What is an Agritourism Italy Tuscany Excursion?

An agritourism Italy Tuscany tour is the solution to the regular Florence tour. Though Florence is one treasure trove of art and beautiful medieval architecture, after you have visited the Uffizi Gallery and the Boboli Gardens, you would want to visit and savor the Tuscan countryside that is dotted with endless vineyards, punctuated by medieval abbeys, and enjoy a more relaxing vacation, away from the crowd. The way to do this is by creating your own personal vacation schedule, or the less tedious and easy way of getting a local travel guide to do it for you. Lets' take the easy way first.

This Italian travel tour organizer can do it all for you. You can get your agritourism Italy Tuscany tour personalized by just telling them where you want to go, the activities you prefer (possibly some cooking lessons), and the number of people in your group. Or you can just check out their packages and find out which ones fit your budget. To get started, this is their website and contact information.

The first option, organizing a self-guided tour can be tiresome, but is equally rewarding. These are our suggested itineraries:

An excursion in Florence

This is Florence and should be included as the first part of your agritourism Italy Tuscany tour. Enjoy a full day at leisure in this beautiful city of fine museums and medieval buildings. Start at the center of the city and visit the Duomo, the Baptistery, and Campanile, the Academia (Galleria dell' Academia). From here, head for the Uffizi Gallery. In the afternoon, the Ponte Vecchio and the Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Boboli Gardens. Drop by the Pitti Palace if you have time to spare.

In the evening, dine, relax and join the Florentines in their daily passegiatta.

Tuscan getaway to Chianti

This is the second leg of your agritourism Italy Tuscany tour. Before embarking on this trip, contact the Chianti Wine Producers Consortium (Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico) through this website and schedule a trip to two or three vineyards in this premier wine producing region.

If you are not bringing your own, renting a car, preferably one with a GPS to go to Chianti, is recommended. With a car, locating the vineyards and doing a spontaneous driving tour around them, will be easier. Don't worry about the traffic. You will be surprised that even in the height of the tourist season, the roads to Chianti with scenery so beautiful, it will make you wonder, are not at all crowded. Leave Florence early, preferably after breakfast, and drive to the picturesque town of Greve, where you can sample wine and olive oil at Antica Macelleria Falorni.

For tips on wine tasting and wines you might want to bookmark this site.
An agritourism Italy Tuscany tour is not complete without wine tasting or savoring the gastronomic delights of this region. Drop by the Fattoria di Verrazzano, as this is one of the many wine estates in Greve that have tasting rooms and that offer tours of their facilities. A good place to get information and maps is the Greve tourist office located on Via Luca Cini, which is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 4:30-7 p.m.

For fine food, one of the finest restaurants in Tuscany, is the The Hotel Restaurant Giovanni da Verrazzano situated in the main square in Greve in Chianti, in the heart of Chianti Classico. If you want to include a cooking tour, contact this cooking tour organizer.

Other vineyards and estates you will pass and want to check out before you reach Greve in Chianti during this agritourism Italy Tuscany tour:

• Castello di Vicchiomaggio, from the 13th century which was transformed into a villa in the 16th century
• Castello di Uzzano

In the surrounding areas go to Strada then La Panca and enjoy the lovely landscape and majestic architecturally unique buildings. Stop at Castello di Sezzate. Then to Borgo di Cintola. From here you reach the imposing Vallombrosian Abbey Montescalari which has been transformed into a farm.

Since you are in the area, you might as well go to Monte San Michele, the highest mountain in the Chianti region. There is a small hotel-restaurant where you can taste the typical dishes of the Chianti region, rest or contemplate whether to stay awhile or move on to your next stop.

Museums in Chianti

Chianti has its own share of arts and relics for the art and museum buff. This might be an agritourism Italy Tuscany tour, but you might want to check out this link for a list and description of each: Chianti Museums.

Restaurants in Greve in Chianti

Though you won't run out of choices for places to eat in this town, you might want to check out these Chianti Restaurants before embarking on a trip to Chianti.

As part of your agritourism Italy Tuscany tour, spend a day each in Arezzo and Siena.

For those who hate to ask for directions, a GPS might be able to help you. Visit our travel store.