Tuscany Tour by Vespa: Italy On A Vespa Scooter 2010

Chianti Region 2010

Be a Traveler not a Tourist. Italy is not just a country, it is an emotion! As Italy's original and premier Vespa tour operator, Italy By Vespa offers luxury adventure scooter tours which have been ranked by Fortune Magazine. We are comprised of (14) people maximum per tour led by a PhD in Italian history. Every person has his or her own scooter to ride if they wish. We have been guiding our luxury Vespa tours in Italy for the past 9 years, so contact us now to reserve an entire week and book a private tour for your group of eight or more!

What Our Tours Include

• Ground transportation from the Gallery Art Hotel located in Florence city center to Hotel Vignale and return-trip ground transportation from Hotel Vignale to Florence airport on published times.
• 7 nights accommodations at Hotel Vignale.
• 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches (including 1 picnic).
• 1 welcome reception followed by dinner upon arrival.
• 4 dinners, (2 deluxe dining and 2 dinners at local restaurants), including selected wine.
• All event fees, wine tastings, museum entrance fees, and sightseeing activities and admissions, unless indicated as optional (trips may include many optional activities on a user-pay basis).
• Italian cooking class at Michelin-starred restaurant La Bottega del Trenta.
• 7 days Vespa usage, fuel, and limited Italian property damage insurance (additional scooter protection insurance is available at a small premium; driver responsible for all damage to the scooter).
• Trip cancellation including medical evacuation insurance is available at a small charge.
• Local host, Vespa escorts, support van and driver.
• Local native PhD tour guide fluent in English.
• Can't or don't want to ride a scooter? Italy by Vespa has a van that follows our scooter tour. You are welcome to ride in the van and there you will get the benefit of in-depth information about the areas you are driving thru from our English-speaking Italian guide (with a PhD in Italian history) along the way. This is a great option if you have any concerns about your riding skills or are not able to ride due to physical limitation.
• 5 Day Tours do not include Cooking day or Castle/Ceramic day. (Depends on season.)
• 5 Day Tours do not include Siena day or Cross-Country day. (Depends on season.)
• 5 Day Tours do not include Outbound Transfer.
  

Itinerary:

Day 0: Travel Day
Travel day to Florence, Italy where we pick up and drop off all tour participants and transfer you to the town of Radda in Chianti, Tuscany Italy.

Day 1: Meet & Greet/Orientation Day
Upon arrival in Florence, you’ll be met at our pick up point at the courtyard of the Gallery Art Hotel and driven to Hotel Vignale, your picturesque home base for the coming week. Join your fellow scooterists for Vespa orientation and light riding, then make new friends at our evening welcome party followed by a gourmet dinner.

Day 2: Culinary Day
After breakfast, we’ll take a short 35-minute scoot to one of Tuscany’s most renowned restaurants for a half-day cooking class at a Michelin-Starred restaurant and cooking school (peak season feature). 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!

Day 3: History Day
Get out on the open road with a longer 45-minute scoot to Siena, where we’ll meet Dr. Federica Olla, Countess Francesca Fumi Dei Cambi Gado and or one of their 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 we will attend a group dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 4: Luxury Day
We begin our day with a ride to a local winery. I Selvatici is very small and family owned, producing world class Vin Santo (Wine Spectator 98 points). Then we scoot off to a local olive oil processing facility where you will learn more about the agricultural side of Tuscany. Now, onward to Il Borro, a magnificent estate owned by the Ferragamo family, one of the leading Italian fashion designers. We lunch at their posh restaurant then stroll around the restored medieval village and visit the local artisans’ shops. Have a romantic dinner on your own this day.

Day 5: Wine Day
Start with a 45-minute scenic scoot to the historic wine estate of Castello di Verrazzano, where we’ll meet Gino, visit the grounds and cellars and then taste a range of delicious Chianti along with other reds with each course of a gourmet lunch. Then we ride back to Radda and visit the famous ceramic shop of Giuseppe Rampini, or you will have the afternoon to ride on to explore Volpaia, declared “the world’s most beautiful spot” by the Wall Street Journal. Dinner that evening will be in Gaiole to visit Carlonis, a local Tuscan restaurant!

*5 NIGHT/DAY TOURS: Today is your last day of riding and you depart Saturday a.m. at your leisure.

Day 6: Connect With the Locals Day
We will ride about 45-minutes to the town of Greve where the local Saturday market will be in full swing. Shop for fresh goods or buy a porcetta sandwich, actually carved from a whole roasted pig. Visit the local antique butcher, a vital part of this town since the 15th Century. From Greve we ride to Panzano in Chianti and visit Carlo a local cobbler and leather factory where you can have your own custom shoes, leather coat or other accessories made! Then off to a scenic overlook where your picnic lunch awaits. Now ride to the town of Castellina in Chianti and visit Andrea Rotini, world-class photographer, and his shop to see amazing award- winning photos that capture the essence of Tuscany. Lastly, experience the Via della Volte, a passageway below street level that feels like you are walking in a stone cave. It’s windows allow you to look out into the vineyards! From here we will ride back to Radda for dinner on your own.

Day 7: Vespa Cross-Country Day
On the last day of Vespa riding, we take our longest ride for a spectacular drive to the walled city of Montereggioni for a gelato and café break and a leisurely historic review and walk through this wonderful village. Next, we ride on to San Gimignano, which is known for its many towers and considered by many to be the most beautiful Tuscan medieval village. If time allows and the groups driving skills are at its peak we will continue on to Volterra and have a private tour. Lunch this day will be on your own. Our day will end with our ride back to Radda. There will be a farewell dinner that evening, giving everyone a chance to reminisce about the week’s adventures and celebrate the many surprises we all experienced.