rick steves heart of tuscany drive

There was an excellent mix of group tours and free time. Being with the group was fine but some off time was also valuable. There are a handful of places Ive been that I describe as mind-bending places with a unique, otherworldly quality: Norways Lofoten Islands. "Hard to say. Beautiful town, amazing history, not so crowded.". All you need to explore Florence and the best of Tuscany. There was a great balance between time with the group and free time. The 3 Others were very nice. Over I don't think we got enough about ancient Rome on the trip, but this visit almost made up for that. While the drive in miles is not long, the time it takes to navigate, find parking, visit the town then repeat the process 3-4 times is time consuming. Anna was a great guide and "local expert" for the entire tour. Also fun. All of the arrangements she and the company made were thoughtfully planned out. Wondering if anyone has done the drive starting and ending in a different location and if you were able to follow his directions successfully? We traveled with 6 family members and all of us had an amazing trip! $16.99 Format: ebook $16.99 Trade Paperback $23.99 Also available from: Amazon Apple Books Barnes & Noble Ebooks.com Kobo Description Now more than ever, you can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling through Florence and Tuscany. No bus. A youth choir was singing and their voices resonated in the cavernous sanctuary and everyone in the group was delightfully stunned into silence and awe for a brief moment and we had a peaceful break from Rome's frenetic pace.". "How can I pick just one? Required fields are marked *. As were the crowds of people. We would have missed out on many sites and information without her. Which is a 90 minute train ride from Rome. You can visit and stop whenever and wherever you please. We thought it was very well organized and just the right mix of tour time and personal time. This was my fourth Rick Steves' Tour but my first as a solo traveler. For a change of pace, consider hopping a ferry for the one-hour crossing to the little isle of Elba. We really enjoyed the variety of cities we visited. "Aperitivo at a terrace bar (Bar Il Gabbiano) with a fabulous view along the trail between Corniglia and Vernazza near the trail's high point on a cool morning. It was a great experience. The Uffizi Gallery was amazing. Good fellow travelers! We stayed in Gaiole in Chianti and enjoyed every view from our B&B. "There are too many to list but: viewing Rome from atop St. Peter's Basilica as a storm moved in; seeing the Roman ruins in moonlight in Volterre after our group dinner; wandering the Barduni Gardens in Florence. "Well there were wow moments every day! "Seeing olives harvested at the Castille de Trebbio, then having an olive oil tasting and fastastic lunch onsite in a Castle!". However, I loved everything. I was disappointed we didnt stay in one of the villages but mostly the Hotel used was not good- very disappointing. Inside Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany. "Hiking from Vernazza to Corniglia in the Cinque Terra. Bus transportation was excellent although some drivers seemed to drive more like truck drivers than passenger bus drivers. Accommodations were a little tight but we learned to live with it. To see such a marvelous structure from the outside and then to go inside it. Could not have been any better! A couple of moments might be: walking into the Coliseum, Group Dinners in Tuscany and Cinque Terre, wine tasting and olive oil tasting, watching the sun set over Florence.". "Patricia our guide. "The realization of just how old the buildings and sites were. Slovenias Julian Alps. Join us for the Heart of Italy in 9 Days! "Exploring Cinque Terre! Log in with Office365. There were many ! These are always marked by a ZTL sign and a red circle. The Sistine chapel was loud and disrespected. If I must pick just one, it would have to be the charm and accomodations in Volterra. Our tour guide Nina was exceptional as were the other day guides. There was a great balance between scheduled tour activities and free time. The views from the boat ride were spectacular, and navigating the train system between towns was easy. Then you'll have time to poke around the ancient lanes on your own. And, of course, Aperol Spritz!". I couldn't have asked for a better group on my first tour. The only downside was the enormous crowding at the Vatican and in Florence. Sarah, our guide, was very organized, witty and extremely helpful. Our tour guide, Anna, was outstanding: charming, knowledgeable, caring, and funny. So many Wow moments it's hard to mention.". I want to go back and do the exact same tour. "I would say my favorite town we visited was Voltaire. I loved the hill towns best.Volterra was a favorite of mine.". "There were far to many to pick only one! It was so fun to share the day with our new friends! ", "Seeing the Colosseum for the first time was breathtaking!". It was very organized and the local guides added an amazing amount of information and enhanced my personal experience. I highly recommend a RS tour. Very well organized. That being said, I agree with DougMac. "Traveling through the countryside and seaside towns.". Hotels were decent accommodations, mostly clean but issues were always handled like