Italy Travel Tours

Posts Tagged ‘Arezzo’

Some say the best private tours Italy are those that occur in Tuscany.  Situated between the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and the Tyrrhenian sea, the Tuscan capital is world-beloved Florence.

Other smaller capitals of the provinces include Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena.  All of them a rich with history, art, architecture and culture, and all are worthy of a visit with a well-informed and confident tour guide.

Tuscany has a variety of topographical features.  Much of Tuscany is hilly and mountainous, but the area near the sea is flat in stretches.   Whether you want to relax at the scenic beaches or enjoy the local flavor of wine and cuisine, there is something for everyone in Tuscany.

The first time visitor often goes straight to Florence.  And who can blame them?  You can use any mode of transportation to get around.

Why not consider a visit to the Abbey of San Miniato al Monte?  From the Piazzale Michelangelo, you proceed on foot to the abbey for a step back in time to a devout and religious experience.

The Academia Gallery is a second must-see stop on your tour.  Ordered by the Grand-duke Pietro Leopoldo, the museum houses a collection of magnificent tapestries revealing the story of creation, as well as plaster busts by Lorenzo Bartolini and Luigi Pampaloni.

Most everyone has heard of Michelangelo and even Donatello, though American youngsters may think the latter is a Mutant Ninja Turtle.  In truth, the real Donatello was a sculptor and his works are displayed at the Bargello National Museum on Via del Proconsolo, 4.  When you book a trip with a private tour guide, you don’t need to worry about how to find these places.  Your knowledgeable guide will bring you right to the door.

With private tours Italy, all you need is a camera, a credit card, and an open mind to all the experiences that await you.

Many Northern Italian Tours are best experienced with the whole family.  Children over the age of 5 will remember more than you think after this grand adventure through one of the world’s best regions.

You can begin your trip in the village of Cortona, the setting for the best-selling novel Under the Tuscan Sun.  Take the scenic road numbered SS71 north to Arezzo.  Be sure to bring your camera because this road is classic and quintessential Tuscany.

Arezzo is chock full of ancient art and frescoes by Piero della Francesca.  Movie buffs will also recognize some of the street scenes from the Academy-Award winning film Life is Beautiful.   If you time your trip right, your children will delight in the medieval joust that occurs during the Street Fairs on the first Sunday of each month.

The next day consider the old tunnels in Orvieto, a small hilltop city that is lit with spotlights at night.  The food is very special there and there is a wine by the same name.  Visit the toy stores with colorful puppets, and get ready for the requests.  Your children will surely ask to take one home.   After lunch you can visit the Etruscan Tombs.  Don’t worry, there’s nothing scary, but it’s an impressive place from an urban engineering standpoint.

Make your way to the Parco Naturale della Maremma to see white cattle and wild horses.  Have your camera ready to spot a wild boar.  Your tour guide will arrange a guided horseback ride in the early evening.

One cannot travel to Italy without seeing the famous Leaning Tower in Pisa.  The entire family, including children over the age of 8, are welcomed to climb inside to the top.  As famous as this is, you needn’t budget more than a half day in Pisa.

There is much to explore with Northern Italian Tours, and the best way to do that is with your family.

Read here about Northern Italy Travel with Kids

Here is another post about Northern Italy Tours

To begin Easy Italy Tours it helps to know the basics about this exotic and popular destination.  Many people choose to focus their trip on Tuscany and with good reason.  Novels like “Under the Tuscan Sun” have sent visitors flocking to this region to explore its wonders.

Tuscany covers the heart of central Italy with a population of 3.5 million people.  Florence is the capital city of Tuscany.  Ringed by the Apennines mountains, Tuscany is predominantly hilly but with large plains.

The most famous aspect of Tuscany is its art history and geographical beauty.  The capitals of the ten provinces are Arezzo, Florence, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Pisa, Pistoia and Siena.

Tuscany is easy to access with airports in Florence and Pisa.  A highway called the A1 connects the north with the south.  A11 is the coastal road connecting Florence with the sea.

More scenic are the feeder roads called the Via Aurellia, Via Cassia and the Via Clodia.  If you prefer to experience Europe’s sophisticated rail system, the Milan-Rome line will speed you on your way from north to south through the cities of Prato, Arezzo and Florence.

Tuscany also includes breathtakingly beautiful ports in Piombino and Livorno.  From here tour boats and pleasure yachts set sail for Elba, Corsica, Sardinia and the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago.

With all that Tuscany has to offer, it is difficult to know where to begin.  Many Americans begin in the city of Florence, however Siena and the thrilling Piazza del Campo, and Pisa and its famous Leaning Tower, and the old fortress in Livorno are equally impressive.

There is also an area called Minor Tuscany and this includes tiny medieval villages called Fiesole, San Gimignano , Montepulciano and Volterra.

Contact Federica Merli at Tuscany With Me, to custom design a trip that you will remember for the rest of your life.  No matter where you begin your Easy Italy Tours you’ll have a memorable time.

