Fun in Tuscany — Local services in Florence

We booked a horseback riding and wine tasting event and got Lorenzo as our tour guide, and boy, did we luck out! On the trip to the stables, Lorenzo was very engaging and informative. He shared his knowledge of the sights we experienced along the way. Once we arrived at the beautiful horse farm, Lorenzo explained the day's itinerary, as well as a brief educational overview of the olive trees and their harvesting process, including the conversion of the olives into olive oil. The horseback riding was very relaxed and led us through the picturesque Tuscan countryside. We then headed to the Fattoria Poggio Alloro winery for some delicious food and wine tasting. My wife and I loved the wine so much that we wanted to send some home. The winery was prepared for that and made the process easy. Lastly, Lorenzo took us to Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano. It was a beautiful village surrounded by walls from the 13th century. We got more fun facts from Lorenzo on the origin of the multiple towers creating the village's skyline. We went to a few shops where we got some cherry balsamic glaze, olive oil, various truffle products, and some delicious pecorino cheese infused with pear. The best part of the day was chatting with Lorenzo. He was very interested in speaking with his guests. At one point, we discussed having recently gotten bees on our property. As we were on the way back to Florence, Lorenzo told us about some friends he met while working in a National forest in the mountains east of Florence. They had recently moved from Florence out to the country and opened an apiary. He also had some other friends who opened a B&B in the mountains and said he could check to see if they were available as well. Turns out they were, and Lorenzo curated a trip for us, and it turned out to be the best day of our trip!

The following day, Lorenzo picked us up and we headed to the apiary near Dicomano. Simone and Alice were absolutely awesome hosts and took us on a tour of their mountain slice of heaven. They showed us their approximately 60 hives and also an amazing building where you can lie down and listen to the beehive on the other side of the wall through a mesh screen. We then tried a variety of honeys they harvest, including single-flower honey. They also make delicious kombucha and other bee products. We purchased a bunch of honey to go and headed to Lorenzo's other friend's, Hugo and Nadia's place (I believe B&B a...Monte). Hugo and Nadia were also unbelievably welcoming and were busing cooking up an amazing lunch. Lorenzo showed us around, including a tour of their organic farm, from which much of our lunch came. They prepared a delicious meat and cheese tray from a local butcher, as well as grilled zucchini, fresh tomatoes, and what turned out to be one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted. It was a zucchini flower stuffed with smoked ricotta. We shared stories and many laughs. Nadia and Hugo's neighbors were even nice enough to give us a tour of their beautiful home on our way out. From there, Lorenzo took us to an incredibly charming local Holiday spot along the Arno River. The water was very cold, but given the heat of the day, it was very refreshing. I did not see any other tourists around, which made it feel like a unique experience. We ended the day by going to dinner together in a little town outside the Florence metropolitan area, which, again, went along with the truly unique experience of the whole day.

I would highly recommend booking a trip with this company, specifically with Lorenzo if he is available. He truly made us feel welcomed in his home country and really added a personal experience to our Italian journey. Speaking for my wife and myself, I feel like we gained a friend after the two days we spent with Lorenzo. He continued to help us on our trip with some solid advice even after we had parted ways. When we go back to Italy, we will definitely be contacting Lorenzo to plan...

From the moment we met Lorenzo near Hotel Baglioni (a short walk from Cafe Gamberini), we knew we were in for a treat! His warm welcome and attentiveness instantly put us at ease. We sheepishly mentioned skipping breakfast in our rush to be on time, and Lorenzo surprised us with a thoughtful stop at a gas station cafe for fresh fruit and croissants - the perfect way to fuel up for the day's adventure.

The scenic drive to our destination wasn't just a journey, it was an engaging conversation. Lorenzo's passion and knowledge were infectious. He shared captivating stories about his life, particularly his fascinating expertise in olive cultivation (did you know he owns and presses his own olive oil?!). His love for the outdoors even sparked ideas for our upcoming free day in Florence, thanks to his insightful recommendations.

