rick steves heart of tuscany drive

I would definitely take another Rick Steves tour and recommend it to anyone. This tour was awesome. The food and hotels were very good. This was our 3rd RS tour and we it was great. Every meal was distinctive. Logistics and planning were great. We are already planning our next one, "The tour guide in Rome for the Colosseum was AMAZING. "Hard to say. Had a great time on the tour. I liked the balance of scheduled time and free time. They hit just the right tone of humor, sarcasm, and their experience was evident in their presentations.". "Our tour of the Colosseum and the Forum with Francesca was outstanding. Don't have an account? Her passion really shone through as she shared about "our" history in a way that inspired and sparked curiosity. "All our time spent in Volterra was my favorite due to there being no crowds, a relaxed pace of life, beautiful scenery, great food, peace, and quiet. Everything every day was wonderful. It was a nice mix of time together and time on our own. The sites visited were wonderful and came to life through the guides. Shipping & Returns. "Arriving in Volterra and walking down the narrow, stone streets to our hotel. As a first time solo female traveler I could not have asked for a better trip. Really enjoyed the trip. How to choose? A youth choir was singing and their voices resonated in the cavernous sanctuary and everyone in the group was delightfully stunned into silence and awe for a brief moment and we had a peaceful break from Rome's frenetic pace.". Italy is a beautiful upcountry full of history, art, and great food. We are so glad to have chosen the Rick Steves tour for the small group of fellow travelers and flawless ease of travel. They were friendly, informative and brought the history of this region to life. These guides helped us to focus on key masterpieces of art and architecture that otherwise would have been diminished by the sheer volume of available stimulation. We had an excellent tour in Italy. Very good group dinners. Along the way, you'll enjoy Italy's distinctive culture, countryside charm, robust wine, and farm-fresh cuisine. My first taste of gelato right across from our hotel. This was our first RS tour and we were beyond impressed with the room locations, knowledgable and upbeat guides, safe bus drivers, 5-star group meals, and surprises along the way. Our Lead Guide Andrea W. (along with Assistant Guide Andrea V.) did a terrific job of expertly guiding us all on a memorable, interesting, fast paced and magical journey through the "Heart of Italy". It really felt like a "vacation" because the tour took care of all the organizational and logistics that I usually have to be responsible for. It was beautiful, unique, charming, and uncrowded. Also views of the Tuscan countryside from Volterra, high on a hill, as well as strolling along its walls at sunset and at night.". It was magical.". 2. The final group meal in Florence was exquisite. ", "Standing on the actual stones that Julius Ceasar trod on his way toothed Senate, and looking across the Forum to the platform where Marc Anthony spoke to quiet the riots. The guides were amazing. The local guides were so very knowledgeable and personable. That being said, I agree with DougMac. The ancient lanes, views and food were amazing. "Arriving in Volterra. From the beginning Our tour guide Dimitri was fantastic, the whole tour was very well done, fantastic individual tours of sights and museums, the accommodations were very good, the every other nightly dinners and Italian wine were much than expected. We started the day with breakfast and walk by our SanGimignano rental. Very active, as advertised. This was an excellent tour! Everyone became friends. The group of people who shared this trip with us was a delight too.". Our tour guide Andrea Wolf was over the top. Yes, I love having a car in Tuscanyparticularly for all that glorious countryside. We didn't feel like we were rushed through any of the sites. "Cinque Terra and the statue of David were the best!!". I love seeing the bodies emerging from the marble. The first was seeing St. Peters Basilica. "Volterra was my wow! It's not just the landscape. The second was hiking the main coastal trail between Vernazza and Monterosso in Cinque Terre, breathtakingly beautiful!". Nice combination of activities, guided tours, and free time. Getting lost in Rome with my sister. Volterra was fantastic especially the hotel and tour. "I enjoyed Volterra the most with the stories of its Etruscan history and culture. Many people rent from Hertz in Orvieto. "The old stone hotel in Florence with a rooftop bar providing a 365 view of Florence- amazing!! "There were so many "wows"--the Sistine Chapel, the walking tour of Volterra, the amazing food--I can't pick just one. I do hope the tour for Vatican and Colosseum can be longer. Both were knowledgeable and offered their own personal touch on the tour. Montepulciano boasts beautiful views and is also one of the most famous towns in the whole region. The only downside was the enormous crowding at the Vatican and in Florence. ", Overall, tour was great. Drive Hard on Apple TV This tour was excellent! (In bigger cities, this can be controlled by cameras, so a ticket is a sure thing.) Susan, I had a similar experience in Montalcino earlier this summer! It was a very spiritual moment.. Our Rick Steves' leader, Andrea was so good that she would be influential in our choice of our next tour. Every place we visited was wonderful. The best views, though, were from the back of one of the shops in Monticiano. