Florence: Vintage Fiat 500 Self-Drive & Tuscan Wine Tasting

Summary

Drive a classic Fiat 500 through Tuscany’s vineyards and hills

You’ll get behind the wheel of a vintage Fiat 500 in Florence and follow your local guide into Tuscany’s rolling hills. Enjoy stories along secluded roads, taste regional wines at a Renaissance villa with lunch included, and soak up those quiet countryside moments you can’t really plan for — just feel them as they happen.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I was nervous about the gears at first — those old Fiat 500s are tiny and stubborn in their own way. But there’s something about sitting behind that wheel in Florence, sunlight bouncing off the hood, that makes you forget you’re not Italian. Our guide, Marco, had this easygoing way of explaining things (and didn’t laugh too hard when I stalled during practice). Once we got rolling in our little convoy out of the city, it felt like slipping into a slower rhythm — windows down, air smelling faintly of cypress and warm stone. You hear more out here too: gravel popping under tires, distant dogs barking somewhere past the olive groves.

The drive itself was half the adventure. The main keyword for me? Freedom. We followed Marco along winding roads through Chianti country — honestly, some turns made my heart thump (the car is so light!). He’d point out old villas or tell us stories about the wine families who’ve been here forever. There was this one stop where we all just stood quietly for a minute because the view over the vineyards was almost too much to take in at once. I still think about that silence sometimes.

Lunch at the villa was low-key but perfect: crusty bread, olive oil that tasted green somehow, and local wine (I stuck to small sips since I was driving — apparently spitting is totally normal here). The staff were friendly in that unhurried Tuscan way; one woman showed us how she checks if bread is “right” by tapping it. Afterward, we wandered around the estate before heading back to Florence. The sun had shifted by then and everything looked softer — maybe it was just me feeling different after a day like that.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Vintage Fiat 500 tour and wine tasting

• Meet guide at private garage
• Receive safety briefing
• Practice driving manual gears
• Drive Fiat 500 convoy from Florence
• Enjoy scenic Tuscan countryside drive
• Arrive at 15th-century Renaissance villa
• Participate in wine tasting and activities
• Return to Florence

Top questions

Do I need to know how to drive manual for this tour?

Yes, confident experience with manual gearshift is required. Practice session included before departure.

Is wine tasting included even if I’m driving?

Yes, wine tasting is included at the villa. Drivers are encouraged to spit rather than swallow; this is common practice locally.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 4 to 5 hours from Florence including driving and time at the villa.

Are vegetarian or vegan options available for lunch?

Yes, vegetarian and vegan dietary needs are catered for if noted when booking.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

No hotel pickup; you meet your guide at a private garage in Florence city center.

Can children join this self-drive Fiat 500 tour?

Children aged 12 and under can join free with valid ID but must be accompanied by adults; only those over 18 may drive.

What’s included during the stop at the villa?

You’ll have wine tasting and a light lunch at a Renaissance villa estate in Tuscany.

How many people per booking are required?

A minimum of two people per booking is required for this tour.

What’s included

Your day includes meeting your local guide at a private garage in Florence for an introduction and safety briefing on your vintage Fiat 500. After leisurely driving through Tuscany’s countryside in convoy, you’ll arrive at a Renaissance villa for wine tasting and a light lunch before returning to Florence together.