8. Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti with Wine Tasting and Lunch
Along the way that will lead you to Siena, stop at San Gimignano, a small and world-famous walled town located on a hilltop, which remained intact through the centuries. It is renowned for its tall towers, wonderful frescoes and many other valuable works of art.
Here, be led to the heart of the historical center, where you will have free time to explore. Following San Gimignano, stop at the charming historical hamlet of Monteriggioni, an amazing medieval village enclosed by its famous walls, which have remained standing to this day.
Enjoy some free time to visit this village. Then, crossing the gently rolling Chianti hills, arrive at a small and typical winery where you will taste 4 fantastic wines and sample balsamic vinegar and locally produced delicacies.
Upon arrival in Siena, after free time for lunch, meet your local guide. Take a comprehensive guided tour of the historic center, starting from its most beautiful square, Piazza del Campo.
Walk along the narrow medieval streets of the city, flanked by splendid palaces and historic shops, until you reach the Museum and Oratory of a Contrada (when open), where you can experience the atmosphere of the authentic and most intimate soul of the town.
The “Contrade” (districts into which the city is divided) are the real core of local social life, where inhabitants of each district compete with each other, as they devote themselves to the preparation of the famous Palio horse-race.
The Museum of a ”Contrada”, as well as its Oratory, is therefore the heart of the district. It is an intimate and secret place containing historical documents and wonderful relics of the famous Palio, as well as magnificent works of art which are normally not disclosed to the public.
If you wish, your tour can include a guided visit inside the famous Siena Cathedral, built in the 12th century, to discover the beauty of its treasures and works of art.