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Florence Off The Beaten Track

Highlights

  • Enjoy an authentic Tuscan cooking class
  • Explore Florence by E-Bike with your local guide
  • Become acquainted with Florence, led by a local passionate about the city.
From £741 pp
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What you'll do

Overview

This tailor made tour of the beautiful Italian city will be a truly unforgettable experience. Explore the city like never before with an E-bike tour and a cooking class to really learn about the local culture and food.

Your tour will start off with a Tuscan cooking class after checking in to your hotel. You will learn the tricks of the trade and then enjoy your delicious creations paired with some fitting Tuscan wine.

Your next day will be filled with a Florence E-Bike tour. In two and a half hours you will ride around the city and take in all the amazing sights and beautiful florentine architecture with a local expert guide. You will see wonderful statutes, artworks and monuments and also explore some hidden spots which you will certainly enjoy. After a our exhilarating cycling your final stop will be a wonderful gelato shop where you will have a well earned rest and an ice cream!

On your final day you have the day at leisure to revisit some of the places you visited with your guide, or to discover a new part of the city. Your guide will be happy to help you with suggestions and recommendations. There are some beautiful palaces and churches which are worth a visit as well as the famous Oltrarno neighbourhood. There are lots of boutique shops with famous florentine handmade jewellery, and of course plenty of wonderful cafes to stop, linger and absorb the atmosphere whilst sipping an espresso or an early afternoon spritz.

Note: The Italian tourist tax is not included in the prices as it must be paid to the accommodation on the spot; this is €6.00 per person per day for 2022 (subject to change )

Arrival and Cooking Class

Arrival in Italy at Florence, Peretola airport where your driver will meet you  and take you to your hotel in the centre of town. 

In the afternoon you will enjoy an amazing Tuscan Cooking Class. Based in a beautiful kitchen in a Florentine palace and you will start putting your hands on the ingredients to create your own meal, under the expert supervision of the local Chef.

The cooking class will end with a dinner of typical Tuscan dishes, paired with a selection of Tuscan wines.

Accommodation throughout:

Grand Hotel Minerva – a historic boutique hotel in one of Florence’s finest squares, Piazza Santa Maria Novella. Set right between the church of Santa Maria Novella and the new “Museo del 900”, the hotel is perfectly located.

The square was recently renovated and made a pedestrian area, graced with an elegant, completely fresh look. In the middle of the square is a lawn edged by fragrant roses and restaurants and cafes are on every side. A lovely scenic terrace from which to enjoy one of the most beautiful views in the world -the facade of the Church of Santa Maria Novella, the Duomo, Giotto’s bell tower and the Palazzo Vecchio are spread out before you in this sweeping view sure to take your breath away.

Florence E-Bike Tour

Today you will embark on a leisurely city  ebike tour. Florence is perfect for biking, easy and safe. The e-bike tour is fun and will take you through pedestrian areas and little tiny streets. In two and a half hours you will have a good orientation of the city, passing by all the well known landmarks but also discovering less well known streets and areas with their own stories. Your local expert guide will enjoy showing you around their city.

You will ride through the narrow streets of the main centre and the Oltrarno passing by the most amazing monuments of Florence and also lesser known view points from wheich to admire the city: Santa Maria Novella, the artisans district, Palazzo Pitti, San Frediano, Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi square, Santa Croce, Piazza della Signoria, the medieval district, the Duomo, and Piazza della Repubblica. Along this pleasant ride through Florence, you will stop at several locations for your guide to share the history and some fun facts about the city.

After your exhertion, you will have the chance to try a wonderful Hot Chocolate in the Oltrarno district in the colder months or in the summer  cool down with  a delicious gelato (included). Note: the tour is very easy paced and safe with plenty of photo stops. You must be at least 12 years old to drive your own bike.

Accommodation:

Grand Hotel Minerva

Free Day

Today is a free day at your leisure to explore  more of Florence on your own.

Browse around the heart of the city and admire the beautiful palaces and churches. See Piazza della Signoria with the elegant Loggia and the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, walk along via dei Calzaiouli, flanked by charming shops, and reach Piazza del Duomo, with its Baptistry and the gorgeous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its imposing Giotto Bell Tower.

Crossing the romantic Ponte Vecchio bridge, you will reach Oltrarno neighbourhood (literally “The other side of the Arno river”), where you can enjoy the true Florentine atmosphere, away from the tourist places. Florence is known for its artisans but, these are now found mostly outside of the main city centre most in the centre. Head across the Arno and go back to a time to discover small boutique shops selling hand made crafts.

The whole area around the Piazza di Santo Spirito still thrums with artisanal traditions. Some of the typical products you can find: bookbinding and handmade marbled paper, handcrafted mosaics; handmade and bespoke ladies shoes and purses, handmade jewellery, even if you’re not planning to buy, it’s worth the visit.

Accommodation:

Grand Hotel Minerva

Departure

After a final breakfast in Florence, you will  check out of the hotel and be transferred back to the airport where we will wave you on your way home taking with you long lasting memories of this very special city.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation
  • Transfers
  • Breakfasts
  • Local expert guide
  • An amazing afternoon Tuscan Cooking Class that will end with a dinner of typical Tuscan dishes, paired with a selection of Tuscan wines.
  • Florence by E-bike with a fun, local guide.
  • *Note: the tour is very easy paced and safe with plenty of photo stops. You must be at least 12 years old to drive your own bike.
  • A hot chocolate in the Oltrarno district in the colder months, or a delicious gelato in the summer.
Your local host

Matteo and Team

As Italians born, raised and based in Italy, we show you what we love about our own country and culture. With us, you get beneath the surface, skip the lines, travel off the beaten trail, meet fascinating people and discover a different Italy, as known to and loved by locals.

As Italians born, raised and based in Italy, we show you what we love about our own country and culture. With us, you get beneath the surface, skip the lines, travel off the beaten trail, meet fascinating people and discover a different Italy, as known to and loved by locals.

Matteo and Team image
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Location

Florence is the capital city of the Tuscany region in Italy. This beautiful city is known for its culture, Renaissance art and mesmerising architecture. The enchanting city never ceases to amaze, with never-ending streets to explore, restaurants to try delicious traditional food, and beautiful artwork.

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