Art, medieval castles and excellent wines. Tuscany

CHAPTER 2

Chianti Classico

Our guide then accompanied us to a typical trattoria for lunch. The tables, set close together, created a convivial atmosphere; the chequered tablecloths made perfect sense, as if we were participating in a traditional Sunday meal. Family photographs were neatly arranged on the walls, and old bottles of Chianti stood proudly on shelves — the vintage fiaschi, round‑bellied glass bottles wrapped in a woven cradle of pale straw. We even struggled a bit to pronounce the word.

In the afternoon, with some time at leisure, we decided to return to Oltrarno in search of leather items — a small treasure hunt through artisan shops where the scent of tanned hides and polished wood lingers in the air. Florence, once again, revealed itself not only as a city of masterpieces, but as a living tapestry of craft, tradition, and quiet elegance.

CHAPTER 1

Firenze

Before reaching our next accommodation, we stopped at an imposing and slightly mysterious castle, built in neo‑Gothic style and surrounded by high medieval walls. Here, Chianti Classico was born in 1872. There is even a famous quote: “Chianti Classico is Manhattan, Chianti are the boroughs.” We took a pleasant walk through the palace gardens before tasting their wines, including an excellent cru. They also produce superb olive oil, made from intensely green olives with a slightly fruity aroma.

Slightly red‑cheeked, we reached our room — this is where we will stay tonight, a modern yet traditional space furnished with great care. Dinner was served: a traditional stew… cooked with Chianti wine, needless to say.

CHAPTER 3

An eagle, an owl, a dragon. And brunello.

Just as we are ready to leave Siena, we see a small group of young men passing by, waving traditional banners. It would be nice if they were here for us…

But we are here for the best wines. And a Tuscan tour would be unthinkable without one of Italy’s finest — Brunello di Montalcino. Montalcino lies in the southern part of Tuscany, just an hour away. This time we chose a family‑run winery, managed by generations for many years. We are happy to feel the authenticity of the place. We immediately feel at home — there is harmony, real life, and a deep love for winemaking.

The vineyards that produce the estate’s wine lie at an altitude of over 500 meters, with breezy exposures and significant temperature variations between day and night. Under these conditions, the wine develops intensity while retaining fine tannins.

The wines are aged in oak barrels, allowing them to develop slowly and gradually — in this way, they acquire complexity while keeping their tannins soft. We taste the wines on a panoramic terrace overlooking the Val d’Orcia. The Brunello is excellent: ruby‑colored, with a pleasant aroma of red berries and cherry. After greeting the owners, we leave, happy to have chosen a place that truly breathes authenticity.

CHAPTER 4

And in Manhattan we are

We are here to try to become Tuscan for a day, to learn how to cook a traditional dish. I have never been a good cook, but when the chef handed me an apron with a friendly prego, signori, ben arrivati, I somehow felt convinced. He didn’t simply demonstrate; he invited us to feel what it means to be Tuscan. His hands moved with calm certainty. You knead dough that feels alive beneath your palms, warm and elastic. Herbs release their perfume as you chop them; garlic crackles softly in the pan. Surrounded by the scents of rosemary, sage, olive oil, and fresh ingredients, we try to make fresh pasta with a filling — easier said than done.

After a delicious lunch — this interactive and deeply Tuscan afternoon — and while sipping the fresh Vernaccia produced right here on the estate, we understand that Tuscany is not just a region. It is a lifestyle, deeply rooted in tradition. I hope we can return soon; we still have to taste some Carmignano, Vino Nobile, and learn the secrets of Sassicaia.

Florence is not the starting point of the tour, yet it is a must‑see gem — a city that feels like the luminous heart of Tuscany. Florence is a breath of golden light, where the Arno glides like a quiet poem and marble domes rise as if answering heaven. Its streets unfurl Renaissance whispers; galleries cradle immortal beauty; and every bridge, tower, and piazza feels like a heartbeat carved in time, echoing centuries of artistry and ambition.

A visit with a professional guide specialized in Renaissance art is essential to truly understand the city’s soul. We chose the well‑known Galleria dell’Accademia, eager to finally see Michelangelo’s David. We had always been curious about the statue — and indeed, it is astonishing, a reminder that beauty can be both fragile and fearless. He embodies perfect human proportion, carved with an almost supernatural clarity, standing as a symbol of youthful courage and the triumph of human creativity.

