TripAdvisor Review from August 18, 2009:
"I spent a few days in Florence on my first visit (not my last!) and took two Artviva tours. I usually hate tours, but I had so little time, I thought I would start off with a museum walking tour in order to get a good background and orient myself.
My guide was Sylvia for the Uffizi gallery tour, and she was just really fantastic. I felt that she was so enthusiastic, warm, and especially intelligent and knowledgeable, she gave no ordinary tour.
Her personal attention and interest in every member of the small group was very appreciated. Usually you see tourists herded around blankly, like cattle, until they don't seem to care at all about what the guide is droning on about.
I was really thrilled with the experience. It was just the right length, and I left feeling I had gained something unique, while making me want to see and learn more about Florence and Tuscany.
So, I decided to chance another day with Artviva and do the "Best of Tuscany" tour and had another memorable time with a small group-eight of us .
Stefan was our guide. He is an absolute gem. His spirit, passion, sense of humor, and knowledge (not to mention his funny trivia games) really made it for me.
The day was spent in lighthearted conversation, everyone felt taken care of, as if we were already all old friends (instead of the strangers we really were), learning a great a deal, laughing a lot, having a glorious time. Stefan gave the absolute best restaurant recommendation, and it made my last evening in Florence one I won't soon forget ( I ended up going out with some folks I had met that day on the tour itself).
Both of the guides I had genuinely loved what they were doing, and you have to commend a company who employs and allows these good people to flourish.
Please keep up the excellent work Artviva. I will be recommending this company to friends and family."
Miranda 76
Best of Tuscany Tour and Masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery Tour
Friday, August 21, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
"Best of Tuscany and Florence - Just Do It!" - ArtViva TripAdvisor Review
Read more to hear what one of our recent clients have to say about our Best of Tuscany Tour, Tuscan Bike + Villa Swim Tour and Tuscan Wine Tour.
Did we mention they loved our Florence tours as well?
"We can not say enough about this very friendly company. Due to a mix up over setting our clocks-put it down to jet lag! and a problem with a bus strike we turned up late for our morning tour and Uffizi tour the next day.
Did we mention they loved our Florence tours as well?
No problems for the smiling Artviva young ladies in Florence who graciously took our rambling family to meet the already departed guides.
Our guides caught us up in the break with what we missed. Florence is a fascinating city and our guides Christine and Silvia just made it come alive for us. We loved the smallest bar we have ever seen, a cupboard sized hole in a wall where we stopped for a snack.
The best for us was the Best of Tuscany tour with Stephen with the wine, the lunch, views. He convinced us to do the Villa Swim tour as well. As our parents are elderly -we biked, they opted to be transfered directly to the villa. All highly recommended for young and old alike.
Artviva never made us feel unwanted, our questions about parking, restaurants, changing money, rest rooms, where to get medical attention, wheel chair hire (Mother not feeling too well), post offices (you get the idea!) ... were answered with a sense of humor and patience as I'm sure they must have heard most of our queries a million times before.
Our guides always made sure my mother in her wheel chair for this part of out trip felt included in the tour. Thank you Artviva you made what could have been a difficult stay in Florence not just a memorable experience but one we will all treasure."
naxos66
Balmain
Friday, August 14, 2009
"The Best of Tuscany Tour Was The Best of Our Ten Day Visit to Italy..."
Trip Advisor ArtViva Review:
"The Best of Tuscany tour along with our other tours with Artviva were the best of our 10 day long visit to Italy. The historical knowledge of our guides, the comfort of the vans and the drivers were all excellent. The day in the Tuscan three towns with Stefan our guide was ideal and the lunch at the vineyard beyond compare, with no hard sell for wine or olive oil. What made this tour great was the small group. We took several other tours while in Rome and Florence and vowed never to take a tour with another company after our experience with this firm. It really made the difference for us, the small group v the big bus experience. I am a VERY fussy person and was more than VERY pleased.
