Country Roads of Tuscany & Central Italy
Experience Overview
Live 'la dolce vita' during this 9-day guided tour of Italy. Explore the narrow cobblestone streets of Siena to the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and see the Torre del Mangia, the second-tallest tower in Italy. Discover the art of truffle-hunting and learn how to make pasta from a professional before delighting in a local lunch. In San Gimignano, eat the best gelato in the world - literally. Indulge in your favorite flavors or try something unexpected. Alongside a Local Expert, marvel at the cathedral at the center of Florence: Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, nicknamed 'the Duomo' for its awe-inspiring crown made by a master goldsmith.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Siena: Enjoy a tasting of Panforte, a traditional Tuscan dessert containing fruits and nuts.
- Siena: Visit the Cathedral with your Local Expert.
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Authentic Dining
- Rome: Savor dinner at a uniquely Roman restaurant, offering a perfect exploration of Lazio's typical flavors.
- Umbria: Explore the art of Italian cooking with Chef Lorenzo and take part in a truffle hunting walk followed by lunch.
- Perugia: You are offered a selection of restaurants on your Dine-Around Evening. Choose your own ambience, cuisine and drinks for an intimate culinary experience.
- San Gimignano: Ascend serpentine alleyways to the artisan gelato parlor of world champion gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli for a taste of his finest frozen treats.
- Tuscany: Nestled in the rolling hills surrounding Sam Gimignano and surrounded by its own vineyards, olive groves, saffron crop and orchards, is the homely Il Vecchio Maneggio. Admire the beautiful views as you enjoy a drink before sitting down to your Celebration Dinner - a delicious Farm-to-Table experience, with all the organic produce sourced from the surrounding farm.
Insight Choice
- Siena: Enjoy a tasting of Panforte, a traditional Tuscan dessert containing fruits and nuts.
- Siena: Visit the Cathedral with your Local Expert.
Insight Experiences
- Rome: Enjoy exclusive access to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes during an after-hours visit. This 9th-century basilica’s simple facade guards the world's best-preserved Byzantine mosaics. The history of the church springs to life as you admire the interior’s treasured collection, including Bernini's first sculpture and the renowned mosaics, illuminated for your visit. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is a rare and unforgettable insight into Rome and its religious history.
Make Travel Matter
- Perugia: Meet Marta, a recipient of a TreadRight Foundation grant. Learn how she offers employment opportunities for local women and, alongside her weavers, preserves the ancient craft of loom weaving in an artisan workshop.The workshop is owned by women and actively empowers women and girls through its education and training programs. Marta, and her students help to safeguard the unique patterns while contributing to the protection of Umbria’s cultural heritage. Laboratorio Guidetta Brozzetti advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality and UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities.
Top Rated Highlights
- Rome: Visit the Colosseum, still echoing with the thronging crowds and ghostly cries of gladiatorial combat.
- Assisi: See St. Mary of the Angels Church and join your Local Expert to walk through the cobbled streets and beautifully preserved medieval laneways of this quaint town.
- Assisi: With a Local Expert, find out why the Basilica of St. Francis is considered one of the crowning achievements of Europe.
- San Gimignano: Visit the Tuscan town of San Gimignano, often called the 'Medieval Manhattan' of Italy.
- Florence: Join a Local Expert to view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square. See the Santa Croce Basilica, the final resting place of great Florentines like Michelangelo.
Travel Director
- "One thing I really love about showing guests about Italy is how art and beauty can be found around every corner of some of Italy's cities, which are real open air museums."
- "One fun fact people don't usually know before they come to Italy is that the Italian alphabet only has 22 letters."
- "I really love about showing guests the huge variety that Italy has to offer, from quaint countryside villages to cities full of stupendous art and architecture."
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Trip Details
Product Code: 19627
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 43.111A
Starts: Rome, Italy
Finishes: Rome, Italy
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,638 ($404 /day)
Itinerary
2025 marks a Jubilee Year, a momentous Roman Catholic event celebrated every 25 years, turning Rome into a center of celebration between December 24, 2024, and December 31, 2025. As festivities unfold, itineraries may be adjusted to ensure you make the most of your time as you visit the Eternal City. Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and baroque churches. Settle in before joining your Travel Director for a private visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes, welcomed by the Rector of the basilica. End the day getting to know your fellow travelers over Roman specialties during dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: NH Roma Centro, Rome
Meals: Dinner
See the imposing Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican City before crossing the Tiber into Ancient Rome and imagining the gladiatorial combats and sounds of roaring spectators as you visit the mighty Colosseum with your Local Expert. Journey north to the Umbrian village of Baschi. Immerse yourself in the flavors and culture of the region and learn about the secrets of Italian food culture as you join Giovanni and his dog Chris for a truffle hunting session. Afterwards, be entertained by Chef Lorenzo with a fun pasta demonstration and enjoy a delicious lunch accompanied by Orvieto Classico wine. Join a Local Expert in Perugia to navigate the underground labyrinth of little streets, alleys, and arches. Walk along Corso Vannucci, resplendent in pale-pink stone, passing the princely Priors' Palace, the cathedral, and the finely sculptured Great Fountain in the main square.