A walk through the city centre revealed both the glory of Florence’s past and the vibrancy of its present. We enjoyed a leisurely stroll with our guide, catching glimpses of art studios and the goldsmiths of the Ponte Vecchio, then crossing toward Oltrarno, the realm of leather workshops and artisans who keep ancient crafts alive. We almost decided to join a marbled‑paper workshop — it must be a genuine experience — but perhaps it was simply too much for one day.

We had a quick lunch at the castle restaurant. The entrance, built of stone bricks covered in climbing plants, promised an authentic experience — and we were not mistaken. We opted for a simple dish: bottoni, fresh pasta filled with lamb cooked with aromatic herbs.

Before reaching our next accommodation, we stopped at an imposing and slightly mysterious castle, built in neo‑Gothic style and surrounded by high medieval walls. Here, Chianti Classico was born in 1872. There is even a famous quote: “Chianti Classico is Manhattan, Chianti are the boroughs.” We took a pleasant walk through the palace gardens before tasting their wines, including an excellent cru. They also produce superb olive oil, made from intensely green olives with a slightly fruity aroma.

Slightly red‑cheeked, we reached our room — this is where we will stay tonight, a modern yet traditional space furnished with great care. Dinner was served: a traditional stew… cooked with Chianti wine, needless to say.

We had a quick lunch at the castle restaurant. The entrance, built of stone bricks covered in climbing plants, promised an authentic experience — and we were not mistaken. We opted for a simple dish: bottoni, fresh pasta filled with lamb cooked with aromatic herbs.

“Under the Tuscan Sun” comes to mind. We head south, feeling slightly guilty for not spending more time in Florence. Now we are in Siena. Siena tells a different story — winding streets that breathe history, where proud contrade have shaped identity and devotion for centuries. Battles, banners, and sacred rituals speak of the fierce and vibrant soul that still pulses through its ancient stones.

We first enter one of the Contrada museums. A contrada is one of Siena’s seventeen historic districts: each has its own symbol, colors, traditions, identity, and flag. Il cor che m’arde divien fiamma in bocca — “The heart that burns becomes flame in the mouth” — their motto expresses the contrada’s traditional ardore. That is pride. With great interest, we visit several rooms, including the oratory and the costume hall.

We continue toward the center to admire Siena’s cathedral, rising in black‑and‑white marble stripes as proof of its majesty. As our guide explains, it is almost a symbolic signature of the town’s identity, reflecting the traditional hues of its medieval coat of arms. Of course, we could not miss the central square, Piazza del Palio, with its distinctive shell‑shaped layout. Twice a year it becomes the stage for the famous Palio di Siena, a traditional horse race that transforms the piazza into a vibrant arena filled with cheering crowds and the colourful flags of the city’s contrade. Every corner of the square tells a story — banners unfurled, contrade singing their colours, a race that is not a sport but the very identity of the town. Each contrada has a symbol, often an animal. I wonder what the identity of the Caterpillar contrada might be…

We are almost at the end of our Tuscan journey, but there is still one place everyone should see. As you approach it, you immediately notice its silhouette of mighty towers — a distant city rising above winding roads, rows of olive trees, and tall cypresses. The medieval Manhattan, as they call San Gimignano: a hilltop borgo with an incredible skyline, fourteen towers that have survived to this day, reminders of the families who once competed to build higher and stronger structures to display their wealth and influence.

Certainly, we were not the only ones who had the idea to visit; the place felt slightly crowded, yet it didn’t bother us. We were here to breathe the atmosphere of bygone times — a town that still retains its spirit and charm. A gently uphill street leads to its center, an exceptional testimony to medieval civilization: little squares and stone lanes, wells and fountains…

You soon notice a small group of people taking photos in front of one of the best ice‑cream parlors in Tuscany — perhaps in all of Italy. Saffron gelato: that’s the one you should try. You really should.

Hurry now, we must be on time! And on time we arrived at a charming podere, an estate that produces its own olive oil and wine. The view of San Gimignano’s towers rising above the olive groves is unique — you are instantly transported into a world of its own.

• Transfers to / from the airports of Milan or Turin

• Personal driver - no worries for you

• Accomodation at selected hotels (breakfast included)

• Local guides in the selected areas

• Visit of the selected vineries

• Lunches & dinners arranged

Included services but will be tailored for you:

• visiting Montalcino and the underground wine cellars

• enjoy a boat tour on Arno river in Florence

• add a couple of days for visiting the Maremma coast and taste some excellent Sassicaia

• (not leaving Tuscany)

Private transfers upon arrival and departure will be be arranged in acccordance to flight/train schedules.

Suitable for individuals and groups of 10-15 guests

Being a tour focused on wines we advise opting for a car/minivan/minibus with a driver

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