Had a great Cinque Terre Walk About tour with our guides Naomi and Luca. Both brought their…read morepersonalities and knowledge of the area to the tour. You should be proud to have them as employees. Since they went the extra mile and smile, I have a little suggestion. It's best done to the Aerosmith song "Walk this Way". Enjoy... Walk About ( To the song Walk this Way by Aerosmith) Cinque Terre lovers There's a tour like no other Who can fill with your day with so much fun From the bus to the train Their always there to explain As you travel town to town in the sun Always with a smile They go the extra mile Naomi and Luca should really be praised For the hard work they do I have a suggestion for you How bout giving them both a raise Walk About We all shout Without doubt Don't cop out Just give them a raise Seaside villas Lined up and down the hillas Stretching up the Italian Coast With breath taking views So many we never knew An experience we all will boast Speaking for the rest These two really gave their best A credit to your industry by far So maybe tomorrow You can give them some more Euros And on Yelp I will give you 5 STARS Walk About We all shout Without doubt Don't cop out Just give them a raise

Our family of five booked the Vespa tour, and it was absolutely amazing! None of us had any…read moreexperience riding Vespas, but our tour guides were incredibly patient, supportive, and encouraging from the very beginning. It was definitely a little intimidating at first, but they took the time to help us feel comfortable and confident, which made the entire experience so enjoyable. Chris and Antonio were fantastic guides and truly made the day special. Chris brought the region to life by stopping at breathtaking viewpoints and sharing fascinating cultural and historical insights along the way. The scenery was stunning, the food was delicious, and the whole experience exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area--it was one of the highlights of our trip!

ArtViva has really great ratings here and on that other travel review site, but our experience was…read moreunderwhelming. I found their pre-tour communication really unprofessional. I had reached out asking about a few different tours and inquiring whether we could bring our 4 year old. They responded promptly that we could, and offered us 10% off if we booked three or more tours. I responded yes, that sounds great, we want to book these three tours on such and such date. No response. I followed up, no response. Followed up again, no response. It was getting pretty close to our trip and I was nervous about things filling up, so I decided to just book online. It annoyed me that I couldn't get the discount they'd offered with an online booking, so I decided to only book two tours with ArtViva and get the third tour from someone else. So I booked the two tours online, choosing from their available dates and times, which seemed to track with reality (i.e., tours for museums weren't sold on Mondays when museums are closed). I almost immediately got an email that the date I had selected for our gelato making class wouldn't work and they would have to move it to some other date. Um, why did you sell us that date, then? I responded with some dates that worked and said we could also possibly do Monday if necessary. Of course they rescheduled us for Monday. Ok, fine, we moved some things around. Then right before we left for our trip they emailed us that actually it would have to be at 9 am on Monday. I was a little wary about that since it was our first full day and I thought we might be jetlagged and starting a tour that early wasn't a good plan. When I asked if we could keep the later time, they said they could keep our original date and time (Friday at 10 am). So much drama just to keep the times we had originally booked! I also asked them multiple times what the meeting point for the gelato class was, because I needed to know if we needed a stroller to get there. Our hotel was in central Florence, no more than a 15 minute walk from all major tourist attractions, so this was the only thing we would possibly need a stroller for. It was like pulling teeth to get a response. I think I had to email them three times before I finally got a response with the address, and it was indeed quite far from our hotel. The tours themselves were ok. We did a tour of the David and a gelato making class with ArtViva. In hindsight, we did not need a tour of the David. The tour only lasted about 30 minutes and cost about four times what museum skip-the-line tickets did, and while the David is amazing, but it's also impossible to miss. (A tour is much more important at the Uffizi, which has a much larger collection.) But I don't know that I can really fault ArtViva for that, it was kind of poor planning on my part. The gelato class was advertised by ArtViva as kid friendly and it is not. We did an actually kid friendly pasta making class at an agriturismo and the difference between them was like night and day. I knew it was not going to go well when we showed up and they told us they didn't have kid-sized aprons so my 4 year old just wouldn't get one (that went over like a lead balloon, as I'm sure anyone who has ever had a 4 year old can imagine). ArtViva had specifically requested our favorite gelato flavors in advance, and although we'd told them our favorite flavor was chocolate, the gelato chef had chosen to make a flavor that had wine, honey, mascarpone and orange extract as ingredients...not exactly kid-friendly. I'm also not sure what the purpose of asking your favorite flavor is if they totally ignore it? Fortunately they had some chocolate and caramel gelato in the freezer they kindly let us sample. The gelato chef was nice, and tried to roll with the situation, but it was clear she was not prepared for a kid and didn't have much if any experience cooking with kids. They really need to make it clearer this class is not set up for young kids. I know things are weird with Covid now, and I'm trying to cut them some slack, but I feel like the communication issues are not really related to Covid. Also I was mostly communicating with the owner, who is British, so this is not a language barrier issue at all. I would not rule out booking with ArtViva again if they had a tour I couldn't get anywhere else, but I would definitely not seek them out.

