Tuscany by Vespa Scooter |
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Ride through Chianti country
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Four nights at the Borgo Fontebussi
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Ride on quiet country roads
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It's not just about the scooter
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The imposing walls of
Brolio castle
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Put your own group together
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Learn the art la "la cucina"
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The medieval splendor of Siena
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We also have two
smaller scooters
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Tuscany by Vespa Scooter Itinerary
TOUR AT A GLANCE -
Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights (or extended 8 Day/7 Night trip)
Departing from: Florence at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, Day 2
Tour finishes: Montevarchi train station 3 p.m. Day 6 (Thursday) or Day 8 (Saturday).
All dates are GUARANTEED DEPARTURES.
Special offer! Save €150 per person. Trip price for 5-Night itinerary is now: €1,800 per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement: €200. (Regular price is €1,950). *Special offer applies to trips with at least 4 people. We will run the trip for two people, but then we will request the full trip price. Notice will be given 30 days before departure.
For 7-night itinerary price is now: €2,400 per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement: €300.
Click on the Currency Converter to see the price in your local currency.
Hit the open road on your own Vespa™ scooter on this guided tour of Tuscany's Chianti wine region. You spend one night in Florence and then five full days of touring on our 125 cc Vespa™ scooters. Traveling by scooter is fun and easy. Our new scooters have an electric start and automatic transmission. Your local guide will lead you along quiet back roads amongst olive groves and vineyards to storybook castles and hilltop villages. This is a great holiday which combines the freedom and exhilaration of touring by scooter with the delicious food, wine, and romantic landscapes of Tuscany.
Scooterbella® in the news: our tours have been featured in the travel section of The Guardian (UK), Jan 20th, 2007. Another article was published by The Observer on April 23rd, 2006. Our Tuscany by Vespa™ scooter trip was also featured in a 3-page full-color article in the London Telegraph, and in London's The Times.
Book this trip! Send us an email or Go to our Reservations page
More info? Request a detailed itinerary
Note: Everyone who drives one of our scooters needs to have an international driver's license (or EU driver's license). This is very easy to get! Please click here for more information.
The Hotels - In Florence you spend one night at the Hotel Royal,
an elegant 18th century villa that has been transformed into a lovely
hotel with garden and pool (some departures stay at the charming Orto de' Medici,
a superior 3-star hotel located on the former gardens of the powerful Medici family). We then move to the countryside for our 4-night stay at the Borgo Fontebussi, an 18th century manor house that has been lovingly restored and turned into a beautiful four-star boutique hotel. A new 25-meter swimming pool has been added to the grounds to create a wonderfully relaxing environment. Borgo Fontebussi is the perfect base from which to explore Tuscany by Vespa. Should you opt for the 7-night "Extended Southern Tuscany" itinerary you stay two nights in the delightful village of San Giovanni d'Asso at the Locanda del Castello, a small family-run "boutique" style hotel located within the 16th century castle that dominates the village.
The Scooters - We have seven, bright red 125 cc Vespa™ scooters. They are lightweight, comfortable, and easy to ride, with an electric start and automatic transmission. The brakes are on the handlebars, like on a bicycle. We provide you with helmets. The 125 cc Vespa™ sscooter is powerful enough for two people to happily cruise through the Tuscan countryside. Top speed is 80 kph but we will be touring at a slower, more comfortable and safe speed. Indeed, we usually do not exceed 50 kph (30 mph). Of course, couples can ride together on one scooter (and save €100 for one person!). We also have two smaller 100cc Sym "Mio" scooters. Depending on availabilty, you will receive either the 125cc Vespa™ scooter or the 100cc Mio.
Touring by scooter is a wonderful way of exploring all that Tuscany has to offer. You become a part of the environment rather than being sealed off from it. You can stop when and wherever you want, and parking is never a problem. Come and feel the thrill of cruising down the open road, under the Tuscan sun!
NOTE: You must arrive at the start of the tour already a safe, competent rider. We are not a motorbike school.