stained bed sheets or air conditioners not working. I felt like a part of the community as we celebrated with the locals.". Enjoyed the group meals (esp the Belvedere) and guided tours. I bought too much merchandise and had to purchase additional bag, which is difficult to carry/transfer when a single lady on tour - missed my husband at that point in trip!! Our local guides, especially Ilaria in Rome, were also exceptionally good. Only disappointment- I was not happy with hotel near Cinque de Terre. An experience we will remember for a lifetime! "Our trip included Volterra in the Tuscany area. She was very helpful arranging alternate hotel rooms when several tour members flights were canceled including mine. And I came up with this rundown for our Rick Steves Florence & Tuscanyguidebook(where youll find all the details): Youll find dozens upon dozens of these in your Tuscan travels. My first Rick Steves tour so I had no preconceptions and I can say that I was impressed with the overall experience. How to Experience the Best of Tuscany: 12 Travel Tips for Italy's VERY attentive guides!! This morning we'll devote our time to the breathtaking Renaissance art of the Uffizi home to the finest collection of Italian paintings anywhere including masterpieces by Leonardo, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and more. "can't pick one. Breakfast each day was good and started the day. It was marvelous, really exceeded our expectations. Andrea our guide was super!! Our tour guide, Marianna, was great. The Oregon Coast. Fabulous tour! He made the trip fun, educational, and personable. There is no way for us to replicate this unique experience that is curated from the decades of Rick Steves exploration. I liked that each new town came with an orientation tour, a few guided tours and some time to just explore as you wanted. Walk in the footsteps of the Medici, sip aperitivi, and discover the cultural heart of Italy: with Rick Steves on your side, Florence and Tuscany can be yours! The 11 Most Beautiful Towns in Tuscany | Italy4Real Well managed by our guide. The tour members seem to meld pretty quickly into a friendly and helpful group, very informed guide and enthusiastic guide. Not to take away from the knowlege base of Stephanie and Rebecca. We saw so much more -- with less stress and more fun! I was able to relax and enjoy learning about the people, places and culture. She is informative and knowledgeable about Italy and each different region we visited. In all, a perfect package worth every penny. The first was seeing St. Peters Basilica. "We made some good friends on the tour, and several of us got up early one morning for a sunrise swim in the Mediterranean during our stay Levanto. A very close second was all the people on the tour. I was also pleasantly surprised by everything in Volterra. ", The tour guide (Marianna) was professional, experienced and a real credit to the Rick Steves organization. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning. Took until about day 7 for me to wish I could sleep in, not a relaxing vacation, but a fabulous one! Tight on time? All the local guides were efficient and had a lot of information to share on history. Our guide, Colleen, was tremendous. Francesco, our guide, was excellent. It was historical, educational and lots of fun. Our guide Cecelia, a native Italian, was very knowledgeable and interesting. Some of what we visited, we had visited before, but it still seemed fresh. It was a great mix of activities and tours and time on our own. There is great beauty among the towns I did see. "Florence, seeing all the David sculptures!". Loved the village of Volterra". It was beautiful, unique, charming, and uncrowded. From the ancient sites in Rome to the Volterra arch saved in WWII, the history is Ling and fascinating. We absolutely loved everything- the guides were very knowledgeable and interesting, the people on our tour were wonderful and there is a great mix of planned tour activities and on your own time. The right combination of structured and free time with meals and sight seeing. This title will be released on November 1, 2022. Having been on two other tours in Italy earlier in my life, the value offered in this Italian itinerary was much superior. Perfect balance between scheduled time and free time. "So many "wow moments" that it's hard to pick one. Tour members were warm, friendly, and companionable; all stayed healthy and were conscientious of others' well-being. I had always wanted to take a Rick Steves tour, and it did live up to my expectations. RS tours do a great job of delivering the unexpected.". I believe Volterra wowed me moreit is a charming, romantic, and quaint village that seems unaffected by time.". Overall: a wonderful trip. I appreciated that he provided the vegetarians with options for the group meals. Along the way, you'll enjoy Italy's distinctive culture, countryside charm, robust wine, and farm-fresh cuisine. We thought all the guides were extremely knowledgeable, passionate about their areas of expertise, and helpful. "In Florence, on our walking tour and seeing the Duomo and Giotto's Tower for the first time. The guides and excursions for the museums were amazing. ", Surpassed all of my expectations, but with Italy as a backdrop how could it not?
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