Chianti Full-Day Wine and Wildlife Tour From Florence

Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square) is a square with a panoramic view of Florence, Italy, located in the Oltrarno district of the city.This Florentine piazza was designed by architect Giuseppe Poggi and built in 1869 on a hill just south of the historic center, during the redevelopment of Oltrarno, the left (South) bank of the Arno river. In 1869, Florence was the capital of Italy and the whole city was involved in an urban renewal, the so-called "Risanamento" or the "Renovation" of the city's neighborhoods. Lungarni (riverside walkways; "lungarno", singular) were built on the riversides. On the right bank, the fourteenth-century city walls were removed and turned into the Viali di Circonvallazione, mimicking the French "boulevard" design, six lanes wide and lined with trees. On the left bank winding up the hill of San Miniato the Viale dei Colli was built, a tree-lined street over 8 kilometers long ending at the Piazzale Michelangelo which was built as a terrace with a panoramic view of the city.

Bronze cast of David facing Florence from the center of the square

The square, dedicated to the Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo, has bronze copies of some of his marble works found elsewhere in Florence: the David and the four allegories of the Medici Chapel of San Lorenzo. The monument was brought up by nine pairs of oxen on 25 June 1873.

Poggi designed the loggia in the neoclassical-style that dominates the whole terrace, which today houses a restaurant. Originally it was intended to house a museum of works by Michelangelo, never realized. In the wall of the balcony, under the loggia, there is an epigraph in capital letters referring to his work: Poggi turned this into his monument in 1911.

The view captures the heart of Florence from Forte Belvedere to Santa Croce, across the lungarni and the bridges crossing the Arno, including the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, the Bargello and the octagonal bell tower of the Badia Fiorentina. Beyond the city are the hills of Settignano and Fiesole

San Gimignano, famous for its Vernaccia wine. This city is a must visit when in the Chianti region. San Gimignano is characterized by the many towers that fill up the horizon, many Italians themselves visit this city as a day-trip due to its beauty. It lies just 56 km south of Florence, and thus makes it the perfect starting point for this full day Chianti tour.

Siena is likely Italy's loveliest medieval city, and a trip worth making even if you are in Tuscany for just a few days. Siena's heart is its central piazza known as Il Campo, known worldwide for the famous Palio run here, a horse race run around the piazza two times every summer. Movie audiences worldwide can see Siena and the Palio in the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.

Siena is said to have been founded by Senius, son of Remus, one of the two legendary founders of Rome thus Siena's emblem is the she-wolf who suckled Remus and Romulus - you'll find many statues throughout the city. The city sits over three hills with its heart the huge piazza del Campo, where the Roman forum used to be. Rebuilt during the rule of the Council of Nine, a quasi-democratic group from 1287 to 1355, the nine sections of the fan-like brick pavement of the piazza represent the council and symbolizes the Madonna's cloak which shelters Siena.

Sit back, relax, and have some of the best flavors of Chianti. This stop will take you to a winery, where you will learn all about Chianti's rich wine history. The knowledgeable staff of this wine estate will lead you around the property, explain you about the fermentation processes, show you the cellars, and let you taste some of the best wines out there.

Not only wine tasting though. You will also get in touch with nature by seeing the estate of San Michele with wildlife, a walk inside the vineyards and get a chance to take some amazing pictures of the wild pigs (which if you want you will also be able to feed) in their natural context.

This stop, during the wine tasting, includes lunch as well. You will try 4 different wines, and the typical Vin Santo sweet wine. Lunch will be made of a dish of cold cuts, a dish of cheeses and then Lasagna. There is a vegetarian option obviously with a typical Tuscan soup

A stop of 40 minutes to appreciate the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which is a freestanding bell tower located in the city of Pisa in Italy. Like its name suggest, it actually does lean to one side. The tower started to lean during construction because the foundation was built on soft ground that had difficulty supporting the weight.