Excursion to Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti Landscapes

Our trip starts as a pleasant excursion through the delightful hills of the Chianti countryside, offering an ever-changing scenery of vineyards and olive trees. Along the way, from the wide panoramic windows of our coach, you will be able to spot the medieval hamlet of Monteriggioni, enclosed by its famous walls which remain standing to this day. Upon arrival in Siena, you will enjoy a guided tour of the old town centre: you will walk along its narrow medieval streets admiring its splendid palaces until you reach the magnificent Cathedral*, of which you can visit the superb interior and the amazing frescoes of the Libreria Piccolomini. 

The guided visit continues with a tour in a Museum and an Oratory of a Contrada**, where you can experience the authentic atmosphere of the town. The Contrade (districts into which the town is divided) are the real core of the local social life, where inhabitants of each district compete with each other as they devote themselves to preparations for the well-known Palio horse-race. The contrada is not simply a district: it is a small state having its own legacy of traditions, memories and emotions, including its own flag and anthem. The Museum of a contrada, as well as its Oratory, is therefore the heart of the district. This is an intimate and secret place - with exclusive access - containing historical documents and wonderful relics of the famous Palio, as well as magnificent works of art which are normally not disclosed to the public. In other words, a truly exclusive and valuable experience. 

The guided tour of Siena ends in its most beautiful square, Piazza del Campo, of which the Palazzo Pubblico (town hall) is the focal point. Free time is available for lunch (not included).                                                                                         

After lunch break, you will leave for San Gimignano, a tiny walled town located on a hill-top, intact through the centuries and famous for its numerous tall towers, frescoes and other valuable works of art. There, you are welcomed in a small and fascinating museum, inside a medieval palace. A local guide will introduce you to the history and traditions of this wonderful town through a faithful and evocative reconstruction of how it was in the XIV century. Moreover, you will be able to watch how skilled craftsmen produce handmade objects according to a long standing tradition of excellence. When the guided visit concludes, you will enjoy a delicious tasting of fragrant Sienese homemade sweets of medieval tradition (ricciarelli, panforte,…) and famous local wines among which the Vernaccia of San Gimignano. Finally, you will have free time to discover this lovely town at your own pace. 

*On Sundays and National Holidays The Cathedral is closed to the public; it is replaced with the Basilica of San Domenico.

** When the Museum and the Oratory of the Contrada are not accessible, the visit will include the Opera del Duomo Museum (Cathedral ‘s Museum).