(Luggage is transferred by van. 1 night Florence, 4 nights Gaiole in Chianti or Borgo Fontebussi -- with optional extension 2 nights San Giovanni d'Asso. Trip ends at Montevarchi train station.)
Day 1 - Saturday: Independent arrival in Florence and check-in at your pre-booked hotel, the Hotel Royal,
an elegant 18th century villa that has been transformed into a lovely
hotel with garden and pool (some departures stay at the charming Orto de' Medici,
a superior 3-star hotel located on the former gardens of the powerful Medici family). Both hotels are conveniently located in the center of historic Florence. Dinner tonight is on your own, but we have many suggestions that you will receive in our pre-departure information. You will meet your guide and the rest of the group tomorrow morning. Should you wish to arrive in Florence a couple of days early, please let us know as we would be happy to extend your reservation in Florence for you. Hotel included.
Day 2 - Sunday: Pick-up in Florence at your hotel at 9 a.m. We transfer by van to the village of Gaiole in Chianti where we pick up our scooters. Before hitting the open road we will have an orientation and safety talk. We start out in a parking lot and then head to a very quiet stretch of road so you can get used to driving your scooter. We then ride along a scenic ridge road that offers wonderful views over the romantic Tuscan landscape. We stop for lunch at a local trattoria and then walk up to Castello di Brolio to visit the park and gardens of this magnificent and historic castle. This part of Chianti was fought over by the Sienese and the Florentines for centuries, and Brolio castle was in the thick of it for 300 years. We then wind our way through Tuscan villages and hamlets to arrive at our home for the next four nights, the Borgo Fontebussi. Time for a dip in the pool before dinner at our hotel. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 - Monday: This morning we cross the Arno river and ride toward the imposing Pratomagno mountains. We stop for a cappuccino break in the picturesque medieval town of Loro Ciuffenna, once an important stop on the Roman "Cassia" road and now a colorful village that has retained its traditional character. Afterwards, we continue on to "Il Borro," a Tuscan village which has been bought in its entirety by the Florentine fashion house of Ferragamo and completely restored. We have lunch at the excellent "Osteria del Borro," then have some time to walk around the village shops. The afternoon ride takes us back to Fontebussi through rolling countryside with gorgeous views. You will have time to relax back at the hotel and enjoy a swim before heading to dinner at Papposileno, part of Italy's "Slow Food" movement. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 - Tuesday: We know you have come to Tuscany not only for its romantically beautiful landscapes and fascinating history but also for its excellent cuisine, so today you will learn some secrets of Tuscan cooking. A one-hour ride takes us to Starda Castle, a small, picturesque hamlet of medieval origin. Built around 1000 by the noble family of Conti Guidi it is now home to Gabriela and her husband Giovanni, their dog Grieg and cat Tris, all of whom are wonderful and gracious hosts. Gabriela will invite us into the restaurant's kitchen, where she will teach you how to cook Tuscan style. You better pay attention, because you will be eating what you are cooking for lunch! Afterwards, we head for the Badia Coltibuono (Abbey of the good harvest) for a guided visit of this beautiful and historic site. The Badia was first established in the 11th century by Cistercian monks who soon started producing wine. Indeed, the Badia Coltibuono is still one of the area’s best producers of Chianti Classico and its olive oil is famous throughout the world. Dinner tonight in the nearby hamlet of Montegonzi. Hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 5 - Wednesday: Today we ride to Siena, one of Italy's most beautiful and historic cities. We have a guided visit with Rita, a native of Siena and our favorite city guide. Only a native of this Gothic city can explain the furor and passion that surround the famous bareback Palio horserace, which is run around the city's 12th century Piazza del Campo twice a year. You will have free time to explore Siena's exquisite historic center and admire its Gothic architecture. Of course, you might get side-tracked by the shops and cafés along the Banchi di Sopra, Siena's main pedestrian shopping street. Free lunch in Siena and then rendez-vous in the Piazza del Campo for our return ride via Monteaperti and Castelunuovo Berardenga. Dinner tonight on the terrace at Borgo Fontebussi. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 - Thursday: Today we depart at 10:15 to allow you time to pack your bags and enjoy a relaxing morning swim. A thirty minute ride takes us to the hilltop town of Radda in Chianti where you will have free time to enjoy the view from the medieval walls and to check out its antique shops and cafés. Then it is on to Rampini ceramics, arguably the best producer of hand painted ceramics in all of Italy. The head designer will explain to us how majolica ceramics are made, a process that remains essentially unchanged since the Renaissance age. Of course you may also peruse the lovely showroom attached to their workshops (they ship world wide!). One last beautiful ride takes us to the village of Gaiole in Chianti where we will have lunch at Trattoria Sfizio. Chef Fernanda serves up homemade dishes using the freshest ingredients. We will be picked up at the restaurant at 2 p.m. and transfer by van to the Montevarchi train station for the 3 p.m. trains to Florence and Rome. Breakfast and transfer to the train station included.
