Shared Semi-private

Thrilling Tuscan Traditions: The Palio Experience

Discover Siena’s art and history, relish gourmet Tuscan cuisine and heavenly wines, feel the thrill of the competition!

Highlights

Day 1 Highlights:

  • Welcome to Relais Villa Olmo! After checking in take your time to enjoy the hotel grounds before enjoying a lovely welcome dinner: delicious typical recipes based on the best local seasonal products prepared by the hotel restaurant chef, and excellent wines.

Day 2 Highlights:

  • Private driver for the day
  • Free time in San Gimignano
  • Meet a Sienese contradaiolo and visit a Contrada, its church, museum and stable
  • Private guide in Siena, including entrance to the Cathedral and sweet tasting
  • Enjoy dinner in the premises of the contrada you visited

Day 3 Highlights:

  • Private driver as needed for the day and evening and private escort assistance in Siena
  • See the horses’ blessing and the flag flying performance
  • Strategically located seats for the Palio: on a terrace with perfect view of the starting point
  • Dinner in Piazza del Campo

Departure

30th of JUNE and 14th of AUGUST at 2:00 PM

DURATION

Approx. 4 days

period

30th of JUNE and 14th of AUGUST

language

english

Description

Heartfelt centuries-old pride held high by passionate locals, sumptuous banners, cheering crowds and dashing horses. Held twice a year, traditionally in honor of the Virgin Mary, ever since 1644 the Palio di Siena is no tourist-board invention. It’s the real thing, and it is simply electrifying!

Just think: 40,000 Sienese (2/3 of the city’s population) crowd into the Campo on race day and the contrada loyalties are so strong that ‘mixed-marriage’ couples separate for the days leading up to and including the race if the wife’s and husband’s contrade both have a horse competing!

Especially for the 2019 race dates, July 2 and August 16, Florencetown is proud to present an exclusive proposal exclusively tailored to provide a full, all-round Palio Experience. Including accommodation in the exquisite premises of Relais Villa Olmo  our program is carefully crafted to offer guests the chance to attend this one-of-a-kind event and get a real insider’s view of the dazzling Palio tradition, exploring the heart of Tuscany and enjoying the privileges of top-notch service and assistance throughout their stay.

Discover Siena’s tradition, legends and lifestyle, uncover the secrets of art and history, relish gourmet Tuscan cuisine and heavenly wines, be a part of it all and feel the thrill of the competition!

About your Hotel

Relais Villa Olmo  is an authentic Tuscan countryside mansion nestled in a delightful spot of the gently rolling Chianti hills, among olive groves and vineyards. Offering accommodation in finely appointed guestrooms and villas, swimming pool, delicious Tuscan fare and outstanding wines at the charming Diadema Wine Bar&Restaurant, the Relais provides refined and attentive hospitality, full comfort and a memorable all-round Tuscan lifestyle experience.

DAY 1 (Sunday June 30 or Wednesday August 14) – Welcome to Tuscany! Arrival and welcome dinner

 

Sweet dreams at Relais Villa Olmo 

DAY 2 (Monday July 1 or Thursday August 15) – Visit to San Gimignano and insider’s view of Siena’s contrade

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then meet your dedicated private driver and set off to Siena, stopping along the way to discover another one of Tuscany’s most remarkable jewel towns, San Gimignano. Stroll at your leisure and explore the maze of quaint cobblestone streets learning all about the town’s eventful centuries-old history. UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most splendid examples of an ancient walled town it is renowned as “the city of beautiful towers” and has been used as a background in many movies. You will see the many tall towers, once homes, and admire the gorgeous Duomo. Have a walk along the ancient city walls to admire scenic Tuscan landscapes.

Then travel on to Siena. Set in a beautiful landscape, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, it is one of the most enchanting medieval cities in Italy. Upon arrival relax and sample mouthwatering local fare and aroma-filled wines in one of the town’s most attractive restaurants, then meet your local escort and a member of one of the competing contrade for a first enticing insider’s view of the fascinating “Palio-world”.

 

Led by your two exceptional guides visit a contrada’s headquarters, its dedicated church and museum, and the horse’s stable too! Admire the colorful, flashy ancient flags and sumptuous banners, learn all about the horses, the traditions and the religious practices involved. Meet your private guide and enjoy a guided tour through the main historical and artistic highlights of Siena, including entrance to the scenic Cathedral, with its breathtaking marble decorations, and tasting of typical sweets like panforte and ricciarelli.

Crown your day with an entertaining and friendly dinner in the premises of the contrada you visited.

Travel back to the Hotel in full comfort with your private driver

Sweet dreams at Relais Villa Olmo 

Day 2 Highlights:

Private driver for the day

Free time in San Gimignano

Meet a Sienese contradaiolo and visit a Contrada, its church, museum and stable

Private guide in Siena, including entrance to the Cathedral and sweet tasting

Enjoy dinner in the premises of the contrada you visited

 

Day 3 (Tuesday July 2 or Friday August 16) – Picnic, Horses’ blessing and flag parade, Palio Race

 

After a delicious breakfast enjoy the hotel grounds and swimming pool at leisure before a tasty Tuscan picnic at the property. Meet your driver and setting off for the most exciting day of your stay. Head on to Siena, where you will meet your local escort.

 

Stroll down the Medieval streets, bedecked with colorful banners, to attend two enlightening moments: the blessing of the horses and the contradas’ flag parade held in honor of the Archbishop. Feel the excitement for the race, and the locals’ expectations building up, as you watch the heartfelt blessing, and walk on to the Duomo to see the amazing flag flying performance.

 

Then take your seats: strategically located on a terrace they will offer a perfect view of the mossa, the race’s starting point. Brace yourself, be ready for a heart-throbbing race. Hooves thumping and crowds cheering, be a part of it all!

 

As a perfect crescendo finale to your exciting day enjoy a splendid dinner, and lively bustling atmosphere, in one of Piazza del Campo’s best restaurants

 

Travel comfortably back to your hotel after dinner

 

Sweet dreams at Relais Villa Olmo 

Day 3 Highlights:

Private driver as needed for the day and evening and private escort assistance in Siena

See the horses’ blessing and the flag flying performance

Strategically located seats for the Palio: on a terrace with perfect view of the starting point

Dinner in Piazza del Campo

 

DAY 4 (Wednesday July 3 or Saturday August 17) – At leisure. Arrivederci!

Enjoy breakfast at leisure, check out and feel free to enjoy the hotel grounds and swimming pool as you wish in the morning.

Arrivederci!

Inclusions

  • accommodation for 3 nights included
  •  all transportations are included
  • 3 dinners with local products and wines
  • 1 wine tastings is provided
  •  licensed private guide and driver
  • insurances included
  • visit of San Gimignano and Siena ( within a typical "contrada")
  • seats for the Palio Race on a strategically located Terrace

People on this tour: min2 - max8

Meeting Point

FLORENCETOWN TOURS & NEWS STAND - Piazza della Repubblica (next to the APPLE STORE under the loggias, corner with Via Pellicceria) - Florence - SEE ON MAP

Notes

Please let us know in advance any special need or impaired mobility of the clients and we will do our best to accomodate them.
Please advise Florencetown after booking if you have any allergies or special dietary requirements 

Rain Policy

This tour runs rain or shine.

book now

from 2 200

from EUR 2200 p.p. (price based on a party of 2 pax)
EUR 2500 p.p. (price based on a single partecipant)

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