Private Tuscany Tour: Siena, San Gimignano & Pisa from Florence

Piazza del Campo is one of the most beautiful squares you will ever see and it is also the city's gathering place, where the locals meet for a coffee and to chat and of course gossip. The unusual square (actually not a square, it's in the shape of a sea-shell, and sloping!) is the site of the famous Palio horse-race. A 600 year old tradition of Siena. The piazza gets transformed into a racing track twice a year and the contrade, or neighbourhoods of the city battle out for the highest honour possible – winning the palio. You'll hear more about this on the tour, your local guide will set the scene so that you can somehow live for a moment the vibrant atmosphere of this incredible race.

Our walking tour then ends inside the Duomo of Siena – undoubtedly the jewel of the city. If you've seen the interior of Florence's Duomo, it is nowhere near as spectacular as Siena's. The most unique part of this city's cathedral is its floor. It's an artwork on its own, made out of the world's most precious marbles – in fact, it's a combined masterpiece of over 50 images created over 2 centuries by some of Italy's most important artists. Then, enjoy walking through the city center on your own before meeting your guide again to head to your next stop!

After the morning exploration of Siena, a 45-minute drive will take you the the next stop: Fattoria Poggio Alloro, an organic family-run wine estate – the highlight of the day! Enjoy an informal wine tasting lesson and a traditional Tuscan lunch with plenty of wine, in the most gorgeous location overlooking stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Take the opportunity to try fresh organic farm food of homemade pasta, cured meats (homemade prosciutto and salami), local cheeses, a real garden salad, and Tuscan biscotti. There is also the opportunity to buy the local products of the winery before heading to San Gimignano.

After lunch, a 15-minute drive will take you to San Gimignano, that is an even smaller, walled Tuscan hill town than Siena - about 6 times smaller - and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. San Gimignano is most famous for its towers of which there were 72 though there are just 14 remaining today. From this the city gets its nickname of the little Manhattan of Tuscany. Your guide will give you a map and point out the best landmarks, so that you can roam independently the picturesque streets and squares of this enchanting hilltop town.

Your guide will lead you to the entrance city gate and that is where the main boulevard starts from, Via San Giovanni. This street will take you to Piazza della Cisterna, the heart of San Gimignano and also the setting for several films. This was the square where festivals and tournaments took place while the Piazza Duomo was the religious and political centre. This is also where the best gelato in the world is – Gelateria della Piazza Dondoli. It's won many awards as the best gelato, you could try it and see what you'll think!