Our arrival at a stunning restored villa nestled in the heart of Chianti was just the beginning. Chef Mauro, a lively and energetic force of nature, greeted us and instantly created a fun and engaging atmosphere. His excellent English made his captivating travel stories even more enjoyable. Most importantly, Mauro's ability to keep all 12 participants engaged throughout the 2-3 hour cooking class was truly exceptional. My husband still laughs fondly at Chef Mauro's mantra, "Relax, it's just pasta!" It perfectly captured the lighthearted spirit of the afternoon.

And let's not forget the delicious food! The experience wouldn't have been complete without the generous flow of wine that complemented every bite. We learned to make (and devour!) delectable ravioli, spaghetti with meat sauce, two types of bread, and a heavenly fresh fig tart. Each dish was a testament to Mauro's culinary talents.

But Lorenzo deserves another standing ovation! Beyond his expertise and engaging conversation on the drive, he truly went above and beyond by capturing the entire experience on camera. From snapping photos and videos of my husband and me to documenting the fun for other couples, Lorenzo's thoughtfulness added a heartwarming touch to the day.

The adventure didn't end there! Lorenzo took us on a hidden gem tour of the medieval city of San Gimignano. Having visited numerous times, he knew exactly where to find the non-touristy spots, leading us to the most breathtaking views in town. He even showed us a cool brick miniature replica of the city! Afterward, he offered to take us to a local winery, even calling ahead to secure a reservation. And once again, Lorenzo delivered! We found ourselves nestled in a beautiful winery overlooking the rolling hills of San Gimignano, enjoying a tasting of regional wines paired with pecorino cheese, delicious olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.

Lorenzo's positive impact on our experience was undeniable. It was, hands down, one of the best days of our entire Italian trip! His knowledge, passion, and genuine care for his guests made it truly unforgettable. Thank you, Lorenzo, for exceeding expectations and creating such a...

Our group of 6 did the bike tour to San Gimignano with lunch/wine tasting and it was magical. Christian was our guide and he is reason enough to take this tour. He is such a warm and knowledgeable person who was was dedicated to our group's every need. When the tour starts in the valley, far off in the distance you can see the town perched on a hill like a medieval jewel and you wonder if you can make it up that high on bikes. But as you wind through the Tuscan backroads and hills on ebikes you realize it's easier than you think and the views are picture postcard perfect. The final approach to/from the town takes place on the windy and sometimes steep road that you must share with cars but what can be more Italian than that? At 22km overall it's not exactly the Giro d'italia but we all welcomed the excellent workout after many days of feasting in Firenze. SG is itself a marvel and if you're interested in this tour you already want to go there so don't need me to tell you about it's many wonders. All I will say is that that in the 90 minutes we spent there, Christian ensured we hit all the highlights (including gelato) and brought this place to life for us with his commentary. After SG, the tour was literally all downhill and if the bike guide hadn't gone slowly on purpose we might have all ended up meeting our maker in a roadside vineyard or olive grove (and I personally can't think of a better obituary, can you?) but, seriously, it was exciting and fun and actually quite safe. The wine tasting took place at an equally magical wine estate (Torciana). As with so many places in Italy, the experience at Torciana yet again leaves you with the question lingering in your mind: "Do people really live like this surrounded by such natural beauty and bounty?" Eleonora was our "wine guide" and she provided an excellent introduction to wine tasting perfectly geared to neophytes (such as my 3 children aged 17-22) but with enough insider information that even more experiences oenophiles will learn a thing or two about the intricacies of Tuscan winemaking. The food was local and included an excellent ribollito. You might think it's a bit cheeky to serve hot soup on a sunny day pushing 37 degrees celsius after 22km of cycling but like everything else, it was another Tuscan tour de force. We left Torciana throughly sated and, safe in the knowledge that the bikes had been put away, we were also fairly well lubricated after sampling 6 wines including a light, white Vernaccia, a leathery Brunello, and a couple of bombastic Supertuscans. If your cellar is a bit empty, Torciana will deliver as much wine as you want directly to your home anywhere in the world. Thanks again to Christian and the FIT crew for an unforgettable day. Book this tour now. You will not be...