Day by Day,
Hour by Hour

Depart West Hartford for Framingham

• Drive to Logan Express Framingham park-and-ride
• Check parking alerts: Logan Express – Framingham
• Buy tickets at loganexpress.com — kids 17 and under ride FREE with a family member

Board Logan Express

• Travel time: 35–45 minutes to BOS
• Cost: $22 round-trip (Matthew & Kaylin FREE)

Flight SK928 Departs BOS ✓ CONFIRMED

• Flight time: ~7h 25m to Copenhagen CPH
• Set up MPC app during flight

Arrival & Transfer

• Take the T2 Tram from Florence Airport to the Unità stop (~20 mins)
• From Unità: 15-minute walk to Airbnb at Lungarno Serristori 25
• Drop bags and head toward San Lorenzo area for lunch
⚠ Pickpockets: The T2 tram and the walk from Unità stop are prime pickpocket zones — the group will be tired, loaded with luggage, and distracted. Keep phones in front pockets, bags on your chest. Assign someone to watch the group at tram stops.

Welcome Lunch at Trattoria Zà Zà ✓ RESERVED 2PM

📍 Piazza del Mercato Centrale — a massive eclectic restaurant with themed rooms. Vibrant and high-energy — perfect for the first group meal together.

• Famous for truffle carbonara, grilled meats, traditional Tuscan soups
• At 3:15 PM: 7 museum-goers walk to Accademia (8 min). Elders + 2 adults linger or explore nearby markets

Galleria dell'Accademia — The David ✓ CONFIRMED ℹ Deep Dive

A focused 60-minute visit is plenty — Michelangelo's David and the unfinished "Slaves."

Regroup & Sunset Provisions

Group reunites and walks toward the river to gather supplies for the evening picnic.

• Gelateria dei Neri: High-quality takeaway gelato — try Salted Caramel or Ricotta & Fig
• Panini e Vini (Dimitri's): Artisan sandwiches, local cheeses, wine for the picnic. Often cash-only — ensure someone has Euros. Must-try: Dimitri's #1 sandwich with truffle cream + a Limoncello Spritz to-go
• Must-see: The artisan "Tower" of San Niccolò on your walk up
• Must-buy: Small bottle of Vin Santo to sip on the steps

Sunset Picnic — Piazzale Michelangelo

Travel: 11-min walk from Panini e Vini (Via di S. Niccolò, 69R). Arrive by 7:00 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset.

Breakfast Run — Bar Necchi

• "Runners" depart — 5-min walk each way
• Allows 30–40 mins to enjoy takeaway pastries and coffee at the Airbnb before the group moves

Optional Split: Basilica di Santa Croce ℹ Optional

📍 Piazza Santa Croce — 15-min walk from the Airbnb. For those who want more than breakfast before the Uffizi, Santa Croce is the most walkable detour.

• What it is: The largest Franciscan church in the world. Known as the "Temple of Italian Glories" — the burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini
• Frescoes: Giotto's stunning Bardi and Peruzzi chapel frescoes (14th century) — some of the finest surviving medieval paintings in Italy
• Michelangelo's tomb: Just inside the main door on the right. Designed by Vasari. Ironic note: Michelangelo always wanted to be buried in Rome
• Galileo's tomb: Across the aisle. He was denied a Christian burial for decades due to his heresy conviction — this monument was only erected in 1737, nearly a century after his death
• Cost: ~€8. No Passepartout (that's the Duomo complex only)

Entire Group (or reconvene) — Departs for Uffizi

• 10-min walk across the bridge, including 5-min buffer for a group of 10
• Arrive at Uffizi 10:15 AM — 15 mins before 10:30 AM entry to handle security and Passepartout activation at Door 3

Uffizi Gallery ℹ ✓ PASSEPARTOUT ACTIVATED

World's greatest collection of Renaissance art. Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Titian, Caravaggio, and more. Allow the full 2.5 hours.

The Street Food Duo

• All'Antico Vinaio: World-renowned Florentine schiacciata sandwiches. Try "La Favolosa" — balanced truffle and pecorino flavors. 3-min walk from Uffizi
⚠ Street eating ban: Via de' Neri (where All'Antico Vinaio is located) is a restricted zone — no stopping to eat on the street between noon–3 PM and 6–10 PM. Fine: €150–€500. Buy your sandwich, then walk 5–8 minutes to the Lungarno riverbank, Piazza della Signoria, or any piazza to eat. Do not stand and eat outside the shop.
• I' Girone De' Ghiotti: Try Lampredotto (slow-cooked tripe) — true Florentine street food

The Oltrarno Garden Loop ℹ

• Cross Ponte Vecchio (5-min flat walk) to Pitti Palace
• Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens: Stick to the main wide pathways for accessibility. Follow toward the Forte di Belvedere exit
• Giardino Bardini: 5-min walk from Boboli exit. More intimate, better views of the city

Afternoon Boost — Vivilo Gelato

As you descend from the gardens toward the river. Specializes in the "Affogato" and artisanal gelato. Customize your gelato and coffee combination. Small, modern — perfect quick energy lift before dinner.

