for you according to your wishes and interests, including, for example, visits to:
- The geothermal power plant in Lardarello
- The marble quarries in Carrara
- The monastery of San Galgano
- The sculpture garden of Daniel Spoerri
- The sculpture garden of Niki de Saint Phalle
... and much more...
Duration: upon agreement
Distance: upon agreement
Price: on request
Other: special conditions on request