A SIP OF TUSCANY

Raise your glass to Tuscany’s triumphs on this full-day excursion to Chianti and Siena. Guests will learn all about the production of one of Italy’s most iconic wines and explore the charms of a UNESCO-listed town.

Meet your driver at your accommodation in Florence and relax on the ride to a winery located near Castelnuovo Berardenga. The property covers six hundred hectares, of which ninety-five are cultivated with vines, and lies between the Chianti Classico area and the Crete Senesi, a geological position to which it owes its unique landscape, terroir and scents. On a visit to the vineyards and cellar, accompanied by a member of staff, you will discover the estate’s philosophy and mission. Investing in new techniques, embracing biodynamic production, constantly experimenting and striving to preserve the environment are at the core of this winery’s values. Its activities are centred around the production of high quality wine and olive oil. In addition, some areas cultivated with wild herbs and medicinal plants, cereal-sown fields and woods, make a special contribution to the conservation of biodiversity. You will also find out about the regulations that define the production of Chianti which must contain at least 80% Sangiovese grapes and can be recognised by its distinctive label, the black rooster. Top off your morning with a tasting of the estate’s wines and a light lunch made with local and seasonal products.

Later, rejoin your driver and set off for one of central Italy’s most enchanting medieval towns. Your private guide will be waiting at the meeting point and make sure no fascinating detail eludes you as you follow a stirring trail. No doubt you will notice the symbol of Siena, the she-wolf and twins, which links the town with its Roman origins, though it was not until rather later that this centre bloomed into the glorious gem you see today. Legend has it that Remus’ sons escaped to safety here after the murder of their father by the children’s uncle Romulus, the founder of Rome. Siena is indeed immersed in legends, steeped in ancient traditions and replete with true stories of battles and bravery. The town is also richly peppered with wondrously preserved monuments, churches and architectural marvels, attesting to its extraordinarily rich and riveting past. Between the 13th and 16th centuries the town revelled in a golden age becoming one of the most powerful banking centres on the continent. A number of great artists were called upon to embellish its piazze and buildings securing its lasting fame.

Your guide will certainly show you around the 13th century Church of San Domenico, one of Siena’s best-loved landmarks, and explain why this site is closely associated with the life and miracles of beloved Saint Catherine. A collection of priceless works of art, including what is believed to be the only existing portrait of the saint, embellish the walls of the church but what draws thousands of visitors and pilgrims here is the much venerated relic of Saint Catherine’s holy head, carefully safeguarded in a chapel surrounded by master Sodoma’s remarkable frescoes.

Countless treasures await you inside the black-and-white striped Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta: the wonderfully inlaid marble flooring, the rose window by Duccio di Buoninsegna, the marble pulpit by Nicola Pisano, Donatello’s statue of St. John the Baptist and the gorgeous Piccolomini Library. Well-known for its illustrated hymn books and beautifully preserved Renaissance paintings by Perugian painter Pinturicchio, the library was built at the request of Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini, Archbishop of Siena, to honour the memory and manuscript collection of his uncle Pope Pius II. A radiant fresco cycle depicts a glorified version of the life of the pope as well as mythological scenes and ornate decorative motifs, all rendered with the greatest skill and painstaking attention to detail.

No tour of Siena would be complete without exploring the shell-shaped Piazza Del Campo, for centuries the pulsing heart of the town’s social and political life and known the world over as the atmospheric setting of the Palio. Your guide will elucidate the origins of this famous horse race that still takes place regularly twice a year in July and August and help you understand why the event continues to play a significant role in fostering a Siennese sense of belonging, re-evoking the rivalry that flourished among its seventeen contrade and its legacy of ward-centric culture.

The looming Torre del Mangia, the elegant red-brick buildings and the medieval aura of the city’s narrow winding streets are among the unforgettable impressions to be savoured in this delightful wellspring of wonders.

In the afternoon your private chauffeur will drive you back to your accommodation in Florence.