MEDD

This excursion unveils Siena, famous for its cuisine, art, museums and the medieval cityscape cast in warm brown bricks that gave the color its name. Near the hub of Piazza del Campo, one of the few structures of a different hue is the black and white marbled Duomo. Tour this marvelous Romanesque and Gothic cathedral and its Piccolomini Library, renowned for the Pinturicchio frescos covering the ceiling and walls and for its hand-illuminated manuscripts.

Led by an expert local guide, your exploration begins at the Piazza dei Miracoli, or Square of Miracles, in the heart of Pisa’s religious center. You will visit three iconic structures representing the primary stages of human experience: the baptistery for birth, the cathedral for life, and the camposanto for death. Inside and out, you will be surrounded by gems of architecture crafted of marble and stone. Treading on the saturated sandy soil responsible for the tilt of the famous campanile, you'll reach the Leaning Tower and have the opportunity to climb it.

After a drive north to the medieval city of Lucca, much of it alongside a lovely natural park, you will be guided through the remarkably preserved city center and cathedral. Atop the walls that encircle Lucca are parks, gardens and a tree-lined promenade. You will see the Church of San Frediano with a Byzantine mosaic on its façade, the elliptic Roman amphitheater and the Church of San Michele. Then you will explore the gardens of Palazzo Pfanner, attributed to the genius of architect Filippo Juvarra.

Tuscany’s powerful ruling family, the Medici, built Livorno’s waterways in the 17th century so that goods could be transported more easily from ships in the bustling harbor to merchants’ homes and storehouses in town. Barges have since been replaced by pleasure craft along these canals, offering unique perspective on Livorno’s picturesque historic center. This tour combines evening sightseeing by boat with a tasting of Italian sweet wines.

On the indescribably beautiful Etruscan Coast, discover what put Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci on the wine map, beginning in 1974 when a local vintage bested French Bordeaux in international competition. Tour the organically farmed vineyards and cellars of Le Macchiole, where the local chef will demonstrate pasta-making techniques and serve a four-course lunch paired perfectly with wines from the estate. Enjoy some leisure time in the village of Bolgheri before heading to Tenuta Argentiera for another tour and tasting.

From floating high above dramatic mountains to treading rich vineyard soil, this unique tour gives you a full picture of Sicily's idyllic Aeolian archipelago. You'll don your headset and head up for a helicopter ride over the faraglioni of Lipari, the volcanic crater of Vulcano and the beautiful islands of Panarea and Stromboli. You'll buzz the nearly 11,000-foot-tall Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano, and you'll spy the Greek theater and basilica in Tindari on the mainland of Sicily. Coming back to earth, drive to Lipari’s Tenuta di Castellaro for a tasting and cellar tour.

After a boat tour that reveals breathtaking views of coastal rock formations, the Grotta del Cavallo cave and the islet Vulcanello, you'll land at Porto di Levante to begin your exploration of the rugged and beautiful island named for Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. Consisting of three craters, Vulcano is a fascinating example of the stunning landscapes and outstanding volcanic phenomena that earned the Aeolian Islands their UNESCO World Heritage site designation. One crater, Gran Cratere, is still active, and its last eruption occurred in 1890.

When you first step onto the unique geological summit on which the citadel of Lipari is perched, you know this island is special. The most populated of the seven inhabited Aeolian Islands, Lipari is the only one built on an urban plan. Forever vulnerable to attack, Lipari residents lived for months on end within the castle walls. Exploring the museum, you'll see beautifully displayed artifacts from their lives, as well as the world's most complete collection of Greek theatrical masks.

Take in the scenic majesty of Lipari during this driving tour that stops at idyllic vistas overlooking the Aeolian archipelago. Your ultimate destination is the local pizzeria Le Macine, where the owners will enthusiastically demonstrate the secrets to making traditional Sicilian pizza. You'll create your own pie according to your own taste and then settle in to enjoy it with wine and Aeolian cookies.

Experience the beauty of the Cote d’Azur in nature while walking along gentlly sloping trails that deliver spectacular views. Relax on the scenic drive from Saint Tropez to Bormes-les-Mimosas. This medieval village, built on the hilltop, is renowned for its blooms, especially the golden mimosas, at their most extravagant in winter, and colorful cascades of bougainvillea. Your hike begins at the Trapan Dam, where mimosa trees line the road that runs along the reservoir-lake that formed when the dam was built in 1969.