Tuscan Opulence

9 days from $2285 air-inclusive                          

Email us: travel@castles.org to receive a brochure

Enjoy a magnificent villa in the Tuscan countryside, Renaissance splendor, picturesque medieval towns, plus Chianti wine tasting.

Day 1 (Sat.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2 Arrival in Rome, Italy. (Sun.) Meet your tour director and traveling companions at a welcome meeting with drinks and snacks at 6 p.m.

Day 3 Rome-Sesto Fiorentino. (Mon.) Sightseeing with your local guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings including The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Proceed along the Tiber for a stroll along the Via Sacra at the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman Legions marched in triumph, and finally visit the COLOSSEUM and hear about gladiatorial combats. An easy drive in the afternoon will bring you to Sesto Fiorentino, close to Florence, where you will stay in your comfortable villa for the next five nights. (FB)

Day 4 Sesto Fiorentino. Chianti Excursion. (Tue.) A late morning departure for hilltop San Gimignano, the most picturesque of Italy’s perfectly preserved medieval towns. Along the Chianti Road leading to Siena, stop at splendid VERRAZZANO CASTLE to hear about the fine art of blending four types of grapes to obtain the famous Chianti Classico. Taste the wine as the local connoisseurs do, accompanied by local specialties. The afternoon is dedicated to Siena, where you will follow your tour director on a walk through ancient narrow lanes to beautiful Piazza del Campo, theater of the biannual Palio, Siena’s spectacular medieval-style horse race. In the evening you will enjoy a lively dinner organized by the Torre Contrada, exclusively for the community—and you! (FB,D)

Day 5 Sesto Fiorentino. Florence Excursion. (Wed.) A full day to savor the Renaissance splendor of the Tuscan capital. Guided sightseeing includes Michelangelo’s David in the GALLERY OF FINE ARTS, magnificent SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heave bronze "Gate of Paradise," and sculpture-studded Signoria Square. The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing, or browsing through the many fine shops. Leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. For the art lover an optional excursion is available with a local expert to the Uffizi Gallery. (FB,D)

Day 6 Sesto Fiorentino at Leisure. (Thu.) All day at leisure to enjoy your villa’s park or pool, or join an optional excursion with your tour director to get even more out of your Tuscany vacation. (FB)

Day 7 Sesto Fiorentino. Pisa Excursion. (Fri.) This morning is dedicated to Galileo Galilei’s Pisa, once a maritime power to rival Genoa and Venice. You will have ample time on the famous Campo dei Miracoli to take pictures of the 180-foot-high amazing Leaning Tower, the cathedral and its baptistry. After lunch, return to your villa resort. Tonight a special dinner has been prepared. (FB,D)

Day 8 Sesto Fiorentino-Rome. (Sat.) A smooth drive will take you back to Rome. Why not join an optional Rome by night dinner excursion, sit on the Spanish Steps and throw your coin in the famous Trevi Fountain? (FB)

Day 9 (Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (FB)

The Park Alexander

The villa was built in the 14th century and belonged to several families. It was remodeled as a hotel in 1998 by Filippo Messina. Combining Old World elegance with modern amenities, the villa is in the small town of Sesto Fiorentino, close to Florence and still surrounded by the ancient "Limonaia" park. Amenities include a swimming pool and tennis court.

Meals: Welcome drink and snacks, 7 full buffet breakfasts (FB), 3 dinners (D)

*Airfares are based on departures from New York.

Departures/arrival taxes and fares from other cities will be advised at time of booking.

Single room supplement: $ 318

Triple no available