Accommodation: Sangallo Palace Hotel, Perugia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, visit an artisanal workshop to meet Marta, recipient of a TreadRight Foundation grant, and her weavers. See how the fascinating art of loom-weaving textiles has been passed down through the generations and learn how this ancient craft is being preserved. Then enjoy free time to explore the many delights of Umbria's capital city or join an optional experience to Cortona. For dinner, choose your ideal ambience and palate-pleasing menu from a hand-picked selection of Perugian restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening. Buon appetito!
Accommodation: Sangallo Palace Hotel, Perugia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Journey to Assisi, one of Italy's most beautiful medieval hilltop towns, set high up in the mountains and enclosed by fortress walls. In the valley, see the famous Church of St. Mary of the Angels, much venerated as the place of St. Francis' death, then continue up Mount Subasio to the upper town. Step inside the massive, 13th-century Basilica of St. Francis with your Local Expert to learn how Giotto masterfully painted frescoes that inspired a variety of Renaissance artists.
Accommodation: Sangallo Palace Hotel, Perugia
Meals: Breakfast
Follow the shores of Lake Trasimeno and continue to the narrow cobbled streets of Siena. Standing in the shell-shaped Campo, imagine the frenzied atmosphere of the biannual Palio horse race and see the Town Hall. Explore Siena with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the medieval Cathedral, or, alternatively, sample panforte, a traditional Tuscan dessert. Travel to the medieval town of San Gimignano where your Travel Director will show you the medieval skyscrapers, serpentine streets and hidden squares. The town is also home to world champion gelato maestro Sergio Dondoli. At his artisan ice cream parlor on Piazza della Cisterna, the silky smooth, frozen treats are beautifully displayed in a range of unique flavors for you to try. Your home for the next three nights is a delightful villa near this jewel of medieval architecture.
Accommodation: Villasanpaolo, San Gimignano
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy your day at leisure, taking in your Tuscan surroundings. Relax at your hotel or you could opt to join an Optional Experience to Pisa and Lucca.
Accommodation: Villasanpaolo, San Gimignano
Meals: Breakfast
The morning is devoted to the Renaissance city of Florence. A fascinating walking exploration with a Local Expert takes you to the marble-clad cathedral crowned by Brunelleschi's dome. See the baptistery with its beautiful Gates of Paradise and Giotto's splendid bell tower. Walk on to Piazza della Signoria with its open-air gallery of Renaissance sculptures, followed by free time to shop for top-quality Florentine leather or gold. Toast to your travels during a delicious Farm-to-Table dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy tasting flavorsome dishes prepared with locally grown ingredients, home-made pastas, traditional Chianti wine, all sourced from the farm in the Tuscan region.
Accommodation: Villasanpaolo, San Gimignano
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Leave behind the tower topped town of San Gimignano. Enjoy rolling Tuscan hills as you journey south through the Italian countryside. This morning, delight in the medieval spa town of Bagno Vignoni, renowned for its mineral rich thermal baths and continue to the 'model' renaissance town of Pienza, famous for its delicious pecorino cheese, before making your way to Rome.
Accommodation: Hotel St. Martin, Rome
Meals: Breakfast
Bid farewell to the glories of Italy.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
In Business Since 1978
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, April 2025
*Personal information removed by Feefo*, our tour guide, was phenomenal. He was very accommodating to a couple of our tour members who had mobility issues. He was very familiar with the local tour guides which helped create an enjoyable learning experience. He was familiar with the areas we were going to and helped us spend our own time in the best and efficient manner. His experience, personality and passion enabled all of us to relax and really take in and appreciate the locations and the people we were visiting. This trip was so enjoyable, we're looking at three additional Insight Italy tours over the next couple of years. The places visited were exceptional. The pace of the tour was excellent. We had plenty of time to relax as well as enjoy the locations being presented to us. Our tour guide, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, was outstanding. His knowledge of and relationship with the local tour guides helped create an enjoyable, learning environment. My wife, who was reluctant to go due to a previous Italy trip that didn't go well, LOVED this tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/17/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, April 2025
Great destinations, hugely knowledgeable local experts who were humorous, well-paced, didn't rush us, very engaging. The optional experiences were varied and wonderful and the existence of the options gave us the chance to use one day to explore on our own - in all a great mix. The travel director *Personal information removed by Feefo* and the driver *Personal information removed by Feefo* made this a wonderful trip. Everything was extremely well organised, any queries were resolved, all planning done up front and anything that could be done to help any in the group was arranged. *Personal information removed by Feefo* was knowledgeable, thoughtful, patient, courteous, kind, helpful, interesting. *Personal information removed by Feefo* the driver was great too - safe, smooth (easy to sleep on board), case loading/unloading all handled for us, delivered and collected to/from our rooms, had our safety on and around the coach in mind at all times, courteous, punctual, courteous. They were an excellent team. A great pick of places to visit for the trip (Rome, Perugia, San Gimignano, Florence) along with great optional trips too (Cortona, Spello, Lucca, Pisa) and therefor some time to do our own thing too. Our itinerary was posted ahead of each day making the little planning we needed to do, very easy and never felt rushed. The pace was great we experienced, saw, sampled, laughed and learned much
