Serena is a local guide based out of the lovely Tuscan town of Montepulciano, and covers the entire Val d'Orcia region. Her specialty are day trips that combine sightseeing, time outdoors, and unique gastronomic experiences, and allow travelers to see, feel, taste, and drink in the region (and its wine, of course) in an authentic way.
Although most closely associated with production of famed Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines, there's so much to see and do away from just wineries. The Val d'Orcia's rolling hills, golden grain fields, and medieval hilltop towns have been recognized by UNESCO for their intangible cultural heritage, and they truly offer the quintessential Tuscan experience.
Serena's goal is to help travelers see what makes her home so famous while also getting away from the busy crowds and commercial wineries to discover a more local side of life here. If you like the idea of exploring charming lesser-visited villages, trying fabulous cheeses at a farmer's house, or sipping biodynamic wine at a small, family-run winery, Serena is the perfect fit.
There's also plenty of history and culture to discuss, but tours with Serena are most of all lively, casual, and fun.
Lives In
Montepulciano
Guides In
Tuscany
Years of Experience
25 years
Languages
English and Italian
Ciao guys!
If you're dreaming of the gentle rolling hills of Tuscany, well, you've come to the right place. My friends often call me the "Queen of Tuscany", and while they mostly mean it in jest, I really do feel that this wonderful land is my personal kingdom!
Born and raised in the city of Siena, I moved to Montepulciano 25 years ago and have lived here ever since with my family and my 3 dogs. I'm totally, madly, completely IN LOVE with Tuscany and I feel very lucky to have been born here. It's just a special place in the world.
So, when you love your home, what better thing is there to do than become an ambassador for it? That's why I began working as a trip designer for local tour companies in the late 1990's, and then, in 2008, decided to set off on my own and became licensed as an official local tour guide. That was one of the best decisions I've ever made, and for the last 17 years, I've turned my passion into my profession and I can't think of a better job!
In addition to being a local guide, I'm also a certified Sommelier III level, food connoisseur, official EVOO taster, and a certified Master of cheese. I think you can probably tell by now that I'm a big fan of food and wine. :-)
So, now that you know a bit about me, let me tell you more about how I can help with your trip to my region: I especially enjoy working with travelers who want to get a bit off the beaten path and who aim to discover the real essence of Tuscany. Travelers who are willing to try true authentic experiences, who want to immerse themselves in local life, and create memories of a lifetime.
To that end, while we explore together I will share with you more than... half a century (that makes me feel a little old!!) of life experience here. It would be my absolute pleasure to help you discover the immense beauty of Siena, the breathtaking landscapes of the Val d'Orcia, the gorgeous medieval hilltop towns, the family-run vineyards, and the sights, scents, and flavors or Tuscany, my home!
Ci vediamo a presto! See you soon!
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5 rating from 24 reviews
Maureen
June 29, 2025
5/5
Our tour guide, Serena was an excellant choice for us. Before I go on, I want to say how helpful and patient she was prior to us even getting to Italy. Lots of emails back and forth. She is well versed in the history of the many place we selected to visit. Her talks on each stop provided information that helped us "see" the history which was greatly appreciated. Viewing while hearing the history is a great combination. She is very good at what she does and her ddedication to her work was evident. And an outgoing, generous, friendly personality, we had a a win.
Private Custom Tour | Guided by Serena
HJoncas
September 24, 2024
5/5
We spent the day with Serena and loved it! She was so knowledgeable and insightful and her English was excellent! She made the Val D'Orcia valley come alive for us from a historical perspective and also showed us hidden gems that we never would have found on our own. We would highly recommend her for trips to this area.
Maureen
September 22, 2024
5/5
My husband and I had a 7 hour tour of Val d’Orcia with Serena on September 7, 2024. We had a great day visiting many different places and having a wonderful lunch. Serena was very informative and knowledgeable about the area and the wines among other things. She made us feel comfortable and was flexible in showing us all of the places that we were interested in. I highly recommend touring with Serena in a Day in Tuscany! She helped make a dream of mine come true! Thanks Serena!
Doug Grounds
September 22, 2024
5/5
My wife and I hired Serena for a day in Tuscany, including Pienza and Montepulciano. It was a very great day and well worth the inside knowledge that she provided, as well as the introductions to a number of artisans (we got to watch a woman named Linda creating & painting her pottery), restaurants, shops, and wineries. She arranged everything for us, and even though the reservations were made in advance, it never felt like we were being rushed. Clearly Serena knows pretty much everyone in both towns, and she lives just outside of Montepulciano. It was great to have both lunch and dinner with her, and have her explain things as well as translate for us Americans (you can never know enough Italian). She explained history of various buildings, families, churches, as well as the current happenings in both towns. Even though it was a tour for my wife and I, we discussed the types of trips she does for families and it sounds like it would be a lot of fun whether you have a family, small children, or are just looking for good food and wine. She introduced us to some very nice wineries. We had done the one-hour consult with her before our day in Tuscany, which was very helpful even though this was our seventh trip to Italy (we live in Denver, CO). We had never stayed in Montepulciano before, but very much enjoyed staying about 8km outside of the city walls in an agriturismo/winery (separate review). So, highly recommended. Lovely person. You will not regret the time you will spend with her. Give her much information in advance so she can plan accordingly.
Private Custom Tour | Guided by Serena
Sally R
June 6, 2024
5/5
If you want an amazing day in Tuscany you must book with Serena, she picked us up at our Agriturismo and took us to Pienza and then to a few family owned vineyards in Montalcino. Top notch tour, she is so knowledgeable and easy to be with.
Review for Serena
Originaly posted on Tripadvisor
5 rating from 24 reviews