I must also mention our Florence tours of the Uffizi gallery and the David tour with two other guides, Freya and Paul. Both tour guides were insightful and delightful company. I can highly recommend The Best of Tuscany tour and Artviva’s walking tours in Florence."
finisterre123
Australia
July 27, 2009
"The Best of Tuscany tour along with our other tours with Artviva were the best of our 10 day long visit to Italy. The historical knowledge of our guides, the comfort of the vans and the drivers were all excellent. The day in the Tuscan three towns with Stefan our guide was ideal and the lunch at the vineyard beyond compare, with no hard sell for wine or olive oil. What made this tour great was the small group. We took several other tours while in Rome and Florence and vowed never to take a tour with another company after our experience with this firm. It really made the difference for us, the small group v the big bus experience. I am a VERY fussy person and was more than VERY pleased.
I must also mention our Florence tours of the Uffizi gallery and the David tour with two other guides, Freya and Paul. Both tour guides were insightful and delightful company. I can highly recommend The Best of Tuscany tour and Artviva’s walking tours in Florence."
finisterre123
Australia
July 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni and an authentic Tuscan lunch with wine - Enjoy all of this with the Original Best of Tuscany Tour!
The Best of Tuscany Tour is an amazing way to see the marvelous Tuscan countryside in just one day! Visit Siena, one of Italy's most enchanting cities and historical rival of Florence. We then move on to visit San Gimignano, one of Tuscany's most famous hilltop towns, it's 'skyline' dotted with 14 medieval towers. The last town, Monteriggioni, will charm you with its medieval walls and buildings,which are some of the best preserved in Italy.
We also take you to a private wine estate and farmhouse for an authentic Tuscan lunch served with the estate's wine. Try pecorino cheese with honey, ricotta with herbs and sun-dried tomatoes, a variety of Tuscan salami and hams, eggplant with fresh mushrooms, fresh barley with basil and tomatoes, bruschetta, as well as try the wine estate's Vin Santo with cantuccini. This typically Tuscan dessert consists of a glass of sweet dessert wine and crunchy almond biscuits. These are just some of the many dishes that may be served as the menu changes daily.
See one of our client's review of our ArtViva Best of Tuscany Tour:
"Having spent two weeks in Italy and doing a few tours through different companies I must say Artviva surpassed any other tour organization.
Our guide was Stefan and from start to finish he was the most insightful, funny and charismatic tour guide I have had the pleasure of touring with. Not only was he informative about the sights visited he went out of his way to make sure we were informed about the do's and don'ts of Italy to maximize our experience not only for the day of the tour but for our entire vacation.
The tour itself was great. Multiple city stops allowed us to see the what the Tuscan region had to offer. The winery stop was enjoyable and the meal provided was excellent.
I would most certainly reccomend Artviva tours to anyone looking for a top notch experience. Thank You Artviva for making our vacation that much more memorable."
Phil Jurychuk
Best of Tuscany Tour
April 11, 2009
We also take you to a private wine estate and farmhouse for an authentic Tuscan lunch served with the estate's wine. Try pecorino cheese with honey, ricotta with herbs and sun-dried tomatoes, a variety of Tuscan salami and hams, eggplant with fresh mushrooms, fresh barley with basil and tomatoes, bruschetta, as well as try the wine estate's Vin Santo with cantuccini. This typically Tuscan dessert consists of a glass of sweet dessert wine and crunchy almond biscuits. These are just some of the many dishes that may be served as the menu changes daily.
See one of our client's review of our ArtViva Best of Tuscany Tour:
"Having spent two weeks in Italy and doing a few tours through different companies I must say Artviva surpassed any other tour organization.
Our guide was Stefan and from start to finish he was the most insightful, funny and charismatic tour guide I have had the pleasure of touring with. Not only was he informative about the sights visited he went out of his way to make sure we were informed about the do's and don'ts of Italy to maximize our experience not only for the day of the tour but for our entire vacation.
