11 Night - Tuscan Itinerary

Basing ourselves in Florence for five days before a friends wedding, we have decided to explore the areas as much as possible and soak up all that Tuscany has to offer. Below is the planned itinerary we have put together, stay tuned on our social media pages for live updates and check back in a couple of weeks time for an honest review!

September 1st Day 1 - Arrive at 5.35pm

Flight from Heathrow - Pisa

Arriving in Pisa 5.35pm heading straight to the hotel we have booked for the one night stay to check in.

One night stay in the Hotel Cecile, doesn't leave much of a grand impression from the outside, so it will be interesting to see how this city centre hotel shapes up!

First night spent in Pisa, dinner and drinks are most definitely on the cards, we are planning to go to the number one restaurant as rated by TripAdvisor; I Porci Comodi a wine bar serving street food, described by visitors as a 'hidden gem' and 'the best food and wine in Pisa!'

September 2nd Day 2 - Pisa Square Of Miracles!

Following a lovely night's sleep in the Hotel Cecile we will wake up fresh face (hopefully!) to explore Pisa and where better to explore then the famous Square Of Miracles!

Piazza dei Miracoli, 'The Square of Miracles' in English, was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. Since the times of the Etruscans, the three structures found in the piazza have been considered central to religious life, symbolising the main stages of a human life: the Baptistery represents birth, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta life, and the Camposanto, alludes to death.

What about the Tower of Pisa? Well, we haven’t forgotten it but the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is actually considered a part of the cathedral since it is really its bell tower.

We will be travelling around by train and bus for the time we are here, the handy map below shows how easy it is to travel by train around Tuscany. Following our visit to the Square of Miracles we will be heading to Florence, where we will be basing ourselves for five full nights of Tuscan adventures!

Day 2 (part 2)- Florence Arrival approx 2pm

Check in from 3pm - We have found a great ground floor, two bed apartment with a hot tub and terrace for five days in Florence. What a way to relax after a long day of exploring and touring! Its 20 min walk to station and 10 min walk to the centre, perfect base for our adventure!

The afternoon/evening will be spent exploring the local area of Florence, below are some of the sights we plan to visit!

Florence has some of the most beautiful architecture in Tuscany and is full of culture and history, including Florence Cathedral, the Roman Catholic Mother Church of the city. Campanile di Giotto, a 14th century Gothic bell tower clad in red, green and white marble. Ponte Vecchio, the city's oldest stone arch bridge with stores along the top. Piazza della Signoria, city square surrounded by Palazzo Vecchio, Loggia dei Lanzi and other historic buildings. There is also Gallerie degli Uffizi, the world famous art gallery where you can see the work of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Easy Living Florence is an artificial beach placed by the riverside, offering street food and drinks all day long on sun loungers - Locals crowd around of an evening to enjoy local DJ sets and cocktails.

Leaving the evening to explore Florence by night, hopefully to stumble across local restaurants/bars and see what the city has to offer. It seems from research that a lot of Florence is actually closed on Mondays, (typical) but I have found a local blog which recommends how to spend a Monday and restaurants that are still open!

Visit the blog here - Eat, Drink and Be Merry - Girl In Florence

Below are a couple of food stops, rooftop bars and restaurants we might visit based upon reviews that are open on Mondays!

Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio

This small fruit and produce market is the perfect place to get a fresh taste of Tuscan gastronomy. Besides food, you can find bargain clothes, household items, and people-watching opportunities. Open 7am - 2pm every day!

There is a small restaurant within the market called Da Rocco, which has been recommend not only on Girl In Florence, but also on Lonely Planet, CNT Traveller and Trip Adviser!

SE.STO - Restaurant and Bar

An iconic venue in the heart of Florence overlooking the city, with an up and coming chef with Michelin background.

Although the food looks pricey and fancy, perhaps to fancy for what we are looking for. The terrace also has a dedicated area for the bar, perfect to watch the sunset.

Piazza Ognissanti, 3, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

Trattoria Sergio Gozzi

"Located in Piazza di San Lorenzo, 8R, just off the main square, the entrance is tiny and easy to miss. This is old school Tuscan food, at its very best. Marble-topped tables, the only decent house wine in town, fried polpette that make me want to sing and delicious pasta." Girl In Florence

"This restaurant was full of Italian customers and the waiter doesn't even try to talk to you in English... these are very good signs my friends! You are about to have a real, Firenze experience! We stopped for a quick lunch and the pasta was really excellent. Simple, but great. A wonderful value for REAL typical food, not the crap for tourists that is overly abundant." - TripAdvisor June 2019 review!

