Florence, Portofino + Cinque Terre

Upon arrival at the airport or train station, you’ll be warmly greeted and chauffeured to your hotel, carefully selected for its central location and warm hospitality. Birthplace of the Renaissance and home to a remarkable concentration of art and architecture, Florence rewards casual exploration. The Duomo's red-tiled dome dominates the skyline, while the oft-photographed Ponte Vecchio has spanned the Arno since medieval times. Narrow streets open onto grand piazzas filled with inviting cafes, galleries, restaurants and shops.
 
The balance of this day is yours to do as you please: You can simply relax after your journey or perhaps take advantage of your hotel’s prime location to begin your exploration in the City of the Medicis.
 

The city’s extraordinary legacy of art, architecture and culture has blessed Florence with a wealth of impressive sites to discover. Today, you can customize your vacation with the included privately guided sightseeing tour of your choice. Meals B
 
Walking Tour + Academia: Departing from your hotel with your personal guide, you’ll discover the city’s greatest highlights including the Duomo with its spectacular cupola designed by Brunelleschi; Giotto’s Bell Tower, one of the city’s most impressive Gothic landmarks; and the Baptistry with its famous gilded bronze doors. Arriving at the Accademia, one of the world’s finest art museums, enjoy a narrated tour of its most important masterpieces including, of course, Michelangelo’s David. This 3-hour tour is offered every day except Monday.  
 
Walking Tour + Uffizi Gallery:  Accompanied by your personal guide, delight in a narrated stroll through the heart of Florence to admire landmarks such as the Duomo, crowned by Brunelleschi's remarkable cupola. You’ll also discover the Gothic splendor of Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistry, renowned for its gilded bronze doors. From there, you'll continue on to the Uffizi Gallery, where your guide will bring to life the history and stories behind its celebrated Renaissance masterworks, including paintings by Botticelli, Giotto, Michelangelo, and da Vinci. This 3-hour tour is offered every day except Monday.
 
Chianti with Wine Tasting + Lunch:  In the pastoral heart of Tuscany, Chianti is a region famed as much for its robust wines as for its picturesque villages, rural charms and natural beauty. Departing Florence this morning in your private vehicle, you’ll enjoy the scenic drive into the countryside to tour the town of Greve in the heart of Chianti. After stopping to explore another of the region’s picturesque medieval villages, you’ll tour a local wine and olive estate – tasting five of their fine vintages accompanied by Bruschetta and cured meats.  This 4.5-hour tour is offered every day of the week.
You can also purchase any of these tours in advance for additional sightseeing to enhance your time in Florence. CLICK HERE for a complete list of our Privately Guided Sightseeing Tours.

With a convenient city-center location, it’s easy to step out from your hotel today to explore more of Florence at your own pace.  Meals B

 
If you prefer additional privately guided touring, we offer a wide variety of excursions in and around Florence… Here in the city, into the Tuscan countryside, and even to the enchanting Mediterranean coastal towns of Cinque Terre. CLICK HERE to see all of our Privately Guided Tours.

Bid farewell to Florence and set off with your car and driver toward the Ligurian coast, breaking the journey in the marble country of Carrara. Long prized for the extraordinary stone hewn from its mountains, Carrara has supplied the marble for royal palaces, grand cathedrals, and masterpieces by sculptors since antiquity, including Michelangelo and contemporary artists. Quarried from limestone transformed deep within the earth by heat and pressure, this luminous white stone has shaped the region's identity for over two thousand years.
Join your expert resident guide in Carrara to visit a sculptor's atelier to watch an artist at work, learning firsthand the techniques used to coax form from raw stone. From there, continue to the hilltop hamlet of Colonnata, famed for Lardo di Colonnata, a delicately seasoned cured pork fat traditionally aged in basins carved from local marble. Settle in for a tasting of this beloved specialty alongside other regional delicacies, a delightful introduction to Tuscan culinary tradition.
 
The day's adventure continues with a thrilling four-wheel-drive excursion into the heart of the quarries themselves, where dramatic white walls rise against the sky in a striking, almost lunar landscape. It's a rare chance to see up close the scale and beauty of the marble that has captivated artists for centuries.
 
Afterward, continue on to your charming hotel in Sestri Levante, an inviting town on the Ligurian Riviera, where the rest of the evening is yours to relax and enjoy.  Meals B
 

After breakfast, set out by private boat to discover the dazzling Ligurian coastline, one of Italy's most beautiful stretches of shoreline. Your first stop is Portofino c, the legendary fishing village turned playground of the rich and famous. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you’ll discover pastel-hued houses, a postcard-perfect harbor crowded with yachts, and chic cafés clustered around the tiny piazza to create an atmosphere of glamour and hospitality. Step ashore to wander its lanes at leisure, then continue on to the secluded cove of San Fruttuoso, home to a striking medieval abbey and the famed Christ of the Abyss, a bronze statue resting on the seabed some 56 feet below the surface. You’ll have time to swim in the crystalline waters, soak up the sun, or simply admire the dramatic scenery before returning to Sestri Levante.
 
Later this afternoon, join your engaging personal guide to discover Sestri Levante itself, a beguiling seaside town often overlooked by travelers yet beloved by those who find it. Wander its handsome historic streets and narrow pedestrian-only carruggi, where elegant architecture, inviting shops, and sweeping coastal views reveal the unhurried, understated charm that has long made this town a favorite hideaway along the Riviera.
 
This evening, you may wish to extend the day with an optional private pesto-making class, where you'll learn to craft Liguria's most celebrated dish from fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheese, and olive oil. The pesto you prepare becomes part of a four-course dinner paired with wine—a delightful way to cap off this enchanting day.  Meals B
 

This morning, your driver will take you to Riomaggiore, gateway to the legendary Cinque Terre, a dazzling stretch of coastline where five picturesque villages cling to dramatic cliffs above the sea. For centuries, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso have remained quite isolated, hemmed in by steep mountains on one side and open water on the other; their seclusion has helped to preserve their unique beauty and ultimately earned the region recognition as both a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 
Meeting your private local guide on arrival in Cinque Terre, you'll set off by train, the most scenic and efficient way to travel between the villages, since cars are not permitted within their historic centers. As you explore together, your guide will share insights into the area's fascinating history and way of life: for all its coastal splendor, the Cinque Terre's true heritage lies not in fishing but in centuries of terraced agriculture, an extraordinary feat of ingenuity that transformed precipitous slopes into a patchwork of vineyards and olive groves. Though the five villages share a common spirit, each retains its own distinct character with colorful houses, hidden lanes, and picturesque harbors. The place is magical and you’ll have ample time to experience its myriad charms.
 
At day's end, your guide will see you off in Monterosso, where you'll board the train back to Sestri Levante. Meals B
 

After breakfast, your car and driver will take you to the airport or rail station for your onward journey. Or extend your travels with us to anywhere in Italy and beyond. We can arrange your transportation, fine hotels, memorable dining, and expertly guided sightseeing.  Meals B