Experience Tuscany: Sights, Sounds, and Flavors

Arrive in Florence and settle into the 4-star Hotel Orto de’ Medici, just five minutes from the Gonzaga in Florence campus and a short walk from the historic center. That evening, gather at Gonzaga in Florence to meet your fellow travelers while enjoying light refreshments, wine, and a gentle introduction to Italian language and culture. Then take a leisurely walk to a neighborhood restaurant for your first shared Tuscan meal together. 

Highlights: Stay at Hotel Orto de’ Medici, welcome reception at Gonzaga in Florence, introductory Italian language and culture activities, and group dinner at a local Florentine trattoria. 

Meals: Dinner included. 

Begin at Mercato San Ambrogio, where Florentines shop each day, learning about meats, cheeses, and produce from a local chef. Continue to a hands-on cooking class at Pasta Class Florence, where you make fresh pasta from scratch and enjoy the meal you prepare together. Spend free time exploring Florence on foot, from boutique shopping to strolling cobblestone streets with gelato in hand. Later, take in the sights and stories of historic Florence through an optional guided walking tour. 

Highlights: Mercato San Ambrogio, Pasta Class Florence, shared cooking experience, and optional guided walking tour of Florence. 

Meals: Breakfast and lunch included. Dinner on your own. 

Discover Florence’s artistic heart with a guided visit to the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, including access to the Duomo Complex and its extraordinary treasures. Enjoy free time to explore galleries, piazzas, or cafés. That evening, gather for a live classical concert in a historic oratory near Santa Croce, then continue the experience with a delicious group meal at a local restaurant. 

Highlights: Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Duomo Complex, concert near Santa Croce, and group dinner. 

Meals: Breakfast and lunch included. Dinner on your own after concert.  

Leave Florence for the countryside and visit Azienda Gualandi, a family-run olive, wheat, and agricultural farm owned by a Gonzaga in Florence professor. Walk the land, learn about wine and olive oil production, and experience daily life on a working Tuscan farm. Enjoy lunch at a quaint hilltop restaurant before arriving at La Certosa di Pontignano, a 14th-century Carthusian monastery transformed into a serene countryside retreat. 

Highlights: Azienda Gualandi, olive oil production experience, countryside lunch, and arrival at La Certosa di Pontignano. 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.  

Tour the stunning grounds of La Certosa di Pontignano, including its famous “mini Sistine Chapel.” Enjoy a relaxed morning at the Certosa or join an optional excursion to Monteriggioni, a tiny walled medieval town known for its perfectly preserved stone walls and towers. Later, stroll to Azienda Agricola Losi Querciavalle, a family-owned winery and olive farm, where tradition and terroir come alive. Hear from their 5th generation owner, a sommelier, as you explore the stories, flavors, and craftsmanship behind Tuscan wines and olive oils. 

Highlights: La Certosa di Pontignano, Monteriggioni, and Azienda Agricola Losi Querciavalle with sommelier-led wine and olive oil tasting. 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and light dinner included. 

Explore Siena with a local guide, immersing yourself in one of Italy’s most celebrated medieval cities. Choose between two distinctive experiences: a visit to the historic Palazzo Chigi Saracini or a guided exploration of the extraordinary marble floor of the Siena Duomo. As evening falls, return to La Certosa di Pontignano for an intimate musical performance in the chapel, followed by an aperitivo celebration in the courtyard beneath the Tuscan sky. 

Highlights: Siena, Palazzo Chigi Saracini or Siena Duomo, chapel concert at La Certosa di Pontignano, and courtyard aperitivo. 

Meals: Breakfast and evening appetizers included. Lunch on your own.  

Begin with the option of attending Mass in the chapel at La Certosa di Pontignano. After saying goodbye to this peaceful retreat, travel to Antinori nel Chianti Classico, a globally renowned winery where bold architecture meets centuries of winemaking tradition. Tour the winery, enjoy a curated tasting, and savor lunch overlooking the vineyards. Return to Florence for your final night at Hotel Orto de’ Medici and a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers and new friends. 

Highlights: Antinori nel Chianti Classico, wine tasting and winery lunch, return to Hotel Orto de’ Medici, and farewell dinner. 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and light evening appetizers included.  

On this final morning, you are free to depart in the way that best suits your journey, whether returning home or continuing on to explore more of Italy at your own pace. You’ll carry with you memories of Florence, Chianti, Siena, and the friendships formed along the way. 

Highlights: Lasting connections, cultural immersion, and a deeply personal Tuscan experience. 

Meals: Breakfast included (or as arranged with your onward travel). 

Single accommodations are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A single or solo room has only one bed and may be smaller in size.

Price: $4,100 per person

A double room has either one large bed or two smaller ones. Double rooms are perfect for couples or if you're travelling with a companion and wish to share a room.

Price: $3,300 per person

A triple room usually consists of a standard double room with two beds. A cot or fold-up bed may be added, but it depends on the room size and local fire codes. Triples are first come, first-served, as they are also very limited.

Price: $3,100 per person

Step back in time with a visit to Monteriggioni, a tiny walled medieval town famed for its perfectly preserved stone walls and towers. This optional excursion offers a peaceful break from the bustle, inviting you to wander charming cobblestone streets, soak in sweeping Tuscan views, and experience the timeless character of one of Italy’s most enchanting hilltop villages.

Price: $100 per person