Siena and Chianti

A great full day private excursion through the chianti wine region and the historical town of Siena. The Chianti area is considered one of the oldest wine regions in the world, as evidenced by the medieval castles and ancient towns that line the hillsides. One of the grapes (the Canaiolo nero) used to make Chianti predates the Roman civilization and was once known as the ''Etruscan grape.'' The name Chianti most likely was taken from a noble Etruscan family name, the Clantes. In the 13th century Florence created the ''Lega del Chianti'' to unite the three most important areas, Castellina, Radda and Gaiole. The black rooster became the symbol of the Lega del Chianti.During the excursion you will visit the charming town of Greve: The town is the unofficial capital of the Chianti Region. It came to prominence in the 13th and 14th centuries as a major trading center. The town square (which is more of a triangle) is filled with dozens of wine and gift shops and cafes. It is the host of the Chianti wine festival each September. You will visit Capannelle estate in Gaiole and taste wines of the area with a local expert.You will then continue to Siena one of the leading art cities in Tuscany. This city has managed to preserve its medieval character completely. You begin your visit from San Domenico, a church much frequented for its venerated relics of Saint Catherine, patron saint of Italy and Europe. Then, you will head for the magnificent palace, Monte dei Paschi bank, which was founded in 1472 and is the oldest bank in Europe.From there, you can reach nearby Piazza del Campo, the unrivalled center of vivid city life. Here, your guide explains the Palio, Siena's breathtaking bareback horse race. With a stop at the Chigi-Saracini Palace, you finally reach the Duomo, with its marble pavement made with a startling sequence of 56 marble panels.

Inclusions

Private car with English speaking driver at disposal 8 hours

Wine tasting at Capannelle in Gaiole in Chianti

Does not include

Lunch

All items not specified

Optional

Local Guide in Siena

1) Consult with our tour designers

Contact our office by phone or e-mail and speak to one of our tour designers who will answer any question you have about our suggested tour. They will listen attentively to your ideas and plans and suggest changes to personalize the tour based on your interests and budget.

Tel: 416 964 7600
Toll: 1-800-848-8163
reservations@roadtoitaly.com

2) We send you a Proposal

Shortly after your initial contact with our tour designers, you will receive a draft proposal based on your earlier discussions, normally within 2 business days. This proposal is a no obligation draft for your review and comments. Any additions or modifications will be implemented and a new proposal will be forwarded to you for approval.

3) You like what you see!

Upon meeting your requirements and expectations, you will be requested to send a deposit in the amount of 25% of total. Final Payment is due 45 days prior to scheduled departure date.

4) Buon viaggio!

Approximately, 2 weeks prior to departure you will receive a personalized and detailed day by day itinerary booklet and the necessary vouchers for the services to be provided, along with a general information section on the various regions of Italy.

The booklet and vouchers will include all the important information; addresses, phone & mobile numbers for all your service providers, hotels as well as the phone number of our office in Rome.