The tour itself was great. Multiple city stops allowed us to see the what the Tuscan region had to offer. The winery stop was enjoyable and the meal provided was excellent.
I would most certainly reccomend Artviva tours to anyone looking for a top notch experience. Thank You Artviva for making our vacation that much more memorable."
Phil Jurychuk
Best of Tuscany Tour
April 11, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
"The Highlight of Our Trip..." Best of Tuscany ArtViva Review
Best of Tuscany ArtViva Review:
"Thank you. We have told everyone that the highlight of our trip was your tour through Tuscany. Stefan was a fabulous guide- very entertaining and didn't mind a bit that we could hardly find the bus after so many grappa toasts! (Stefan remained the perfect host- insisting that we drink his share so that he could guide us back down the hill from lunch!) We heard of your company through Rick Steves and are very glad that we did. The hill towns were beautiful and listening to the stories and history that Stefan shared between stops made it all the more interesting. We will definitely recommend your company and Stefan to our family and friends."
Natalie Holick
"Thank you. We have told everyone that the highlight of our trip was your tour through Tuscany. Stefan was a fabulous guide- very entertaining and didn't mind a bit that we could hardly find the bus after so many grappa toasts! (Stefan remained the perfect host- insisting that we drink his share so that he could guide us back down the hill from lunch!) We heard of your company through Rick Steves and are very glad that we did. The hill towns were beautiful and listening to the stories and history that Stefan shared between stops made it all the more interesting. We will definitely recommend your company and Stefan to our family and friends."
Natalie Holick
Take the Best of Tuscany Tour with a Phenomenal Tour Guide!
"Douglas was a phenomenal tour guide and knew so much information and history about the region we toured. Of all the days we spent in Italy, 10 total, this by far was our favorite day. Thanks so much."
Amber Brewer
The Best of Tuscany Tour
July 17th, 2009
Amber Brewer
The Best of Tuscany Tour
July 17th, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The Best of Tuscany Tour Review
Artviva Tour Review
The Best of Tuscany Tour Review
We welcome the opportunity to share our experience with Art Viva. We are the Silvestri family and we learned of your company through Google and Rick Steves. Our tour, The Best of Tuscany was wonderful! Stephan was our guide and he was very knowledgeable, energetic and fun. We loved his stories, his sense of humor and the way he engaged everyone on the tour to participate. He also offered great suggestions and answered all our questions which was very helpful in enjoying the rest of our stay in Florence. We would highly recommend your company to our friends and family and we would definitely utilize your company for future travel plans. Also, the highlight of the day was our trip to the winery and lunch, the food, the wine, and the beauty of the vineyards was amazing!
June 2009
The Best of Tuscany Tour Review
We welcome the opportunity to share our experience with Art Viva. We are the Silvestri family and we learned of your company through Google and Rick Steves. Our tour, The Best of Tuscany was wonderful! Stephan was our guide and he was very knowledgeable, energetic and fun. We loved his stories, his sense of humor and the way he engaged everyone on the tour to participate. He also offered great suggestions and answered all our questions which was very helpful in enjoying the rest of our stay in Florence. We would highly recommend your company to our friends and family and we would definitely utilize your company for future travel plans. Also, the highlight of the day was our trip to the winery and lunch, the food, the wine, and the beauty of the vineyards was amazing!
June 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Best of Tuscany Tour-Affordable Small Group Luxury Tour
The Original Best of Tuscany Tour is a great way to get out into the famous Tuscany countryside.
Enjoy the original Best of Tuscany Tour with a great guide to bring the past to life.
A My Prestigious Small Group Guarantee, a winery & cellar visit, three fabulous hilltop towns, Siena, San Gimignano and Monteriggioni, spectacular views of Tuscany, a wine tasting, delicious gourmet Tuscan lunch with wine, all at a relaxed pace with time to browse...