Early Dinner at Gusto Leo ✓ RESERVED

Cross back over Ponte Santa Trinita for a 12-min flat walk. Very accommodating for a party of 10. Wide menu: traditional pastas + wood-fired pizzas. Efficient service to finish in time for the tour.

Dark Side of Florence Tour ℹ ✓ CONFIRMED 7:55PM

📍 Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, 8 — look for your guide with the green umbrella. 15-min walk from Gusto Leo. The square is beautifully atmospheric at night — one of Florence's most elegant Renaissance piazzas, designed by Brunelleschi.

Final Breakfast Haul — Melaleuca

6-min walk from Airbnb. One last run for specialty coffee and sourdough to fuel the group for the dome climb.

Opificio delle Pietre Dure ℹ

18-min walk from Airbnb. Included in your 5-Day Passepartout.

World-class museum of semi-precious stone inlay (pietra dura) — a true hidden gem. See "paintings" made entirely of stone and historic workshop tools used by the Medici family. Utterly unlike anything else in Florence.

Lunch — Mercato Centrale (Upstairs) ℹ

8-min walk from the Opificio. Head to the first floor (upstairs) gourmet food hall.

Santa Maria del Fiore (Cathedral Interior) ℹ + Crypt ✓ CRYPT 1:30PM

10-min walk from the Market. Entry to the main Cathedral is free but lines can be long. Ensure everyone has shoulders and knees covered. Elders can enjoy the cooler interior while others explore the Crypt (included in Passepartout).

Duomo Museum & Baptistery ℹ

2 mins — directly behind/across from the Cathedral. Included in your 5-Day Passepartout.

• Must-see: The original "Gates of Paradise" by Ghiberti
• Must-see: Michelangelo's "other" Pietà — the Bandini Pietà

Brunelleschi's Dome Climb ℹ ✓ CONFIRMED

📍 Specific entrance: Porta della Mandorla. Timed entry — be there exactly at 6:45 PM.

• 463 steps, no elevator — elders and any non-climbers wait at Caffè Gilli (see above)
• Download the Duomo app on Wi-Fi before visiting — bring your own earphones (no rental units)

Victory Gelato — Gelateria La Carraia

12-min walk toward the river. Open until 11pm. Must-try: "After Eight" or pistachio.

Farewell Dinner — Trattoria Dall'Oste

10-min walk from the gelato spot. The authentic Bistecca alla Fiorentina experience.

Car Pickup — Borgo Ognissanti

• Collect both vehicles from Borgo Ognissanti garage, level -4
⚠ Before driving off: (1) Video every panel of both cars — walk all the way around, include wheels and bumpers. (2) Confirm fuel type at the counter — almost certainly Gasolio (diesel), black/yellow nozzle. Petrol in a diesel engine = €3,000+ repair, not insured. (3) On the autostrada, avoid the Telepass lane (yellow T sign) — transponders only. Use cash/card lanes.
• Exit Route: Drive straight out toward Il Prato and hit the ring road (Viali). Do NOT turn back toward the river or center — ZTL cameras
• Travel time: ~1h 10m to Lucca

Lucca Arrival ℹ — The Smart Drop

• Drop-off: Stop at Porta Sant'Anna — the flattest entry point. Drop elders here; café and seating right inside the gate
• Parking: Drivers to Mazzini Parking (Via dei Macelli) — just outside the walls, easier than inside lots for two large cars

Lucca Lunch & The Walls ℹ ✓ L'ANGOLO TONDO 12:30

📍 L'Angolo Tondo in Piazza dell'Anfiteatro — reservation confirmed.

Pisa — The Leaning Tower ℹ

30-min drive from Lucca.

• Drop-off: Navigate to Piazza Arcivescovado — puts you less than 50m from the Cathedral and Tower
• Walk the flat paved paths around the Field of Miracles
• Book tower tickets at opapisa.it (1–2 weeks ahead)

Dinner — I Porci Comodi

7-min flat walk from the Tower. Order Lampredotto and regional panini. No reservations needed — outdoor seating.

Grocery Run — Esselunga

Stop at Esselunga on Via di Tiglio, on the way out of the Lucca/Pisa area.

Arrive at Palaia Airbnb

📍 Via Antonio Vivaldi, 24, Palaia. 45-min drive from Pisa through Tuscan countryside. Settle in for your first night in the hills.

