Our Guide to Spending a Week in Florence

We had several of our guests stay at the beautiful Villa San Piero this past summer. Located in the picturesque countryside, and only a short drive from the city of Florence, this luxury traditional Tuscan farmhouse rental is situated on a 1500-acre private estate. It includes an organic farm, a certified white truffle hunting ground, and a 1000-year-old convent.

Our guests wanted to explore Florence and this amazing Tuscan region to the fullest while also enjoying unique at-home experiences during their stay. Here is the trip itinerary we created for them, and they found it truly enjoyable. Keep reading for ideas on how to spend the perfect week in Florence and the surrounding area.

DAY 1

Pre-stocking service

Enjoy an effortless holiday and request groceries to be stocked at the villa for your arrival. Additionally, Villa San Piero offers a wine cellar with a selection of local wines. Guests can choose their wines on-site and pay for them upon check-out.

Airport transfer

It takes approximately 30 minutes to drive from Florence Airport to Villa San Piero.

Arrival at 4 PM

Car rental delivered to the property

There are 4 shaded parking spots and plenty of unshaded spots at Villa San Piero.

Typical Tuscan dinner cooked by private chef at your villa

Menu example:

– Mini bell pepper flan topped with ricotta cheese and fresh herbs

– Senatore Cappelli organic penne pasta with eggplant, fresh tomatoes, and aged ricotta cheese flakes

– Local Fiorentina T-bone steak with fresh salad

– Cantucci with Vin Santo

DAY 2

Daily breakfast (included in the rental of Villa San Piero and served every day, except Saturday)

Enjoy a farm-to-table continental breakfast buffet served by the villa staff between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. The breakfast buffet selection includes: freshly brewed coffee, espresso, a tea selection, whole milk, fresh juices, daily fresh bread and pastries, baked goods, locally farmed honey, a selection of local jams and preserves, local cheese choices, locally sourced cold cuts, yogurt, seasonal fresh fruit, a variety of cereals, and biscotti/snacks. Additionally, a member of the villa staff will be at your service during breakfast hours and will prepare hot dishes, such as eggs, bacon, or sausage upon request.

Private driver

Two-way transfer: property to Florence (about 50 min drive from Villa San Piero to the center of Florence).

Florence guided tour

Enjoy a walking city tour and a visit to one museum, with a total duration of 2.5-3 hours. You will meet your guide at Piazza Santa Croce to commence the walking city tour, which will last approximately one and a half hours. Your exploration of the city can then continue with a visit to one of Italy’s most renowned museums. You have the option to choose between the Accademia, where Michelangelo’s David is displayed, the Uffizi Gallery, which houses an extensive collection of Florentine Renaissance paintings, or the Palazzo Vecchio, ideal for those passionate about the Medici family. For families with children, we have also organized an interactive, kid-oriented tour.

Lunch at Cibrèo Ristorante in Florence

Cibrèo Ristorante and its sister restaurant, Cibrèo Trattoria, are named after the famous ‘cibreo,’ a typical stew from Florence, and both serve traditional Tuscan dishes.

If you’re looking for more recommendations on what to do and see in Florence, check out our article “Our Guide to Spending a Day in Florence.”

Relaxing afternoon at your villa

Enjoy a private poolside massage. Private massages at the villa is one of the most popular villa experiences that A.M.A Selections guests request.

Dinner at Ristorante L’Olivaia in Vicchio (about 25 min drive from Villa San Piero)

L’Olivaia, a restaurant with a “zero-kilometer” concept, offers themed evenings dedicated to typical Tuscan cuisine, pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven from the 1600s, fresh fish, and more.

DAY 3

Daily breakfast

Private driver

Two-way transfer: property to winery (about 45 min drive from Villa San Piero).

Wine tour, wine tasting and lunch at a family winery in Chianti Rufina

Jeep vineyard tour, cellar tour, wine tasting, and lunch. The experience lasts approximately 3 hours, including the meal.

If you want to learn more about wine tasting in Tuscany, check out our article “A Guide to Wine Tasting in Tuscany, Italy.”

Relaxing afternoon at your villa

Private driver

Two-way transfer: property to Florence (about 50 min drive from Villa San Piero).

Dinner at La Giostra in Florence

La Giostra, a Fiorentine classic set beneath 16th-century brick vaults and twinkling lights, offers a menu of Italian dishes with a creative twist alongside an extensive wine list.

