Siena and San Gimignano

Excursion from Montecatini Terme to Siena and San Gimignano

Going on this journey, you will have the opportunity to visit the heart of Tuscany and get acquainted with two of the most beautiful medieval cities. They are located in the countryside, surrounded by charming Tuscan landscapes, hills with vineyards, olive groves and cypress alleys leading to ancient castles. The first city you will start exploring is Siena, you will see all the main sights, get acquainted with its rich history and centuries-old traditions. After exploring the Seine, we will go for a tasting lunch Tuscan wines in the winery (at your request). After tasting Tuscan cuisine with wonderful wines, we will enjoy the magnificent scenery, going to San Gimignano on the scenic road. Here you will get acquainted with a small very atmospheric town, with the unique architecture of medieval skyscrapers. After getting acquainted with it, we will go on the way back. The best way to make a trip to the heart of Tuscany, visit Siena and San Gimignano, book a private day tour to Siena and San Gimignano. At your disposal is a comfortable minivan with a driver for the entire duration of the tour and a personal guide in Siena and San Gimignano (not included in the price of the tour), this will allow you to travel in complete comfort.

Siena is the eternal rival of Florence, in the Middle Ages, both cities competed for a dominant role in the region. In an effort to surpass each other, the cities invited the best masters of the time. Famous architects, artists, sculptors created masterpieces, decorating cities and the interior of palaces and cathedrals. Visit the Duomo Cathedral, Palazzo Pubblico or Palazzo Buonsignori and see for yourself. This rivalry was won by Florence, but their competition left a huge cultural legacy in the two cities. After Siena fell under the rule of the Medici Dukes, the development of the city was hampered, which led to its preservation in the guise of the XIII-XIV centuries. Going to Siena, you will find yourself in a medieval city almost untouched by time, with a rich history and traditions. One of them is the biannual horse race in the central Piazza del Campo. The Palio, as these races are called, is one of the main business cards of Siena. Siena gave the world one of the most revered saints, Saint Catherine, who is the patron saint of Siena and all of Europe. Her relics are kept in the Basilica of San Domenico, from there you will start exploring Siena.

San Gimignano is a city of medieval skyscrapers or medieval Manhattan, as it is called because of some similarities with Manhattan in New York. Initially, 72 towers were built, but only 13 have survived to this day. These structures were evidence of the power and wealth of their owners. The history of San Gimignano is very rich, it goes back to the distant past, the legend says that the first settlements on this place appeared in the 60s BC. The tragic events of the XIII century stopped the development of the city for a long time, and it seemed to freeze in its medieval appearance. Now it is a small, but very nice and cozy town, surrounded by amazing Tuscan landscapes. Here, more than anywhere else, you can feel the beauty, charm and soulfulness of Tuscany.

What to enjoy during the tour:

The best ice cream in the world. We offer you to taste one of the best ice cream in the world from Sergio Dondoli, one of the most famous ice cream makers. Gelateria Sergio Dondoli offers you a choice of more than 70 types of ice cream. We offer you to try exclusive types of Sergio ice cream. A combination of creamy ice cream with gorgonzola cheese, saffron, blueberry and lavender, raspberry and rosemary, tomato flavor.... In the hot season, we recommend you to try the sorbents made from pink grapefruit and champagne or the famous white wine Vernaccia. Learn more about Sergio Dondoli gelateria here
Lunch at the winery - Tuscan cuisine combined with fine wines will give you pleasure and refresh you at the end of the tour.

Landmarks in Siena:

• Cathedral of St. Dominic    
• Siena Cathedral
• Piazza del Campo
• Monastery of Saint Catherine

Landmarks in San Gimignano:

• There are three Torture Museums in the city
• Panoramic platform
• Cathedral of San Gimignano
• St. Augustine's Church
• Torre Grosso Tower

Dear tourists, we invite you to visit the cities of Siena and San Gimignano. You can choose the different duration and variation of the tour that is most suitable for you.  You can explore the city on your own or with a professional guide.

Important information:

The price of the tour does not include the cost of a professional guide and the cost of tasting with lunch or dinner. If you want to order these services, please activate them in the "Additional services" field. The choice of the tasting option and the number of hours of the guide's work is made at the time of ordering. Tastings, lunch or dinner are paid by tourists separately, directly at the cash desks of the farms. The cost of guide services, paid by tourists to the guide at the end of the tour. When ordering a tour, a guarantee payment is paid in the amount of 13% of its cost, the remaining cost of the tour is paid by tourists to the driver at the end of it.

The guide is a vocation, our guides love and know their work well. They are tactful and professional, conduct excursions taking into account the wishes of tourists, and answer all your questions. A professional guide will tell you about the history, culture, traditional cuisine, draw your attention to important points, tell interesting stories from the life of local residents. The cost of a professional guide in Siena and San Gimignano is 50 € per hour.
A guide can accompany you during the entire trip. The guide will tell you about the cities and sights that you will meet along the way, tell you interesting stories and answer all your questions. When ordering a guide for the entire duration of the tour, the cost of guide services is 6 hours 225€ and 8 hours 300€.

Wine tasting-in combination with a full lunch or dinner, will give pleasure to gourmets. You will be offered to taste Vernaccia, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile and of course Supertoscan wines. Wine tasting should start vertically, from simple to complex. The winery offers snacks and dishes that are best suited to the type of wine served. For the simple ones, you will be offered Tuscan snacks consisting of cheese, prashutto, salami and herbs, for the more complex ones, Tuscan soup, lasagna and meat. For dessert, a wonderful dessert wine of Vin Santo combined with Cantuccini cookies. The cost of lunch or dinner at the winery with a tasting of 10 -12 wines, including Supertoscan wines is 35 € per person.

When ordering a tasting tour with lunch or dinner, the minimum duration of the tour must be at least 8 hours.

The duration of the tour is calculated from the moment of departure from the meeting place you specified until the moment of your return. When extending the tour, extra hours are paid at the rate of 35 € for each subsequent hour that exceeds the tour time specified when placing the order.

Travel time:

• from Montecatini Terme to Siena, approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, depending on the location of your hotel
• from Siena to San Gimignano in about 30 minutes
• from San Gimignano to the winery in about 20 minutes
• from the winery in Montecatini Terme, approximately 1 hour 40 minutes, depending on the location of your hotel