Depart Palaia for Larderello

Travel: ~1h 10m (63 km) via the SS439. The landscape shifts from classic Tuscan greenery to industrial terrain with massive cooling towers and silver steam pipes alongside the road.

Larderello — The Devil's Valley ℹ

• Geothermal Museum (FREE): History of the world's first geothermal power plant (1904). Great indoor stop
• Drive the Valle del Diavolo — safe pull-offs for photos of natural steam jets
• Explore steaming fumaroles and natural sulfur springs

Drive to Volterra

~35 mins. Very direct route heading north. Best approach for photos: come in from the south on the SS68 — the towers appear suddenly above the ridge.

Arrive Volterra ℹ

📍 Parking: Parcheggio La Dogana — elevator access to the town center. Or Parcheggio Docciola (~€1.50/hr) outside walls.

Lunch — La Sosta del Priore

Cozy narrow shop — most guests grab and walk the medieval lanes.

• "XXL" panini with wild boar salami, truffle mortadella, local pecorino
• Hot options: stracotto (slow-cooked beef) or traditional tripe

Gelato — L'Isola del Gusto

3-min walk from lunch. Considered the best gelato in the Volterra area. Try the "Crema di Ersilia" or signature hazelnut.

Volterra Must-Dos ℹ

• Guarnacci Etruscan Museum (~€9): The "Shadow of the Evening" bronze — inspired Giacometti. Start at top floor, work down. 600+ ancient funerary urns. Recently renovated
• Pinacoteca: Rosso Fiorentino's Deposizione (1521) — a startling Mannerist masterpiece. Almost nobody knows it exists
• Porta all'Arco: 3rd century BC Etruscan arch — still standing after 2,300 years. Free
• Roman Theatre lookout: Free panoramic view from Viale Francesco Ferrucci (closed Wed for ticketed entry)

Downtime & Alabaster Workshops

Browse the alabaster workshops or coffee in Piazza dei Priori. Volterra is the world center of alabaster carving — watch artisans at the lathe.

• Rossi Alabaster: Working lathe next door — free to watch. Items €3–€3,500
• Le Balze cliffs: 15-min walk from centre — medieval church sliding over erosion cliffs. Free. Eerie and spectacular

Dinner — Osteria Fornelli ✓ RESERVED

Located directly on the city ramparts. Arrive a few minutes early to watch the sunset over the valley from the terrace.

• Wild boar pappardelle, truffle-infused dishes, traditional Volterran flavors
• Finish with sunset views from the city walls

Return to Palaia

~40-minute drive back to the Airbnb through dark Tuscan countryside.

Checkout from Palaia

Pack both vehicles and head toward Certaldo. Travel: ~45-minute drive.

Certaldo Alto — Boccaccio's Village ℹ

• Park in lower town (Certaldo Basso) near Piazza Boccaccio
• Take the funicular (~€1.50) to the top — delivers directly into the medieval village
• Almost entirely level, paved in beautiful red brick
• Visit Casa di Boccaccio and Palazzo Pretorio

Coffee Stop — Jam Café Certaldo

A "descend and relax" stop. Artisanal house-made cornetti, seasonal tarts, excellent espresso. Pleasant garden area. Local favorite.

Drive to San Gimignano

~20-minute drive. The road is scenic but winding — allow extra time.

San Gimignano — Medieval Towers ℹ

📍 Park at Parcheggio Giubileo P1 (first roundabout entering town).

• Walk to Piazza della Cisterna — medieval heart of the town
• Gelateria Dondoli: World champion gelato. Try Crema di Santa Fina (saffron and pine nuts) — unique to San Gimignano
• Optional: Pasticceria Armando e Marcella for budino di riso (rice pudding tart)

Drive to Altezza Winery

Arrive 10 minutes early (3:50 PM) to check in for the tour. Located just outside San Gimignano walls at Località Casale 43.

Altezza Winery — Tour + Late Lunch ℹ ✓ CONFIRMED 4PM

This is your dinner for the evening — a 4-course lunch with estate wines.

• Guided tour of the historic cellar, barrel aging room, and bottling facility
• 4-course Tuscan lunch paired with four premium Reserve wines
• Outdoor Vista Towers terrace with panoramic views of San Gimignano's towers

Grocery Run — Coop Tavarnelle

On your direct route to Barberino Tavarnelle. Stock up for the next few days at the new villa.

Check-in — Strada di Cortine 19

📍 Strada di Cortine, 19, Barberino Tavarnelle, 50028. Your Chianti home for two nights. Note: access road is unpaved and rocky — mid-size SUV handles fine.

Monteriggioni — Circular Walled Village ℹ

Drive south to this iconic 13th-century walled town. Small size and flat main piazza — easy for the whole group.

