Cultural Immersion

Cultural Immersion Experience

Enjoy a week’s stay in a luxurious Florence apartment filled with cooking classes, wine tastings, shopping and learning to speak the Italian language through daily private lessons and conversations with a local instructor.

For the upcoming pre-set itineraries now available, the cost per person is $3,850. Based on 8 guests staying in a luxurious city center apartment for 8 days.

• This tour package includes all fees for daily transportation, excursions and all meals.
• It also includes daily continental breakfast at in your shared kitchen.
• The accommodations are double occupancy / non-smoking.

All airfare costs are your responsibility. STEPS in Tuscany will provide ground transportation depending on your itinerary:

• If you fly into Rome, STEPS in Tuscany can arrange transportation to and from Florence at your expense.
• If your entire group is flying together into the Florence airport, STEPS in Tuscany will provide round-trip ground transportation to your accommodations at no expense to you.
• If your entire group is traveling by train from other cities to meet at the main train station in Florence, the Firenze SMN, STEPS in Tuscany will provide round-trip ground transportation to and from your accommodations at no expense to you.
• If you are joining a group, you are responsible for your travel expenses to the main train station in Florence, Firenze SMN. Round-trip transportation will be provided by STEPS in Tuscany at no expense to you to your accommodations in the city center.

The price does not include:

• Airfare to and from Italy
• “OYO”(On Your Own) lunches and dinners listed on your itinerary will be your responsibility. This will most likely be on a day where you are scheduled to have free time for shopping and exploring.
• TIPS: In Italy, a tip is not usually expected and is considered a bonus for exceptional service, which STEPS in Tuscany strives to provide. At the end of your week cards and envelopes will be provided to write a note and any gratuity for your private driver if you are so inclined. (A suggested minimal tip is 25 Euro for each.) During the week, if you are inclined to tip our tour guides or any additional drivers, please tip them directly. Note: The individual winery owners do not expect a tip.

This Day By Day is provided to show you samples of each day in the itinerary for a Cultural Immersion Experience. Please note that the actual day of the week could be changed from the sequence as listed here because tours will be based on availability and weather.

Day One: Arrival + Private Chef Dinner

Upon your arrival in Florence, our fully licensed private driver will pick you up outside the main train station, the Firenze SMN and bring you back to your luxurious apartment in the city center. You will be welcomed with an apertivo and be introduced to your Italian language professor. As you are getting settled in, your private chef will be preparing a locally-inspired dinner served with Prosecco and wine. La Dolce Vita!

Day Two: Language Class #3

Your day will begin with a 3-hour Italian language class followed by OYO lunch in Florence. Following lunch you will be given the opportunity to practice your newly learned conversational Italian while shopping for a few hours in the market! Dinner as a group will be OYO at a casual location in the city center.

Day Three: Carnival in Viareggio 

(Note: This excursion is only available certain times of the year.) 

Your private driver will pick you up at the apartment and transport you to the train station where you will take the train to Viareggio. You will taxi to a local restaurant to enjoy a delightful lunch hosted by your language professor and a STEPS in Tuscany representative. After learning a little more Italian, you will have plenty of opportunity to practice speaking while engaged in the magnificent Carnevale di Viareggio parade. Your private driver will pick you up from the Carnivale and bring you back to the apartment.

Day Four: Language Class #3 

Your day will begin with a 3-hour Italian language class followed by OYO lunch in Florence. Following lunch you will be given the opportunity to practice your newly learned conversational Italian while shopping for a few hours before returning to the apartment to get ready for your private driver to pick you up for an exciting evening ahead. You will be transported to the villa estate for a 4-hour cooking class and dinner with Opera in the Kitchen. The cooking class will be taught in Italian to reinforce your language skills. After dinner, your driver will pick you up and transport you back to the apartment.

Day Five: Language Class #4

Your language professor will come to the apartment for a 3-hour class in the morning before your private driver picks you up for lunch and wine tasting tour. Note that there are several options for wineries and restaurants so the actual ones are TBD when the itinerary is finalized. Following the winery tour, your private driver will pick you up and transport you back to the apartment where you will be free to select the restaurant of your choice for dinner in Florence OYO.

Day Six: Language Class #5 + Farewell Dinner

Your day will begin with a final 3-hour language class with your professor, followed by OYO lunch in Florence. Following lunch you will be given the opportunity to practice your newly learned conversational Italian while you shop away in Florence! Your Farewell Dinner will be hosted by your language professor and a STEPS in Tuscany representative at an upscale/casual steakhouse restaurant located in historic Florence.

Day Seven: Departure + Ciao!

Your final pick up by private driver will transport you to the Firenze SMN train station for your departure. As we like to say in Italy, “Arrivederci, A Risentirla” (Goodbye, until we speak again!)

To get the most out of your private language lessons and allow you time to practice conversations, this Experience does not offer optional excursions. However, there will be plenty of time for shopping and exploring the best of Florence during your stay.

If you want to explore excursions for dates before or after your Cultural Immersion Experience, STEPS in Tuscany can offer concierge services to plan the best options that fit your individual tastes. Click on the ITALY – YOUR WAY Experience to see the types of optional activities that are available to be added on and let STEPS in Tuscany know the dates and what activities you are most interested in for you or your group.