Good Italy vacation tours will help you determine your priorities so you can make the most of your time there. Italy has 20 regions and unless you have six months of travel time you won’t see everything in your first trip, which isn’t a bad thing because we can all use an excuse to return to Italy.

Tuscany is the region everyone has heard about and everyone wants to visit. The Renaissance was born here, it is the home of Chianti wine and Michelangelo spent time here. Tuscany is not particularly large and it is not served well by public transportation. A car and tour guide are indispensable in any area of Italy outside of Rome.

You can drive from the north of Tuscany to the south in three hours on the highway but you would miss the beauty of the region. The back roads are the way to go to really enjoy the spirit of any region of Italy and Tuscany is no exception.

Many travelers begin their vacation in either Florence or Pisa after arriving by plane in Rome or Milan. Some American airlines now have direct flights from the east coast to Pisa or Florence, eliminating interim train travel from Rome and Milan.

If crowds and long lines and high prices are an issue for you, avoid the peak season of July and August if you can. Instead, consider spring or fall for your visit. The weather is still attractive, the prices are better and massive crowds have dispersed.

If you’re traveling with your entire family, watch for festival schedules. Italy offers unique opportunities for children they can’t find in the States. Bring your camera to take photos of the kids watching “knights” on horseback in Arezzo, or they might smash nuts in Cortona.

Big or small, spring or fall, Italy vacation tours can help you experience the best that country has to offer.

As we publish this article on Christmas Eve we wish all of our readers the very Merriest of Christmases and to all a prosperous and wonderful New Year.

This is the best time of the year to make your travel arrangements for your next vacation to Italy.

Contact: Tuscany with Me to plan now for the vacation of a lifetime!

Your search for Tours Tuscany ends here, with some of the best kept secrets of this marvelous region of Italy.  Old world charm is very much the order in the Tuscan region.  Hotel prices have come down a bit from 2008, making this the best time to make that trip you’ve always dreamed of.

While everyone is going to Florence, you might want to try Siena.  The Palazzo Pubblico boasts the best secular fresco in all of Italy.  Significant artists such as Domenico Beccafumi, Simone Martini and Duccio are evidenced throughout the city with their works dispersed in private and public arenas.

If your visit is long enough to travel to Florence, be sure to look at the Cappella Brancacci at the Piazza del Carmine.  Created by Masaccio, Michelangelo himself studied the work when he was alive.  Masaccio is considered the finest Tuscan painter of all time even though he died at the age of 27.  Many of his works are housed at the Uffizi Gallery.

Public transportation is the normal way to go in Europe.  To rent a car can be quite costly, thanks to lofty insurance rates. A far better way to travel is to rent a car with a driver.  This is a way that every little detail that you would be otherwise concerned with will all be taken care of for you.  Your personal tour guide at “Tuscany with Me!” will be happy to make the arrangements for you.

For rail transportation you may check train timetables at http://www.trenitalia.it.  Train service is ideal to Arezzo, Lucca and Prato as well as Le Crete and Val d’Orcia.   Again, these details will be arranged for you by your personal tour guide.

Smaller areas are best accessed by bus and a pdf. schedule is available for download at http://www.lfi.it, and http://www.sitabus.com/.

As you will likely rely on your tour guide, try to plan as far ahead as you can.  The best accommodations and prices are usually available to those who plan their trip 6 to 12 months in advance.

Tell your tour operator your preferred budget of price for your hotel and it will all be taken care of for you.  The same goes for meals, a guide with experience in Tours Tuscany is invaluable in helping you navigate this beautiful and historic country.

While planning tours to Italy, it’s best to prioritize locations and experiences so you are not overwhelmed.   It’s true that Italy is much smaller than America, but it is still too big to see in one or two weeks on vacation.   Tour guides can help you create an itinerary to maximize the exposure during your stay.

Unfortunately the dollar isn’t going very far in Europe these days.  It takes about $1.50 to buy what a single euro will get you.  If you enjoy going to the museums, you might want to scrimp on elegant dining every night or vise versa.

Italy joins Germany and France in having the best highway systems in Europe.  Roads are in good shape and access is complete.  If you don’t rent a car and you stay in the larger cities, you can rent a scooter.   This new venture by Auto Europe in Italy and France offers Vespa scooters for rent so you can do as the Romans do; explore cities the fun and easy way.  Gas consumption is light, you can park on the sidewalk and you’ll dart in and out of auto traffic.  A ride on a Vespa alone is worth the trip.

If you decide to rent a car the rules are similar to the U.S.   You drive on the right and you pass on the left.  Seatbelt use is mandatory and there is zero tolerance for aggressive driving.   Be prepared to pay.  Sky-high insurance rates make renting a car in Italy almost prohibitive.

The best way to get around the country is by train or bus.  In Tuscany for example, the train will get you to top destinations like Arezzo, Lucca, Pisa, Pistoia and Prato.   Smaller towns are best accessed by bus.  No matter what mode of transportation you chose, your tours to Italy will enchant and mesmerize you.