**Two-Day Extension** - We are offering a two-day extension into southern Tuscany, adding two more nights, with the trip finishing back in Montevarchi on Saturday afternoon. The per person price for the seven-night extended trip is €2,650. For more information, read on!
** Day 6 - Extended Itinerary - Thursday: Those who opt for the longer itinerary will ride south after lunch, leaving the green wooded hills of Chianti for the wide-open spaces of the Crete Senesi. We ride into a completely different terrain from the first part of the trip. Those who have seen the films "Stealing Beauty" or "The English Patient" will recognize this starkly beautiful landscape of barren rolling hills topped by stone farmhouses and solitary cypress trees. Our route takes us through Asciano, a centuries' old walled town whose inhabitants have ingeniously incorporated the old defensive walls into their homes. Asciano boasts a fine gelateria too, so we won't miss the opportunity to stop and explore town while enjoying a delicious gelato. Another 45 minutes of riding brings us to San Giovanni d'Asso and the Locanda del Castello, a beautiful small hotel located within the walls of the town's 16th century castle. Enjoy the beautiful views from this lovely hilltop town perched high above the surrounding landscape. Tonight’s dinner is on the terrace of the hotel's restaurant. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
** Day 7 - Extended Itinerary - Friday: Today we have a gorgeous ride to the striking hilltop town of Pienza. We take small roads that wind their way up, over, around, and between tiny villages surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. We will stop just outside of Petroio to visit a factory that produces giant terracotta urns. It is a fascinating process, really! Then we head to Pienza for our mid-moring cappuccino break. Pienza was designed and built by a local boy who made it big: Pope Pius II. Pius issued a Papal Bull decreeing that his home town was to become a center of art and humanistic scholarship. The town was constructed between 1459 and 1462 in full Renaissance splendor. After our visit we ride down into the Orcia Valley for wonderful views back onto Pienza's Renaissance skyline. We ride up to the walled village of San Quirico d’Orcia for a late lunch, then a leisurely ride takes us back to our lovely hotel. Take in the views while enjoying a glass of wine before dinner. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.
** Day 8 -- Extended Itinerary - Saturday: Today offers one last chance to enjoy Tuscany's beautiful scenery. This morning we head back towards Chianti, passing the castle of Trequanda on our way. We have a late lunch beneath the shady limbs of huge plane trees at Osteria del Ponte in Gaiole in Chianti. Your bags will be transferred by van back to Gaiole, then you have a van transfer to the Montevarchi train station for the 16:14 p.m. trains to Florence and to Rome. The Florence train is direct, whereas you must change in Arezzo to get to Rome. Travel time to Florence is 30 minutes, and Rome is two hours and thirty minutes. Breakfast and transfer to the train station included.
