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Download Our Itinerary PDF
Download our comprehensive itinerary page. This document details the transportation and
travel arrangements.
Arriving in Europe
We suggest you arrive 1-3 days early to eliminate the effects of let lag. Please ask about our
pre and post trip tours in Florence, Lake Como, Milan and the Amalfi Coast areas.
Pre and Post Tour Options
Based on how you choose to experience Italy before or after your tour, we can arrange your
additional travel and accommodation plans so you have more time to enjoy yourself.
Click Here For Online Booking >>>
Booking Your Trip
Download our booking forms to begin planning you Italian getaway! Or click the link below to
proceed with secure online booking.
Day 0: Travel Day
Travel day to Florence, Italy where we pick up and drop off all tour participants and transfer you
to the town of Radda in Chianti, Tuscany Italy.
Tip: For planning purposes we suggest you arrive at one of the following locations and then
transfer to our pick up point, which is located at the courtyard of the Gallery Art Hotel. This is
due to the number of locations our guests arrive from.
Suggested Travel Options
- Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport (15 minutes to city center and your tour pick-up point)
"FLR" is your preferred airport.
- Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (60 minutes to Florence city center and your tour pick-up point)
"PSA" is the first alternate.
- Bologna Guglielmo Airport (75 minutes to Florence city center and your tour pick-up point)
"BLQ" is the second alternate.
- Rome Fiumicino Airport (2 1/2 hours to Florence city center and your tour pick-up point)
"FCO" would be the least convenient.
- Santa Maria Novell Florence Train Station (5 minutes to your tour pick up point).
Visit Train Italia Web Site: Opens new window >>>
*Golden Travel is our service by private car to and from Pisa, Bologna and Rome to our base
location Radda in Chianti and is best done by private car or van and can be quoted upon
request.
Day 1: Meet & Greet/Orientation Day
Upon arrival in Florence. You’ll be met at our pick up point at the courtyard of the Gallery Art
Hotel and driven to Hotel Vignale, your picturesque home base for the coming week. Join your
fellow scooterists for Vespa orientation and light riding, then make new friends at our evening
welcome party followed by a gourmet dinner.
Remember, you lose one day coming from North America.
Note: For late bookings (12 weeks prior to tour date) your alternate hotel may be San Nicolo, 50
yards apart.
Travel Times
We make 1 morning and one mid-day pick-up and drop-off each Saturday, which marks the
beginning and end of tours. Transportation at our standard location and pick-up times is included
in your tour cost.
Alternative Travel Times
We are glad to arrange transportation before or after our published times for you at an additional
cost. All scooter riding will be with guides so if you want to ride before or after our group rides
we will be glad to accommodate you when time permits. Just ask, as we love to ride and guide!
Shuttle 1: Please read details below carefully
Complimentary Transfer times by Golden Travel: Note +/- 20 minutes due to traffic, also please
note we have one 8-passenger van that makes the 2 trips per day as outlined below. Please do
not assume you are able to take one of the shuttles unless confirmed by our
office. Shuttles are on a first come first serve basis and all accommodations are made to meet
your arrival and departures in Florence.
*If for some reason we are not able to accommodate your request or your times are outside our
schedule pick up/drop off times we can arrange a private shuttle any time you desire for
Shuttle1: Please read details below carefully
Radda departure time: 06:00 AM. Departs hotels in Radda for Florence airport to pick up
arriving guests, airline and train times receive priority.
Florence drop-off time: 08:00 AM, Airport or The Gallery Art Hotel Courtyard.
Florence pick-up time Gallery Art Hotel: 08:15 AM. If we book your pre-hotel we will pick you up
at that hotel, if we do not book your pre-hotel your meeting point will be the Gallery Art Hotel, no
exceptions.
Arrive Radda time: 10:00 AM. This allows you to have lunch and extra orientation time with the
scooter when the tour has 6 or more attendees.
