This tour was recommended to me by a few people and it doesn’t disappoint if you want the experience of driving a vintage car.

We were collected by bus from town and were taken to a lock up about 45mins away to collect the car, we didn’t leave in the cars from town, I understood it to be for practical and safety reasons.
On arrival you get an orientation of the car, be aware The car is old so not automatic you have to change gear manually which at times likes a bit of encouragement , no power steering or suspension, these cars are in original condition so are small with no mod cons, hence the word vintage !

Once familiarised off we went, you are in convoy with your guide and you have a two way radio to communicate if needed, this tour is run in conjunction with Vespa tour so you travel together. We drive for a while around the streets and lanes stopping at view points and a very nice church with views Over Florence. We probably drove for about an hour in total not including the
Stops, it was fun trying to get away at junctions as these cars are not quick off the mark but that made it all the fun.

We stopped for lunch at their farmhouse and then drove the short distance back to the lockup to collect the bus back to town.

We arrived back in town late afternoon
On reflection I would have like to have stopped at Piazzale Michelangelo as it wasn’t far from where we were at one point but other than that it was a fun day out that had me smiling and laughing from start to finish

We were a family of four with our youngest aged 6, we had an experience like no other. Everything was absolutely professional and well managed. It is a treat for the senses.

Late review. Had meant to write soon after we returned from our trip to Italy but did not get down to it until now...

It was a very popular tour as tour the price was the lowest among the companies doing day trips to Tuscany. And the inclusion of Pisa in the itinerary gave it even more value for money. This tour is often fully booked, so it is essential to book early to avoid disappointment.

The meeting point was outside the train station in the city, but the tour buses were parked some distance away. This was the beginning of some long walks throughout the day, so make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes.

Our first stop was Sienna for which we had a local tour guide. It was a beautiful place to visit and the cathedral was simply magnificent. So glad we were given sufficient time to browse and to take pictures inside and outside the cathedral. We were told about the tradition of horse racing in the square, and were shown a video on the bus. Very fascinating story.

The next stop was a vineyard and lunch. Even though the food and wine were fine, I did not enjoy the quick visit to the cellar and the vineyard. We were basically rushed through the whole proceeding by a very abrupt guide, we could probably do without the visit and just get to the lunch itself.

The next visit was San Gimignano, where we were left to our own devices. It was too hot for us to do anything, and the queues outside their famous gelateria were way too long. We ended up standing in the shade and people-watched. Wish we had some guidance in this place instead.

The last stop was Pisa, after a long drive. The tour guide was rather anxious because of the timing required for those who pre purchased tickets to climb the tower of Pisa. I was glad we did not book to do the climb, as I would probably be as stressed as our guide. We enjoyed walking around the area and taking some trick shots of the tower, definitely a touristy thing to do! The whole area (tower, baptistery, museum) was bathed in the warm glow of the evening sun. It was the right time to visit and to take some stunning photographs.

On the whole I am very happy with the tour. Our tour guide Angela was professional, articulate, and she made sure she spoke personally to every one of her passengers in the bus. We appreciate personal touch and would like to commend her for it. Even though it was a long day, we did not feel rushed (except the vineyard visit) or overly tired. Of course, these cities should ideally be visited at leisure over a few days. But this is a very good compromise for those of us who are short of time. Highly recommended.