8 Days in Italy

Once we've casually gotten up and moving and enjoyed breakfast, we'll depart on an early-afternoon coach for the 2-hour trip into the heart of Tuscany.  On arrival, we'll be welcomed to our castle compound by the Gangale family, who will be our hosts in this town of 2,000 people oozing with traditional Italian character. 

The remainder of this day and the full next day are all about exploring our neighbourhood, enjoying our stunning property, and visiting some of the nearby wineries and hilltop towns with their beautiful architecture, unique shops, and stunning vistas.  Our own property, with its large pool area, bell tower, and multiple buildings is a destination itself and you'll want to devote some time to exploring the property.  Of course, if you'd like to just grab a glass of Chianti and bask in the sun poolside, that's encouraged too!

On day 4 we'll head out on a day trip to Pisa, and the surrounding region.  Of course, of one the biggest highlights of the area is the iconic leaning tower here and we'll make sure we get our best selfies with it before exploring the gorgeous sites surrounding it as well.  We'll be joined by a local Italian tour guide who will spend the day with us, sharing their vast knowledge of the area with us.

The city of Pisa, with its 3000-year old history, is one of the great art cities of the world with plenty of beautiful alleys, squares, and markets to get lost in.  It's an authentic Italian city full of history and charm.  Come for the tower, but fall in love with the beauty of this ancient city before we continue on to Lucca in the afternoon.  The town of Lucca is famous for its fantastic medieval city walls that still encircle most of the historic old town, in addition to serving as an important meeting place for Julius Caesar and Crassus.  The unqiuely Italian architecture and character of Lucca makes it a highlight of the Tuscany region.

We understand that some travelers love soaking in all the knowledge of a local tour guide on a walking tour, while others prefer to explore on their own.  That's why we'll always set a meeting place/time and you're welcome to stick with the group/guide, or wander and return when it's time to continue on.

Siena is located just a few rolling hills away from our castle home, about 30 minutes drive, and is most well known for the fiercely competitive Palio horse race, which is held in the main streets of the city each summer.  A horse race like no other, this event has also included competitions such as flag throwing and even fist fights since it began in the 11th century.

Once a very wealthy independent city-state during the Middle Ages, Siena was defeated and descended into poverty for hundreds of years, which is a big reason why the lovely Medieval buildings were never torn down and replaced with modern structures.  It's those medieval structures and the authentic Tuscan charm that makes Siena a destination not to be missed.

After spending the morning at the castle, we'll head to Siena for the afternoon with a local gay tour guide who will show us the most impressive sites around the town, before enjoying dinner and wine at a beautiful local patio restaurant.

Our 6th day is totally open for you to either take a break and spend a gorgeous day at the pool or, if you'd rather keep busy, we'll visit some of the nearby villages to try the local cheeses and wines on offer.  There are plenty of unique villages in the surrounding area, all ready to be explored, including our own local community at our doorstep.

One of the most popular options on this day is a trip into the heart of the beautiful Chianti region where world-class wines and local cheeses and meats await with a postcard-perfect view.  From there, our private lunch is in a town of just 30 people, home to an incredible eatery with, quite possibly, the best lunch you've had in a very long time.

Your Detours trip leaders will be with you to ensure you've got plenty of options and advice for your free day.

The highlight for many in Tuscany, Florence is world renowned for its culture, Tuscan cuisine, Renaissance art, architecture and monuments.  It's romantic, enchanting and utterly irresistible, and it's only 80 minutes from our castle.

We'll head to Florence with a local guide just after lunch to spend the whole of the afternoon soaking up the beauty of this city.  Our guide will take us on a walking tour through the afternoon to ensure we experience the highlights and learn about Florence's seemingly endless significant history - including visiting the famous Statue of David too!  After all, this is the birthplace of opera, gelato, the Renaissance, and the Italian language itself, just to name a few of the reasons why Tuscany is considered the cradle of Italian civilization.

Once we've spent the full afternoon learning and exploring through the streets and squares, we'll head to a fabulous final dinner together before heading back to our castle for our final night.

Day 8 has come and it's time to wind things down after a packed week together from Rome to the highlights of Tuscany from our private castle home.  If you've got some extra time in your schedule, consider extending your trip to Milan, Venice, or Florence with our Extensions page located here.  However, you're also welcome to join your two Detours trip leaders as we return to Rome in the morning.  If you're pressed for time, you're welcome to book a departing flight from Rome's airport with a scheduled departure any time after 1:00pm.

After what has surely been an incredible 8 days together eating amazing food, meeting plenty of new friends, drinking fantastic wine, and exploring some of the most beautful places in Italy, we'll say our goodbye-for-now's on this 8th day and look forward to our next adventure together!