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Curated by Masters

Discover Italy through expertly curated journeys led by seasoned specialists. Authentic, insightful, and designed with Artviva’s signature expertise.

Treasures of Taormina Tour: A Private Walk Through Sicily’s Most Beautiful Hilltop Town

The Treasures of Taormina Tour is a private walking experience through Sicily’s most iconic hilltop town, designed to reveal its ancient theatre, historic streets, and panoramic views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. This article explores how expert-guided storytelling brings Taormina’s Greek, Roman, and medieval heritage to life while offering a relaxed, in-depth way to experience its beauty beyond the main tourist paths.

Italian Coffee Culture in Florence – Espresso, Ritual, and the Craft of the Barista

Italian coffee culture in Florence is best understood through the rhythm of the espresso bar, where precision, speed, and repetition define every cup. This article explores how espresso, cappuccino, and the craft of the barista reflect a structured system built on technique, timing, and cultural tradition. Together, they reveal coffee in Florence not as a leisurely drink, but as a daily ritual shaped by skill, consistency, and deeply rooted social habits.

Casentino Valley Castles in Tuscany: Legends, Landscapes, and Medieval Power

The Casentino Valley Castles in Tuscany are best understood through the wooded mountains and historic routes between Florence and northern Italy, where medieval fortresses once controlled trade, territory, and local power. This article explores how these castles shaped political and rural life in the valley and how villages, monasteries, and noble families preserved a layered historical landscape that still defines the region today. Together, they reveal the Casentino as a quieter side of Tuscany where history remains closely tied to geography, legend, and daily life.

Chianti Castles in Tuscany: Medieval Power, Noble Families, and Living History

Chianti castles in Tuscany are best understood through the medieval landscape between Florence and Siena, where fortified hilltop structures once shaped control over trade routes, land, and rural power. This article explores how these castles evolved from strategic fortresses into agricultural estates and how noble families helped preserve their historical and cultural significance across centuries. Together, they reveal Chianti as a layered landscape where architecture, politics, and daily life remain deeply intertwined.

Machiavelli in Tuscany and Italian Counts

Machiavelli in Tuscany is best understood through the landscape of Chianti, where his ideas were shaped during exile among villages, estates, and shifting rural power structures. This article explores how the Tuscan countryside influenced his political thinking and how Italian noble families, including counts with deep regional roots, help preserve the living memory of that world. Together, they reveal Tuscany as both a historical and intellectual landscape where ideas about power, society, and human behavior were formed.

Tuscany Wine Tour with a Wine Journalist: Understanding Tuscany’s Most Celebrated Wines

A Tuscany Wine Tour with a Wine Journalist offers a deeper way to experience the region’s most iconic wines, from Brunello di Montalcino to Chianti Classico and Super Tuscans. This article reveals how Tuscany’s wine culture is shaped by centuries of history, diverse landscapes, and evolving winemaking traditions, helping readers understand what lies beyond the tasting glass and how context transforms the wine experience.

Bolgheri Super Tuscans Wine in Tuscany

Discover how Bolgheri’s coastal vineyards transformed Italian winemaking through the creation of Super Tuscan wines. Learn how sea breezes, gravel-rich soils, and innovative winemaking combine to produce some of Tuscany’s most celebrated reds, while exploring the history, landscape, and culture that make Bolgheri a world-renowned wine destination.

Chianti Wine, Cheese, and Olive Oil in Tuscany

Discover the Chianti hills of Tuscany, where wine, cheese, and olive oil are shaped by the same landscape and seasonal rhythms. This article explores how Sangiovese vineyards, Pecorino cheese, and extra virgin olive oil reflect centuries of agricultural tradition, offering travelers a deeper understanding of Tuscany’s living food culture through authentic, small-scale producers.

A Season Written by the Forest

Discover the white truffle season in Alba, Piedmont, a rare natural phenomenon shaped by forest, soil, and tradition. This article explores how Tuber magnatum Pico is foraged in the Langhe hills, why it cannot be cultivated, and how its fleeting seasonal presence defines one of Italy’s most refined and culturally significant culinary traditions.

