Tuscany Photography Tour

Location

Where do we go?

The Val d’Orcia is one of Tuscany’s six World Heritage sites. The valley’s landscape of gentle, rolling hills was the subject of many Renaissance paintings, especially by the painters of the Scuola Senese, or The Siena School, mentioned in the Val d’ Orcia’s UNESCO nomination.

This region has everything that visitors to Tuscany come to see and experience, from the powerhouse DOCG wines of Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile to spa towns like Bagno Vignoni, whose “baths” in the public square are fed by springs of Monte Amiata, which marks the southern boundary of the territory. There are abbeys and gardens–and that zig-zagged strada bianca lined with cypresses that has come to be a symbol of this territory. It's no wonder the region achieved UNESCO nomination: “The Val d’Orcia is an exceptional reflection of the way the landscape was re-written in Renaissance times to reflect the ideals of good governance and to create aesthetically pleasing pictures.

During this photography tour of Tuscany, we will stop to photograph the magnificent medieval village of San Gimignano, called “Manhattan of the Middle Ages,” with its towers and exceptional views. Next, we’ll go to Monteriggioni, a medieval walled city, where we will stay in a typical farmhouse. Finally, at the end of the tour on Sunday, we will focus our lenses on the majesty of Florence, discovering secrets, stories and contrasts until evening.

Trip highlights

What you can expect from this trip

Siena, Montreriggioni & San Galgano Abbey. Lunch in Siena and diner in typical farmhouse.
Val d’Orcia cities and magnificent landscape. Opportunity of Hot air Balloon photo tour over Siena.
San Gimignano, Florence city shooting, and sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo . (Backup day for Hot air Balloon)
Departure

See full itinerary here

Day 1

Siena, Montreriggioni & San Galgano Abbey. Lunch in Siena and diner in typical farmhouse.

Starting from the Florence airport, we will drive in our minivan to Siena: the “main door” of Valdorcia.

After a briefing in the central Piazza del Campo, famous for the Palio di Siena, we will go together to discover the fabulous Senese architecture including the cloister of the Mangia tower and the cathedral. We will have our lunch in Siena and leave for the vault of the abbey of San Galgano, famous for its roofless architecture full of perspectives and for the sword in the stone of the hermitage nearby.

We will return in the evening to Monteriggioni, a medieval city perched on a hill, where we will be able to dine and take fabulous night photos.

Finally, you'll enjoy a wonderful evening in a fantastic farmhouse where we will stay overnight and taste typical local dishes in a relaxed atmosphere.

Day 2

Val d’Orcia cities and magnificent landscape. Opportunity of Hot air Balloon photo tour over Siena.

Welcome to the heart of Tuscany. We will enjoy the colors of nature’s explosions with its strong contrasts and inebriating aromas, and we will transform these sensations into unique images captured by your cameras. The villages and landscapes that we will visit are beautiful like a postcard: we will be in the heart of the Val d'Orcia all day long, swinging between soft hilly landscapes, strong contrasts between the green of the trees and the brown earth.

We will stop in Pienza for lunch, famous for its typical handicrafts and the downhill cathedral. After that we will take a nice ride through the Tuscan hills and landscapes stopping in strategic places with breathtaking views like Vitaleta Chapel & Cypress roads.

During this morning there will be the possibility of taking a photographic excursion in a hot air balloon over Siena. In case of bad weather or adverse conditions, the excursion may be postponed to the following morning. The balloon flight is optional and has an extra cost and includes a rich banquet with a toast at the end of the flight.

Day 3

San Gimignano, Florence city shooting, and sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo . (Backup day for Hot air Balloon)

After touring the Ghibelline lands of Siena far and wide, it is time to move on to the lands of the Florentine Guelphs passing through one of the first bulwarks of the domination of the Medici family: San Gimignano: also called "the Manhattan of the Middle Ages" with the its tall and numerous towers.

We will take fabulous photos in the city center and have our lunch and then descend gently to Florence in the early afternoon to dive into the narrow streets full of history and unique views including the famous old bridge and the Uffizi.

The magical sunset of Florence awaits us from Piazzale Michelangiolo: get your tripods and cameras ready, the view at nightfall will be amazing!

We will have dinner in a typical restaurant in Florence enjoying the city in the evening and we will stay overnight in Florence.

In case the balloon tour could not have been done yesterday, this morning will be the backup day.

Day 4

Departure

Most of the flights will be leaving in the morning, so we plan to wake up early for a breakfast and transportation to the Florence airport. Thank You!