*We suggest you request the early pick up time if you believe you will need some extra time to get acquainted with the scooter.
Shuttle 2: Please read details below carefully
Radda departure time: 10:30 AM. Departs hotels in Radda for Florence airport and to pick up arriving guests.
Florence drop-off time: 12:00 noon, Airport or The Gallery Art Hotel courtyard. If we book your pre-hotel at an alternate hotel we will pick you
up at that hotel, if we do not book your pre-hotel your meeting point will be the Gallery Art Hotel, no exceptions.
Florence pick-up time: 12:15 PM. We strongly suggest you have lunch prior to leaving Florence as we begin our orientation at 3:00 PM and
most restaurants are closed when you arrive Radda. Radda arrival times: 1:45 PM. Orientation generally begins about 3:00 PM.
*Travel times can vary due to traffic and time of day; however, 1 hour should be the normal transfer time. If you miss or choose not to transfer
on your assigned time do not assume you will be able to take a later transfer. It would be best to assume you will need to arrange your own
transportation to the town of Radda in Chianti at hotels Vignale or San Nicolo by our preferred provider Golden Travel. We are glad to
arrange this on a user pay basis; any local hotel in Florence can assist you with any last minute suggestions as well.
Locations for Pick up and Drop-Off:
At the courtyard of the Gallery Art Hotel. All pick-ups are by appointment and reservation due to the size of our 8-passenger vans.
Flight/train times determine van-booking priority. To book your time please contact info@italybyvespa.com
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Safety Note:
We are not a motorcycle training company or Vespa rental company, we do not allow individual
riding without a guide. You will be assigned a Vespa scooter, which cannot be ridden past sunset.
Begin Riding:
Scooter orientation normally begins at 3:00 PM; depending on the number of participants the
planned departure is 3:30 PM to 3:45 PM for your first day of scooter riding!
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Day 2: Culinary Day
After breakfast, we’ll take a short 35-minute scoot to one of Tuscany’s most renowned
restaurants for a half-day cooking class at a Michelin-Starred restaurant and cooking school
(peak season feature). You’ll discover the secrets of the "Slow Food" movement and Italian
cuisine as you create a variety of dishes, and then savor the fruits of your labor for lunch with
your fellow chefs!
In the normal season or in the event La Bottega is not available during your tour the alternate cooking school will be at the Salvatore
Ferragamo estate of Il Borro. In this rare event an additional cross country day visiting 2 other unique hamlets would be the agenda. An
optional afternoon wine tour for the driven scooterist or you may return to Radda and enjoy an afternoon siesta followed by dinner on your
own.
Day 3: History Day
Get out on the open road with a longer 45-minute scoot to Siena, where we’ll meet Dr. Federica
Olla, Countess Francesca Fumi Dei Cambi Gado and or one of their degreed associates. They
are art historians and heraldry experts. After a private tour of the Duomo, you will lunch at a
local café on your own or with new friends and enjoy an afternoon of exploration, shopping or
people-watching in the city’s famous piazza. Later we will attend a group dinner at a local
restaurant.
Day 4: Luxury Day
We begin our day with a ride to a local winery, I Selvatici is very small and family owned, they
produce world class Vin Santo (Wine Spectator 98 points). Then we scoot off to a local olive oil
processing facility where you will learn more about the agricultural side of Tuscany. Now,
onward to Il Borro, a magnificent estate owned by the Ferragamo family, one of the leading
Italian fashion designers. We lunch at their posh restaurant then stroll around the restored
medieval village and visit the local artisans’ shops. Have a romantic dinner on your own this day.
Day 5: Wine Day
Start with a 45-minute scenic scoot to the historic wine estate of Castello di Verrazzano, where
we’ll meet Gino, visit the grounds and cellars and then taste a range of delicious Chianti along
with other reds with each course of a gourmet lunch. Then we ride back to Radda and visit the
famous ceramic shop of Giuseppe Rampini, or you will have the afternoon to ride on to explore
Volpaia, declared “the world’s most beautiful spot” by the Wall Street Journal. Dinner that
evening will be in Gaiole to visit Carlonis, a local Tuscan restaurant!