Private Mosaic Workshop and Iconic Mosaic Tour in Ravenna: Art, History, and Hands-On Byzantine Craftsmanship in Italy

Discover the rich Byzantine heritage of Ravenna through a private mosaic workshop and guided cultural tour with Artviva. This article explores how travelers can visit UNESCO-listed mosaic sites with an expert guide, learn the history behind Ravenna’s world-famous mosaics, and take part in a hands-on workshop where they create their own mosaic using traditional techniques inspired by centuries of Italian craftsmanship.

Private Wine Tasting and Gourmet Dinner in a Renaissance Palace in Florence

Explore an exclusive evening inside a Renaissance palace in Florence with this private wine tasting and gourmet dinner experience. This article highlights the guided Tuscan wine tasting led by a professional sommelier, the seasonal multi-course dinner prepared by a private chef, and the unique historic setting that brings together Florence’s wine culture, cuisine, and Renaissance heritage.

Private Ravenna Gourmet Mosaics Tour: A Journey Through Byzantine Art and Emilia-Romagna Flavor

Discover the Private Ravenna Gourmet Mosaics Tour, an immersive experience that blends Byzantine art with Emilia-Romagna’s renowned culinary traditions. Learn how Ravenna’s UNESCO-listed mosaics reflect centuries of history and symbolism, while exploring the region’s food culture, architecture, and cultural identity through a private guided journey.

Falconry & Organic Wine Tasting Experience in Tuscany

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Experience the ancient art of falconry in the Tuscan countryside, guided by expert falconers. Enjoy close encounters with trained birds of prey before savoring an exclusive organic wine tasting paired with local delicacies. A private, immersive adventure blending nature, tradition, and Tuscany’s finest flavors - ideal for couples, families, and small groups seeking a rare and unforgettable experience.

A Venetian Count and His Palace – Private Experience in Venice

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Enjoy an exclusive encounter with a Count from one of Venice’s most ancient and noble families. Our charming Count is one of Venice’s most famous residents and has his own TV series as well as having authored numerous books. With a family as old as Venice itself you’ll enjoy personally hearing all about his authentic Venice as a personal guest in his beautiful Venetian palace.

Florence Wheelchair Delivery Service

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Enjoy Florence with ease! Our Wheelchair Rental Delivery Service in Florence provides you with a wheelchair delivered right to your accommodation. Once you're finished, we pick it up. Simple, convenient, and designed for comfort during your stay.

Michelin Chef Cooking Class in Florence

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Enjoy an exclusive private cooking class in Florence led by a Michelin-starred chef. Learn expert techniques, prepare refined Tuscan dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients, and sit down to a gourmet meal you helped create. Beginner-friendly, hands-on, and fully private - this is one of Florence’s most luxurious and memorable culinary experiences.

Florence Marble Carving Sculpture Class – Learn Michelangelo’ s Techniques

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Learn the secrets of marble carving in Florence with a renowned Michelangelo expert. In this private workshop, you’ll use traditional tools, explore classical techniques, and shape your own small sculpture. Beginner-friendly and weather-proof, it offers an inspiring glimpse into Italy’s artistic heritage - perfect for creative travelers seeking an authentic Florentine experience.

Falconry and Medieval Games at a Tuscan Castle

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Enjoy a day of Tuscan tradition in the grounds of a historic castle. Expert falconers demonstrate the ancient art of falconry while guests enjoy medieval games, archery, and outdoor activities. Ideal for families, celebrations, and corporate events. Available at castles, historic venues, or private villas. Optional costumes, banquet, trumpeters, flag wavers, theatrical performers, and Renaissance-style entertainment.Price on appliaction

Exclusive VIP Opera Night in a Florentine Palace

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A sophisticated Italian opera evening presented in a magnificent frescoed palace in Florence. Exceptional singers and musicians perform beloved arias in an atmospheric setting lit by candlelight. Guests enjoy fine wine, aperitivi, and glamorous surroundings. Ideal for VIP groups, corporate events, anniversaries, and luxury travellers. Every detail can be customised, from repertoire and staging to musicians, decor, and hospitality services.

Bespoke Trip Planning

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This is Italy designed exclusively for you. Share your wish list and we translate it into a beautifully balanced itinerary that flows from city to countryside with ease. Think character filled hotels or private villas, unhurried transfers, thoughtful pacing and experiences led by people who truly know their craft.

