taking a cheesy photo in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
I scheduled two unforgettable tours while I was in Florence. If you plan to come to Italy, they would both be on my “must-do” list! It just so happens both of these amazing tours were through the same company, Walkabout Florence, which made it even easier to book. Also, the meeting place for the tour buses was a mere five minutes from my hostel! Here’s what I did, saw and enjoyed on the first tour.
Walkabout Florence tour bus – air conditioned & comfy!
Walkabout Florence Best of Tuscany Tour
This tour promised the world and it delivered. In just 12 hours, we took a guided tour of the Tuscany region, including: Siena, Chianti, San Gimignano and Pisa.
We started off in Siena, a medieval city with lovely old streets you can get lost in and the famous Piazza del Campo where they do the Palio horseraces every year. We also got to see Siena’s beautiful Duomo and the world’s oldest bank!
Photo Gallery: Images of Siena, Italy
The highlight of the day, for me, was the wine lunch in the Chianti region of Tuscany. After Siena, we drove to an organic farm and winery, Fattoria Poggio Alloro. It’s also a bed and breakfast!
Welcome to the Poggio Alloro organic farm & winery!
Photo Gallery: Winery Tour and Lunch in Chianti
At lunch, I sat next to a lovely couple from Sri Lanka who were traveling for a month with their 10-year old daughter. Seeing their family having so much fun on their long vacation allowed me to see the possibilities of continuing to travel if I ever decide to get married or have a little one of my own. During the lunch, we tasted drank four different wines – one white, two red and a delicious dessert wine called Vin Santo. We actually had the Vin Santo at the end of the meal. The custom is to dip cantuccini (hard, nutty biscotti) into the sweet wine for a boozy dessert!
I drank wine in Tuscany!
After the winery lunch, we got a chance to take a leisurely tour of San Gimignano, where I had some amazing coconut gelato at Dondoli Gelateria di Piazza. This place is kind of a big deal, so the shop was crowded with people wanting their gelato, but it was SO worth standing in the long line.
Dondoli Gelateria di Piazza, the best in Tuscany!
Everything you want & need in your life is here at Dondoli’s
We ended the day in Pisa, a large university town and home of the famous Leaning Tower. It seemed so small up close!
Leaning Tower of Pisa…just leaning with it
A few days later, I went on my second Walkabout tour. I hiked the Cinque Terre! And I don’t even LIKE hiking…
Read my previous Travel Diaries:
- Travel Diary: My First Day in Greece and City Circus Hostel
- Travel Diary: Exploring Monastiraki, Plaka and Acropolis in Athens
- Travel Diary: Shopping in Athens, Sunset in Santorini
- Travel Diary: 7 Reasons Why I Fell in Love with Greece (Especially Santorini!)
- Travel Diary: How I Almost Got Arrested in the Santorini Airport
- Travel Diary: My First Three Days in Italy and Why I Didn’t Like Rome
- Travel Diary: 6 Memorable Experiences I Had in Florence, Italy
Another terrific picture of you – that pink color is fabulous on you. I never made it to Pisa, but the Sri Lankan couple traveling with their 10yo daughter … I hope for similar things in the next few years when my daughter gets a little older.
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Great pictures! And your descriptions of the food and wine is exactly WHY I can’t wait to go to Italy. Can’t wait for the next installment.
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You are taking my dream trip! Enjoy!
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