Arriving in Europe:
We suggest you arrive 1-3 days early to eliminate the effects of jet lag. Please ask about our pre and post trip tours in Florence, Lake Como, Milan and the Amalfi Coast areas.
Pre and Post Tour Options:
Based on how you choose to experience Italy before or after your tour, we can arrange your additional travel and accommodation plans so you have more time to enjoy yourself.
Begin Planning "Your" Italian Getaway:
Download our booking forms to begin planning you Italian getaway! Or click the link below to proceed with secure online booking.
7 Day Basic
The following is a sample itinerary and subject to change
Day 1 Saturday:
Meet guests in Florence and transport to Radda in Chianti where we base our tours. Hosted arrival dinner.
Day 2 Sunday:
We will ride about 45 minutes to the town of Greve. We stop in the Piazza of Greve, where there has been an open market in this “square” since the 1500’s. Next we will go to Panzano, located halfway between Florence and Siena. It is a small, attractive hill town. We will have lunch here at La Cantinetta a Panzano before an afternoon of wine tasting at Castello di Albola and a visit to their historic cellars. Then a return ride to Radda and dinner on your own this evening.
Day 3 Monday:
Today is history day with a 45 minute scoot to Siena where we’ll meet Dr. Federica Olla, or one of her degreed associates. They are art historians and heraldry experts. After a private tour of the Duomo, you will lunch at a local café on your own or with new friends and enjoy an afternoon of exploration, shopping or people watching in the city’s famous piazza. Later will we attend a group dinner at Pastaececi a Castellina.
Day 4 Tuesday:
Off to the historic Castello di Verrazzano, where you will have a gourmet lunch and wine tasting as well as a tour of the grounds and cellars. Here you will taste a range of delicious Chianti along with other reds during the course of your lunch. This is the family home of the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who discovered the bay of New York. Then we head back to Radda. Along the way we could perhaps stop at the famous ceramic shop of Guiseppe Rampini, or perhaps an afternoon ride to Volpaia, declared “the world’s most beautiful spot” by the Wall Street Journal.
Day 5 Wednesday:
Today we will scoot to Monteriggioni, Castellina, and Castello di Brolio for another wine tasting and tour. Montereggioni appears much as it did in medieval times with an almost intact outer wall and 14 towers. Castellina is another hill town, and a visit to the Via Della Volte, an ancient tunnel used by guards is a “must do”. Today use its windows to see the vineyards and countryside. Visit the shops to visit Andrea Rotini, world class photographer and his award winning photos that capture the essence of Tuscany. Castello di Brolio sits atop a hill and on a clear day you can see Siena from here. It is just outside Gaiole in Chianti. If the drivers are good, this would be a good day to go to Volterra. Volterra is another walled, hilltop town which boasts a Roman theater and Etruscan sites. This evening there is a hosted dinner at Le Panzanelle a Lucarelli and farewell to the 5 day tour participants.
Day 6 Thursday:
This is Culinary Day. After breakfast, we’ll take a short 35 minute scoot to one of Tuscany’s most renowned chefs for a half day cooking class at our luxury cooking school. You’ll discover the secrets of the “Slow Food” movement and Italian cuisine as you create a variety of dishes, and then savor the fruits of your labor for lunch with your fellow chefs! Dinner on your own.
Day 7 Friday:
On the last day of Vespa riding, we will go to San Gimignano, which is known for its many towers and considered by many to be the most beautiful Tuscan medieval village. Lunch on your own as you tour the town at your leisure. Farewell dinner this evening is at Malborghetto, giving everyone a chance to reminisce about the week’s adventures and celebrate the many surprises we all experienced.
Day 8 Saturday:
Complimentary transfer to Florence for the rest of your stay in Italy, or to make connections.
5-Day Basic
The following is a sample itinerary and subject to change
Day 1 Saturday:
Meet guests in Florence and transport to Radda in Chianti where we base our tours. Hosted arrival dinner.
Day 2 Sunday:
We will ride about 45 minutes to the town of Greve. We stop in the Piazza of Greve, where there has been an open market in this “square” since the 1500’s. Next we will go to Panzano, located halfway between Florence and Siena. It is a small, attractive hill town. We will have lunch here at La Cantinetta a Panzano before an afternoon of wine tasting at Castello di Albola and a visit to their historic cellars. Then a return ride to Radda and dinner on your own this evening.
Day 3 Monday:
Today is history day with a 45 minute scoot to Siena where we’ll meet Dr. Federica Olla, or one of her degreed associates. They are art historians and heraldry experts. After a private tour of the Duomo, you will lunch at a local café on your own or with new friends and enjoy an afternoon of exploration, shopping or people watching in the city’s famous piazza. Later will we attend a group dinner at Pastaececi a Castellina.
Day 4 Tuesday:
Off to the historic Castello di Verrazzano, where you will have a gourmet lunch and wine tasting as well as a tour of the grounds and cellars. Here you will taste a range of delicious Chianti along with other reds during the course of your lunch. This is the family home of the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who discovered the bay of New York. Then we head back to Radda. Along the way we could perhaps stop at the famous ceramic shop of Guiseppe Rampini, or perhaps an afternoon ride to Volpaia, declared “the world’s most beautiful spot” by the Wall Street Journal.
Day 5 Wednesday:
Today we will scoot to Monteriggioni, Castellina, and Castello di Brolio for another wine tasting and tour. Montereggioni appears much as it did in medieval times with an almost intact outer wall and 14 towers. Castellina is another hill town, and a visit to the Via Della Volte, an ancient tunnel used by guards is a “must do”. Today use its windows to see the vineyards and countryside. Visit the shops to visit Andrea Rotini, world class photographer and his award winning photos that capture the essence of Tuscany. Castello di Brolio sits atop a hill and on a clear day you can see Siena from here. It is just outside Gaiole in Chianti. If the drivers are good, this would be a good day to go to Volterra. Volterra is another walled, hilltop town which boasts a Roman theater and Etruscan sites. This evening there is a hosted dinner at Le Panzanelle a Lucarelli and farewell to the 5 day tour participants.
*5 NIGHT/DAY TOURS: Today is your last day of riding and you depart Thursday a.m. at your leisure.