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/16/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, April 2025
Insight Vacations is amazing! Loved the timing of the tours. Long days but worth every minute of the time! Food was amazing! The coach was the best! Very comfortable and lots of leg room! Also liked the idea of moving seats on a daily basis. It gave everyone a chance to a different view each day. Loved the itinerary of this tour! So many amazing sites to visit and learn about on this great tour! One of my favorite places of the tour was *Personal information removed by Feefo* and the weaving! She is amazing! She showed and explained how the weaving is done! I absolutely was in aw of what she makes! Absolutely beautiful! I purchased a few of her items. I purchased a what we called a table scarf. It is absolutely beautiful cream color with words in Italian that mean a lot to *Personal information removed by Feefo*. It made want this and I couldn't leave without purchasing it. I purchased book markers she makes. They are beautiful. She gives you a paper with the information about the product you purchased. My granddaughter knew about her work before I did. She signed a journal for her which I was not sure she would because it was an unusual ask.. *Personal information removed by Feefo* work is gorgeous and well worth the cost and beauty. The Travel Director was amazing! He explained each day the way it would operate at the sites we were going to visit! Great local guides were also chosen by him! Food was amazing! Love the farm to table site and coking demonstration. We were unable to see truffle hunting due to an injury by the man. However they made it a great experience at site with wine tasting and tasting of other local items made from their vineyards. It was a wonderful unexpected experience Absolutely loved the whole experience of this tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/15/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, April 2025
Great itinerary.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/15/2025
Joseph Langel Jr - Traveled, April 2025
Staff is first class Great way to see the true Italy
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/13/2025
Francis Nietfeld - Traveled, October 2024
The tour guide was fantastic, which was *Personal information removed by Feefo*. He went over and above to make us feel comfortable. His knowledge was exceptional and made sure we experienced the best of Italy! Our accommodations were 5 star! The restaurants treated us so special, and the food was delicious!!! We will travel with Insight Vacation again! Being our first trip to Italy, we were not disappointed in anything. Vatican museum tour was a bit long, but we learned much. The trips to small towns where we felt we were able to experience life in Italy were our favorite! Many memories made. *Personal information removed by Feefo* was the best tour guide we ever experienced. Our bus driver was an accomplished pro at his job. We always felt safe!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/31/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
Please see my comments about *Personal information removed by Feefo* above. We got a lot of bang for our buck for this reasonably priced upscale tour. Being as many of the guests are older, Insight went out of its way to insure the City tours were relaxing and slower paced. The itinerary was perfect and exposed us to pastoral beauty of Tuscany and Umbria. *Personal information removed by Feefo* is the best, empathetic, conscientious and knowledgeable. However, I would increase the time in Florence. Tour did not include Ponte Vecchio or Museum.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/24/2024
Jennifer Ellison - Traveled, October 2024
*Personal information removed by Feefo* was a fantastic tour director! He is very attentive to our individual needs and able to manage a large group with ease. The service was wonderful, the meals were particularly stand out to me because the vegetarian option was always phenomenal (sometimes the vegetarian options are shockingly/laughably bad and that's what I what mentally prepared for. I was glad to be wrong). This itinerary was the perfect mix of big city and small town. I added on all of the optional experiences, I could have lived without Pisa, but the optional add-on meals were the most memorable of the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/24/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
Great experience!! All around. All the local guides gave us so much information about each town. I wished that the restaurants had pictures of the food on the menu so that you can see what you were getting, visual is better. This was my dream vacation and I enjoyed every bit of it. The itinerary was perfect our tour Director *Personal information removed by Feefo* was great! Always kept us Informed of changes, the views of the countryside were spectacular breath taking. We definitely saw so much I loved all the places we visited on the Itinerary. There was a error in the itinerary of one of the sight to see, but they honored it and we were all lucky and were able to experience a d additional site. The only thing is I wished I would have signed up to the optional experience, but overall it was great. The hotels were very nice, breakfast variety was excellent. If you like to be on a schedule and not worry about figuring out where to go and driving yourself then this is the perfect trip for you. We had a great experience and I'm glad. I was worried I was going to be disappointed.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/25/2024
Irene Strickland - Traveled, June 2024
*Personal information removed by Feefo* was an excellent tour director. The bus driver *Personal information removed by Feefo* made all our road trips even more special.. The individual tour guides for all the places we went were from the area we visited and exceptionally knowledgeable. Very insightful. Refreshing to get out in country and explore the beauty of the area as opposed to places more frequented by tourists.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/19/2024
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