DAY 4

Daily breakfast

Weekly market in Borgo San Lorenzo (about 10 min drive from Villa San Piero)

Borgo San Lorenzo is a charming town in the heart of the Mugello countryside, surrounded by churches and renowned for its ceramics. The market takes place on Tuesday mornings in the main square and along the central streets. You can find a variety of items, including vegetables, cheeses, and delectable street food.

Lunch in the gardens of your villa

At-home pizza making class followed by dinner

Pizza making class is one of our Top 5 Experiences in Tuscany. The experience takes approximately 4 hours and includes lunch or dinner. It will allow you to master the art of pizza making using a 300-year-old brick oven with a wood fire. The chef will guide you through the steps of selecting the perfect flour mix, stretching the dough, and completing the process.

Example of lunch/dinner menu:

– Pizza with various toppings for all the participants in the group

– Nutella pizza for dessert

DAY 5

Daily breakfast

Private driver

Full day service (8 hours), visiting Siena and San Gimignano. Both are located approximately a 1-hour and 30-minute drive from Villa San Piero.

Lunch at Osteria le Logge in Siena

This old-fashioned osteria, renowned for its refined Tuscan cuisine, is adorned with books, paintings, and antiques.

Dinner at Virtuoso Gourmet* in Scarperia e San Piero (less than 10 min drive from Villa San Piero)

Virtuoso, a local restaurant boasting one Michelin star, serves gourmet cuisine that reimagines traditional Tuscan dishes.

For more Michelin restaurant recommendations, check out our article “Top Five Michelin Guide Restaurants in Tuscany.”

DAY 6

Daily breakfast

Truffle hunting and lunch (walking distance from Villa San Piero)

Villa San Piero’s Estate boasts a centuries-old truffle hunting ground, yielding both black ‘Scorzone’ and white truffles. Guests can join a local guide and a truffle dog for a 2-2.5 hour hunt in the morning. Learn the ancient art of truffle hunting, discover various truffle types, and their associations with trees and shrubs. Your hunt concludes with a delightful farmhouse lunch.

Menu example for the truffle lunch:

– Crouton with local semi-aged cheese and freshly grated truffle

– Handmade tagliolini pasta with freshly grated truffle

– White meat scaloppine cooked in white wine, topped with freshly grated truffle

– Cantucci with Vin Santo for dessert

Relaxing afternoon at your villa

Private driver

Two-way transfer: property to Florence (about 50 min drive from Villa San Piero).

Sunset drinks at SE·STO on Arno in Florence

SE·STO is an upscale rooftop bar and restaurant in the heart of Florence, offering breathtaking views of the city and its roofs, churches, bell towers, Ponte Vecchio, and the picturesque Tuscan hills.

Dinner at Il Latini in Florence (5 min walk from SE·STO)

Il Latini is a historic trattoria in Florence with a lively atmosphere, serving homestyle Tuscan dishes and regional wines in a dining room adorned with cured meats.

For more Florence trattoria recommendations, check out our article “The Best trattorias in Florence.”

DAY 7

Daily breakfast

Horseback riding at a nearby ranch (about 20 min drive from Villa San Piero)

A horseback riding experience lasts for 1 hour. For families with young children who can’t yet ride their own horse, the ranch also offers a kid-friendly experience. While the adults are riding, the kids will brush and prepare the horse, help put the saddle on it, and go for a short ride accompanied by one of the horse instructors.

Lunch cooked by private chef at your villa

Menu example:

– Panzanella, a typical Tuscan summer salad with bread croutons, fresh tomatoes, celery, and onion

– Organic chickpeas with mackerel filet, onion, fresh tomatoes, vapers, and fresh marjoram

– Seasonal fruit Tiramisu

Relaxing afternoon and evening at your villa

DAY 8

Car rental collected at the property prior to departure

Departure at 10 AM

Airport transfer

For our guests at Villa San Piero, we have also arranged other services, including private Pilates sessions, swimming classes for children in the villa’s pool, fishing with a local fishing guide at the nearby Bilancino lake, and golf reservations at the nearby Poggio Dei Medici Golf Club. Should you book Villa San Piero with us, the A.M.A Selections concierge team will tailor your holiday according to your tastes and preferences.

About Villa San Piero

Surrounded by ancient oak woods, this luxury vacation rental offers an unparalleled level of privacy. It features a swimming pool, a billiard table, a pizza oven, a dining terrace, and beautiful, spacious gardens. Spread over three floors, Villa San Piero offers a fully equipped kitchen with a stunning central marble table, an elegant dining room that can accommodate 12 guests, a spacious living room, and six beautiful bedrooms. Five of the bedrooms are located on the first floor, while the sixth bedroom has independent access via the courtyard.

To book Villa San Piero, click here.