Experience the highlights with a prestigious small group in a few hours...This is the best of Tuscany with a very small group, shimmering olive groves, glorious vineyards; three quintessential medieval hilltop towns (Tuscany's most famous) and iconic Tuscan views.
We bring the past to life with incredible stories while walking the same paths of famous artists from ages past and seeing classic Tuscan landscapes. If you have limited time and want to see Tuscany's most famous and beautiful hilltop towns, experience a wine estate and cellar in a magnificent setting, taste great wines and savor a delicious gourmet Tuscan lunch then this is the tour for you! Bring your camera!
When: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 8:30 am
Meeting Point: Our Office Via Sassetti, 1, (see map and directions on how to find us)
Includes: Full day guided tour, transportation to San Gimingnano Siena and Monteriggione by mini-bus. Also included is a mouthwatering Tuscan lunch with wines and wine tasting at a classic Tuscan wine estate with a visit to the cellar.
My Prestigious Small Group Guarantee of maximum 14 persons.
Minimum: 5 persons required to run this tour.
Weather: This tour runs rain or shine.
FOR LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS CALL OUR OFFICE NOW: ++39 055 2645033 (Mon-Sat 8am-6pm)
** Suitability for Children: Children are welcome on this tour however we are not able to provide car seats and by law children can not ride on a parent's lap. This tour is suitable for children able to occupy a seat and wear a seat belt . **
In Depth Description of The Best of Tuscany Tour
The Best of Tuscany tour is an 8-hour tour to San Gimignano, Siena and Monteriggione, three remarkable medieval towns in the Chianti region. To facilitate your enjoyment, our guide explains the history and highlights of each fascinating hill town in private transport on the way while you enjoy the very beautiful and aptly famous Tuscan landscape. The guide also stops for photo opportunities at particularly scenic locations. Upon arrival at each town our guide gives you time to explore after pointing out the best places to see artisan's studios, local producers of typical Tuscan products, nice places to 'people watch' while enjoying a cold drink and where to explore the town's highlights. You are given time in San Gimignano and Siena where you can choose to just soak up the atmosphere or try one of the other activities outlined above. The tour also includes a gourmet light Tuscan lunch of quality products produced in Tuscany. You also visit a classic Tuscan wine estate with an introduction to Tuscan wine and a wine tasting and olive oil tasting. This tour is designed to give maximum enjoyment for a day's outing to Tuscany's most famous hill top towns
Some of the Estate's wines: Vernaccia di San Gimignano DocgRosato di San Gimignano DocChianti Colli Senesi Docg
The Best of Tuscany Tour light Tuscan Lunch with Gourmet Tuscan Products
Olives produced by the estatePeperoni aromatizzati all'aceto di Vernaccia
Cipolline all'aceto di Chianti
Melanzane al funghetto
Ricotte alle erbe con pomodori secchi sott'olio
Gorgonzola naturale con olio extravergine di oliva prezzemolo e limone
Pecorino cheese with honeys (acacia, sulla girasole o melata di quercia)
Tuscan Salami and hams (prosciutto, salame, finocchiona, salame piccante)
Bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil
Crostini
Insalata di farro with fresh tomato and basi
Or Pasta with fresh local ingredientsDessert: The Estate's Vinsanto with cantuccini.
Menu changes daily
The Best of Tuscany Tour Shopping Suggestions: What to buy in Siena and San Gimignano -
Menu changes daily
The Best of Tuscany Tour Shopping Suggestions: What to buy in Siena and San Gimignano -
Both towns are great for quality small gifts to take home. Beautiful, locally produced traditional design ceramics are available in both towns. San Gimignano is an 'art town' with a large variety of artists' studios to browse. Salami, cheeses, traditional cakes and biscuits like Siena's famous Pan Forte. Ask your guide to point out great shops with high quality produce. The wine estate you visit has a great selection of wines and olive oils.
Walking Tours as a policy accepts no commissions from shops so that we are free to recommend the very best to you.
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