The Charm of Tuscany – Florence, Pisa, Chianti and Cinque Terre

Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then to our overnight hotel in northern France.

We’ll then continue on to reach our overnight hotel in northern Italy.

We head into Tuscany, firstly to Pisa, synonymous with the Leaning Tower, and while this majestic bell tower is a sight for sore eyes, there are also many other things to do and sights to see in Pisa.

We continue to the maze walled town of Lucca. Stroll along the pretty streets and Piazzas enjoying a coffee or light refreshment in the Market Square. See the lovely churches, such as St. Martin's Cathedral, San Michele in Foro and the Basilica di San Frediano. Our journey continues to Montecatini Terme, where we stay for seven nights at Hotel Settentrionale Esplanade.

Montecatini is one of Tuscany’s most famous spa towns and was a favoured resort of the Italian royal family. Join our local guide for a walking tour of Montecatini and discover its heritage and amazing attractions. We also suggest taking the funicular lift to Montecatini Alto to visit the historical centre.

Later, we include a short excursion into the countryside to enjoy a pleasant lunch with locally produced wine in a traditional farm.

Cinque Terre is an incredible stretch of coastline on the Italian Riviera which is known for being one of the most beautiful in this part of the world. It encompasses five villages in total - Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

We head north to reach La Spezia where we meet our guide and board the local train to visit this astonishingly pretty coast. Discover Vernazza, situated on steep hills among olive and chestnut groves. See the small beach of Monterosso. You will have free time for shopping and lunch - perhaps enjoy some delicious pasta al pesto and local wine.

Later in the afternoon, we return by train to La Spezia and board the coach for the return journey to Montecatini.

Optional excursion to beautiful Volterra, known for its Etruscan origins and well-preserved medieval ramparts, which surround the winding cobbled streets.

In the afternoon, we head to Monteriggioni; breathe in the magical atmosphere of this tiny medieval village before returning to Montecatini.

Enjoy an optional full-day excursion, first to the picturesque Tuscan town of Siena. Centred around the Piazza del Campo, the town has magnificently preserved Gothic architecture, and the town centre is listed by UNESCO as one of the world's most significant historic sites.

We continue to the charming, hill-top town of San Gimignano, with its beautiful views over the Tuscan countryside. This medieval town owes its famous skyline to the rival families who tried to outdo each other by building taller and taller towers. Of the original 76 towers only 13 still survive today.

A full day exploring the picturesque Chianti villages with a little wine tasting along the way. Discover the Chianti hills, as we travel along the Via Chiantigena (an ancient road connecting Siena with Florence crossing over the hills of Chianti). Stop off at Castellina in Chianti and Tregole di Castellina in Chianti for a talk on aromatic herbs harvested and sundried following the ancient techniques of Duccio Fontani.

Later we head to the charming town of Greve and enjoy a light lunch and some wine-tasting in a local castle.

Spend a final leisurely day in this spa town.

We leave Montecatini and make our way to the Renaissance city of Florence. We offer an optional guided tour, which will reveal many of the stories behind the buildings and personalities that have shaped the history of this magnificent city.

You will later have time at leisure to explore the endless historic sights, see the shops in and around the centuries-old Ponte Vecchio, or even have your portrait painted by one of the street artists who usually gather in the square next to the medieval Duomo. We continue to our hotel in northern Italy.

Continue into France and to our overnight hotel.

Return home.