Chianti Castles Tour with an Italian Count – Private Tour

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Explore medieval Chianti castles on a private tour led by an esteemed Italian historian and count. Visit storied fortresses, learn about noble Tuscan lineages, and take in panoramic vineyard views. The experience concludes with a refined tasting of Chianti’s finest wines, offering an elegant blend of history, culture, and the celebrated flavors of Tuscany.

WSET Wine Diploma – Fun Wine Day in Tuscany

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Discover the essentials of wine appreciation and certification in a relaxed, private setting in Tuscany. This beginner-level WSET Wine Master course covers the basics of wine mastery in one unforgettable day, ideal for friends or family at your villa or apartment. Complete the course with a new certification and a newfound confidence in the world of wine.

Artists, Authors and Aristocrats with ArtViva

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Let us organize a captivating evening for you in Florence with our wine tasting and speaker event. Join distinguished patron presenters, renowned experts, artists, authors and aristocrats who will inspire, inform and entertain your college, conference or incentive group.

Be a Designer for a Day in Milan – Private Experience

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Enter the world of Milanese design with a hands-on creative experience inside a renowned studio. Work alongside leading designers in fashion, interiors, and accessories as you craft your own bespoke piece. This immersive workshop offers travelers a rare glimpse into Italy’s design capital and is ideal for creatives and style-focused guests seeking an exclusive, inspiring encounter.

Your Personal Vacation Photographer!

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Enjoy your holiday even more with a personal vacation photographer who captures the essence of your time in Italy. Stroll through iconic locations as your photographer discreetly documents genuine moments, beautiful details, and natural portraits. Receive expertly edited, high-quality images—lasting mementos of your Italian journey, perfect for sharing, framing, and remembering long after your travels end.

VIP Luxury Truffle Experience in Alba – A Private Michelin Kitchen

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Experience an exclusive VIP truffle adventure in the hills near Alba, featuring a private truffle hunt followed by rare access to a Michelin-starred chef’s kitchen. Select fresh herbs and ingredients from the chef’s own garden, create a personalized truffle-inspired menu together, and enjoy a curated wine tasting. An exceptional, private culinary journey into Piedmont’s most celebrated traditions.Price on Application

Florentine Masters: Paper Marbling in Florence

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Discover the beautiful Florentine tradition of paper marbling in a historic artisan workshop. Guided by a master craftsman, learn how colours float on water, are combed into intricate patterns, and transferred to fine paper. Create your own marbled sheets to take home—a fun, hands-on experience for art lovers and families.

Florentine Masters: Become a Master Forger – Private Art Class

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Learn the remarkable techniques used by master art forgers in a private hands-on class in Florence. Guided by an expert, you’ll age paper, study Renaissance drawing styles, and create a convincing pastiche that looks authentically centuries old. A fascinating, fun workshop for art lovers, families, and the creatively curious.

The Last Silk Weavers in Venice: Artisan Workshop Visit

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Step into the ancient and exclusive workshops on the Grand Canal of the last silk weavers of Venice.
Experience the genius of the first ‘computer’ ever invented. Enjoy learning about the ancient silk trade that brought riches to Venice with this famous workshop with the oldest still used looms. See stunningly beautiful and richly coloured opulent silks in a myriad of colors.
See the velvet silk patterns made for all the great Italian fashion houses and watch exquisite silk patterns made for the Kremlin and other great monuments.

Mask Making Workshop in Venice – Private Artisan Experience

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Decorate your own authentic Venetian Carnival mask in a private atelier led by a master artisan. Using traditional materials such as gold leaf, fine pigments, and classic trims, you’ll learn the history and craft behind Venice’s iconic masks. Enjoy personalised guidance as you design a unique keepsake to take home, crafted in the heart of the Floating City.

Cheese Making Experience in Tuscany

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Join a Cheese Making Experience in Tuscany at a family-run, award-winning farm in the stunning Chianti region. Learn to make delicious cheeses, tour the farm, walk through olive groves and vineyards, and enjoy a wine and cheese tasting lunch. Transfers available from Florence or your Tuscany villa on request.

Florence’s Most Unique Tour – A Walk with a Historian Count-Private Tour

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Experience Florence like never before on an exclusive private tour with a Florentine historian Count. Step into his ancestral palace, view rare historical documents signed by King Henry VIII and Renaissance luminaries, and dive into Florence’s rich history through the stories of one of Italy’s most influential noble families. Guided by an erudite scholar and descendant of a renowned Renaissance lineage, you’ll gain unparalleled insights into the intrigue, art, and legacy that shaped this iconic city. No one knows Florence better - ask the Count anything, and let his captivating tales bring Florence to life.