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. If you have never driven in Italy, this is must reading. Loved the beauty of the tour.". This morning, we'll take a walking tour with a local guide who'll make Volterra's traditions and history come alive. I share a dozen of my favorite Tuscan experiences here. Walk in the footsteps of the Medici, sip aperitivi, and discover the cultural heart of Italy: with Rick Steves, Tuscany is yours to discover. But entering Volterra after having been in crowded Rome was like a breath of fresh air.". Our 28 tour members were friendly and bonded well. Sarah, our guide, was very organized, witty and extremely helpful. On our way, we'll stop in the countryside to sample some of the region's tastiest products at a local family farm. Light to strenuous walking (your choice). "I love being around water, and was enchanted by the pictures of Cinque Terre I'd seen. "The Tuscan countryside, the moment we realized our suitcase noise was heard all through Volterra, the Ligurian sea side, our guide at the coliseum, our guide in Florence for the statue of David, the alabaster demonstration in Volterra.". If you only want to do the drive, not stopping in any of the towns along the way then use https://www.viamichelin.com as your trip planner. Walking into history. We especially appreciated the expertise of the local guides. Tour was excellent! Tour members were warm, friendly, and companionable; all stayed healthy and were conscientious of others' well-being. If I must pick just one, it would have to be the charm and accomodations in Volterra. We had an amazing group of folks with us, along with a terrific guide. The sites, tours, guides, restaurants, hotels.every detail and experience a 10. "The peaceful and historic charm of Volterra. Rick Steves' Tours made this a trip of a lifetime for my husband and I. (Morning to avoid cruise ship crowds on the trail.) Hillsides grooved with twisty rural roads, lined with pointy cypress trees. Tops was pesto making in Manorola at Nessun Dorma at 10:30 am also from Guidebookoh yes, sweet young housekeeper, Martel, running the 72 Stairs at Torres Guelph in Firenze to bring us corkscrews, glasses and peanuts! A first class experience. "Pesto making at Nessun Dorma in Manarola!". "My favorite moment was a collective, last minute decision to write a "thank you" card to our guide Andrea. If Tuscans sometimes come on a little strong preaching the glories of their landwell, thats why. "The walking tour of ancient Rome - seeing the Forum and Colosseum up close - was amazing. Walk in the footsteps of the Medici, sip aperitivi, and discover the cultural heart of Italy: with Rick Steves on your side, Florence and Tuscany can be yours! 25 22 Rick Steves' fav Tuscany hangout Review of Cretaiole Reviewed November 23, 2014 via mobile Rick Steves rants and raves about this place. Our group was friendly and adventurous, which really made our time together enjoyable. With limited time, this tour provided 4 completely different experiences of Italyintense big city full of history and incredible sights, small hill town also with lots of history but with much more casual pace, beach and relaxing towns, then Florence full of amazing art. On our Heart of Italy in 9 Days tour among other things you'll need to happily. Ann did such a great job as our guide and our guide last time (Ben) was top notch, so again, the bar was set high. For my first visit to Italy, I couldn't have asked for a better introduction!! I appreciated that he provided the vegetarians with options for the group meals. The depth of its history, how it was presented and those amazing sisters was a treat to witness. Andrea's response was so heartwarming. Your best starting point would be Florence. Our main guide, Anna, provided great tips and kept us all organized. It was wonderful to view it on the lower level with no crowds. Some experiences were outstanding and unlike any other vacation I've taken, especially those that got us close to the local culture. Our local tour guide truly brought ancient Rome to life and we were amazed!". ", Italy NEVER disappoints! I was not disappointed. "The tour of the Colosseum and the Forum was outstanding. However, I loved everything. "All the sights and local experience like wine tasting and olive oil tasting.". The logistics were seamlessly dealt with so we didn't have to-just what we wanted, "Biking along the Mediterranean and thru tunnels in the mountains of the Cinque Terre was fantastic". "Volterra - the guide Annie and learning about Etruscans". "It's really hard to select a favorite "wow." I learned so much about the people and culture of Italy through our guides, David and Eleanora. Walk in the footsteps of the Medici, sip aperitivi, and discover the cultural heart of Italy: with Rick Steves, Tuscany is yours to discover. We all agree, as Rick points out, that the tour style and content brings together people of like travel styles, interests and a joy for travel and learning. "Our guides and Andrea. "So many "wow moments" that it's hard to pick one. "So many to choose from, but the Florentine steak was probably the best steak I have ever eaten! ", Interesting visits, comfortable rooms, excellent guide, smooth travels, "Being one of the first of the day tour groups into the Colosseum". https://www.italybeyondtheobvious.com/dont-mess-with-ztl-zones. I share a dozen of my favorite Tuscan experiences here. Using a paper place mat, we secretly passed it around and everyone wrote a message of gratitude and thanks. Great tour with a wonderful group of travelers, and lead by an amazing guide. Food was outstanding. From start to finish it is apparent that every detail has been considered. The tour members seem to meld pretty quickly into a friendly and helpful group, very informed guide and enthusiastic guide. It was good having some time to choose what we wanted to do. Panzano-Greve. "So many but I loved day in Cinqueterre. "Its hard to choose one thing, but seeing Michelangelos David up close and personal was amazing.". After an orientation walk through our neighborhood, we'll learn about the city's transportation system. My tour mate and I did a strenuous hike from one village to another, then soaked our tired feet in the cool Mediterranean waters, and completed the day by taking the ferry back to the village and our hotel. "For me, Florence was the best!! Everything was perfect, except when we flew home. Then drive to Orvieto and train back to Rome you'll have a much better experience. "Looking down the length of the Forum and St. Peters were definitely WOW moments. I also loved seeing the Pieta in Rome. Lovely people. 20 should be the max. ), the family-run olive oil farm (by two, awesome, powerful women and their dog!! She was very helpful arranging alternate hotel rooms when several tour members flights were canceled including mine. It was wonderful having all the tickets for each site prearranged. I really enjoyed the tour of the Forum and the Colosseum.". Having been on two other tours in Italy earlier in my life, the value offered in this Italian itinerary was much superior.

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