We had three tours in one day... which is enough to wear one down. Artviva's team made each tour…read moreinteresting, fun and their lively attitude's made for a wonderful day. Our first tour was a walking tour with Florimda. We walked through down town to review the architecture and history of the city. The second tour was to the Uffizi, which included a fantastic review of the statues outside the Uffizi and the art within it's walls. (Or maybe the walking tour included the statues... either way, one of the tours did!) The Uffizi tour was good, and I recommend allowing yourself time after the tour to go through the museum on your own in case you want to see something again... for an art lover, this tour could be considered too short. Our last tour was with Angelo to see Michelangelo's David. Angelo is VERY charismatic and the tour included a good amount information about the statue itself. I'm not sure that a tour is needed for the University, as long as you have the information you want on the art. I felt that what I learned from Angelo was definitely worthwhile, and I probably would not have taken the time to learn it on my own.

We had an amazing experience on the Super Chianti tour with Matteo. He contributed invaluable…read moreknowledge about Florence, wine making, and culture in general. This greatly enhanced our tour as well as the remainder of our trip due to what we learned from Matteo. The small group made for a lovely day with ample opportunity to ask questions and learn from the hosts at each stop. The trip was well organized, low stress, and exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend and feel it was a great value for the products and services provided!

My wife and I chose the Chianti & Cheese tour and had a remarkable time! The wines of Tuscany are…read moresome of the best I've had and are on par with many we've had in Napa. The countryside of Tuscany is breathtaking, that alone would make the trip worth it but the food and wine are just as stunning. This is perfect for a nice reprieve from sightseeing in Florence and really helps put a trip in perspective. If you love wine and cheese and beautiful vistas, this is the perfect choice!

We did a 4 hour bike ride, wine and olive oil tasting a a beautiful Villa on the out skirts of…read moreFlorence. Our guide Michael Angelo (really that's his name) was a great wealth of knowledge about the area and the history. I'd go again in a minute.

We did an all day, downhill bike tour through Tuscany including a Monastery tour, amazing authentic…read moreItalian lunch and wine/olive oil tastings at a family owned farm. The views, tour of the Tuscan region and the wealth of knowledge from our guide made this tour one to remember! Many thanks to our guide, Andrea, for putting up with 9 girls and getting us down the mountain safely ;)

We did a horse back riding and wine tour with lorzeno and he was the absolute best! He spoke great…read moreEnglish and kept us very entertained the entire trip and taught us so much in such fun way!

Sam & Soni were amazing! It was a last minute booking & best decision! When Sam said we would…read morehave a good time, he certainly delivered? Definitely coming back soon to Sam & Soni! Don't hesitate, BOOK NOW!

We were a group of 10 visiting Florence. We were very lucky to meet up with Francesca from…read moreFantastic Florence! I found her through a recommendation from a friend. She was very flexible with our schedule and Mother Nature raining on our tour day. We were able to go a few days later. We did a three hour late afternoon tour. Francesca is friendly and knowledgeable. She arranged a boat tour that was incredible! The highlight of the tour! We also walked over to see David. Ask her anything and she knows the answer! Highly recommend!

Francesca was amazing. Her morning tour for our family was perfect! She is very knowledgeable…read moreabout the history of Florence. We had a fun and enjoyable morning tour with her and then she connected us with a pasta cooking class with Chef Vary.. it was a perfect combo and one of the best parts of our trip to Italy!