September 3rd Day 3 - Tenuta Torciano Full Day Adventure

8.10am - Catch train from Firenze Station (Florence)*

9.14am - Arrival at Poggibonsi - taxi or bus to the venue (20 min drive)

*train costs approx eight euros per person one way

10.00am - Arrival in Tenuta Torciano Winery where our guide will await us.

·Tour by Verspa of the Tenuta, the near Vineyards, and nearby Tuscan places.

·Visit to San Gimignano with our guide, free time for lunch at the town

·4.30pm- Return in Tenuta Torciano Winery

·5.00pm to 7.00pm - Cooking Class in Tenuta Torciano Winery with Tuscan Food and Recipes.

·Winetasting and Dinner with local products

Preparation of an Appetizer, a first and second course, with daily dessert

· Appetizer: Tuscan crostini, tomatoes crostini, sausages crostini.

· First Course: homemade pasta with meat sauce and truffle lasagna

· Second Course: fillet flavorings and green pepper, or steak with arugula and parmesan cheese

· Dessert: vanilla icecream with strawberries and balsamic vinegar or tiramisù

9.40pm - Latest time we can leave winery and head back to station

10.11pm - Last train from Poggibonsi to Florence (arrival back at 11.13pm)*

*Train costs eight euros for a one way ticket

September 4th Day 4 - Day Trip to Sienna

There is a direct train* from Florence to Siena once an hour, at 10 past the hour.

So after a leisurely breakfast we can head to Siena for the day!

*Direct Train costs nine euros one way

Siena is compact enough that it can be easily explored on foot. In a day you can see the main sights, enjoy a drink in the stunning Piazza del Campo, visit the gorgeous Cathedral and shop for local souvenirs and delicacies. But one of the pleasures of this Medieval wonderland is just to wander around its narrow streets and steep alleyways and discover all its enchanting details and hidden corners.

Free to explore Siena and enjoy lunch out before taking the return journey to Florence.

Best Pasta - Zest_Ristorante

Best Local - Osteriala chiacchera

Best Pizza - Piripi Pizza Urban Food

Once we arrive back in Florence we will spend the evening on the terrace in the hot tub with wine and sharing platters!

Thursday 5th Day 5 - Greve Festival and Chianti Bike Ride

Catch a SITA bus from Firenze Bus Station to Greve, they run approx every hour, take approx an hour to arrive in Greve and cost around three euros pp.

Pack a backpack with water and snacks as we will be off the beaten track for the majority of the day!

Wine Tasting in Chianti

Vino Chianti Classico

This red wine is, as the name implies, the most classic Chianti wine there is. Produced to the highest standards, Chianti Classico is made with mostly Sangiovese grapes. To be sure the wine you’re trying is a Chianti Classico look for the telltale black rooster on the bottle, the symbol of the Chianti Classico wine since 1924.

Vinsanto del Chianti Classico

Another classic Chianti wine, the Vinsanto del Chianti Classico is actually more liquor than wine. It’s made from white Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes that are dried before pressing. Vinsanto del Chianti Classico is generally served as a dessert wine with Italian cookies.

How To Go Wine Tasting In Tuscany’s Wine Towns

The DIY wine tasting gig in Tuscany goes as such.

Step 1

Arrive at one of the wine towns below.

Step 2

Walk into any wine shop in town and ask for a tasting. Some will be free and others will require a small fee.

Step 3

Taste all the yummy wine! P.S. don’t feel pressured to buy a bottle, it’s not required. Plus, I mean you’re on a bike tour so carrying around a heavy glass wine bottle, not really practica

On the journey look out for vineyards/wineries that advertise "Degustazione" which is Italian for Tastings!

Renting E-Bikes from Ramuzzi in Greve, they can offer us local maps to explore the area and there are 4 local towns we could visit (43km loop) around the Chianti Region - Panzano, Castellina, Radda and Lucolena before ending the tour in Greve where we began.

Stop for lunch in Panzano - Panoramic Views only 7km from Greve

Recommended for great food with a view at a reasonable price, Il Vescovino is in Panzano is open 12-3pm for lunch every day. "This place is a true gem. The view, food, wine and the service is fantastic. You can sit all day just looking at the Tuscan hills." TripAdvisor Review June 2019

Il Vescovino (Ristorante) - another gem recommended from real reviews, although the food isn't as highly regarded as Il Vescovino it is open all afternoon if we fancy a later lunch or drink with a view!

