Our tour guide was Andy but we were combined with a couple of other tour groups for the bus ride and for most of the day. The large size of the tour was unexpected and it was sometimes difficult to manage the crowds but the tour guides did do a good job of herding everyone and keeping to schedule. The tour itself was amazing stopping by a hilltop medieval village, learning the history and touring the square. After the village we stopped by a famous monastery then had lunch at a winery. The food and of course the wine were amazing! A final stop before heading back was a village with some free time to do some shopping and take in the sights. At each stop and throughout the bus ride there was plenty of opportunity to take in the gorgeous Tuscan countryside. Throughout the tour our guide was great at giving us some history of the region. On the way back to Rome he stopped by everyone's seat to give recommendations for dining in Rome from the perspective of someone who has lived there for years. We tried most of his recommendations and they were spot on. Overall we would recommend the tour just for the views of Tuscany alone but there is so much more to see and experience throughout the day on this tour.
Review by: m.hk.matar, June 2018
Such a well spent day! The sights and villages visited were gorgeous, and the food and wines we had were divine. Our guide Andy was extremely knowledgable and made the tour even better. Thank you for a great day trip!
Review by: Mike, May 2018
Great tour. Guide was very knowledgeable. Time was too short for this area but what we saw in a day was great. Lunch at the winery was very good. If you are limited on the amount of time you can spend in Tuscany, this is the tour for you.
Review by: acpm10, May 2018
If you only have 1 day to see Tuscany while you are staying in Rome, this is the tour to take! We met at Piazza del Popolo, which is a very central location not far from the Vatican, and boarded our buses between 7:30 AM and 8:00 AM. We rode on the buses comfortable seats and air-conditioned for about an hour and a half before stopping at a rest stop where we were able to get coffee, pastries, etc. After that, we drove to Montepulciano, where we had a 1 hour guided tour throughout the quaint town our guide, Claus, was excellent and very informative! The next stop was Montalcino, where we had the opportunity to see the Abbey of Sant'Antimo, which is a beautiful French style church surrounded by Tuscan landscape. Luckily, the church was only a 5 minute drive from our next stop, where we had our lunch and wine tasting. The tasting consisted of 1 white wine, 3 red wines, and a dessert wine, and lunch was composed of a board with some cheeses and meats, lasagna, and cookies and cakes for dessert. It was delicious, and the room where we ate was surrounded by barrels that stored the wines we tasted, including the famous Brunello. We had free time to walk through the vineyards after to take some pictures, and we also had the opportunity to buy the wines for a very affordable price. Finally, our last stop was the small town of Pienza, known for its honey and pecarino cheese. We had 45 mins. of free time here, which felt a bit rushed, but it was nice to be free of the group for a little while. All of the towns are incredibly picturesque, with tons of small shops pottery, leather, cheeses, etc.. On our way home, we stopped at the rest stop again for chance to buy some of the local foods and try some more wine, and then we arrived back in Rome around 8:00 PM. Our guides, Peter and Andy, were absolutely top notch, and I could not recommend them enough. They gave us so much background info about the wines we would be tasting, the region itself, and lots of great advice about places to eat back in Rome, how to avoid being taken advantage of as a tourist, and they helped many of us plan the remaining days of our trip. My only gripe with this tour is that the bus ride through the small towns involves a lot of twists and turns on hilltops, and at times it was a bit nauseating. If you get car sick easily like me, this may be something to think about, otherwise it is a very peaceful ride with great scenic views. Other than that, this tour was very well organized and I could not have asked for a better day in Tuscany!
Review by: Alaina E, May 2018
Claudia was a perfect guide I also liked the local guide, Sarah. This was my favorite part of my trip to Italy. We had a delicious lunch at the cutest vineyard. Highly recommend.
Review by: Heather L, May 2018
The trip was fantastic. Since we do not rent cars and drive around Tuscany, it is a great way to see the towns that are not easily accessible. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. I would take this tour again.
Review by: June M, May 2018
This was a wonderful tour and Andy was very passionate about Tuscany and it foods. We had a wonderful day. I highly recommend Andy and he went out his way to make sure everyone had a great time.
Review by: Ray R, May 2018
We thoroughly enjoyed this one-day tour, led by Jonathan. As an American who has lived in Rome for many years, Jon relayed history and culture and the land in a way that showed his love of and respect for Italy, as well as a great sense of humor. This was a great addition to our Rome visit, providing a relaxing day out of the city and the opportunity to soak in some beautiful countryside and wine!. We would have liked to have explored each stop a little more, but the tour made the most of 12 hours and we highly recommend it.
Review by: Lisa W, May 2018
This tour was amazing! Andy was an entertaining wealth of information. Comfortable bus ride, stunning views and a delicious meal with excellent wine made this tour perfect. Even my teens found it to be the favorite part of our stay in Italy. I would take this tour again in a heartbeat!
Review by: conrn, April 2018
Must do. Would retire here...
Review by: mango_d, April 2018
great tour. tour guide was excellent , very knowledgeable and friendly Ann lie. The tour felt rushed though, wish we had more time in the stops for even 30 minutes of shopping.
Review by: gvmorton46, April 2018
Anna was a great guide. Even though the weather didn't cooperate, we had a great time.
Review by: Stephen S, April 2018
Loved this tour! Anna is so wonderful! Highly recommend!!
Review by: Matthew F, April 2018
This was an ideal Rome day trip. Perfect for any age.
Review by: Timothy W, April 2018
Our guide, Peter, was fabulous. His humor and knowledge of the region really made for a great memory. We would take this trip again... it was THAT good!
Review by: Helen J, April 2018
It was a loooooong day however worth every penny!!! Love love love Tuscany.
Review by: danaoldmeadow, March 2018
City Wonders Tour with Jon was wonderful. Comfortable coach, lots to see and eat. Highly recommend this tour
Review by: hubby81, March 2018
Touring Tuscany was magnificent ! Our guides we extremely knowledgeable and share that knowledge effortlessly! The buildings and the views from the top were breath- taking! This is anothertour that is a must have when you visit Italy !! A
Review by: kay s, March 2018
Loved this trip! Great day outside Rome. The hilltop villages are so picturesque. We visited 3 and had time to stroll about, visit shops and have a coffee. Very good day ouy and worth the money
Review by: Jonathan E, March 2018
This was hands down my favorite experience of all our Rome trip! We had Claudia as our tour guide and she was marvelous. Extremely personable, funny, knowledgeable and she genuinely wanted everyone to have a perfect time. Tuscany is more beautiful than you could possibly imagine. The 3 town stops made wrre all incredibly picturesque! There was ample time to explore and enjoy. The lunch/wine tasting was a joy! My only wish was that there was more wine to taste we bought a bottle of the white we liked it so much. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Rome, it was worth every penny!
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