Luxury minivan guided travel and vacations
Discover Italy with your own private
chauffeur guide

A La Carte Italy Tours offers exclusively private
driver-guide tours. All our tours are custom-made
to suit your needs, tastes and dates, and are
run on an exclusive basis. We never mix
passengers who do not know each other.
Tuscany Tour of Italy

Tuscany Italy chauffeured tour itinerary in 10 days
The Tuscany Tour of Italy starts and ends in Florence.
People who travel to Italy make it a point to visit Tuscany. It is one of the important regions in Italy, popular for its art and architecture. Six localities of Tuscany have been declared as UNESCO protected sites, during the last three decades. Florence was declared as a UNESCO protected site in 1982, Siena in 1995, the Cathedral of Pisa in 1987, San Gimignano in 1990, Pienza in 1996 and the Val d'Orcia in 2004. Tuscany is very famous for its wines and it has nearly 120 protected reserves from where fine wine is produced. A tourist can also visit the marble quarries in Alpi Apuane, Garfagnana and Lunigiana (optional). This suggested tour itinerary emphasizes the Tuscan region of Italy, with visits of Florence, San Gimignano and Portoferraio. A winery tour in the Chianti area is included in this tour, as well as visits to famous attractions such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Tuscany provides an opportunity to view beautiful countryside and historic architecture while exploring the region where the Renaissance began more than 600 years ago.
This privately guided and chauffeured tour in Italy can be redesigned to suit your specific interests, needs or timeframe. Unless you wish otherwise, your guide will take you to:
Florence - Pisa - Lucca - Viareggio - Piombino - Elba - Portoferraio - San Gimignano - Siena - Volterra - San Vivaldo - Chianti - Florence

Evening walk on the Amphitheater Square in Lucca
Day
Our suggested itinerary begins and finishes in Florence
1
Florence:

Your very own chauffeur picks you up from
Florence airport. We start by visiting the
Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square). The Cathedral is the
Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, built in 1436. Its exterior is covered with green, pink and white marble. The A La Carte Italy Tours' guide will explain how its construction took about 150 years. That cathedral has the world's largest brick dome. The bell tower is, in fact, an independent building, designed by Giotto in the
Florentine Gothic style. Overnight in Florence / Fiesole / Chianti area.

Your private tour of Florence will take you to view the luxurious green, pink and white marble of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, which was built in 1436 in Florentine Gothic style. The cathedral took 150 years to construct and has the world's largest brick dome.
2
Pisa:

In your comfortable A La Carte™ Italy Tour minivan, travel to
Pisa. This is a calm and pleasant town recalling the past of the Pisan republic. The river system in Pisa prevented it from declining towards the end of the Roman Empire. We will focus on the
Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The
Duomo is a medieval cathedral with massive bronze doors. Its golden ceiling, its medieval pulpit and its black and white marble interior are breathtaking. The round-shaped building nearby is the baptistery, with an octagonal font that contrasts with the large round interior space. The
Leaning Tower was the campanile (bell tower for the cathedral). It started leaning shortly after its completion in 1173. It is the world's most famous leaning tower, but there are at least three dozen leaning towers all over the world. 3 nights in Pisa area.

Travel to Pisa and be guided through the 'Square of Miracles' where you can view the luxury architecture of the medieval cathedral (which includes a golden ceiling and black and white marble interior), the nearby baptistery, and the famous Leaning Tower.
3
Lucca:

We travel to
Lucca. Composers Giacomo Puccini and Luigi Boccherini come from here. Lucca's
Renaissance fortifications and gates allow for an interesting walk, commented by your A La Carte Italy Tours' guide. The
Duomo houses the Holy Face of Lucca, a wooden representation of Christ of the cross, which is the object of an annual procession. We stroll through Lucca's streets. The
San Michele in Foro church was built in 1070. Its facade has many sculptures, arcades and blind arcades. 2nd night in Pisa area.

In Lucca, enjoy a
personal tour of the San Michele in Foro; a 12th century Romanesque church, renowned for its four white marble colonnaded levels, which display an array of images of mythical and real animals.
4
Viareggio:

Today is a day tour to
Viareggio, a fashionable seaside resort. This is quite a new city by Italian standards: it was founded in the 16th century. Architecture and local customs are hence quite different from other Italian towns. The Liberty style is the Italian equivalent of the Art Nouveau. Each summer, a
Puccini festival takes place in Viareggio, in an open-air venue. Puccini's villa is now a museum and can be visited on this tour if you wish. Your A La Carte™ Italy Tour guide will offer you to sightsee or, if you prefer, to relax on the beach. 3rd night in Pisa area.

Travel to the 16th Century seaside resort of Viareggio and experience luxury fashion, and Liberty style architecture which is considered to be an Italian equivalent to Art Nouveau. Puccini's villa can be visited here, and each year in summer, Puccini's festival is held.
5
Elba:

Your A La Carte™ Italy Tour guide leads you to a boat in Piombino, an ancient Etruscan port. Short boat crossing to
Elba Island. The island was under various ownerships over the centuries: Ligures, Romans, Pisans, the Visconti family, or the French (
Napoleon was exiled there). Portoferraio is Elba's largest center. It was founded in 1548. Napoleon having being the island's most famous resident, a museum displays 200 works of art, Napoleon's personal effects, and other exhibits. Overnight in Portoferraio.