The Black Rooster

Back in the medieval times, Florence and Siena didn’t like each other very much. The cities were in a constant battle for the land between them that now makes up the Chianti region. In order to stop fighting and decide, once and for all, on definite borders for the two cities they did what any logical medieval person would do, challenge each other to a horse race.

The two cities decided that they would each send a rider out at the crack of dawn to ride towards the opposite city, and wherever they met up would be the border between the two regions. As this challenge took place before the invention of the alarm clock, the warring regions each picked a rooster to wake up the riders in the morning.

As the legend goes, Siena picked a white rooster and fed him massive amounts of food every morning as an incentive to wake up. Florence, on the other hand, picked a black rooster and went with the opposite strategy. They decided to underfeed their rooster hoping that he would wake up earlier and start crowing out of hunger.

In the end, Florence’s strategy won the battle, as the hungry black rooster did indeed wake up Florence’s rider earlier.

With a massive head start, Florence conquered the Chianti wine region and in 1384 the League of Chianti officially adopted the black rooster as the symbol of the region. In 2005 the black rooster was also adopted by the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium and can now be seen on the labels of every bottle of Chianti Classico wine.

Greve Wine Festival!

TIMETABLE OF CHIANTI CLASSICO EXPO (2019)

SEPTEMBER, THURSDAY 05 2019

17:00 OPENING Piazza Matteotti

Opening of wine tasting and "cut of the ribbon" cerimony

17:00 - 19:00 MUSIC WITH AMICI DI' CHIANTI Piazza Matteotti

17:00 - 22:00 WINE TASTING Piazza Matteotti

The wine tasting takes place in the main square of the town. It is possible to purchase wine directly at the wineries' booths.

18:00 - 19:00 "EIGHT MUNICIPALITIES, A GREAT TERRITORY Meeting garden Meeting the Mayors of Chianti Classico territory

21:30 "BORGO IN PASSERELLA" Via Roma Fashion parade in street

Last bus home is 8.15pm, a taxi is between 70-80 euros if we decide to stay later.

Friday 6th September - Day 6 - Check out at 10am

Trains run three times an hour direct from Florence to San Miniato, it take around 40 minutes and the cost six euros pp.

6th - 9th of September we are staying in a private villa for the wedding!

Monday 9th September - Thursday 12th September

3 Nights in - Viareggio!

Check in from 3pm at our first apartment where we will base ourselves for three nights.

The apartment has sea views from the terrace area and is a five min walk from the station, and steps away from the beach!

During our stay here we can relax on the beach at one of the local Bagno's, the beach is all privatised so we need to visit a Bagno and rent beds if we wish to experience beach life like a local!

Bagno Maurizio

Bagno Maurizio is ready to give you a warm welcome. Situated on the charming promenade of Viareggio, surrounded by excellent cafés, restaurants and shops, the establishment is just a few steps away from the beautiful pinewood of Viareggio and from the main square, Piazza Mazzini. Whether you are visiting the seaside resort of Viareggio for business or pleasure, the establishment provides a friendly and relaxing atmosphere at affordable rates. The private beach of Bagno Maurizio has a 30 meter beach frontage, offering a choice between 3 large tents of 7,5 square meters or classic beach umbrellas. One of the main characteristics of the beach is the amount of free space between umbrellas.

Whilst we are staying here it is easy to visit Lucca and Livorno. We can catch the train directly from Viareggio to both of these locations, and both come highly recommended offering completely different culture's and unique experiences!

Lucca! - The Walled City

Lucca is famous for being a medieval town surrounded by a solid wall in Tuscany, with many lovely sights to see it is a day of wandering and exploring on foot.

Within the walls of Lucca lie many historic churches, but the San Martino Cathedral is one which stands out. The Lucca Cathedral makes quite a statement with its grand Gothic architecture and mix of marble and brick.

Piazza Napoleone, this broad square seems too large for the city center that it belongs to. Lined with trees and often boasting a merry-go-round or various seasonal festivals or events, the square is usually a lively place for locals to meet. On the square, it’s also hard to miss the Palazzo Ducale Di Lucca, a Renaissance palace that now houses multiple administrative bodies.

Piazza San Michele is an L-shaped square bursting with graceful architecture, including the Praetorian Palace, converted banks, and the square’s focus, the Chiesa di San Michele in Foro. Taking center stage, this white marble church has a steep front facade packed with columns and statues.

One of Lucca’s most distinctive features is the many medieval towers within its historic center. Many of these towers can be climbed and have panoramic terraces that afford you a view across Lucca’s rooftops. Each of these towers is special and has its own heritage, but none are anywhere near as iconic as the Torre Guinigi.