We booked the 'Sunset Tour - Taste of Tuscany' last minute after finding out about it from our…read morehotel (10% discount with the brochure!), and had no difficulty booking online. Our family of 4 were the only participants, and our guide was early as well, so we were able to get our bikes, helmets & complimentary water bottles right away. Sally was very friendly and extremely patient with my mother, who had not ridden a bike on decades. She gave us very clear instructions on how to efficiently utilize our bike gears, and detailed information on what to expect. She also provided us interesting trivia about the Tuscany region, the manufacturing of olive oil, some local history, and even the scoop on Kanye & Kim's recent wedding. Lots of fun. The first half was mostly uphill, passing by some really magnificent scenery. We enjoyed some delicious wine & bruchetta at a local Villa, overlooking an incredible view that I'm sure the rich residents enjoy everyday. And the return route was an easy downhill with more beautiful sights, stopping by an outlook for some quick snapshots. I really like how this tour does have a little bit of everything in only a short few hours. My only complaint is that the actual sunset didn't happen until after the tour was long over.

There are not enough positive things we can say about this tour. So professional, so fun and…read moreamazing food, lodging and biking! We loved Marco! We stayed in gorgeous accommodations for all three nights that were prearranged. Our first day of biking we got rained out, but Marco was more than willing to offer other options (wine touring, site seeing, etc.). We opted for a long lunch at our gorgeous hotel. The bike tour days were incredible. The scenery was phenomenal as well as the prearranged stops and wine tasting. Our last day of biking ended with thermal hot springs and an amazing lunch. We would do this tour again for sure. Our experience was a 10+++

My dad and I enjoyed this tremendously. Our tour guide, Ben, was extremely nice and personable. He…read morewanted to know about us, and gave us every fact about what we were seeing. He also explained everything thoroughly, while making sure we were comfortable and safe. Definitely worth the money, meeting a local wine maker and eating at her home was once and a lifetime.

Five stars for the team at Tuscany Bike Tours. Here's the day:…read more 9:30am Rendezvous at the shop in Florence. Meet your fellow riders. Try to pick out the riders that seem weaker than you. You'll need this info if it snows and you get stuck in the Pyrenees. 10am Take the shuttle bus out of Florence, into the Tuscan countryside. The van seats 8 comfortably. Bonding time with fellow riders...from Canada and the States and Oz. Note that many of them have cycling gear on. Lie to them and say that you competed in the Tour de France in 2012. Wear your seatbelts on the van. (This is Italy.) 10:45ish Tour the castle. Fortify yourself with a little wine. Get fitted for bikes and helmets. Your bike has a name. Remember it. Off onto the Tuscan roads 1pm Enjoy a late lunch at a little roadside cafe. Bruschetta, salad, pasta, lots of wine and plenty of convivial conversation with your fellow bikers. Tell them you were just joking about the Tour de France. Eat a little fruit and some espresso to get you ready for the road again. Try to remember the name of your bike. Was it "Diablo" or "Dianna Ross"? Consider going back in for some more wine while you try to remember. 2pm Another hour or two of biking the countryside. Your route includes an (optional) 2kilo stretch of road straight up Mount Everest. (Okay not really Mount Everest, but it feels like it by the time you are done.) You have the option of tapping out anywhere along the line. It is grueling. Consider giving up. Consider which of your fellow bikers you'll eat first if you've got to survive. Wish that you had done the Tour de France to warm up. Wish that you had not had so much wine. Wish that you never went on a biking tour. Wish that bikes had never been invented. Reach the top and forget all of this in a rush of endorphins. High five the other bikers. Feel better than you've ever felt. Consider buying a bike. Consider watching the Tour de France this year. Consider hugging that guy you were secretly planning to eat if things got really bad. 4pm Return the bikes and get in the van for the trip home. Realize that this was the best thing you've done in Firenze so far. Have a fantastic time talking to the people on your bike tour. Try to put that business about eating the weak behind you. Get lots of great tips from your driver. 5pm Reluctantly say arrivederci to your fellow bikers. Spend the rest of the evening talking about what a great day it was.

