I had my first brunello ever 40 years ago that was their first vintage and fell in love with the…read morestyle. Visiting was a highlight for me made even better by my tasting with Lisa, who was very informative. She has been with Banfi for 24 years. I opted for the higher end tasting, which was the correct thing to do for me. Lisa also recommended a bird identification app produced at Cornell University that is quite comprehensive. That recommendation was prompted by a question about a flurry of activity of a species related to the swallows that used to dominate San Juan Capistrano.

Went here for a VIP tour. The tour start with a lunch in their taverna. The food was amazing. We…read morehad a full four course meal with a "cheese ball" starter, pasta as prima and veal as secondi with icrecream for desert. We have a great sampling of the vines from Banfi with the meal and great service. After the meal we went on a tour of the Banfi winery and ended up with a tasting. Our guide Paul did a fantastic job. This is a major brunello provider that goes back to 15th century with beautiful views. We loved the experience.

Well documented and impressive displays of Etruscan artifacts from the Cortona area. Italian and…read moreEnglish placards. Everything pre-dates the Romans, with most of the artifacts dating back to 900 BC to 600 BC. This museum serves as a beautiful example of how civilization has grown and developed over the centuries. To see the works of art in the jewelry, or their skills at making metal helmets or the pottery which held wine, water and assorted other elements. The artifacts from their funeral discovery's are impressive as well. This is well worth a 2 hour visit.

Great discovery! We were absolutely blown away by this museum. Presented here is an outstanding…read morearray of artifacts with historical notations in Italian, most of them translated into English. We spent nearly three hours roaming this old historical building that was once a palace. You'll see amazing artifacts here from the 5th century BC, onward. Be prepared to soak up culture, history, and vast information as well as be inspired in the artistic visual curiosity that the place invokes.

Really wonderful tour! Such a fascinating history and wine cave. Our guide was very funny and super…read moreknowledgeable. We did the 6 glass tasting at the end, which was a good way to try many of their award winning wines. Light snacks were served with the wine as well. Highly recommend checking this tour and tasting out.

Wonderful side trip!…read more I discovered the De Ricci winery through travel friends who invited me on this enchanting tour, found on TripAdvisor for $31. I learned about the wine, the Etruscan history in Tuscany, and got to visit an ancient underground Etruscan temple! The wines offered during the tasting were lovely, most of them made with the sangiovese grape family. Fun fact: What animal is on the wine label? If I were to do this again, Id choose the other package on Trip Advisor for $39, as that included a sommelier. As this was, we were left to our own devices. Still fun but not completely satisfying. The little town of Montepulciano has an interesting history, as explained by our Montepukciano De Ricci wine tour guide. I wont share because its definitely part of the fun of the visit. The tiny town has a marvelous chocolate shop, museum and s tower which you can climb (only 75 steps!) and take incredible photos of the Tuscan countryside.

This museum is off the beaten path and a fun alternative to the very touristy packed places. They…read moreoffer an audio tour and the whole package is well worth the price.

During our tour of Tuscany, we went trough the Museum of Leonardo da Vinci, nestled in the heart…read moreof Vince where he was born. Depending on your interests in da Vinci, will determine your love for what you see. I have always been fascinated by his work and when you go through the museum, you will see some models of his inventions, from a machine to make domes to his flying machines. If you are as fascinated by his work as I am, stop in. It will not take too long to go through the place!

You must see the winged horses; world masterpiece worth a visit by itself. Also some lovely…read moreceramics . Beautiful villa undergoing restoration. Horses are installed by themselves ( as deserved) as you would of seen them if you had approached the Etruscan temple to worship in 400 BC .

The Accademia Gallery in Florence offers a focused, more intimate, and ultimately defined by a…read moresingle, overwhelming masterpiece, Michelangelo's David. Founded in the late 18th century as a teaching collection, it evolved into one of Italy's most important art institutions You slowly move through the gallery of Renaissance paintings and plaster models. You curiosity begins to build as you anticipate viewing this famous David. Quite impressive...the statue's size, precision details, and sculpture expertise lives you in awe. The Accademia's smaller size allows for a more intimate experience. It highlights Michelangelo's works as well as adding meaningful context.

You cannot visit Florence without visiting Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's David…read more Though I had a tour guide, I felt like the pace was too slow. It's a great museum, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather beat the crowds to see David, and then take my time strolling through all the other works of art. Seeing 17' of David in person is unreal-- a human made this out of rejected marble. The magnitude of David's height and attention to detail is incredible and the lighting under a skylight highlights every vein and definition of muscle even more so. If you're looking for a deep dive art history lesson, I'd recommend using AI. Note: try to book skip-the-line tickets in advance. If you're unable to, you can try to book through a third party booking system such as Viator, but you'll be paying more.

Of all the cathedrals in all of Italy the one that sits at the top of Orvieto might just be my…read morefavorite. The cathedral and all its Gothic architecture splendor is unlike anything I've seen before. Between the limestone stripes, gold mosaic tiles, vaulted ceilings, painted portraits and marble sculptures - visually - the building is absolutely stunning. Admission to enter and wander around is €3 and despite not being able to take photos it's well worth the price. Check out the interior of the cathedral, grab a panini and enjoy lunch on the steps outside, wander the town and take it all in. You're going to love Orvieto!

If Orvieto was the inspiration for Walt Disney's fairy tale Fantasyland, then Duomo Cathedral is…read morethe "Sleeping Beauty Castle" on steroids! My wife is Catholic, and she has never seen anything as splendid (and she has been to Notre Dame in Paris and the great cathedrals of Mexico City.) Like the other Yelper so aptly stated; °This is a very blinged out church," and is a MUST SEE if you are spending a week in Rome. The town of Orvieto is only 1 hour by Intercity Train from Termini Station (Rome's Grand Central). We were able to buy 2 Round Trip tickets for only $31 Euros (about $40 in US currency).