*5 NIGHT/DAY TOURS: Today is your last day of riding and you depart Thursday a.m. at your
leisure.
Dinner that evening will be in Gaiole to visit Carlonis, a local Tuscan restaurant where you're sure to see only locals. (Most locals rate this as
their #1 dining destination) We may also visit other wineries along the way such as: Castello di Verrazzano, Castello di Meleto, Capannelle,
Castellare di Castellina Brolio, Il Borro, I Selvatici.
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Day 6: Connect With the Locals Day
We will ride about 45-minutes to the town of Greve where the local Saturday market will be in
full swing. Shop for fresh goods or buy a porcetta sandwich, actually carved from a whole
roasted pig. Visit the local antique butcher, a vital part of this town since the 15th Century.
From Greve we ride to Panzano in Chianti and visit Carlo a local cobbler and leather factory
where you can have your own custom shoes, leather coat or other accessories made! Then off
to a scenic overlook where your picnic lunch awaits. Now ride to the town of Castellina in
Chianti and visit Andrea Rotini, world-class photographer, and his shop to see amazing award-
winning photos that capture the essence of Tuscany. Lastly, experience the Via della Volte, a
passageway below street level that feels like you are walking in a stone cave, it’s windows allow
you to look out into the vineyards! From here we will ride back to Radda for dinner on your own.
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Day 7: Vespa Cross-Country Day
On the last day of Vespa riding, we take our longest ride for a spectacular drive to the walled city
of Montereggioni for a gelato and café break and a leisurely historic review and walk through this
wonderful village. Next, we ride on to San Gimignano, which is known for its many towers and
considered by many to be the most beautiful Tuscan medieval village. If time allows and the
groups driving skills are at its peak we will continue on to Volterra and have a private tour. Lunch
this day will be on your own. Our day will end with our ride back to Radda. There will be a
farewell dinner that evening, giving everyone a chance to reminisce about the week’s
adventures and celebrate the many surprises we all experienced.
Day 8: U.S. Return Day or Post Trip
After an early rising, you’ll be driven to Florence on one of our 2 shuttles to catch a departing flight back to the U.S. or perhaps continue your
own European adventures. We provide 2 complementary transfers listed below.
Complimentary Transfer times by Golden Travel: Note +/- 20 minutes due to traffic, please note we have one 8 passenger van that makes up
to 2 trips per day see below. Please allow for this potential in your plans. Earlier and later times can be arranged on a user pay basis.
Shuttle 1: Please read details below carefully
Radda departure time: 06:00 AM. Departs hotels in Radda for Florence airport to pick up arriving guest, airline and train times receive priority.
Florence drop-off time: 08:00 AM, Airport or The Gallery Art Hotel courtyard.
Shuttle 2: Please read details below carefully (Tours with 9 or more participants)
*Important for tours with 8 or less participants only the AM Shuttle 1 will return to Florence!
Radda departure time: 10:30 AM. Departs hotels in Radda for Florence airport and to pick up arriving guest.
Florence drop-off time: 12:00 noon, Airport or The Gallery Art Hotel courtyard. If we book your pre-hotel at an alternate hotel we will pick you
up at that hotel, if we do not book your pre-hotel your meeting point will be the Gallery Art Hotel, no exceptions.
*Travel times can vary due to traffic and time of day; however, 1 hour should be the normal transfer time. If you miss or choose not to
transfer on your assigned time do not assume you will be able to take a later transfer. It would be best to assume you will need to arrange
your own transportation back to Florence or where ever you may be going. We are glad to arrange this on a user pay basis with Golden
Travel.
All transfers are by appointment and reservation due to the size of our 8-passenger vans. Flight/train times determine van-booking priority.
To book your time please contact info@italybyvespa.com
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