IMPORTANT!! : QUALIFICATIONS
You must be over 18 years of age, have a valid driver's license and an INTERNATIONAL driver's license to drive a scooter. Of course anyone can be a passenger. Previous experience driving a scooter or motorbike is advantageous and highly advised. If you have not ridden one before then you should do so before you do this trip. Rent a scooter locally, and learn how to ride it before coming on the trip. U.K. residents can try Vroom by the Sea, a scooter rental in Brighton
WE ARE NOT HERE TO TEACH YOU HOW TO DRIVE A SCOOTER. YOU MUST ARRIVE AT THE START OF THE TRIP ALREADY A COMPETENT RIDER. In the last three years we have been amazed by people who arrive to drive a scooter on public roads who have never ridden a scooter before and who are clearly uncoordinated, un-athletic, and who will clearly never be able to drive a scooter safely. Please do not be one of these people. Our Vespa™ scooters are easy to ride, but a good sense of balance and coordination is required. They have a 125cc engine and an all-steel frame. They are lighter and easier to drive than a larger motorbike but they are also heavier than a moped and other smaller 50cc scooters (the Vespa™ scooter weighs 110 kg, or about 235 lbs).
You will be driving a motor vehicle on public roads. You are responsible for your safety but also for the safety of other motorists, bikers and pedestrians. You must be able to control the scooter and drive it competently. If we feel your driving skills put you and others at risk we reserve the right to take the scooter away from you. If you crash one of the scooters -- defined as losing control of the scooter and driving off the road -- we will not let you ride anymore. In the event that you cannot ride as a passenger on one of the scooters, then we will help to arrange an alternative mode of transport, either taxi, or rental car, but at your expense.
Finally, age may be a factor. We have found that most people who are over 50 and who have never ridden a scooter or motorbike have problems riding them. If you have not used the “motorbike” part of your brain before the age of 50, then it may be too late to learn. We don't know why this is, but such are the mysteries of Life, Zen, and the Art of Scooter maintenance. So if in doubt, please take the time to try a scooter at home. Find a big vacant parking lot, put on a helmet, read our accompanying document about motorcycle safety, and give it a whirl. If you are happy with your abilities and you feel safe, then you are ready to ride one of our scooters.
The bottom line is that we just want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday!
See all of our tours by DESTINATION & ACTIVITY
See all of our tours by date: TOUR CALENDAR 2010
Useful Links - The City of Florence: everything you need to know about the city
The Accademia: home of Michelangelo's David and other world-famous works
The Uffizi Gallery: one of the greatest collections in the world. We recommend you make reservations ahead of time.
The Duomo: one of the wonders of the Renaissance, Florence's cathedral.
Siena Tourist Authority: details on the city's history and events.
Chianti Classico wine consortium: a site devoted to this world-renown wine and its group of producers
Chianti History: concise article on the history of this famous region
UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy: come see the marvels that await you in Italy!
Vespa™ scooter on Wikipedia: very complete, interesting site with lots of trivia!
Vroom by the Sea: hone your two-wheeling skills in the U.K. and get yourself some cool new gear at this scooter rental company in Brighton.
Vroom with a View:
check out Peter Moore's lively account of his solo trip from Milan to
Rome on a vintage Vespa™ scooter. Cool website with lots of pictures & info.
Scoot NZ: a really great website with useful info about scooters and related links.
General Information
Trip Cost Includes: All accommodations (1 night at the superior 3-star Hotel Royal or Orto de' Medici in Florence and 4 nights at the 4-star Borgo Fontebussi or in Gaiole in Chianti); 5 breakfasts and 4 dinners; 1 cooking lesson and lunch; bilingual guide or guides; one 125cc Vespa™ scooter with rear carrier bin and helmet; related third party liability insurance as required by Italian law (but
not insurance covering damage to the scooter caused by you, which is
available for €15 per day); fuel; guided tours as noted in the itinerary; all luggage transfers; pick-up in Florence and final transfer to Montevarchi train station at the end of the trip.
Getting there: this will redirect you to our "Getting to the trip" page.
Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the "Reservation" page).
Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip
Insurance. We recommend "Travel Guard" to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here. Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime!
* Vespa is a trademark of Piaggia, SpA.
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