My husband and I are looking at options for day tours to Tuscany from Florence. I was really wanting to visit Siena and San Gimignano (because I hear they are beautiful places), however, I also would like to avoid highly touristy/commercialised towns (which I hear San Gimignano is!). I have been looking into and tossing up between Tours by Roberto and ArtViva tours, both of which are recommended by Rick Steves. The tour being offered by Tours by Roberto goes to the Clay Hills region, the abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, a medieval village and lunch and wine taking at a family run farm. Because we want to visit Siena, they told me they can drop us off at the end of the tour at Siena and we can then make our way back to our hotel in Florence on our own by bus.
The ArtViva tour on the other hand goes to Siena, San Gimignano and Monteriggioni (from Florence). The downside of this tour though is that it is larger, seems a little less personal and you don't get very long in each place.
So my question is.... Is San Gimignano really worth it? We love the sound of the tour offered by Tours by Roberto but we had in our minds that we wanted to visit San Gimignano.
Also, if anyone has any experiences with Tours by Roberto or ArtViva, we'd appreciate your thoughts!
Thanks so much for your help in advance!