Of the many piazzas in the old town of Lucca, none are quite as distinctive as the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. This is because this piazza rather unusually, has an oval shape similar to that of an arena. Around it are houses creating a complete ring. It’s not so unusual once you find out that this is piazza is actually on the spot where an ancient Roman amphitheater once stood.

Livorno - The Tuscan Venice

Located on the west coast of central Italy, just south of Pisa, Livorno is one of Tuscany's economic hubs. It is known for its massive, modern seaport and medieval-era fortifications, and as a destination for freshly caught seafood. There are other appealing reasons to visit Livorno, including a lovely system of urban waterways, historic and contemporary museums, and vibrant nightlife.

During the Renaissance era, defensive bastions dotted the coastline of the Italian peninsula, from Sicily all the way to the border with France. Built to defend the city against invasions by nearby rivals or foreign enemies, the Old Fortress (Fortezza Vecchia) faced out onto the harbor, at the entrance to the Quartiere Venezia. It was designed in a pentagonal shape to give it an imposing presence. From inside its walls, you can enjoy amazing views of the city's canals and terracotta rooftops.

Quartiere Venezia (Venice Quarter) is a unique, 17th-century neighborhood located in the historic center of the city. It's also referred to as Venezia Nuova (New Venice), for obvious reasons. The system of canals, common in Italy during the Middle Ages, ​was used to move products between merchants' homes and warehouses, and even today many residents still keep boats moored outside their houses. The Effetto Venezia (Venice Effect) festival celebrates this water-bound district.

Terrazza Mascagni is a charming waterfront promenade that's buzzing with activity year-round. Paved in a black-and-white checkerboard pattern, it's lined with marble benches, restaurants, shops, and a grand gazebo. In the evening, Terrazza Mascagni is where locals and visitors, young and old, come to walk, people-watch, and to see and be seen!

Thursday 12th - Sunday 15th September

3 Nights in Pietrasanta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bkiyTyTL2c

2 Train stops on from Viareggio is Pietrasanta, known as the little Athens of Italy. A medieval town known for its marble and bronze workshops, artists and monuments. It is named the Little Athens of Italy, thanks to the many international artists that chose Pietrasanta as their adopted country.

Our humble abode for these three nights is a 2 bed apartment with a garden terrace. The apartment comes with a private reserved gazebo on the beach for the time of our stay. We also have access to the spa and swimming pool facilities in the Soleado resort! The apartment is beach front so a 10min taxi/bus from the train station which is inland.

Right next to our apartment is a bus stop where, if we can drag ourselves off the beach, we can catch a bus to explore Forte Dei Marmi. Forte dei Marmi is one of the chicest and most up-to-date towns in the Versilia. The small town attracts tourists from all over Europe every year thanks to its beautiful beach, elegant villas immersed in pine grovesand the impressive view of the Apuan Alps , which serve as a majestic background behind the town. The gorgeous beach houses a long line of private Bagno, (beach clubs) where the most exclusive spend their days basking in the sun. The beach comes alive at night where you can wander from Bagno to Bagno, sipping cocktails and listening to local DJ sets with the sunsetting in the background. The bus service here is CTT Nord and you can purchase tickets from the driver as you board, it is a 10 min ride to the centre of Forte Dei Marmi.

TWIGA- BEACH CLUB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUNNlsyF3Cc

THE BEACH

Arab tents, private cabins, sea water swimming pool and many other services to guarantee maximum comfort to the most elegant international clientele.

TWIGA SUMOSAN - Contemporary Japanese

Already present in the other facilities of the circuit, the award-winning Japanese restaurant, founded in Moscow in 1997 from Alexander Wolkow, he is preparing to conquer Versilia. Known for the high quality of its dishes, they are also innovation and creativity to accompany his creations, signed by the Executive Chef Bubker Belkhit.

TWIGA CLUB

After sunset, the Twiga turns into a sophisticated club where fun and great music reign. Established DJs and international guests will liven up the summer nights, while during the Live Show dinners and exclusive shows will entertain guests with live music.

Midweek is daytime fun only, with the beach, bar and restaurant open for lunch. Fridays and Saturdays host evenings full of entertainment when they open the doors for dinner and turn into a club with live DJ sets and entertainment! Saturday the 14th of September looks like the closing party, keep checking back for updates when the event is annoucned!

Sunday 15th September - Depart for the UK

Catch a train directly to Pisa to fly back to the UK in the afternoon!