TL;DR - this tour is a delight to those who truly care about the entire winemaking process,…read morehistory, and culture. My wife and I planned our dream vacation to Italy with a focus on food and wine. Our time in the Florence area mandated the intentional trip to my (and now OUR) favorite winemaking area - Montalcino. We spent months planning and researching and came across this wonderful local company - "Italy & Wine Tours." Upon review of their website we were captivated by their intentionality to have the time be an intimate and thoughtfully curated all day adventure from Florence through the Chianti region, into the romantic hills of Val d'Orcia, and onto the hillside of Montalcino. To our delight - on the day of the trip we found that we were the only couple who signed up to go that day. Our tour guide Nicolò (who was INCREDIBLE and has formal WSET training/certification) was joined by the delightful daughter (Ippolita) of the company's owner. It was the best experience traveling with them. From the moment we were introduced to the moment we were dropped off at the end of the day we never stopped talking, laughing, sharing stories, and learning more about our favorite shared passion - Italian wine. Now onto the WINE! I won't spoil your trip with too many specifics, but our tour began from the beginning - how did Brunello di Montalcino come to be? We toured the streets of Montalcino and immersed ourselves in local history, tradition, etc. following the city, we were off to the first winery. The first winery focus was on the (traditional) aspects of Brunello. The centuries old family fortress made it abundantly clear. It was an idyllic location through the cellars, learning about the soil, property history for pilgrimages, ancient Rome, and crusades. We sampled 4 wines produced by the site which trended towards elegant, refined, and approachable. During the tasting we were blessed with a delicious and traditional private Italian lunch. Afterwards we went to the second winery which was slightly more modern (in winemaking style) but nonetheless a delight. We dove deeper into soil composition, weather, aging conditions, and micro-factors. The wine at the second location was big, bold, wonderfully complex and personally my preferred style. We concluded our time thanking our hosts and guides over and over again with multiple bottles in hand to bring home and shared with our family. We sincerely hope you (the reader) get to experience Italy and Montalcino in the same way we did. Personal highlights / Why choose this company: - historic, locally/generational owned wineries - not large corporate productions. - 2 production styles helped compare/contrast the same type of wine helping me choose future bottles more accurately. - The tour guides / owners. They care about you, and hospitality is so genuine. Please support companies like this. Thank you so much Nicolò and Ippolita. You are forever in our hearts and we hope our paths cross again in the future!! *David & Kenzie (Seattle, WA)

Our Montepulciano wine tour was one of the highlights of our trip to Italy, and much of that was…read morethanks to Niccolò. From the moment we left Florence, he transformed what could have been a simple drive into a fascinating journey through Tuscany. We spent the day discussing Italian history, culture, education, and different perspectives on life, which added tremendous depth and meaning to the experience. Niccolò is knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about sharing his country with visitors. By the end of the day, he felt more like a friend than a guide. The wineries themselves were equally impressive. We especially appreciated visiting family-owned vineyards where generations of winemakers have preserved traditions while producing exceptional wines. The hospitality was warm and authentic, and each winery offered a unique glimpse into the rich heritage of the Montepulciano region. The wine tastings were outstanding, but it was the stories, family histories, and personal connections that made the experience truly memorable. This tour provided far more than wine tasting--it offered an opportunity to experience the culture, people, and traditions of Tuscany in a meaningful way. If you are considering a wine tour from Florence, I highly recommend this experience, and if you are fortunate enough to have Niccolò as your guide, you are in for a remarkable day. Thank you, Niccolò, for making our day so special and for sharing your knowledge, insight, and enthusiasm with us. We will remember this experience long after the last bottle of wine is gone.

Mano was our tour guide during our stay in Florence. It was well-organized, and filled with so many…read morehistorical and fun stops along the way. We started early around 7AM, grabbing a bite to eat at the train station where we met up, before embarking on our adventures. Our first stop was at Pisa where we spent about an hour taking pictures of the leaning tower, as well as the Duomo cathedral. Next stop was the Cinque Terre, which we got to visit and see 3 out of 5 islands since 2 of them were closed off. The tour did not include lunch, but there was an option to prepay for our lunch or to venture on our own. We opted for the prepaid one since we knew we were limited on time, so that Mano could put in our order for us. Cinque Terre was breath-taking, and words could not sum up the feeling when you come there. It is crowded for sure, but take a moment to be still and look around you. All of the colorful houses were unique and quirky, which made for great background in photos. There is enough time to shop around for souvenirs, and eat gelato (omg, the best)! I only wished we booked lodging here so we could spend more time to explore, but until next time. This tour was amazing, and the group of people we were with were engaging and chill. We each did our own thing, and only met up at each designated spot when it came time. We ended the tour around 8PM, so it was well spent to say the least! Highly recommended!!

We didn't know much about this tour when we booked it but it ended up being a great because we went…read moreto a great winery that didn't disappoint (Tenuta Torciano).