Travel to the Mediterranean island of Elba, which is famous for being the site of Napoleon's 1841 exile. Here, you can view the island's museum which displays 200 works of art and Napoleon's personal effects.
6
Elba:

Your A La Carte Italy Tours driver takes for a comfortable scenic drive around the island. Geology is key to Elba's development in the past. Copper and iron have been extracted from here for over 4 millennia. Its fauna and flora largely depend on the island's specific constitution. Spectacular, multicolored landscapes also result from the island's rich minerals. We catch a cable car (
Cabinovia) from Marciana to
Monte Capanne, the highest mountain on the island. From there, we are rewarded by a grand view over Elba, Tuscany and Corsica. 2nd night in Portoferraio.

Experience a trip by Cabinovia (Cable Car) to the highest peak on the Island of Elba, Mount Capanne. Enjoy the panoramic views from the mountain's peak including the island of Elba, the islands of Corsica, and Tuscany.
7
San Gimignano:

Today we leave Elba Island and head inland into
Tuscany and the Chianti area. When in Italy, it is a good idea to travel to the town of
San Gimignano. The town dates back to the medieval ages and is small walled. The town of San Gimignano falls in the province of Siena, which is in North-Central Italy. The town is famous for its wine and architecture. San Gimignano is often referred to as
the town of towers, as the town has been able to preserve 14 towers from the medieval times. These towers are of varying heights and also form the international identity of the town. The town has also many churches, such as the Collegiata and the Sant'Agostino. The heart of the town contains 4 Piazzas - Cisterna, Duomo, Pecori and Erbe. 3 nights in San Gimignano.

Your
personally guided tour of San Gimignano will allow to visit the Torre del Diavo and Torri Ardinghelli towers, which stand in the Piazza Della Cisterna, and the luxury, 14th century frescoes that decorate the Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta.
8
Siena:

We leave San Gimignano for the day on a private tour to
Siena. It is the capital of the province of Siena. The historic center of Siena has been declared as the World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The most famous structure of Siena is the main Cathedral or the
Duomo. People travel from all parts of the world to have a look at the Duomo of Siena, which houses the works of artists like Nicola Pisano, Ghirlandaio, Ghiberti, Donatello and Jacopo della Quercia. The Piazza del Campo is a shell-shaped structure, which is also a major attraction for the travelers and is famous for hosting horse races. The
Palazzo Pubblico is a great work of architecture. The
Palazzo Pubblico also houses an important museum of Siena. 2nd night in San Gimignano.

Your tour guide in Siena will take you to the UNESCO listed heritage town centre. Here you can view the unique, shell shaped, Piazza del Campo, the Gothic secular architecture of the Palazzo Pubblico, and the famous artworks housed at the Duomo.
9
Chianti:

30 miles away from San Gimignano lies
Volterra, a town with origins back the Neolithic times. The
Piazza dei Priori is one of the most attractive in Italy; it features the
Palazzo dei Priori, designed in 1239 with a pentagonal tower and a glorious cross-vaulted council hall. The
San Vivaldo monastery, in Montaione, was planned by the Franciscans to allow for a pilgrimage without going as far as Jerusalem. Finally, we conclude the day by a visit to the Chianti vineyards, and are introduced to local fines wines. 3rd night in San Gimignano.

Experience a personally guided tour of the Neolithic town of Volterra and view the pentagonal tower of the Palazzo dei Priori, and the Romanesque architecture of the 12th Century Cathedral.
10
Florence:

On this last day of your private tour with A La Carte Italy Tours, you have the opportunity to improve your knowledge of
Florence. We visit the
Palazzo Pitti, an early Renaissance residence of severe style, built by a banker. Nowadays, it is a large museum housing the
Palatine Gallery, with over 500 Renaissance paintings by Raphael, Titian, Correggio, Rubens, and Pietro da Cortona. Drop-off at Florence airport. This is the end of your "Tuscany Tour.

Enjoy a private guided tour of the luxury, former residence of Grand Dukes of Tuscany and a former King of Italy, the Palazzo Pitti. This palace is now the largest museum in Florence and houses over 500 Renaissance paintings in its Palatine gallery.
Tuscany tour of Italy in 10 days - prices
Our prices include: - private driver-guide all along during your travel in Italy
- minivan (limousine) with A/C
- luggage handling
- domestic flights in Italy (if mentioned in the itinerary)
- train rides 1st class (if mentioned in the itinerary)
- all entrance fees
- accommodation (2 categories to choose from: Boutique or Luxury)
- if you select Luxury accommodation, you will also have the best available "room" in that establishment ("suites" or "apartments" upon request)
- continental breakfasts
- light lunches (lunch is usually kept light and short so we can sightsee more)
- dinners in gourmet restaurants (for a Boutique tour); or in best overall restaurants (for a Luxury tour); in all cases, dinner is a la carte (you choose any three items)
- 1/2 bottle per person of best local wine at dinner
- all taxes and tolls
Our prices exclude: - international flights
- insurance
- optional activities
- personal expenses
To book: - please send us an email detailing your dates and wishes to custom@italyprivateluxury.tours
- or, if you prefer, please fill out the enquiry form
- once you are satisfied with the suggested custom tour that we will design for you, we will ask you to pay a 30% deposit (usually between 3-12 months in advance)
- the balance of the tour price (70%) is payable 60 days before the start of the tour
- A La Carte Italy Tours accepts
and MasterCard 
Please do not send us your credit card details by email. In our correspondence, we will point you to a secure form.
Cancellations:
- the 30% booking deposit is non-refundable
- cancellations until 7 days before departure: 20% of balance refunded
- no refund for cancellations received later
We will be happy to answer all your questions. There is no particular charge for a custom tour; if you wish a travel itinerary to suit a particular need, timeframe or interest, just ask us, and we will suggest a tour priced similarly to our advertised tours. Send us an email to custom@italyprivateluxury.tours .