Treasures of Tuscany – Unique Small Group

Let’s travel to Tuscany! On arrival we’ll join our friendly local representative for our transfer to our hotel in Montecatini.

Today you can enjoy a chance to discover Tuscany at your own pace. Take a stroll around Montecatini and treat yourself to a coffee in one of the many cafes or take the cable car to the older town, which sits atop a nearby hill.

Join us for a full day excursion exploring Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance!

This morning our guide will take us on a walking tour, exploring this fascinating city. We will witness the famous Duomo (cathedral) with its elaborate green and pink façade before moving on to the Piazza della Signoria, which was the centre of the Florentine Republic and remains the political hub of the city. We will discover more as we walk towards the Arno River to see the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) which has shops built along the length of it.

We will have our afternoon free for lunch, sightseeing or perhaps do some shopping at the famous Leather Market. Before returning to our hotel in Montecatini we will savour some Florentine gelato.

Today is free to enjoy as you please. Ask your guide to recommend some places of interest for you according to your tastes. We recommend a trip to one of the many piazzas and leafy parks in Montecatini.  

After breakfast join our guide as we travel to Lucca, the birthplace of Puccini, and the only town in Italy entirely surrounded by walls. Considered to be among the wealthiest and most conservative cities in Tuscany, Lucca’s prosperity was gained largely through silk and high-quality olive oil. The city is crammed with beautiful Romanesque churches - an architecture enthusiast’s dream.

Following our morning exploring this fascinating city we will savour an included three course lunch, with wine, at a local restaurant.

We travel to Pisa where we will visit the Piazza dei Miracoli, home to perhaps the most iconic building in Italy – the Leaning Tower. The famous lean was caused by poor foundations, which could not support the structure’s weight. The tilt continued to increase before the tower was completed and was corrected in the 20^th and 21^st centuries. During our tour we will also discover Pisa Cathedral and the many baroque buildings which make up the Square of Miracles.

Enjoy a day in Tuscany at your own pace. Why not pick up some last minute souvenirs in Montecatini, or relax in one of the nine thermal centres, where you can enjoy everything from massages to mud baths, saunas to beauty treatments. 

Today our excursion takes us to one of the most characteristic medieval cities in Italy, Montepulciano. This hilltop town offers spectacular views of the surrounding Tuscan countryside over the Val di Chiana and Val d’Orcia. We will visit a local winery for an included wine tasting experience including savouring Vino Nobile di Montepulciano – a classic red wine unique to this region.

This afternoon we will visit the renaissance town of Pienza in the beautiful Val d’Orcia valley, whose historic centre is a UNESCO world heritage site. Pienza is famous for its Pecorino cheese and we will visit a local dairy farm to learn about the cheese making process before sampling some Pecorino cheese. 

Time to say 'arrivederci' to Italy! 

We'll check out of our hotel and depart by coach to the airport for our return flight.