Michelangelo in Florence Tour – Medici Family Patronage

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Hear the extraordinary story of Michelangelo through the eyes of an internationally acclaimed author, historian, and aristocratic Count. Visit his atmospheric studio and private family archives, see original documents mentioning Michelangelo, and learn about the patronage, friendships, and secrets behind one of the greatest Renaissance geniuses.

Adopt a Vine with Prince Corsini – Wine Tour Experience

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“Adopt a Vine” is a unique Tuscany wine tour experience. It is the only Italian wine tour experience where you adopt a vine on a beautiful Tuscan wine estate. The estate belongs to a princely noble Italian family - the Corsini. You'll enjoy and private tour by the Prince himself and lunch at the estate accompanied by special wines. You'll leave with a vine given a plaque in your honor and the possibility to buy your wine at discounted price vintage upon vintage!

The Florentine Steak Experience ™ Florence Show Cooking

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In this first-of-its-kind experience in Florence you will learn cook up your very own Bistecca alla Fiorentina – in one of the finest traditional trattorias here in the city of the beef-steak. We have teamed up with the best experts to give you a cooking demonstration in Tuscan cuisine including a 3 course meal to be enjoyed alongside your sumptuous steak. You will be warmly welcomed at the restaurant with a glass of local wine, before learning to cook your very own steak!

Venetian Masters – Meet the Venice Glass Masters: Artisan Workshop Visit

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Meet the 23rd generation of Venice’s premier virtuoso glass-making family. One of the oldest family-run businesses in the world.
Experience a private water transfer to the heart and soul of Venice’s most important luxury export.
See the ancient art glass making whose secrets were closely guarded over hundreds of years.
Gain a special membership discount on any glass purchases and see the real behind the scenes glass artisans at work.
Enjoy an exclusive journey to experience a tradition stretching back to 1397.

Artisan Workshops Visit – The Original Florence Artisan Tour

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Enjoy exploring the artisan workshops where Florence’s craftsmen ply their ancient trades on this Florence artisan tour.
Areas of interest to choose from include: Jewelry, silver handicrafts, fabrics, embroideries, tailoring, wooden furniture and restoration, paper, boxes and books, perfumes and essences, make-up and wigs, leather and homeware decoration.

Wine Tasting with a Sommelier in Florence

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Whether you're a total beginner or a fully-fledged wine snob - this experience has something for you. Choose the wine region you would like to focus on - Tuscany? Piedmont? Sicily? You'll taste the cult classics of Italian wine and discover some lesser known grapes. You'll have the choice to sample prized wines from various regions of Italy to discover their qualities according to the soil and area. You'll learn tips on everything from tasting notes, to Italian wine culture and how to select the best wine. Held in the late afternoon and early evening this is the perfect sequel to our Morning Food Tour experience.

Truffle Hunting in Tuscany with Lunch & Wine Tasting

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What better way to enjoy a morning in Tuscany than with a truffle hunt in the Tuscan hills? Our expert truffle hunter will lead you through forests, so you can combine sightseeing and adventure all in one tour. Tour ends with a light lunch specializing in truffle flavored treats.

The Best of Florence Shopping Tour – Fashion & Artisans

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Whether it's the styles of Italian fashion or the meticulous craftsmanship of local artisans, this shopping trip can be adapted to suit your desires. Indulge in a personal shopping tour with a local fashionista for a luxury and fascinating dive into Florence's shops. You can easily customise your tour experience by simply telling us in the note section of your booking what you are interested in!
Discover tips for the best stores, locations, the best prices and find the most unique items with our fashion-savvy shopping guru.

A Gentleman’s Tour – Shop, Style & Taste in Florence

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Treat the men in your life with this unique tour of Florence curated for men. We’ll show you how the Italians style and tailor their clothes, what products they use for hair and skin and masculine scents as well as introducing you to the exceptional craftsmanship of hand-crafted items like knives, watches and gloves.

Foraging in Tuscany

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Get outdoors and enjoy the Tuscan countryside in this fun foraging tour with Florence's most sought after forager! You'll forage like Italians have for centuries in the countryside and learn what herbs and wild plants can be used for salads and cooking.