• Walk along the top of the northern walls for a 360° view of Chianti vineyards
• Monteriggioni in Arme (Armory Museum): Small, manageable — reproductions of medieval armor you can sometimes touch
• Grab a picnic snack from the tiny alimentari inside the walls — local pecorino, finocchiona, Chianti Classico

Arrive Siena ℹ

Lunch on Piazza del Campo ℹ

• Mister Pizza (Via delle Terme 94): Giant slices by the slice, ~€4–8, owner sings while making pizza. 3-min walk to the Campo
• Eat on the brickwork of the shell-shaped piazza like a local

Siena Duomo Complex ℹ

• Siena Cathedral: One of Italy's most beautiful Gothic cathedrals. Fully accessible via a ramp
• Must-see: Piccolomini Library — floor-to-ceiling Renaissance frescoes
• Must-see: The intricate marble inlaid floors (some sections covered at other times of year; April is excellent)

Sienese Sweets

• Nannini (Banchi di Sopra 24): Legendary Sienese pastry shop. Buy Ricciarelli (almond cookies) and Panforte to take home — they travel well
• Gelateria la Rivareno: Highly rated for creamy traditional flavors if the group prefers gelato

Afternoon Wander & Optional Casa Sola

• Free time in Siena — Via di Città, Banchi di Sopra, alleyways and contrade neighborhoods
• Torre del Mangia — optional climb (~218 steps, ~€10, panoramic views)

Optional Dinner — Osteria Il Carroccio ℹ

3-min flat walk from the Campo. Casato di Sotto 32.

• Must-order: Pici Cacio e Pepe
• Also excellent: artichoke tart with truffle, Fiorentina steak with caramelized onions, tiramisu

Grocery Run & Return to Villa

Coop (Tavarnelle) on the way back. Pick up fresh fruit, yogurt, eggs, bread for your final villa breakfast. Check deli for Finocchiona and local Pecorino.

~30-min drive back to Strada di Cortine 19.

Departure from Barberino Tavarnelle

• Your group: 1 car drives to FLR Airport (~40 mins)
• Other group: 1 car heads toward Florence city for their extra day

Fuel Refill (Your Group)

📍 Eni Station — most convenient refueling point right next to the airport perimeter. Fill tank before rental return to avoid charges for less-than-full tank.

Car Rental Return — Via del Termine

• Drop vehicle at the consolidated Car Rental Return lot
• Frequent free shuttle bus from rental lot to terminal
• One car to process = significantly faster than two

Florence Airport (FLR) — Terminal

3 hours before the 12:20 PM flight — generous buffer for security and check-in.

Masaccio VIP Lounge Priority Pass

• Only lounge at Florence Airport. Airside, 1st Floor — after security, past Duty-Free
• Hours: 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM ✓
• Self-service open bar, snacks, free Wi-Fi, flight monitors

Flight SK2962 — FLR → CPH

Flight time: ~2h 15m. Land Copenhagen ~2:30 PM.

Land Copenhagen (CPH)

Take the Metro M2 (Yellow Line) or Regional Train from CPH Airport to Kastrup St (1 stop, 3 mins). Walk 5 mins to hotel. Check in at Scandic CPH Strandpark.

Metro to Nyhavn

Take Metro M2 (Direction: Lufthavnen) from hotel to Kongens Nytorv (~15 mins). Walk 5 mins to Nyhavn harbor.

• Cardamom Croissant at Hart Bageri (Mærsk Tower or Galionsvej)
• Or: Kanelsnegl (cinnamon snail) at Sankt Peders Bageri — oldest bakery in town

Canal Cruise — Live Guide Book 24h Ahead

Cost: ~$20/person.

Dinner — Restaurant Skindbuksen

📍 Lille Kongensgade 4 (3-min walk from the Metro). Dating to 1728. Cozy, wood-paneled, centuries of history.

• Must-order: Flæskestegssandwich — the legendary Danish Crackling Pork Sandwich. Crunchy, salty, perfect
• Look for brass nameplates on the tables — favored by sailors and poets for centuries

Hotel Breakfast + Checkout

Organic options, fresh Danish breads, traditional cold cuts. Breakfast from 7:00 AM on Sundays.

Must-See: Kastrup Søbad

10-min flat walk from the hotel. A circular wooden sea bath with views of the Øresund Bridge to Sweden.

Airport Transit

Walk to Kastrup St. Take Metro M2 (Direction: Lufthavnen) to Copenhagen Airport (9 stops, 15 mins). Arrive terminal ~11:05 AM.

Priority Pass Lounge — CPH

Aspire Lounge or Aviator Lounge (Terminal 2). Complimentary snacks, drinks, quiet seating before the flight to BOS.